30 minutes ago, Boyne said:

On Saturday I attended a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST). Just over 100 people attended the meeting by Zoom. There was a brief by the CST Board about meetings with the club over the redevelopment of the ground (nothing to report), the dismissal of Frank (the day after he left the CST board met the club and expressed their unhappiness about his departure) and the return of fans to the club. One comment made was about a sabbatical been given to ST holders and members who do not wish to return to games until they feel safe to do so.

However, nearly all of the SGM was given over to a Q and A with Pat Nevin. Pat has a book coming out on 20 May. Details below. In the Q and A Pat mentioned that some Waterstones book shops will have signed copies. At the end of the SGM there was a raffle (each attendee was given a number) and the winner received a signed copy of the book.

Pat answered questions for over two hours and could have spoken for longer. It was a great meeting and Pat told some great stories about his time at Chelsea, his interest in music and his media work. Pat was very up front and straight with his answers and told some great stories. Too many to mention here but here are a few. Some of you may have already home heard them. I no particular order: just as I remember them.

Joe McLaughlin knocking out David Speedie. There were mentions of a few people who had fights with Speedie. I guess it's like any place of work. You don't have to like someone to work with them.

Taking Doug Rougvie to a gig in South London. Doug turned up in a Chelsea training outfit and was a bit bemused by the costumes others were wearing.

The mazy run against Newcastle. Pat said that if he had scored would it have been his second best goal. The best being one he scored for Clyde.

Ian McNeill handing out nips of whisky and John McNaught having a bit too much.

A difference of opinion with Ernie Whalley about the style of play.

Pat loved us fans and the atmosphere we created. Mentioned the game at Grimsby in particular. He told of when he went to a game between Chelsea and Everton and had to decide which fans to join. He chose us and his name was sung by the fans.

He hopes to get back to being a DJ in due course. He also showed some of the shirts he has acquired over the years including the one from that season.

Pat bumps into some of the guys he played with from time to time when they're back at the Bridge.

All in all a great time. If I think of anything else will post on here.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Footballer-Pat-Nevin/dp/1913183378/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HH8DD3AZTOZ4&dchild=1&keywords=pat+nevin+book&qid=1616416358&sprefix=pat+nevi%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1

Not in the least bit surprised about Speedie I heard him on the radio once a real obnoxious prick he made Geoff Boycott sound like Stephen Fry great player though. About fans returning I haven't heard anything but will all clubs not just Chelsea just let in those who have been vaccinated ? Going to be a lot of old geezers going if it is 😆

2 hours ago, bluehaze said:

Not in the least bit surprised about Speedie I heard him on the radio once a real obnoxious prick he made Geoff Boycott sound like Stephen Fry great player though. About fans returning I haven't heard anything but will all clubs not just Chelsea just let in those who have been vaccinated ? Going to be a lot of old geezers going if it is 😆

I heard just after we played Sunderland in the semi-final of the League Cup in 1985 (what a crazy night that was) that Speedie went for Clive Walker in the players bar.

Can't see fans being allowed back into grounds until next season although it has been suggested that the two last games of the season be moved back inline with Government guidelines. In the end I guess it's down to what the Government dictates. At the meeting someone mentioned that with the FA Cup final only fans who live in the local area be allowed in. If Chelsea does get to the final I don't know how many people would be affected with fans living all over the country and abroad. 

With one exception the people I go to the games with are in the age range from mid-fifties to mid-sixties and we've all had one jab. One of the advantages of getting old. That and free prescriptions and free travel in London! Heard a while back that when it comes to fans Chelsea has among some some of the oldest fans in the country. I do wonder if football grounds like some other places will let in only those who are vaccinated. Saying that It's probably safer in a football ground than say a theatre but probably a bigger risk is travelling on the trains etc.

A few of us have shirts with this picture on as a badge. If you see someone a shirt with this badge it could be me.

 

 

The difference between the MH then and the sterile atmosphere now is actually a little disheartening proper Chelsea back then.

 

I was in the old West Stand for the Bruges game. The atmosphere that night was brilliant. I've had a ST in the MHU since season 97-98 and have to agree that the atmosphere isn't what it was. Been a few exceptions such as the CL game against Napoli in 2012. A great night. Think the same could be said about all parts of the ground when it comes to atmosphere. A shame as when the crowd is on top form the atmosphere is incredible.

Is it because we're getting older or too complacent and spoilt with all the trophies we've won in the last 20 years? Will be interesting to know what others think.

9 minutes ago, Boyne said:

I was in the old West Stand for the Bruges game. The atmosphere that night was brilliant. I've had a ST in the MHU since season 97-98 and have to agree that the atmosphere isn't what it was. Been a few exceptions such as the CL game against Napoli in 2012. A great night. Think the same could be said about all parts of the ground when it comes to atmosphere. A shame as when the crowd is on top form the atmosphere is incredible.

Is it because we're getting older or too complacent and spoilt with all the trophies we've won in the last 20 years? Will be interesting to know what others think.

A bit of everything. The removal of standing areas makes it very hard to replicate the atmosphere of the old days. It would be great if they could bring them back like they have in Germany.

That Bruges game did have a cracking atmosphere. I wasn't there but it was live on TV, and a big European night was a massive thrill back then. We take them for granted now.

9 minutes ago, Backbiter said:

A bit of everything. The removal of standing areas makes it very hard to replicate the atmosphere of the old days. It would be great if they could bring them back like they have in Germany.

That Bruges game did have a cracking atmosphere. I wasn't there but it was live on TV, and a big European night was a massive thrill back then. We take them for granted now.

It would be good to bring back standing areas. Germany is a great example and safe standing has been introduced at Celtic Park. Perhaps if the Bridge is redeveloped there will be standing areas e.g. the MH and Shed lowers. I wouldn't stand myself as I have a dodgy right knee and if I stand in the same spot for too long it plays up - a sign of getting old - but the option of standing should be there.

Fans back in football grounds is a long long way off as we knew it .At the best there might be reduced capacity by whatever %.

This in turn will tie in with the no away fans allowed to attended any games ,as that in turn will turn over the away section into grounds to 

more Home fans that will attended in reduced capacity games .

Its when a team gets to a final where far more thought will have to go into,what is what ,since as things stand today all domestic finals 

are held in London at Wembley ,which inturn might have fans from other parts corners of country travelling to the smoke etc etc .

Think those of you that attended cheslea games today week in week out will have to use the idiot box for our chelsea fix .

20 minutes ago, Scott said:

That gange with his t shirt  on has to be Northern Chelsea   case now closed 

Not going to restart posting old match programmes. An exception for this one.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 23, 20215 yr by erskblue

 

West Stand not sure of the exact year late 50's maybe.

 

1985.

 

On 22/03/2021 at 12:05, Boyne said:

I was in the old West Stand for the Bruges game. The atmosphere that night was brilliant. I've had a ST in the MHU since season 97-98 and have to agree that the atmosphere isn't what it was. Been a few exceptions such as the CL game against Napoli in 2012. A great night. Think the same could be said about all parts of the ground when it comes to atmosphere. A shame as when the crowd is on top form the atmosphere is incredible.

Is it because we're getting older or too complacent and spoilt with all the trophies we've won in the last 20 years? Will be interesting to know what others think.

I was in the benches for that game and I agree was a cracking atmosphere. In fact I remember all of the Cup Winners Cup games being great atmospheres that season. Shame we didn't nick an away goal against a very decent Real Zaragoza team. I remember their keep made a good save from Furlong at the end of the away match. The home game was all but gone when they got an equalizer and all too valuable away goal, but our fans were great and we made a game of it to win 3-1 on the night. Their fans were sweating towards the end of that one as we were all over them.

One of best atmosphere at  SB for a chelsea game that still sticks with me was the Vicenza  match back in 1998 .

going 0-1 down and pulling that back to a 3-1 on the night which sent blues to next round was stunning and better than sex .

not that my sex is crap ,just never expericened emotions of pissed off doom and gloom to pure joy hugging strangers when 3rd went in ,

Walking on air when leaving ground and no end of back slapping when going into pub full of chelsea mates .

christ i Even saw High Fives been done > no shag will ever make you want to backslap or highfive in my book 

That day in Brighton 1983

 

 

18 minutes ago, Scott said:

That day in Brighton 1983

 

 

Only time i ever took r lass to a football game and never again . From where that goal is bust i can just about pin point where i was stood with r lass as trouble was

brewing inside the pen behind the goal . It was getting quite messy with the chelsea lot who was fronting the Police who had been backed into the corner ofvthe pen against the fence . The against the fence part is where i placed her and type of stood over her to give her cover ,whilst i was clocking the chelsea mob testing the 3 or 4 Police that was cornerd . 
 

i was 18 back then and r lass was 16 . She never went or asked to go to the football with me again thank god ,that was her only time at a football game .

There was no end of chelsea at that game ,but there one memory that i also cant clear from my mind and its a sketchy memory at best .

 

In the build upto the Brighton game at least 2 weeks before and onto the day of the game across all the national newspapers sun ,star ,mirror etc etc the country was searching for a man who had caused some very serious sex offences in the Brighton area . This is where my memory gets sketchy and i have to put 2 and 2 together .

word across all chelsea fans that day was gay bashing > which leads me to the type of sex offence this man had done > it was against a boy or boys so you can 

figure out what type of sex acts had taken place since it hit all the nationals . I just cant recall if a boy his lastest vjctim had died or not ? But the papers had asked the public 

to keep their eyes open and report anything iffy etc etc and this was on front Pages day of the game . The whole country was in uproar about this case hence the gay bashing mindset that day with chelsea fans ,

iam stood on that terrace behind the goal with r lass and as you can see the end was packed and everyone was packed in ,it was uncomfortable for me never mind r lass 

so a scanned all around the terrace for a more safer spot . This is where i clocked a iffy looking man for sure ,the fact that he looked so iffy as in sex case was the term used back then he got my attention . He was on his own > that rang a bell ,he did not look like a football fan at all > rang another bell , his dress sense was all wrong for a football, 

fan > another bell, but his expressions during the crush and facial features > another bell , and to top it all he was wearing a very dirty long Brown Mac coat ,the exact style of long Brown Mac that flashers or iffy standing outside School gates or approach kids in parks that we was allways warned about . > that was my last bell to ring .

so as me and r lass moved into a different part of the terrace i only did what the papers was asking us to do report to police anythjng susspicious .

 

found a spot that was not so crushed and watched game from there . I have no idea what the Police did or  if they did anythjng to my report . For life of me 

i dont recall if the hunt for this suspect was sucessfull or not ? But he looked a wrong’ern for sure .

Probably been already posted.

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v TSV Munich 1860 in the Fairs Cup back in March 1966.

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Not chelsea but 20 secs of qpr  v man city ,watched it 3 times now and still non the wiser . How many mistakes do you

see in the clip ? I lost count after using all my fingers and toes .

 

 

Chelsea FC Lookback has been busy uploading loads of old footage to YouTube. This one caught my eye, from the days of Glenn Hoddle: