GarryJones

I think it was paint from the tube workers yard at Fulham Broadway. And a little mob went out at half-time to smash their way in and nick the paint.

Didn't go, was going to go the season after but British Rail cancelled the special and instead I went over the Bridge to get a refund on my ticket. That was the last game I missed for 5 years. (We won 3-2 and Osgood scored his last goal for us.) Worst turn out than that was Hull away 82, FA CUP, banned, rail strike, snowstorm, 72 hour notice of game on a Thursday night. Probably about 130-200 of us up there. I have written this up in the videos and photos section as I actually supplied tickets for most of our lads that night....

Just found a small clip from Ã…tvidaberg vs Chelsea ECWC 1971. I believe this has not been posted before... Its in Swedish and a clip about Ã…tvidaberg. Chelsea bit at about 1.25. PS, been in Italy for 2 months, am now back in Sweden and will soon be scanning and posting old photos to the vintage threads.

That looks like one of the old 12 seater mini buses before the law changed in 72. I remember travelling in like that from Kent when I played for my school against "Earthly" school on the gravel pitch at Clapham Comman, must have been 71. Our school sold their bus when the law changed.

Cathy's just been on Swedish TV. http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/sport/fotboll/bigten/article14530407.ab - I can do a complete translation (I live in Sweden) if you want. But basically the roving reporter tries to buy a ticket on the black market and sneak a box of celery into the ground.

That painting? - I do have an idea who might have taken it. About this time I used to knock around with a Chelsea lass from Romford (as a friend). Just before Xmas a Chelsea mate of mine turned up in the Kings Road with the Russell Hobbs Chelsea teasmade. He said he had got it from the club shop but didn't want it and couldn't take it back as he did not have the box or the receipt. I got it for a score. I then popped it in xmas paper and turned up in Romford on Christmas Day 1982 and gave it to this girl's parents. I stayed the night and we were picked up by Cathy in the morning and then went and collected Doddy. I remember what a great feeling it was roaring along the Embankmant on way to QPR for that plastic pitch away game on Boxing Day, We won 2-0 but I digress.... Her parents figured out how to work the Chelsea teasmade and loaded it up a few days later. It woke them with a lovely pot of tea one morning and they drank it. They then got dressed and went downstairs only to find it was still only 3.45 am although the clock on the teasmade was 7.30. Many years later I found out the truth. Or a story that might be the truth, It is said that the guy that sold it to me used to hang around the East Stand after the games, he was on the look out for official team sheets that were printed and left in the Executive boxes. He found the Chelsea teasmade in one and couldn't resist it. Then when he turned up in the pub and had to answer questions he made up the story and I just steamed in with my £20 which he couldn't resist. The girl I gave it to? I lost contact with her but recently found her on facebook and we caught up. She married for the second time last summer, I thought of sending over a teasmade but resisted the irony. I did explain the "stolen" teasmade story and she cracked up having forgotten it. The guy that took it? Yes he was at the Chelsea disco. But I have nothing else to go on.....

Sorry, it was not BM, he was not there. As I have photos of everyone there that night I can exclude only those not there.

arrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - We're the tea-bar, we're the tea-bar, we're the tea-bar of the shed.

The painting was stolen after the Chelsea disco evening in 81. I posted some pictures here earlier from that disco when Robson and co turned up with Ray Wilkins. The painting was from the Chelsea v Arsenal record crowd for a home team playing a league game at home. A record that still stands, 82,905. There are just two league games with higher attendences but these are disqualified because they were played at a neutral ground and thus drew attention from three sets of fans. The painting was lifted off of the wall in its frame. As far as I know it was never returned so I was one of the last people to see it. However I think the photo above may have been a photo that the painting was based on as the painting was in full colour.

Tip: You can find the videos by doing a forum thread search

Did anyone go to Birmingham for the 5-4 on New Years Eve?

A win something we looked forward to? What about an away goal in 80-81 after Notts County in November? It became the bridge too far that season... As for Marina scoring both, well done. Date: Saturday, 1st November 1975 Competition: Football League Division 2 Position 14 Venue: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 20,096 Referee: Derek W Civil (Birmingham) Chelsea 1 Peter Bonetti, 2 Gary Locke, 3 Ron Harris, 4 Garry Stanley, 5 Micky Droy, 6 John Dempsey, 7 Ian Britton, 8 Ray Wilkins, 9 Teddy Maybank, 10 Ian Hutchinson, 11 Bill Garner Scorers Britton 4, Wilkins 58 Manager Eddie McCreadie Plymouth Argyle Aleksic, Darke, Burrows, Green, Rioch, Delve, Randall, Johnson, Mariner, Rafferty, McAuley Scorers Mariner 70, Mariner 75 Manager Tony Waiters As for our number 9 that day, Teddy Maybank, does anyone else remember him being the bloke (out of three) that was picked by the lass on the very first episode of "Blind Date" hosted by Cilla Black?

The Hereford game, page 22 on here, you can see clearly how there is a load of rubble and bulldozers in the old north stand.

Greyhound racing: The first meeting took place on 31st July 1937. Meetings continued for 31 years until the curtain came down on 1st August 1968. There are some more facts here. http://www.oleole.com/stadiums/stamford-bridge/history/vhin.html However this site shows greyhound badges for the ground dating back to 33. http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Stamford%20Bridge%20Greyhound%20Stadium.htm And some wonderful pictures and stories from the grounds speedway days dating back to 28 http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Stamford%20Bridge.htm

> wobbly How wobbly was it? There were rumours it used to shake when tube trains went past. Also, when was it built and do you know if there were supposed to be 3 more of them built to identical specs at the North End?

Having spent the last few weeks on here and thinking about the old days I have taken a new interest in a lot of the old stuff. Whilst many pictures and videos have been posted I have found out just how much I do remember. I will probably get round to that book soon. I have been more involved in the Chelsea chats in Facebook as well. This afternoon I saw a lot about Peter Osgood who died 6 years ago today. A Chelsea mate on Facebook remarked that there was a rather special horse running in the 17.10 at Taunton. The horse's name? Osgood! - Well I just had to. I am not a gambling man and I can't remember betting on a horse since West Tip rode home the National back in 86. So I logged into William Hill, put £50 on the nose and Osgood came in at 9/2. Without you lot on here it is doubtful I would have done this. So next time I am over in the UK I've got a £225 bar float and hope to meet up with you lot in a Chelsea boozer! Cheers lads! Did anyone else back it?

I think the Celtic hate started when it became popular to sing "No surrender to the IRA", a few high profile bombings, Harrods, Regent's Park, Brighton and so on and then of course national pride around the time we were at war in the Falklands. Yes Scotch and Welsh guards were killed down there but the Cardiff fans sung "Argentina" against us so..... maybe the Argies had Celtic support.

Mark, was that Newcastle in December 1970 or March 72? We didn't play them in 71 at home. My first was Palace away, 20 November 1971. W 3-2. First home was vs QPR 3-3 February 23rd 1974. First away outside London, Liverpool L 0-2 October 78. First away in Europe, IFK Västerås 1 Chelsea 0, August 11th 1981. Friendly in Sweden First competion match away in Europe. ECWC Final 1998, Stockholm, Sweden. Last match at Bridge. Boro, 1988 playoffs. W 1-0 Last Chelsea match. See above, (ECWC Final 1998, Stockholm). W 1-0 First Chelsea goal, Baldwin after 11 minutes in the Palace match, last Chelsea goal. Zola.

I think they just could not afford the resurfacing work that need to be carried out. Crush or crash barriers had to be strengthened etc.

Celtic Chelsea match. CELTIC FC Coach: Jock STEIN. Scorers: Glavin 11, Edvaldsson 31. Team: Latchford, McGrain, lynch, Casey, MacDonald, Aitken, Glavin, Edvaldsson, Craig, Burns, Lennox. Subs:Baines, Wilson, Doyle, Kay, McLaughlin. CHELSEA FC Coach: Eddie MCCREADIE. Scorers: Finnieston 19, Wilkins 64. Team: Phillips, Locke, Sparrow, Stanley, Wicks, Harris, Swain, Wilkins, Finnieston, Lewington, Langly. Subs: Bradley, G.Wilkins, Britton, Gardiner. That may well be Daglish on the cover, but fives days before the match, on 10 August 1977, and after making 320 appearances and scoring 167 goals for Celtic, Dalglish was signed by Liverpool manager Bob Paisley for a British transfer fee record of £440,000. Dalglish's departure was unpopular with the Celtic fans, and when he returned in August 1978 to play in Stein's testimonial, he was booed by a large contingent of Celtic supporters. The date of the 10th is from Wiki, but "Kenny Dalglish bid farewell to Celtic and joined Liverpool on 13 August 1977, for a then record fee of £440,000." according to talkfootball.co.uk - but either date, before the 15th.

Just going off-topic, I wont be around for a few days. Keep up the great postings, I noticed that the Sillet picture messed up. I will get onto it. As many of you know I live in the village of Mora, Sweden. This little town is famous for an annual cross-country ski race that finishes in the town centre. As token Englishman I usually get roped into things whenever an English company or whatever comes over. I stayed in sports after I emigrated and got into road cycling and am now the president of the county federation. Anyway, it looks like I'll be looking after Pippa Middleton and her brother for a few days. They are coming over for this 90km Ski Race on Sunday. I'll be inviting her back for a cycling event in this summer. I will try and approach the topic of football, she might well be a Chelsea fan. (Well you can't meet someone sort of famous and not mention Chelsea can you?).

Looking at the story on the Stoke programme I wonder how many others went to see the first team who took over the reserve team place against Birmingham. Football has come full circle, if Chelsea were to play Stoke today in a meaningless game (read friendly, testimonial, league cup, low league team at end of season when we have nothing to play fore) then the RESERVE team would take over the fixture. My God I am so happy we had what we had when we did, the kids growing up with the modern game and all its prima donnas and jcl's will never have these type of stories when they are 50 and looking back. I often feel like the years 76-83 was our own version of "World War II" with campaigns, hardships, death of a few good mates and a time of comradery and sacrifice you look back on fondly even if you know you wouldn't really wanna go back there to that "hell on earth" that we used to live. However you feel that it has shaped you and done you no harm and that the youth of today just don't know how good they have it. These kids will never know the elation of going over the top of the steps after the climb up into the Shed End and seeing a camera behind the goal. You lived in hope every week, and then suddenly it was there! - A camera, YEEEEEEEES - a televised match, when things were bad maybe just 4 or 5 times a season. But now a chance to sing louder and show the rest of England what a well supported team we are. Chance to have a go at a few opposing teams supporters and star players with a quick cunning jibe or two in unison. No fan of today can understand this, for today every time a player moves an inch 40 yards from the ball his heartrate, workrate, runrate and whateverelserate are deeply analysed by computers and football pundits and a replay of how he moved can be shown from 16 different angles.

1 win 7 defeats 21 draws, sorry

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