> That team would comfortably beat our current squad. Look at the speed of movement from front to back.

I have had this argument with many. People tell me that whilst I might like to think so the standard of fitness has gone up ten fold. And that although those players had talent with the training measures used then and now they'd be out of their depth. - That the potential was there but they just didn't have the overall fitness, - However I don't think this is fair and I often take the bait and argue that these players may not have had the advantage of advances in sports science these last 40 years they were very fit. They trained in old-fashioned ways but they acheived great levels of fitness. They also had to play 42 league games and cup games if fit. They were not rested for league cup and invariably the 12th man, a single sub was not used. So I think, yes, that team of 70 would hold its own today against the best in the world.

As for the Linekar foul: Strange how you see things differently in the cold light of 32 years. :) I have always maintained that we were robbed at Leicester on Easter Saturday.

Easter 1980 - I had a question of faith on the Easter Monday. I had qualified for the first World Championships of Space Invaders. I got through to the final rounds starting on Easter Sunday at the Piccadilly hotel in London. Sunday went well for me and on the Monday morning I got through to the quarter-finals and a chance to win a holiday to USA and play Jimmy Carter in the White House. They moved my quarter-final round so I could play about 2 in the afternoon instead of 2.30. Chelsea were playing Luton at 3 pm. I won the q/f against some 11-year old Manc that had been on TV and tipped to win. I was interviewed by ITV. The semi was set for 4 pm. I tried to get It moved to 5 saying I could jump in a cab at 16.40 from Fulham Road. They said no. It was not even a tough call. I invited the Manc back in and went over Chelsea. Colin Lee scored with 5 seconds left, his first goal for the club, we drew 1-1. The little Manc went on to win the World Championships and found fame in USA. I completed my first 42 game season watching Chelsea. That summer I sold my Atari including the Space Invader game. I never competed again.

Edited February 18, 201214 yr by GarryJones

1985-86

Another home match at QPR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFB-D8U9cBM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R50F8QKkTBI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_dvGmVVOrQ

Edited February 18, 201214 yr by Eddie Macs blue and white

1971-72

1982-83

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B_hpPUcSJA

From the era when I started to go to games and call me a moist eyed, nostalgic old git but there are so many things I miss like:

Proper Chelsea kit with no name on the back or sponsor's ad on the front

Green goalie shirts

Next to no cameras in the crowd

proper tackles

that the ref is largely anonymous

No fannying about, passing the ball across the back line

A goalies big boot upfield

Brian Moore's commentary ( superb by todays standards)

Slow mo replays of goals and not every tackle

An absence of dayglo steward jackets

Terracing

No managers technical areas

etc. etc. etc. etc.

Edited February 18, 201214 yr by jezza

> That team would comfortably beat our current squad. Look at the speed of movement from front to back.

I have had this argument with many. People tell me that whilst I might like to think so the standard of fitness has gone up ten fold. And that although those players had talent with the training measures used then and now they'd be out of their depth. - That the potential was there but they just didn't have the overall fitness, - However I don't think this is fair and I often take the bait and argue that these players may not have had the advantage of advances in sports science these last 40 years they were very fit. They trained in old-fashioned ways but they acheived great levels of fitness. They also had to play 42 league games and cup games if fit. They were not rested for league cup and invariably the 12th man, a single sub was not used. So I think, yes, that team of 70 would hold its own today against the best in the world.

> That team would comfortably beat our current squad. Look at the speed of movement from front to back.

I have had this argument with many. People tell me that whilst I might like to think so the standard of fitness has gone up ten fold. And that although those players had talent with the training measures used then and now they'd be out of their depth. - That the potential was there but they just didn't have the overall fitness, - However I don't think this is fair and I often take the bait and argue that these players may not have had the advantage of advances in sports science these last 40 years they were very fit. They trained in old-fashioned ways but they acheived great levels of fitness. They also had to play 42 league games and cup games if fit. They were not rested for league cup and invariably the 12th man, a single sub was not used. So I think, yes, that team of 70 would hold its own today against the best in the world.

Also mate, another thing. Players today, they say have great fitness but do you think like in the past at Easter weekends they can play on Good Friday, the following day Saturday and to wash it down play the Bank Holiday Monday for good measure.On pitches the players of today wouldn't even train on??

The ball was harder and you couldn't bend it like every player in the league can today. Stikers and Keepers didn't have protection like today, whereas back in the day you wouldn't even get a talking to if you comitted bodily harm to anyone.

Also mate, another thing. Players today, they say have great fitness but do you think like in the past at Easter weekends they can play on Good Friday, the following day Saturday and to wash it down play the Bank Holiday Monday for good measure.On pitches the players of today wouldn't even train on??

The ball was harder and you couldn't bend it like every player in the league can today. Stikers and Keepers didn't have protection like today, whereas back in the day you wouldn't even get a talking to if you comitted bodily harm to anyone.

I've watched every one of these matches and I'm convinced too. You see players running forty or fifty yards through the middle with the ball, a modern player wouldn't know what to do about it without fouling. The passing is good, there's wingers, the ball moves quickly from back to front. I'd say the only minus is some of the defending in the box is terrible with attackers unmarked in acres of space.

Edited February 18, 201214 yr by Peckham Blue

Yeah, the game has changed, but for the better? Doubt it. I miss the days when Chris Garland, David Webb or Peter Osgood would go in goal because our keeper was injured. Sometimes the keeper would simply swap places. Looking at that West Ham CFC game from 64 there was no advertising around the ground. Was that because it was on BBC do you know? I remember when shirt advertising was phased in. If the game was on TV there was no advertising allowed. Then I think it was 9cm letters if not on TV and 3cm letters if on TV. And the fans have been priced out. As I compared in 64 we had 30500 fans and gate reciepts of £6500. If football admission had stuck to inflaton the average cost of going in would be £3.47. Also, every team that came to the Bridge had a superstar or two. I think someone hit the nail on the head, saying that we used to go with our mates to watch a bunch of mates play football.

Oh and do you remember how if we were losing with 5 minutes to go Micky Droy would play centre-forward.

> I'd say the only minus is some of the defending in the box is terrible with attackers unmarked in acres of space.

Hmmmmmmmm..........us last week at Everton? Things havn't changed that much then.

1978-79

Yes we were shocking that season, but that's my team.

Our front men didn't hit the target often that season, and were so poor Clive even throws a punch at Gillard after several assults on him and still missed

Blimey the Boutique Boys will love this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PUQr7NNAXA

Edited February 18, 201214 yr by Eddie Macs blue and white

As for anon referees, most of them where but the "star referees" always manager to stick out. I remember Clive Thomas giving Aston Villa a dubious penalty in the last minute. We lost 1-0, probably December 1978. I had my tranny with me and I remember how Peter Lorenzo was very critical of Clive for refusing to talk to his linesman. I listened to it on my ear piece on the way home.

PS Tranny meant a "transistor radio" back in the day. Oh and we did not have small headphones in each ear, a single earpiece for one ear was all that came with our trannies.

1985-86

Another home match at QPR

Incredible support here, John Motson comment at the start that there are as many Chelsea as Rangers is bollox - more like 75-25%. We were in the enclosure opposite the camera right next to the Loft as I'd bought the tickets at Loftus Road. We had every part of the ground except the posh seats and the Loft but watching it again when Dixon's goal is disallowed we had fans in there too!

Yeah, the game has changed, but for the better? Doubt it. I miss the days when Chris Garland, David Webb or Peter Osgood would go in goal because our keeper was injured. Sometimes the keeper would simply swap places. Looking at that West Ham CFC game from 64 there was no advertising around the ground. Was that because it was on BBC do you know? I remember when shirt advertising was phased in. If the game was on TV there was no advertising allowed. Then I think it was 9cm letters if not on TV and 3cm letters if on TV. And the fans have been priced out. As I compared in 64 we had 30500 fans and gate reciepts of £6500. If football admission had stuck to inflaton the average cost of going in would be £3.47. Also, every team that came to the Bridge had a superstar or two. I think someone hit the nail on the head, saying that we used to go with our mates to watch a bunch of mates play football.

Oh and do you remember how if we were losing with 5 minutes to go Micky Droy would play centre-forward.

Yeah, the game has changed, but for the better? Doubt it. I miss the days when Chris Garland, David Webb or Peter Osgood would go in goal because our keeper was injured. Sometimes the keeper would simply swap places. Looking at that West Ham CFC game from 64 there was no advertising around the ground. Was that because it was on BBC do you know? I remember when shirt advertising was phased in. If the game was on TV there was no advertising allowed. Then I think it was 9cm letters if not on TV and 3cm letters if on TV. And the fans have been priced out. As I compared in 64 we had 30500 fans and gate reciepts of £6500. If football admission had stuck to inflaton the average cost of going in would be £3.47. Also, every team that came to the Bridge had a superstar or two. I think someone hit the nail on the head, saying that we used to go with our mates to watch a bunch of mates play football.

Oh and do you remember how if we were losing with 5 minutes to go Micky Droy would play centre-forward.

I thought Micky Droy had a cultured left foot, look at his passes against Charlton, and Oldham games

That Chelsea QPR - you don't have the studio interview do you? I remember Gerry Francis saying how bad we were. They picked our lay apart in the studio with various replays. Gerry saying "look, they don't try to get the ball behind us and make us turn". I think Gerry was the studio guest as I doubt they did this straight after the match.

Another thing I miss - not being told how many % we have had the ball and all those other worthless stats.

> I'd say the only minus is some of the defending in the box is terrible with attackers unmarked in acres of space.

Hmmmmmmmm..........us last week at Everton? Things havn't changed that much then.

I walked right into that one!

As for anon referees, most of them where but the "star referees" always manager to stick out. I remember Clive Thomas giving Aston Villa a dubious penalty in the last minute. We lost 1-0, probably December 1978. I had my tranny with me and I remember how Peter Lorenzo was very critical of Clive for refusing to talk to his linesman. I listened to it on my ear piece on the way home.

PS Tranny meant a "transistor radio" back in the day. Oh and we did not have small headphones in each ear, a single earpiece for one ear was all that came with our trannies.

As for anon referees, most of them where but the "star referees" always manager to stick out. I remember Clive Thomas giving Aston Villa a dubious penalty in the last minute. We lost 1-0, probably December 1978. I had my tranny with me and I remember how Peter Lorenzo was very critical of Clive for refusing to talk to his linesman. I listened to it on my ear piece on the way home.

PS Tranny meant a "transistor radio" back in the day. Oh and we did not have small headphones in each ear, a single earpiece for one ear was all that came with our trannies.

The Tranny........Listening to Steve Tong on LBC

AND

As for anon referees, most of them where but the "star referees" always manager to stick out. I remember Clive Thomas giving Aston Villa a dubious penalty in the last minute. We lost 1-0, probably December 1978. I had my tranny with me and I remember how Peter Lorenzo was very critical of Clive for refusing to talk to his linesman. I listened to it on my ear piece on the way home.

PS Tranny meant a "transistor radio" back in the day. Oh and we did not have small headphones in each ear, a single earpiece for one ear was all that came with our trannies.

Walking out the ground trying to get close to someone with a tranny trying to hear the other results. (I frowned on those with an earplug keeping it all to themselves).

I had to check that Villa game.

Date: Saturday, 9th December 1978

Competition: Football League Division 1 Position 22

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Attendance: 19,080

Referee: Clive Thomas (Treorchy)

Chelsea 1 Bob Iles, 2 Graham Wilkins, 3 David Stride, 4 Garry Stanley, 5 Steve Wicks, 6 Ron Harris, 7 Duncan McKenzie (12 Clive Walker 61), 8 Ray Wilkins, 9 Trevor Aylott, 10 John Bumstead, 11 Ian Britton

Manager Ken Shellito

Aston Villa Rimmer, Gidman, Smith, Evans, McNaught, Mortimer, Craig, Shaw (Cropley 71), Deehan, Cowans, Gregory

Scorer Evans 15

Manager Ron Saunders

So it was Clive Thomas but we did not lose to a penalty in the last minute the way I thought I remembered. It must have been a penalty appeal that he waved away.

If it was the cup draw we huddled around someone with a tranny. But in those days I'd listen to the reports on the way home. Fulham Broadway to Victoria and then a train down to Petts Wood. That's when I'd use the ear-peice. But as said for cup draws, I'd stay on Fulham Broadway and people would huddle around me and my tranny.

Thanks for the houndsditch ad! Brilliant. I used to work nearby and I'd get my Atari game cartridges there twice a month on Friday afternoons. That's something else from those days : Pay day! - When we used to get a brown envelope with money IN it from our employers. I spent some on a cartridge. Put some in my pocket for football and hand the rest over to my mum. When I suggest my kids pay at home today they think I am from Mars.

What was the advert for "The big red building in Petticoat lane"?

What was the advert for "The big red building in Petticoat lane"?

What was the advert for "The big red building in Petticoat lane"?

That was Golds, they used to sell leather and sheepskins coats

1978-79

Another shocker from us........But it's worth showing if only for Clive's attempted afro back then (start of second Half) also see Tottenham away (Page 22) that season when it made it's second showing on TV

By the way my mate Garry Stanley Stanners still wears his afro with great pride even today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn4_Zza3Ei8

1979-80

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfvsUr91DGQ

Leicester werethen managed by Jock Wallace and would get promoted then beat Liverpool at Anfield in Jan 81.

This win ending alonmg unbeaten league home record stretching back to I think Feb 78.

Thanks for the video's, one thing led to another and I ended up finding a video of my first ever Chelsea match.

This video shows approx the last 20 min's of the match, we were 3-0 down at H/T, we had approx 6'000, the attendance was approx 10'000.