Kevin Wilson recalls his Chelsea and Walsall past.

 

 

Striker Kevin Wilson played in some big wins against the side from the West Midlands before he became player-coach there. He talks to the official Chelsea website…
 

Chelsea’s 7-0 win at Walsall in February 1989 remains to this day our joint-second best away win of all time. The headlines that day were written by one of the Blues strikers who netted all but two of the total in the Second Division match, but also on the scoresheet was Kevin Wilson, a natural finisher who had joined the season before and went on to net 55 times in 191 appearances.

Wilson scored again at Walsall a year-and-a-half later in another big win, this time in the League Cup, but he later became a part of the Saddlers’ side rather than just a thorn in it when he signed for the West Midlands club as a player-coach.

‘After I joined Walsall, the game against Chelsea that got mentioned more than the 7-0 was the one we played in the League Cup when we won 5-0, and I scored and Andy Townsend got two goals that night,’ Wilson told the official Chelsea website this week.

 

‘It was probably mentioned more because it was one the very first games they played at their new Bescot Stadium.’

Twenty-five years ago, Walsall’s move to a brand new, purpose-built arena was big news. Though commonplace in more recent times, new stadiums were rare back then. This was only the second in England since the 1950s. It is the venue, since expanded, that will host tonight’s Capital One Cup match between the current Chelsea and Walsall sides.

The 7-0 league match however was played at their previous home, Fellows Park, which had been situated a few hundred yards up the road.

‘I remember Gordon Durie got five that day and Graham Roberts scored a penalty, and I got a goal as well,’ says Wilson.

‘It was also one of Dave Beasant’s very first games in goal after signing for Chelsea and we were flying high at the top of the table at the time. Walsall were going through a difficult patch and were relegated before they moved to the Bescot. It was a good day and certainly an excellent team performance.’

Durie’s five goals place him as Chelsea’s joint-top when it comes to most goals scored in an away match for the Blues. He made Wilson’s goal with a crossfield pass that the Northern Ireland international swept home. Beasant also saved a penalty as nothing went right for the home side.

Kerry Dixon would surely have been among the scorers that day but he was out for two games so instead Dave Mitchell was centre-forward. In common with the rest of the Australian’s short Chelsea career, he did not score.

‘There were a lot of goals in that Chelsea side,’ notes Wilson. ‘Even Graham Roberts got a lot, scoring 13 penalties that season.

‘It was always difficult for Dave because he came for a fee but it was hard to break through. The front three all scored lots of goals and when Gordon was injured, I played alongside Kerry and when he was fit, I normally drifted off to the left or the right or sometimes played in central midfield.

‘In that promotion year I played in every game and for somebody like me that was good, because Kerry was an England centre-forward and Gordon was a Scottish international. It was a hard time to get in but I didn’t mind where I played as long as I was in the side.

‘Playing for Chelsea and for Walsall were different phases of my career,’ Wilson adds.

‘At Chelsea I was a player who had just left Ipswich where I had done well and was going to a big London club with aspirations of doing well. I went to Walsall as a player-coach under Kenny Hibbitt who lasted about five games more before Chris Nicholl came in as manager. He was a big influence on the way my management career has gone.

‘Playing for a club like Chelsea was a dream come true but then at Walsall I was able to pass on my experience to players like Michael Ricketts who went on to play for England.

‘We got promoted to Division Two while I was there and I played 136 games consecutively at the age of 35 and 36. They are two clubs that give me happy memories of my playing time for different reasons.’

Wilson is a special guest at the game tonight. He has long been a manager in his own right and is currently in charge at non-league Nuneaton Town. He has hosted Chelsea teams in pre-season games at two previous clubs, Northampton and Ilkeston.

‘I always look for Chelsea’s results, especially on days like Saturday when they were playing Arsenal.

‘At Walsall now, their manager Dean Smith has done really well and got a good young squad together. They have made an excellent start in League One. It won’t be easy but you always expect the bigger club will go through, but Walsall will give Chelsea a good test.’

Highlights of both games can also be watched on the Officia Chelsea site.
 

Damn you, fuqqueue, I thought it was Kevin "Bloody" Wilson!!

Cheers for that.

Damn you, fuqqueue, I thought it was Kevin "Bloody" Wilson!!

 

Strange as i thought that and wondered why?