21 hours ago, bluehaze said:

Hope no one minds me posting this it's Derek Hales (ex Charlton, West Ham) Q&A in Shoot. No attempt to hide what a misery he is ha ha.

 

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I do hope he'd put under 'Favourite actor'. John Laurie of  Dads Army, who played the miserable old git Private Fraser who often said " We're doomed !"

 

Some footage of that classic season.

A game at The Bridge v Oldham in early March 1984.

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by erskblue

Here you go. Arsenal v Chelsea from a very warm opening day back in Aug 1984.

34 years ago !

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2018/04/home-and-away--paul-canoville.html

Home and Away: Paul Canoville

feature Fri 27 Apr 2018

With the Blues on the road at Swansea tomorrow, our former winger Paul Canoville looks back on some of the memorable  away games he played in for the club, as well as a huge personal highlight against our weekend opponents…

 

You scored your first away goal for the club in a local derby, a 1-1 draw at Fulham in April 1983 [pictured below]. Do you remember much about the strike?

Yes, I do. In training, under John Neal, everybody knew their positions, who was supposed to be at the near post and who had to be at the far post. I was put towards the back post so that if anything came across I would put the ball back into the box.

I remember Micky Droy going up for the ball and it ended up coming off the Fulham defender and falling to me. I didn’t really know whether I should just help the ball back into the box, or hit it first time, which is what I did, and it went straight into the goal.

I was excited, I’m not going to lie, it was a big moment. I remember celebrating with Micky Fillery, Peter Rhoades-Brown and Micky Droy.

There was a great team spirit in that group. For a young black boy coming in they were all very supportive. The banter was the main thing. Those boys would make jokes out of anything and you had to be aware not to come in dressed in anything silly because the joke would be on you. It was good though.

 

Just over a month later, we went to Bolton needing a victory to avoid relegation to the Third Division. You played in that game, what are your memories of it?

That was a tough game. The surface wasn’t great, it was raining and they were difficult conditions to play in. We needed a win, no matter how we got it. The first half was tight and then in the second half we were wondering where the goal was going to come from. Clive Walker could strike a ball very well and he scored a great goal, but even after that we knew the game wasn’t finished, we had to hold on but we got through it.

From when I came into the side, we were always near the bottom of the table, so every game was like a final for me. We had to win, or draw, just to survive. As a young player you don’t always realise how serious it is but people were telling me that if we dropped into the Third Division the club could be in trouble. It was a very important win. The fans that day were unbelievable. When our fans went away we could always hear them and they were like the 12^th man.
 

Having just about stayed up, John Neal re-shaped the squad that summer and we went on to win the Second Division title in 1983/84. In the home game against Swansea we beat them 6-1 and you scored your first Chelsea hat-trick…

The players that came in that summer, such as Pat Nevin and Kerry Dixon, made it much easier. We brought in a lot of quality and it was funny how quickly we all gelled. Sometimes it takes a bit of time but for us it happened immediately. I knew exactly who to pass to, and where a particular player wanted it, and I think that’s why we got promoted that year.

I scored a hat-trick many times as a schoolboy, but I’d never been given the match ball. I didn’t know that’s what happened, but at the end of the game against Swansea the referee just gave it to me [pictured below], and all the boys were telling me I had to get it signed by both teams. It was a great day for me, I gave it to my mum and she put it in her cabinet.

 

To say it was exciting to play in that team would be an understatement. John Neal gave me my opportunity and I will never forget him for that. I had trials here twice. His office was right in the corner when you go into the tunnel. I remember him calling me in and thinking that this was the moment when he would tell me either I’d done it, or I hadn’t. I was as nervous as hell, just a kid, and then he told me they wanted to sign me for the last seven months of the season. I had seven months to prove myself and it was the most enjoyable seven months I’d ever had. After a few months I was involved with the first team so he gave me the lifeline of becoming a professional footballer.
 

Back in the top flight, the 1984/85 began with a 1-1 draw at Arsenal which you started – what do you remember about that game?

Around that time I’d just moved from Slough down to Hackney, and all the friends I’d met were Arsenal fans. Who do we end up having to play first game? Arsenal away. They were all giving me stick and telling me we were rubbish, so I just kept quiet. Arsenal had some great players, the likes of Tony Woodcock, Paul Mariner, David O’Leary, and we knew it was going to be a tough game.

It was a lovely day, boiling hot, and I asked the gaffer if I could make my own way to the ground as I was in Hackney. I had my hair cut for the occasion and for some reason, I don’t know why, I ended up wearing a big overcoat as well, with a shirt and tie. I was absolutely boiling, the sweat was dripping off me and when I got into the changing room they had under-floor heating! My feet were burning, I didn’t know what was going on, I’d never heard of it.

But what a game to play in. They delayed the kick-off just to get all of the Chelsea boys in down in the Clock End. I remember feeling the pressure. I was rubbing my head coming out onto the pitch as I was so nervous. Training all that week had been about who was going to start and I was included. Normally we didn’t find out the team until the Friday but for that game we knew earlier.

 

I was playing against Viv Anderson, which was quite scary, because he was England’s right-back at the time. I was worrying about his game, and helping Doug Rougvie out, because he wasn’t the quickest, but I held my own and I was quite happy with my performance. I made Viv do a lot more defensive work so I felt good about that, and I was more confident than I thought I would be. We ended up getting a 1-1 draw which was a great result.
 

Your most famous Chelsea game was the 4-4 draw away at Sheffield Wednesday in the 1984/85 League Cup. We were 3-0 down at half-time, when you came on, and ended up drawing 4-4. You scored a brace, including one with your first touch. That must have been an incredible game to be involved in…

That was an important night for me in other ways as well because I was meeting my dad for the first time. He’d just moved to Sheffield and I didn’t know who he was or what he looked like. We’d been in touch and I just thought I’d invite him to the game and he said he was going to come.

I had mixed emotions because I was a sub, and I was sitting in the dugout thinking about what I was going to say to him. Then there was this crazy game taking place. We went 1-0 down and I wasn’t too concerned, then 2-0 down and I still thought we’d come back, but when it went to 3-0 I turned to Keith Jones and said: “I think we’re out here, mate.”

The gaffer changed it at half-time, I came on for Colin Lee and he put me on the wing, and then it was just a case of following my instincts. Joey Jones played the ball forward from kick-off, Kerry flicked it on, David Speedie flicked it on again and I got in front of the defender and scored [pictured below].

From that point on, we could have scored with every attack. Kerry scored and then Micky Thomas made it 3-3. Kerry never used to pass, and I remember in that game I was screaming at him to give me the ball. I don’t even know if he could hear me, but then he played a great ball into my path, between myself and the keeper, and I managed to score. I thought that was the winner. That night was a big achievement for me because it felt as though I was really accepted by the fans, and I was glad my dad was there to see it as well, a proud moment for me.

 

You’re still a big Chelsea fan and watch all of our games - are you confident we can finish the season strongly?

I just hope we can end the season by getting a bit of silverware and winning the FA Cup, which would be great. It will be tough against Man United. Obviously Jose knows the way we play, and we know the way he plays, so I think it’s going to be a great game.
 

As a former winger yourself, you must enjoy watching our creative players in action…

Willian has been class. His speed when he’s in possession shows you the talent he has. I saw it against Barcelona, even though we lost the tie. At times, he had two players chasing him and he was still drifting away from them. He is very quick and has great close control, as well as being decisive.

I love Eden Hazard as well and he can really produce the goods. When those two players are on song it makes us a very dangerous side, even though they are not the only two players who can cause problems for the opposition.
 

How impressed have you been with the impact of Olivier Giroud?

I like him. He’s the type of striker who suits the way we play because he can hold the ball up well and I’ve noticed the little flicks he provides for the likes of Hazard. As well as that, he’s shown that he knows where the goal is, he’s been a good signing.

 

 

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by erskblue

22 hours ago, bluehaze said:

Hope no one minds me posting this it's Derek Hales (ex Charlton, West Ham) Q&A in Shoot. No attempt to hide what a misery he is ha ha.

 

Close

 

 

They were pretty formulaic those old player profiles. 

Their favourite meal tended to be steak and chips, favourite holiday destination usually Spain, and being injured was the most frustrating aspect of a footballers life.

It was back page headlines when Derek Hales and his strike partner Mick Flanagan both got sent off for fighting each other. ( Oddly enough both were bearded pikey looking types.)

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by Ewell CFC

Ewell; Agreed that they were usually pretty standard answers as you've stated.

 

However,I do remember Frank Worthington stating in one that his Favourite Away Ground was 'Stringfellows !'

37 minutes ago, erskblue said:

Here you go. Arsenal v Chelsea from a very warm opening day back in Aug 1984.

34 years ago !

That's a nice start to a Saturday morning watching that Ersk, cheers.

Before the 67 cup final.

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by bluehaze

2 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

They were pretty formulaic those old player profiles. 

Their favourite meal tended to be steak and chips, favourite holiday destination usually Spain, and being injured was the most frustrating aspect of a footballers life.

It was back page headlines when Derek Hales and his strike partner Mick Flanagan both got sent off for fighting each other. ( Oddly enough both were bearded pikey looking types.)

I tried to post the whole interview it's hilarious. He hates boring people pot and kettle spring to mind. But best of all his favourite meal is Meat Pudding ha ha probably washed down with pints of Guinness. It's from Twitter a guy called Charlie Connelly

great memories of a frozen pitch at Luton New Year’s Day 1979 seeing players in trainers!! No Astro’s or game being called off.

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by Richard P

27 minutes ago, Richard P said:

great memories of a frozen pitch at Luton New Year’s Day 1979 seeing players in trainers!! No Astro’s or game being called off.

If memory serves this game was something like an 11 kick off. Me and my mate set off at 6, long walk to Morden for the tube, no busses that early on NYD, and Chelsea scoring the first goal of the 80s.

HI RIchard P I have never seen that footage ,so many thanks ! Went to the game ,never got in the away end but was down the side near the home end.My real memory was getting back to Guildford and facing an 8 mile walk home as there were no buses running so I set off to hitch hike it,thinking i am bound to get a lift! Many many freezing hours later I walked through the door a real grumpy sod ....the things we did for our club !

24 minutes ago, F1905 said:

HI RIchard P I have never seen that footage ,so many thanks ! Went to the game ,never got in the away end but was down the side near the home end.My real memory was getting back to Guildford and facing an 8 mile walk home as there were no buses running so I set off to hitch hike it,thinking i am bound to get a lift! Many many freezing hours later I walked through the door a real grumpy sod ....the things we did for our club !

It was in the ITN news that day. There was commentary as well. Glad you liked it. My brother used to tape all our games on motd,  the big match and anything on the news. If you type in stuff on YouTube it sometimes doesn’t come up, you just have to try different things.

2 hours ago, Richard P said:

great memories of a frozen pitch at Luton New Year’s Day 1979 seeing players in trainers!! No Astro’s or game being called off.

Brilliant. Don't think I've ever seen that before.

2 hours ago, Richard P said:

great memories of a frozen pitch at Luton New Year’s Day 1979 seeing players in trainers!! No Astro’s or game being called off.

So much ice on the terraces it was really unsafe. I was 14 to this day I've never seen such a big group of geezers still pissed up from the night before. A lot of Chelsea in the Luton end. It was 75p to get in kids entrance.

Edited April 28, 20188 yr by bluehaze

Still got the programme I was at that age when you filled in the score 

 

 

19 hours ago, Richard P said:

great memories of a frozen pitch at Luton New Year’s Day 1979 seeing players in trainers!! No Astro’s or game being called off.

When you look back at some of the condition of the pitches that were playable in bad weather back then !

On ‎05‎/‎04‎/‎2018 at 19:39, bluehaze said:

 

When Ray Wilkins started writing his column in Shoot magazine it was great news to me.

Back then, as a 10 year old Chelsea fan in Scotland it was my 'Chelsea news fix'

My Uncle was down in London at least twice a month on business back then and he'd bring me Chelsea programmes and the London papers which had Chelsea match reports or Chelsea news back then.

 

Looks like we are playing at Maine Road.

18 hours ago, bluehaze said:

Still got the programme I was at that age when you filled in the score 

 

 

Once around this time we were queueing for the turnstiles at Kenilworth Rd, when a mob of Luton appeared.

They were cocky as you want and singing 

" We don't rate you anymore, we don't rate you anymore....." ( the one and only time I've heard that at football.). Cut a long story they immediately got run which made everyone laugh.

They got a bit of a hiding I remember when we had them last home game 81/82, which was their promotion party of sorts.

Edit: talking of early 80s New Year games, did anyone go to Leicester in 83?I clearly remember walking towards the ground and every man jack was wearing a lambswool v neck jumper with a polo neck underneath. I've just checked online and the date of the game was Tue 3rd Jan 1983. 

The weird thing is I don't remember this as a night game? 

Edited April 29, 20188 yr by Ewell CFC

2 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

Once around this time we were queueing for the turnstiles at Kenilworth Rd, when a mob of Luton appeared.

They were cocky as you want and singing 

" We don't rate you anymore, we don't rate you anymore....." ( the one and only time I've heard that at football.). Cut a long story they immediately got run which made everyone laugh.

They got a bit of a hiding I remember when we had them last home game 81/82, which was their promotion party of sorts.

Edit: talking of early 80s New Year games, did anyone go to Leicester in 83?I clearly remember walking towards the ground and every man jack was wearing a lambswool v neck jumper with a polo neck underneath. I've just checked online and the date of the game was Tue 3rd Jan 1983. 

The weird thing is I don't remember this as a night game? 

I was at the game we lost 3-0 it was an early morning kick off I got up at five and as a 17 year old it was the earliest I've ever got up. I think it was a bank holiday I don't know why but presumably New Years day would have been a Sunday so you might have got an extra day or something. Went by National Express coach I remember Chelsea having it with the Old Bill when they opened the pen at full time. Our firm were in the seats in the main stand.

British Army v Allied Armies at the Bridge in 1941.

50 minutes ago, bluehaze said:

I was at the game we lost 3-0 it was an early morning kick off I got up at five and as a 17 year old it was the earliest I've ever got up. I think it was a bank holiday I don't know why but presumably New Years day would have been a Sunday so you might have got an extra day or something. Went by National Express coach I remember Chelsea having it with the Old Bill when they opened the pen at full time. Our firm were in the seats in the main stand.

Thanks Bluehaze. Coincidently I also went National Express ( we might have been on the same coach!). It was a real poverty model way of going to away games- went to Cambridge first game of the season and I think Sheff We'd that year same fashion.

Ive been scratching my head- if NYD fell at the weekend, the Monday would have been Bank Holiday. Can't work out why it would have been played daytime ( early morning which you've just reminded me of), on a Tuesday when most people were back to work?  Weird one...,

2 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

Thanks Bluehaze. Coincidently I also went National Express ( we might have been on the same coach!). It was a real poverty model way of going to away games- went to Cambridge first game of the season and I think Sheff We'd that year same fashion.

Ive been scratching my head- if NYD fell at the weekend, the Monday would have been Bank Holiday. Can't work out why it would have been played daytime ( early morning which you've just reminded me of), on a Tuesday when most people were back to work?  Weird one...,

Think the day was wrong January 3rd was a Monday.

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=1983&country=9