45 minutes ago, Boyne said:

Was at the game. Ended 0-0. Was also at the replay at WHL which we won 3-0. Arrived home to watch the highlights but the programme was cancelled due to a news programme about the First Gulf War.

Yes, I remember we were discussing the imminent Gulf War during the game.. I can even remember where we were standing, at the front near the West Stand !!

3 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Yes, I remember we were discussing the imminent Gulf War during the game.. I can even remember where we were standing, at the front near the West Stand !!

I remember that there was a lot of discussion about when the Gulf War would commence. Have been involved in some good non-football discussions before, during and after games especially if the game isn't or hasn't been very good. Been a few of those over the years!

The Big Match.Highlights of our game v West Brom on 18th October 1969.

A crowd of 34,810 saw us win 2-0.

Eddie McCreadie – Chelsea’s greatest case of “what might have been”

www.gameofthepeople.com

DONNING a medallion that trailed in front of his full-length sheepskin, and shielded behind period piece dark glasses, Eddie McCreadie was very much a mid-70s man in his short time as Chelsea’s manager.

He was confident and wise-cracking, he believed in his young players and promised the fans that promotion from the second division would be “no sweat”.

There was a little bit of Tommy Docherty and Dave Sexton in him, but McCreadie was certainly his own man.

If he hadn’t been, he might have stayed at Chelsea longer than he did, but he stood his ground over a point of principle and just weeks after leading the club to a much-needed promotion back to the first division, he resigned over his personal terms.

His passing at the age of 85 will be mourned by those that recall him as a tough, no-nonsense player and a manager of some potential.

He won the FA Cup and Football League Cup with Chelsea as their full back, but the emotional promotion campaign of 1976-77, after a summer in which the club almost went to the wall, will arguably be remembered as his finest achievement by the club’s legacy supporters.

Born in Glasgow in April 1940, McCreadie started out with East Stirlingshire and was signed by Chelsea in 1962 for a fee of £5,000.

For many years, he was the club’s most capped player, appearing 23 times for Scotland.

It is often forgotten that he was a member of the Scotland team that lowered England’s colours for the first time after winning the World Cup, the famous 3-2 win at Wembley of 1967. 

Speedy and tenacious, McCreadie was considered to be the best left back in Britain in the mid-1960s.

He was a pivotal figure in Tommy Docherty’s youthful team of that period and then became an important member of Dave Sexton’s cup-fighting side.

He had designs on a career in coaching as his playing days drew to a close and his Chelsea career ended in October 1973 after 410 appearances and five goals.

His most important goal was undoubtedly the winner in the 1965 Football League Cup final first leg at Stamford Bridge when he filled the role of emergency centre forward.

The FA Cup victory in 1970 was the pinnacle of his playing days but injury prevented him from being involved when the club won its first European prize in 1971.

That team broke up and in 1974-75, Chelsea were heading for relegation. Sexton was sacked and McCreadie was appointed as team coach in November 1974, working alongside Ron Suart.

In mid-April 1975, with the writing on the wall, he was appointed manager. He couldn’t prevent the club falling into the second divison, but he demonstrated his boldness by appointing 18-year-old Ray Wilkins as his captain.

Chelsea had no choice but to rely on a more than half-decent youth squad to build their promotion challenge, but despite McCreadie’s chutzpah, the 1975-76 campaign was largely forgettable.

In the summer of 1976, the club revealed it was on the brink of collapse owing to the cost of their ground-breaking new stand, the construction of which had dragged on against a difficult macroeconomic backdrop.

McCreadie popularity never wavered among the fans as he galvanised the team to give everything to effectively save Chelsea from extinction.

The notable aspect of a thoroughly enjoyable season was the style of football that McCreadie insisted Chelsea should adopt, the youngsters played marvellous football for most the campaign despite a late stutter.

The close season celebrations were soon brought to a close when it was announced, almost out of the blue, that McCreadie had resigned.

The full story took many years to come out, but it was supposedly about the manager wanting a company car, not an unreasonable request at most clubs, but at that time it was seen as an unaffordable luxury by Chelsea.

It was also reported that he hankered for a formal contract. Chelsea fans were stunned and although his replacement was another clubman in Ken Shellito, the hangover lasted for weeks.

Whenever the team struggled in 1977-78, the Chelsea “Shed” would chant for McCreadie’s return.

He spent many years in the US and was never seen at Stamford Bridge, despite the legend living on.

Thankfully, bridges were built and he eventually emerged, but there are many Chelsea folk who believe that the young Chelsea team of 1977 would have gone on to better things with their mentor in place.

Eddie McCreadie will never be forgotten.

Edited January 20Jan 20 by erskblue

From fb, would not have recognised him

12 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

From fb, would not have recognised him

Found the pic on Facebook, and it is from a couple of years ago apparently ... he's 94 now !

4 hours ago, strider6004 said:

From fb, would not have recognised him

Me neither!

Steve Finnieston against Norwich.

Steve Finnieston gets ready to come on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, for Bill Garner against Ipswich.

Steve then scored our third goal in the 74th minute! 21st Jan 1978.

We won 5-3 in front of a crowd of 26,044.

The Big Match Highlights of our 5-3 win over Ipswich on 21st January 1978.

Pictures from our 4-1 away win against Crystal Palace. F.A. Cup 5th Round  at Selhurst Park on Saturday, 7th February 1970 Our scorers: Osgood 37th, Dempsey 64th, Houseman 73rd and Hutchinson 86th mins. Watched by a really good crowd of 48,479.

Edited January 22Jan 22 by erskblue

‘The Big Match Highlights of the Crystal Palace 5th Round FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace in Feb 1970.

Steve Wicks and Paul Hart of Blackpool battle for the ball. 5th March 1977.

A 2-2 draw watched by 27,412 Steve Wicks scored our second goal in the 47th minute.

A packed Shed and you can see ‘the wee blue cars at the bottom left of this picture.

David Webb and Brian O Neil of Southampton in a spectacular challenge. 1970-71.

David Webb has just scored the winner in the 1970 FA Cup Final Replay!😀

Celebration Time😀

Bolton away on 7th May 1983 - Clive Walker celebrating one of the most crucial goals in Chelsea history.

I thank him again .

Our players looked bemused at the flowers given to them by the Moscow Dynamo players.

You can see spectators have climbed to the top of advertising hoardings to watch the match!

November 1945

5th Round FA Cup game v Spuds. 20th February 1965.

We won 1-0. Barry Bridges scoring in the 17th min.

Watched by a crowd of 63,205.

Eric Parson scores one of his two goals against Sheffield Wednesday on 23rd April 1955.

We won 3-0 and the victory secured us the League Championship for the first time. After this match, we were then four points ahead of Wolves, with just one match remaining.

A crowd of 51,421 officially witnessed this historic match and moment.

1967-68.