Glancing through the new Chelsea mag the other day, I saw the photo of Kerry celebrating his equaliser at Highbury on the opening day of season in 1984. The support that day was unbelievable as the picture shows with our fans jumping up in the Arsenal seats. I was 15 at the time and wasn't at the game, but remember being so excited as we had gone up the previous season. The game was a 11:30 ko if I remember, and trying to keep up to date with the score was a nightmare as Grandstand hadn't started nor world of sport. My younger sister was watching mork and mindy or metal mickey on tv at the time and all I wanted to know was the score. Finally 12:15 arrived and Grandstand started and there was a score update, halftime 1:1 Kerry equaliser. Seems ridiculous today, where you can get an instant score update anywhere in the world. As we know the game ended a draw, and the reporter afterwards was mentioning our huge travelling support as were the sunday papers the following day. Estimates were of 20k at Highbury amongst a crowd of about 45k .Arsenal fans I believe to this day mention that day and our support.Looking at pictures there were no fans with face paint or funny hats or wigs or that many replica shirts it was just loads of lads on a jolly!  

Glancing through the new Chelsea mag the other day, I saw the photo of Kerry celebrating his equaliser at Highbury on the opening day of season in 1984. The support that day was unbelievable as the picture shows with our fans jumping up in the Arsenal seats. I was 15 at the time and wasn't at the game, but remember being so excited as we had gone up the previous season. The game was a 11:30 ko if I remember, and trying to keep up to date with the score was a nightmare as Grandstand hadn't started nor world of sport. My younger sister was watching mork and mindy or metal mickey on tv at the time and all I wanted to know was the score. Finally 12:15 arrived and Grandstand started and there was a score update, halftime 1:1 Kerry equaliser. Seems ridiculous today, where you can get an instant score update anywhere in the world. As we know the game ended a draw, and the reporter afterwards was mentioning our huge travelling support as were the sunday papers the following day. Estimates were of 20k at Highbury amongst a crowd of about 45k .Arsenal fans I believe to this day mention that day and our support.Looking at pictures there were no fans with face paint or funny hats or wigs or that many replica shirts it was just loads of lads on a jolly!  

Glancing through the new Chelsea mag the other day, I saw the photo of Kerry celebrating his equaliser at Highbury on the opening day of season in 1984. The support that day was unbelievable as the picture shows with our fans jumping up in the Arsenal seats. I was 15 at the time and wasn't at the game, but remember being so excited as we had gone up the previous season. The game was a 11:30 ko if I remember, and trying to keep up to date with the score was a nightmare as Grandstand hadn't started nor world of sport. My younger sister was watching mork and mindy or metal mickey on tv at the time and all I wanted to know was the score. Finally 12:15 arrived and Grandstand started and there was a score update, halftime 1:1 Kerry equaliser. Seems ridiculous today, where you can get an instant score update anywhere in the world. As we know the game ended a draw, and the reporter afterwards was mentioning our huge travelling support as were the sunday papers the following day. Estimates were of 20k at Highbury amongst a crowd of about 45k .Arsenal fans I believe to this day mention that day and our support.Looking at pictures there were no fans with face paint or funny hats or wigs or that many replica shirts it was just loads of lads on a jolly!  

 I remember it well I was 23 at the time and recon it was one of our best away support in them days I was in the clock end that day.

But there were Chelsea in both stands and the North Bank ,I can remember that they could not move Chelsea out of the North Bank and they were there for the entire match .

I did not see any one wearing colours that day but in them days no one did.

What a great morning that was.  

I was standing in the North Bank that day and there were a few Chelsea in there but got escorted out to the clock end and were not there in any massive group.

Arsenal fans reckon this was a 'cult' game for Chelsea and can't fathom out why.

I was standing in the North Bank that day and there were a few Chelsea in there but got escorted out to the clock end and were not there in any massive group.

 

I recall that as well. Maybe 50-100 tops?. Also remember when leaving the ground and walking past their main Stand, Mr. Denton and his associates came walking down in the middle of the road, and had a 'pop' at us.  

I was in the east stand I think, got tickets off a tout. I was 15, thought I may be on my own with my mates but about a quarter of the stand held Chelsea fans it was top drawer and the singing was quality. For me best away day turn out ever and when Dixon scored that goal I was so busy looking at the other Chelsea fans around the ground I forgot to appreciate the goal. Proper day out and for a change even Liverpool street was full of Chelsea fans.  We had small Chelsea badges on not sure if they count as colours.

Edited August 17, 201312 yr by dstoner

was there in the clockend, 23 yrs old at the time brilliant day out only bits of grief i seen was heavy handed old bill hitting out with their helmets or leather gloves at the massed CFC in bottom right hand corner

As you say no colours as such just the small round pin badges and a few yellow away shirts

Wonderful days !!

Looking splendid in my new Benneton polo I travelled via Reading and there were so many Chelsea in the station forecourt at about 8am it warranted a couple of OB vans thinking it was Burnley (?) come down early for their game at Elm Park.  Yes nobody had any colours on.  Went up with two brothers one CFC one Gooner, and got on the Piccadilly line at Kings X.  The undeground that came through was packed with an enormous Chelsea firm who all got off at Holloway Road,  Christ knows what they got up to before the game.  We settled into our seats in their East Stand and yes there were a lot of Chelsea in there which you can see in the video after Kerry scores.  Also, Arsenal always say that was the most packed they've ever seen their Clock End. There didn't seem to be too many in the North Bank and about 100 (from my dodgy memory) were escorted out.  Afterwards we went to the pub and came out hours later - there were a lot of Gooners still at Finsbury Park and they were talking like they'd had a bit of a result afterwards......but I don't know for sure.  All in all a great day.

Lot of cult games round about then.....3-3 at Cardiff......2-0 at Man City.....4-4 at Wednesday......Pompey away in the promotion year.....several others in the promotion year and our first couple of seasons back up.  But yes Arsenal away is in my Top 3, followed by Cardiff and City for me.  City, Cardiff and Pompey all mention us in their books, and a book has actually been written about the Arsenal 84 game I believe.

I was in the east stand I think, got tickets off a tout. I was 15, thought I may be on my own with my mates but about a quarter of the stand held Chelsea fans it was top drawer and the singing was quality. For me best away day turn out ever and when Dixon scored that goal I was so busy looking at the other Chelsea fans around the ground I forgot to appreciate the goal. Proper day out and for a change even Liverpool street was full of Chelsea fans.  We had small Chelsea badges on not sure if they count as colours.

Small chelsea pin badges, never go to games without mine on. Decisions, decisions, decisions now which one will I wear to Hull game tomorrow!

Glancing through the new Chelsea mag the other day, I saw the photo of Kerry celebrating his equaliser at Highbury on the opening day of season in 1984. The support that day was unbelievable as the picture shows with our fans jumping up in the Arsenal seats. I was 15 at the time and wasn't at the game, but remember being so excited as we had gone up the previous season. The game was a 11:30 ko if I remember, and trying to keep up to date with the score was a nightmare as Grandstand hadn't started nor world of sport. My younger sister was watching mork and mindy or metal mickey on tv at the time and all I wanted to know was the score. Finally 12:15 arrived and Grandstand started and there was a score update, halftime 1:1 Kerry equaliser. Seems ridiculous today, where you can get an instant score update anywhere in the world. As we know the game ended a draw, and the reporter afterwards was mentioning our huge travelling support as were the sunday papers the following day. Estimates were of 20k at Highbury amongst a crowd of about 45k .Arsenal fans I believe to this day mention that day and our support.Looking at pictures there were no fans with face paint or funny hats or wigs or that many replica shirts it was just loads of lads on a jolly!  

I was 24 that day and sat in the seats behind the Kerry Dixon picture which was the West Stand. Whenever I look back at that day I wish we had played West Ham that day and taken massive of fans.  Yes it was 11.30 kick off that day to stop peoplegetting tanked up before the game, however all of us from the East End went to the fruit market in Spitalfields which had a pub there called the Gunn that opened between 06.00-09.30

I was 24 that day and sat in the seats behind the Kerry Dixon picture which was the West Stand. Whenever I look back at that day I wish we had played West Ham that day and taken massive of fans. Yes it was 11.30 kick off that day to stop peoplegetting tanked up before the game, however all of us from the East End went to the fruit market in Spitalfields which had a pub there called the Gunn that opened between 06.00-09.30

Would chelsea have a big following in the east end Barry?

Really enjoying reading about this game.

Really enjoying reading about this game.

 

Agreed, bit before my time but a legendary game. I used to have the offical history on VHS and this game gets a mention, it may have been on this tape or i read it in a fanzine but im sure i heard Chelsea took 15000 to this game. And also 10000 travelled to Old Trafford the same season.

Was this also about the time Arsenal wanted to buy Dixon of us?

I was in the seats next to the North Bank along with at least another 100 Chelsea. Me and 5 mates got tickets off a tout outside and once in the ground could not believe how many Chelsea were there that day. As soon as we started singing we were welcomed by a little mob of gooners  who mobbed up behind the railings next to us. Was also at Man Utd away that year, when you could see the little mob of Chelsea going in the Stretford End at the final whistle and running what was left of the Mancs back onto the terrace.

 We had small Chelsea badges on not sure if they count as colours.

QUOTE Mark Worrell here "  All you needed to complement the look was one of those discreet 5p sized Chelsea pin-badges with the lion rampant " I think thats a YES.

Would chelsea have a big following in the east end Barry?

If we had 20,000+  at Arsenal surely we would have had 10,000 at West Ham that would have shook them. Would have been nice to have seen though

If we had 20,000+  at Arsenal surely we would have had 10,000 at West Ham that would have shook them. Would have been nice to have seen though

 No way, west ham were our bogeymen, at that time you would never have infiltrated their ground like happened at Arsenal. People wouldnt have chanced it. Just my opinion like. I would loved to have seen it, payback for all those shed end invasions.

I reckon the most we ever took to West Ham was 5-6000, the 5-3 game being one of those.  While WHU slag us off for never bringing a lot there, they have to realise that the geography completely favoured them.  It was far easier to turn up at Highbury and SB in big numbers than Upton Park and even Tottenham.  Arsenal and Chelsea were close to central London, had big grounds, a big away end to fill, but importantly several ways of getting there.......and gettting out!  WHU always had the advantage that in reality there was one way in and one way out.  Same with Spurs really, you could only have the Park Lane (7,000 max), and you either walked up the SSR or got a train to Seven Sisters. It was also relatively far to go from West London.

Dixon's goal will never be forgotten. It's one of the greatest individual moments of the club's history in the 1980s. The passion and excitement of the crowd he scored was unforgettable. It's nothing like these days.

 

Chelsea took more up north or to the midlands than they ever did to west ham, so how does that work out?

Chelsea had a big firm at West Ham in 1981, apparently there were just as many locked out as well though I don't know if that's true.

Chelsea had a big firm at West Ham in 1981, apparently there were just as many locked out as well though I don't know if that's true.

Didnt get in that day as i was late, but from what i saw, mainly west ham who were locked out.Hid my cfc scarf and tagged along as they stormed up and down the local tower blocks, trying to get on the roof of one for a view! Dont think the ones who got in the ground did very well tbh.Most chelsea melted and just watched the game quietly. My mate had a chinese death star stick in a bit of wood to the side of him!

I reckon the most we ever took to West Ham was 5-6000, the 5-3 game being one of those.  While WHU slag us off for never bringing a lot there, they have to realise that the geography completely favoured them.  It was far easier to turn up at Highbury and SB in big numbers than Upton Park and even Tottenham.  Arsenal and Chelsea were close to central London, had big grounds, a big away end to fill, but importantly several ways of getting there.......and gettting out!  WHU always had the advantage that in reality there was one way in and one way out.  Same with Spurs really, you could only have the Park Lane (7,000 max), and you either walked up the SSR or got a train to Seven Sisters. It was also relatively far to go from West London.

 

Good valid post. Another way to WHL was getting off at Tottenham Hale/ North Humberland Park (1 of the 2!) and marching down Park Lane, like we did in 1978. Upton Park as you say, is situated like a fort for access. Only alternative route would be to go from Fenchurch St. to Barking and get tube to east ham and walk up on the back streets. Too much hassle, plus the fact Barking would be full of Spammers from all the essex stations waiting for the tube, so you could'nt do it unnoticed.