Is it me? Or were there far more entertainers around back then. Players who you would get excited by, even when they played against us. These players had special talents get kicked throughout the match but still get up and put on a show.

I used to love watching the entertainers when players such as Tony Currie, Frank Worthington, Gordon Hill, Alan Hudson, Charlie Cooke were on the highlights being shown up here in Scotland.

I accept that the ones I have named above were simply the ones that came to my mind immediately!

Is it me? Or were there far more entertainers around back then. Players who you would get excited by, even when they played against us. These players had special talents get kicked throughout the match but still get up and put on a show.

 

Not just you, think it is sadly a fact. It's a shame and a sign of how the modern game has gone. Sure the players are more professional and fitter these days but we have too many "robots" playing the game and as exciting as games can be at times and the overall standard of football "better" we don't have anything like the number of crowd-pleasers like we used to. They are too busy TRACKING BACK...................................!!!

Is it me? Or were there far more entertainers around back then. Players who you would get excited by, even when they played against us. These players had special talents get kicked throughout the match but still get up and put on a show.

 

 

I used to love watching the entertainers when players such as Tony Currie, Frank Worthington, Gordon Hill, Alan Hudson, Charlie Cooke were on the highlights being shown up here in Scotland.

 

 

Not just you, think it is sadly a fact. It's a shame and a sign of how the modern game has gone. Sure the players are more professional and fitter these days but we have too many "robots" playing the game and as exciting as games can be at times and the overall standard of football "better" we don't have anything like the number of crowd-pleasers like we used to. They are too busy TRACKING BACK...................................!!!

 

Some great names there Erskblue, Agree with Charierre and Nibs about the lack of entertainers. Have been trying to think of entertainers from recent years and two names come to mind, Paul Gascoigne and Davie Cooper - and that is going back over 20 years. I'm sure there have been players since then.

 

Is it just in football that there is a lack of entertainers? Could we include cricket, both codes of rugby and motor-racing as well.

Some great names there Erskblue, Agree with Charierre and Nibs about the lack of entertainers. Have been trying to think of entertainers from recent years and two names come to mind, Paul Gascoigne and Davie Cooper - and that is going back over 20 years. I'm sure there have been players since then.

 

Is it just in football that there is a lack of entertainers? Could we include cricket, both codes of rugby and motor-racing as well.

 

It's tricky to differentiate between just skillful players and true entertainers. Years ago you do think of the obvious ones like Best, Marsh, Bowles, Worthington and some of our 70/71 side.

 

In more recent times we have had the likes of Nevin & Zola, Gudjohnsen and Joey Cole. All were great players and certainly entertained me but probably lacking that certain something which made the '70's players almost "larger than life".

 

Gazza is probably one of the last. Mat Le Tissier was another but still missing the X factor. I think there is a lot in the cliche of the entertainment being coached out of players - possibly Joe Cole is a good example of that.

View from the Leppings Lane End pre Hillsborough disaster.

 

Eerie to think about those that went on to die up against this very fence, including children. Could have been any set of fans.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by Charles Ryder

I'll also throw in Stan Bowles, our own Clive Walker, Laurie Cunningham, Willie Johnson, Liam Brady.

It's tricky to differentiate between just skillful players and true entertainers. Years ago you do think of the obvious ones like Best, Marsh, Bowles, Worthington and some of our 70/71 side.

 

In more recent times we have had the likes of Nevin & Zola, Gudjohnsen and Joey Cole. All were great players and certainly entertained me but probably lacking that certain something which made the '70's players almost "larger than life".

 

Gazza is probably one of the last. Mat Le Tissier was another but still missing the X factor. I think there is a lot in the cliche of the entertainment being coached out of players - possibly Joe Cole is a good example of that.

 

The shame was that most of the maverick type players didn't get the international recognition they deserved by FA. Who frowned at their lifestyles in preference for the steadier type of player. I'd hazard a guess that even Georgie if he had been English would have been overlooked. Same could be said of the greatest English manager.

Gazza is a good shout for the last great English entertainer.

1975

 

Chelsea v Birmingham City 1979
Trevor Aylott challenges for a cross

 

Peter Brabrook of Chelsea

 

Tommy Baldwin scores for Chelsea against Manchester United. Peter Osgood is about to join the celebration

 

Chelsea 1963-64

 

1975

 

 

Chopper, Charlie and Bason the only players not sporting conspicuously 70's style barnets!

 

Also note Bonetti's hobby, caravanning. A world away from the junkets to Dubai commonplace among footballers these days.

 

A further amusing titbit regarding Peter Bonetti and caravans, queue a bit of classic Monty Python.

 

Crackpot (Eric Idle): This is an example of the sort of abuse we get all the time from ignorant people. I inherited this religion from my father, an ex-used-car salesman and part-time window-box, and I am very proud to be in charge of the first religion with free gifts. You get this luxury tea-trolley with every new enrollment. (pictures of this and the subsequent gifts) In addition to this you can win a three-piece lounge suite, this luxury caravan, a weekend for two with Peter Bonetti and tonights star prize, the entire Norwich City Council.

 

 

Speaking of Peter's caravan... look, Peter's caravan!

 

 

Chopper's son clearly not impressed with his dad's rather dapper Chelsea holdall.

 

 

Finally, a young Luca Vialli no doubt dreaming of SW6.

 

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by Charles Ryder

Not just you, think it is sadly a fact. It's a shame and a sign of how the modern game has gone. Sure the players are more professional and fitter these days but we have too many "robots" playing the game and as exciting as games can be at times and the overall standard of football "better" we don't have anything like the number of crowd-pleasers like we used to. They are too busy TRACKING BACK...................................!!!

imagine how they would play on the carpets for pitches they have now. I know diet and drink wasn't good back then but the mud they used to run through would certainly take it out of the modern day footballer. I used to train deliberately in the winter in mud running and dribbling with the ball. Was such a good workout cardio wise and hard going on all the leg muscles. Good for your skills as well. Have a look at some old games on you tube with the likes of Hudson Cooke Ossie Wilkins Nevin to name a few to see the skill they still achieved in the mud.

right heres some more when we were a nobody club with no fans  ..can we have a campaign to bring back the all blue and yellow socks back  ....my all time  fav kit,,,, remember putting it on in the area were I was in the early seventies in  the leeds heartland of Yorkshire  lol....

Chopper, Charlie and Bason the only players not sporting conspicuously 70's style barnets!

 

Not sure that John Dempsey's barnet belongs to any era it really is a masterful scrapeover with added earmuffs.

Not sure that John Dempsey's barnet belongs to any era it really is a masterful scrapeover with added earmuffs.

 

It was quite possibly the worst haircut ever.

Yeah the muddy and then the frozen pitches.

Compare that to the 'bowling green ' pitches of today.

Also they had to deal with 'no nonsense ' defenders and or midfielders.

Chopper Harris, Norman Hunter, Tommy Smith, Dave MacKay, Graeme Souness to name but a few...

More great pictures from the past, Oh we haven't got a history...

Young Ted Drake 

 

 

 

 

Sam Weaver 1936 demonstrating his famous throw-in,  we had just signed him from Newcastle

 

 

 

 

 

 

'urry up it's only 5p  

 

 

Three great Chelsea pictures from the past.