ss

Didn't go to the re-scheduled game, but I do remember Blanchflower selecting Osgood at centre-half that night!

I wont mention Danny Blanchflower's management skills, but as a top bloke he was right up there. I was working for a little scaffolding/steel erecting company in the relegation season and we had a little bit of patch up work to do at the Bridge, those blue mesh steel panels at the top of the Shed stairs was one of ours, as well as quite a few of the crush barriers. We'd worked pretty late one day and as we were walking back to the van Danny Blanchflower came out of the old ivy walled offices, my boss, who couldn't be described as remotely pc if he lived to be 200, shouted out something along the lines of me being a big fan. I can't remember his exact response but it was along the lines of what a poor f**king fool I must be. He arranged for the old head of security, Andy Dunlop, to give us a guided tour of the ground and give us whatever bits and pieces, souvenir wise, were laying around. So always fond memories of the bloke for me.

Well, what an amazing find. Thanks go to Garry Jones for introducing me to this thread.

My first game was in 1974 and I've just spent an hour watching film of my heroes from that era...superb stuff.

Hours more pleasure await.

(BTW - the 80's photos much beloved by Shattner's Basson were mine. I'm very happy that other Chelsea fans have enjoyed seeing 'em.)

If you've got anymore don't be shy mate, this thread must be one of the best Chelsea related bits on the whole interweb at the moment.

> Can't help but think I was a jinx on my team,................

Hmmmmm. Well let me see now.

I was born in the close season of 1961. Chelsea had enjoyed 31 years in the top flight. (Our longest spell in our history). In the first season of my life - 61-62 - we were relegated.

I saw my first game in 71-72. We had added a star to the shirt in 70 and another in 71. We would have added a 3rd star if we had beaten Stoke in the league cup final in 71-72. We lost.

I started going to homes in 74-75, we were relegated.

I started going to every game home and away during in 78-79, we were relegated with one of the worst top flight records in history.

P42. W5. D10. L27. F44. A92. Pts 20. Rock bottom.

In 79-80 I did my first ever-present. We missed promotion on goal difference. Three points a win started in 80-81, if it had been used in 79-80 we would have been promoted.

In 80-81 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history to date.

In 81-82 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history to date.

In 82-83 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history ever.

In 83-84 I stopped going to every game. We won our second ever league championship. Also in 83-84 I didn't go to Leicester away in the league cup. We won 2-0. I went to the home match. We lost 2-0 and scrapped through on penalties. Cathy saw me after the game and said "I knew you were here tonight" as we nearly blew it.

In 84-85 I hardly saw a match. We won our first ever match at Wembley.

I started going again quite often towards the end of the 1988 season when we were safely placed in the league. Our form dipped and people said "lucky we are so well placed or we would be in trouble". It got worse, we got in trouble and we were relegated. My last game was the Boro play-offs at home. (I did the away as well and the Blackburn games).

I saw games in England in a 17 year spell from 1971-1988. 17 years later we won the Premier League, our second ever top flight championship win.

In fact, Cathy and the others are in agreement, if I ever decide to move back to the UK they are going to the home office to stop my repatriation!

So; you still think YOU are a jinx?

:)

You utter, utter bar steward.

> Can't help but think I was a jinx on my team,................ Hmmmmm. Well let me see now. I was born in the close season of 1961. Chelsea had enjoyed 31 years in the top flight. (Our longest spell in our history). In the first season of my life - 61-62 - we were relegated. I saw my first game in 71-72. We had added a star to the shirt in 70 and another in 71. We would have added a 3rd star if we had beaten Stoke in the league cup final in 71-72. We lost. I started going to homes in 74-75, we were relegated. I started going to every game home and away during in 78-79, we were relegated with one of the worst top flight records in history. P42. W5. D10. L27. F44. A92. Pts 20. Rock bottom. In 79-80 I did my first ever-present. We missed promotion on goal difference. Three points a win started in 80-81, if it had been used in 79-80 we would have been promoted. In 80-81 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history to date. In 81-82 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history to date. In 82-83 I was ever-present. We had our worst ever season in our history ever. In 83-84 I stopped going to every game. We won our second ever league championship. Also in 83-84 I didn't go to Leicester away in the league cup. We won 2-0. I went to the home match. We lost 2-0 and scrapped through on penalties. Cathy saw me after the game and said "I knew you were here tonight" as we nearly blew it. In 84-85 I hardly saw a match. We won our first ever match at Wembley. I started going again quite often towards the end of the 1988 season when we were safely placed in the league. Our form dipped and people said "lucky we are so well placed or we would be in trouble". It got worse, we got in trouble and we were relegated. My last game was the Boro play-offs at home. (I did the away as well and the Blackburn games). I saw games in England in a 17 year spell from 1971-1988. 17 years later we won the Premier League, our second ever top flight championship win. In fact, Cathy and the others are in agreement, if I ever decide to move back to the UK they are going to the home office to stop my repatriation! So; you still think YOU are a jinx? :)

LOL! I can actually relate to this. I had my first season ticket in 78-79 season. I went to the 94 FA Cup Final and saw us lose 4-0 to United. Then saw us fail to exact revenge in the most painful of semis 2 years later. After that I moved to the States. Following season we made the cup final and I booked my flight home. I was due to get into Heathrow early morning of Cup Final day and scalp a ticket, but there was a lot of fog over London and we were seemingly on the only plane in British Airways fleet that couldn't land in fog so we landed at Shannon in Ireland. By the time we made it into Heathrow I had just about enough time to grab a taxi to my sister's place so I could watch it on TV. It wasn't meant to be. After that I didn't risk jinxing it again.

I've been living in the States since then during which time Chelsea have mostly gone from strength to strength. So I've convinced myself the same thing that if I ever return Chelsea will probably get relegated ;).

I'm pretty certain that with it being an all ticket match United didn't take up and sell any tickets due to the threat of violence, we hadn't played them for a few years and both clubs supporters had run riot during their times in Division 2. Their support at this match was small compared wuith what they took everywhere else and their fans in the ground were mainly Cockney Reds who had bought tickets at the Bridge and those bought from touts.

Nothing changes though, United with loads of cash to spend, late penalties, etc.

Amazed at the space when it was an all ticket 40,000 crowd.Another really good Ray Wilkins goal. Still annoyed at Man Utd late late pen from that game...

1980-81

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1Wr71d16_k

Morning Eddie. Watch your latest offering later.

1980-81

Hey Rangers fans, history lesson time. Look at your away support (if you can find it) !

Hey Rangers fans, history lesson time. Look at your away support (if you can find it) !

To be fair mate there's probably more QPR there than they used to bring to Loftus Rd.

Btw - That Sheff Weds game...

Date: Saturday, 4th January 1975

Competition: F.A. Cup Round 3

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Attendance: 24,679

Referee: Dennis Turner (Cannock)

Chelsea 1 John Phillips, 2 Gary Locke, 3 Ron Harris, 4 John Hollins, 5 Micky Droy, 6 David Hay, 7 Charlie Cooke, 8 Ray Wilkins, 9 Chris Garland, 10 Bill Garner, 11 Peter Houseman

Scorers Droy 75, Garland 76, Droy 85

Penalty Missed Hollins 18 (Over bar)

Manager Ron Suart

Sheffield Wednesday Fox, Rodrigues, Shaw, Thompson, Dowd, Knighton, Potts, Wylde, Joicey (Mullen), McIver, Sunley

Scorers Thompson 33 (Pen), Shaw 60

Manager Steve Burtenshaw

Thanks for the stats. Not sure about that crowd number The Shed was, I recall, packed and I am sure the rest of the ground was too.

How the hell do any of you lot remember so much? I can't seem to recall that much just a memory of excitement and intense passion for our team. As for scores my mates just laugh at me as I can't even remember games this season let alone 40 odd years ago.

I still go to aways and recommend all old timers do that if only because it is more like the old days as opposed to home games which can be like a funeral even when we are winning.

Thanks for the stats. Not sure about that crowd number The Shed was, I recall, packed and I am sure the rest of the ground was too.

How the hell do any of you lot remember so much? I can't seem to recall that much just a memory of excitement and intense passion for our team. As for scores my mates just laugh at me as I can't even remember games this season let alone 40 odd years ago.

I still go to aways and recommend all old timers do that if only because it is more like the old days as opposed to home games which can be like a funeral even when we are winning.

I remember John Hollins putting a penalty almost onto the district line behind the North Stand (and a lot of fighting).

> How the hell do any of you lot remember so much?

Lots comes from memory.

Some comes from www.statto.com that has every result and league table ever in English football. (And most other countries). It has dates, tables, league positions on any date. You can even look at games played on a particular day. For intance 34 years ago 11th February 1978. http://www.statto.co...ults/1978-02-11 And it has a season progress level indicator that shows how a team moved up or down a league.

For instance us in 80-81

http://www.statto.co...elsea/1980-1981

Then there is this with every teamsheet and goalscorer for every Chelsea match. Goal minutes, names of referees and managers.

http://www.bounder.f...co.uk/index.htm

For instance

Chelsea (3) 6 Newcastle United (0) 0

Date: Saturday, 25th October 1980

Competition: Football League Division 2 Position 3

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Attendance: 22,916

Referee: Eric A Read (Bristol)

Chelsea 1 Petar Borota, 2 Mike Nutton, 3 Dennis Rofe, 4 John Bumstead, 5 Micky Droy, 6 Gary Chivers, 7 Phil Driver, 8 Mike Fillery, 9 Colin Lee, 10 Clive Walker (12 Ian Britton 78), 11 Peter Rhoades-Brown

Scorers Lee 15, Fillery 34, Walker 43, Lee 46, Chivers 51, Lee 86

Manager Geoff Hurst

Newcastle United Carr, Carney, Withe, Martin, Boam, Halliday, Shinton, Cartwright, Waddle (Koenen 53), Rafferty, Wharton

Manager Arthur Cox

Newcastle game listed here.

http://www.bounder.f...s/1980.htm#2994

Edited February 9, 201214 yr by GarryJones

Ok. Not Chelsea vintage but I think this deserves a mention:

Check the league division 1 table from 1928-1929.

Note which team had the best defensive record in the league! (least amount of goals).

http://www.statto.co...1928-1929/table

Now that is pretty vintage! - Probably the most amazing football statistic ever recorded.

Edited February 9, 201214 yr by GarryJones

Ok. Not Chelsea vintage but I think this deserves a mention:

Check the league division 1 table from 1928-1929.

Note which team had the best defensive record in the league! (least amount of goals).

http://www.statto.co...1928-1929/table

Now that is pretty vintage! - Probably the most amazing football statistic ever recorded.

Unfortunately for them they had the worst attack.

> Unfortunately for them they had the worst attack.

Yep. But if you can find another statistic like this I'll be surprised. Mind you this comes close:

http://en.wikipedia....998_Allsvenskan

Swedish top league 1998. AIK win the league but average less than one goal a game. They win the league having scored the least number of goals of all the teams in the league!

To get this back on track. Chelsea vintage footage?. What's the earliest video footage we can find?

I have this Chelsea v Stoke Charity match 1918.

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

Edited February 10, 201214 yr by GarryJones

And some more classic stuff.

Our first Semi-Final win since 1915.

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

Played at villa Park

Chelsea Drum Majorettes 1964

Stamford Bridge Stompers! (In colour).

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

Chelsea v Liverpool 1937

6-1 opening day of season.

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

Election night of 1966.

q/f replay 1966 Hull (Div 3) V Chelsea

Hull's goal is a cracker!

Great away support!

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

Darlington's first match at home to a first division team for 30 years.

Darlington v Chelsea 4th Round Replay 1958.

Darlington (The Quakers) are in the lower realms of Division III fighting off relegation*

One of the most "amazing 6 minutes ever in a cup-tie". A fluke!

http://www.britishpa...helsea+football

*This was a very special season in the lower leagues.

Up until 1920 professional football was a Northern affair. The only southern teams in the first two divisions were Arsenal, Chelsea, Clapton Orient, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bristol City. Side by side with the Football league was the Southern League and many of these teams were at least as good as teams in the Football League. In 1920-21 the Southern League was incorperated into the Football League as Division III. In 1921 it was renamed Division III South and Division III North was formed consisting of the best and biggest non-league Northern clubs. Some teams on the regions border could find themselves changing leagues because of geographical reasons fairly often. Only the champions were promoted so many teams spent the entire 31 seasons (36 years) trapped in one of these leagues. In 1957-58, these two leagues were to be split and go nationwide. So the bottom half of the Div III South joined the bottom half of Div III North to form Division IV and the higher placed teams formed Div III except of course the champions who were promoted. So Darlington were trying to climb into the top half of the league to avoid Div IV. Their little cup run took some of the focus off and eventually they failed to make it. However they had got a 3-3 draw at the Bridge and the above is the replay. Quite a game.

Edited February 10, 201214 yr by GarryJones

Great Garry, cheers.

.

Edited March 7, 201214 yr by Eddie Macs blue and white

Ok. Not Chelsea vintage but I think this deserves a mention:

Check the league division 1 table from 1928-1929.

Note which team had the best defensive record in the league! (least amount of goals).

http://www.statto.co...1928-1929/table

Now that is pretty vintage! - Probably the most amazing football statistic ever recorded.

Not only that, the Champions recoded only 3 away wins!

1978-79

Seeing as it is a bit cold outside, this should warm the hearts, oh and a message for the real Mancs, where were you when you were sh*te?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKSSd1TaLA&feature=youtu.be

Who was Stride, our left back?

No recollection of him whatsoever

Cracking picture of our Bonnie Prince Charlie

Who was Stride, our left back?

No recollection of him whatsoever

David Stride. Came through the youth. Took over from Sparrow/ Wilkins but never did a lot. Eventually moved on to Millwall, I think. Quite small and pretty tough, but hardly a memorable player.

just watched that Chelsea v Derby game and what it brought back was the joy I used to feel at getting a draw and NOT losing.

David Stride. Born 14 March 1958

Always worked hard and ran a lot. Gutsy but not really talented. He didn't go forward a lot and did not score in any of his 35 games for us.

David joined Chelsea as an apprentice, signing professional forms in January 1976. In 78 he had a spell on loan with the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League. He was reserve team captain for quite a few games and made his first team debut in the 1-1 at Birmingham on 23rd September 1978. He played 32 league games during the 1978/79 ill-fated campaign. After playing 3 games in the 79-80 season we sold him to the Rogues. In 1981, Memphis sent him to the Minnesota Kicks. In Autumn 81, he signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1982, he moved to the Jacksonville Tea Men. Following the 1982 NASL season, Stride returned to England to play for Millwall in January 83 and then moved on to Leyton Orient. In 1985, he returned to the United States to play for the Dallas Sidekicks of Major Indoor Soccer League.

Here he is during the 0-0 draw against Southampton on 28th December 1978.

Edited February 10, 201214 yr by GarryJones

1972-73

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsX6AuqTHQ0

Fantastic stuff - not only a magnificent goal from Ossie, but the debut of Ian Britton, one of my heroes from the 'seventies. Throw in an interview with Brian Clough, too, and and it's a great thirty minutes.

Edited February 11, 201214 yr by VINCI PER NOI