The Official History of Chelsea F.C. 1905 to 1989
From Humble Beginnings to European Glory
A review of A film produced by the BBC covering the history of Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club, a name synonymous with passion, drama, and a relentless pursuit of glory, boasts a rich and storied history. From its founding in 1905 to its triumphs on the European stage, the club’s journey is a captivating tale of resilience, innovation, and unwavering fan support. This comprehensive overview, drawn from the official club history, delves into the key periods that have shaped the Blues into the footballing force they are today.
I. Founding and Early Years (1905-1951): A Club is Born
The seeds of Chelsea F.C. were sown when Gus Mears, aiming to establish Stamford Bridge as the country’s premier athletic ground, faced rejection from Fulham F.C. Undeterred, Mears formed his own club in 1905. Frederick Parker’s advocacy secured the name “Chelsea,” and the Football League, impressed by the quality of Stamford Bridge, voted the club into the Second Division.
Chelsea’s early years were marked by rapid success. Under player-manager John Tate Robertson, who scored the club’s first League goal, they quickly ascended to the First Division. Key figures like Willie Fulk, the imposing England international goalkeeper, and George Hilston, nicknamed “Gatling Gun” for his prolific scoring, became instant legends. Hilston’s 27 goals in his debut season propelled Chelsea to immediate promotion. David Calderhead’s remarkable 26-year managerial tenure saw the club navigate the challenges of relegation and rise again. The arrival of Hughie Gallacher, hailed as the “finest center forward in the land,” and George Mills, the first player to reach 100 League goals for Chelsea, further solidified the club’s early prominence.
Stamford Bridge quickly became a fortress, drawing massive crowds. Early home matches saw attendances soar, culminating in a record 83,000 spectators for a clash against Arsenal in 1935. The war years saw Chelsea compete in two Wembley Cup finals, and post-war reconstruction, spearheaded by manager Billy Birrell, brought in talents like Tommy Lawton. A memorable friendly against Moscow Dynamo drew nearly 100,000 fans, and the arrival of Roy Bentley from Newcastle added further firepower to the team.
II. The Ted Drake Era and First Championship (1952-1961): A New Vision
The appointment of Ted Drake in 1952 marked a turning point in Chelsea’s history. Drake, with a clear ambition to win the league, ushered in a new era, shedding the club’s “pensioners” tag and introducing a modern, skill-focused approach. He replaced the old badge with the iconic rampant lion, emphasizing youth and recruiting “bargains” over established stars.
Drake’s vision culminated in the 1954-55 season, a year that would forever be etched in Chelsea’s history. Key players like Roy Bentley, Seamus O’Connell, Peter Sillett, Eric Parsons, John McNichol, and Frank Blunstone played pivotal roles as Chelsea secured their first-ever championship in their Jubilee year. This momentous occasion sparked jubilation among fans who had waited half a century for this triumph. Remarkably, the club’s reserves, A-team, and juniors also clinched their respective league titles that season.
However, the championship-winning team proved to be a “one-off,” and the club’s fortunes declined rapidly in the following season. Despite this, the emergence of Jimmy Greaves in 1957 provided a silver lining. Greaves, a prolific goalscorer with a “goal a game” record early in his career, became an international star, scoring a club-record 41 goals in his final season before departing for Italy in 1961. His departure marked the end of the Drake era.
III. “Doc’s Diamonds” and Cup Victories (1961-1972): A Golden Generation
Tommy Docherty’s arrival as player-coach in 1961 and subsequent appointment as manager ushered in a new wave of excitement. Docherty, at just 32, wasted no time in overhauling the squad, selling older players and bringing in a generation of young talent who became known as “Doc’s Diamonds.” This exciting team included players like Terry Venables, Allan Harris, Ron Harris, Barry Bridges, Bobby Murray, Bobby Tambling, and the legendary Peter Osgood.
Docherty’s young side quickly achieved promotion back to the First Division and, in 1965, won the League Cup, a then-infant competition. Chelsea also reached three successive FA Cup semi-finals under Docherty, showcasing their growing strength. European adventures followed, with notable victories against Roma and Vienna Sport Club, though they ultimately fell to AC Milan and Barcelona. Docherty’s strict discipline and controversial tactics, including a pitch-flooding incident to postpone a match against Barcelona, added to his enigmatic persona. His departure in 1967 was equally controversial.
Dave Sexton, Docherty’s former coach, took the reins, steadying the team and adding key players like Alan Birchenall, David Webb, Ian Hutchinson, and John Dempsey. This team, blending solidity with mercurial talents like Charlie Cooke and Alan Hudson, alongside Osgood, Hutchinson, Webb, Hollins, Bonetti, and Ron Harris, achieved further success. The 1970 FA Cup victory, secured in a dramatic replay against Leeds United, ended a 65-year wait for the trophy. The following year, Chelsea conquered Europe, defeating Real Madrid in a replay to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup. A League Cup Final appearance in 1972 added to the club’s impressive run.
However, ambitious plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a state-of-the-art stadium proved to be a financial burden, leading to the sale of key players and the departure of Dave Sexton, the club’s most successful manager at that point.
IV. Instability and Ken Bates’s Arrival (1972-1989): A Fight for Survival
The 1970s and 80s were a turbulent period for Chelsea, marked by managerial turnover and relegation in 1979. Young talents like Ray Wilkins emerged, but club legends Peter Bonetti and Ron Harris departed, ending an era.
In 1982, Ken Bates stepped in as chairman, determined to revive the club and prevent bankruptcy. He famously remarked that Chelsea had been run as a “social club” rather than a business. Bates’s arrival brought renewed hope, though the team narrowly avoided relegation in 1983. Investment in players like Eddie Niedzwiecki, Joe McLaughlin, Nigel Spackman, Pat Nevin, John Hollins, and Kerry Dixon, who became an idolized figure, helped Chelsea win the Second Division championship in 1983-84. The team also reached the Milk Cup semi-finals but lost in a controversial tie. In 1986, Chelsea won the first-ever Full Members Cup Final.
Further managerial changes and another relegation followed, but under Bobby Campbell, Chelsea achieved a record sequence of 27 League games without defeat and secured promotion back to the top flight in 1989. Bates also highlighted the critical issue of the club not owning Stamford Bridge, a situation that needed resolution for future stadium plans.