Games to remember

25/10/80 – Chelsea 6 Newcastle United 0

Colin Lee scores a hat-trick and Fillery, Walker and Chivers – with a goal of the season contender – one each, as the Geordies are demolished at the Bridge. Wingers Phil Driver and Peter Rhoades-Brown are superb on the day.

 13/2/82 – Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

Peter Rhoades-Brown and man-of-the-match Colin Lee send the European champions hurtling out of the FA Cup at the 5th round stage.

7/5/83 – Bolton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 1

Clive Walker’s late shot flashes past Bolton’s Jim McDonagh to effectively secure the Blues’ place in Division Two at the expense of the home side. Bearing in mind the perilous state of the club’s finances at the time, it is almost certainly the most important strike in Chelsea’s history.

27/8/83 – Chelsea 5 Derby County 0

An opening-day thrashing of the highly-fancied Rams sets the tone for a magnificent season. Nigel Spackman scores within four minutes of his debut and Kerry Dixon fires a brace to add to strikes by Clive Walker and Chris Hutchings. Colin Lee also has a legitimate goal disallowed.

28/4/84 – Chelsea 5 Leeds United 0

Promotion is confirmed in emphatic style as the old enemy are humiliated amidst wild scenes of celebration at the Bridge. Mickey Thomas slams home the first and Kerry Dixon scores a magnificent hat-trick, before substitute Paul Canoville seals the win. The match ends with the Leeds players encouraging the referee to blow early as there are thousands of Chelsea supporters lining the side of the pitch. The visiting fans take it out on the scoreboard.

25/8/84 – Arsenal 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea are back, Chelsea are back . Kerry Dixon volleys a cracker past Pat Jennings to equalise Paul Mariner’s strike for the Gunners. Big Doug Rougvie sends Viv Anderson into orbit. 20,000 Chelsea fans go wild.

30/1/85 – Sheffield Wednesday 4 Chelsea 4

Three goals down at half-time, substitute Paul Canoville sparks an incredible comeback with a goal just eleven seconds into the second period. He gives Chelsea the lead four minutes from time after strikes by Kerry Dixon and Mickey Thomas have pulled the Blues level, but Doug Rougvie’s last minute foul results in a penalty and a draw after extra-time. Thomas flattens Wednesday’s mouthy midfielder, Andy Blair, and gets away with it. Blair apologises afterwards!

23/3/86 – Chelsea 5 Manchester City 4

Chelsea win the inaugural Full Members Cup by the odd goal in nine at Wembley. Recovering from a goal down, the Blues lead 5-1 courtesy of David Speedie’s hat-trick and a brace by Colin Lee, but City score three times in the last five minutes to give the final score an unrealistic look.

4/2/89 – Walsall 0 Chelsea 7

Gordon Durie scores five times to demolish the Saddlers as Chelsea’s indefatigable push towards the Division Two title continues to gather pace. Kevin Wilson and Graham Roberts also find the net. Kerry Dixon is injured and his replacement, Dave Mitchell, manages to have a quiet game despite the ball rarely leaving the Walsall penalty area. On the one occasion that it does, Dave Beasant saves a penalty.

22/4/89 – Chelsea 1 Leeds United 0

For the second time in five years, promotion (and, on this occasion, the title) is clinched with a victory over Leeds. Long-serving John Bumstead scores the only goal.

16/9/89 – Tottenham Hotspur 1 Chelsea 4

Star-studded Spurs are hammered at home by a Chelsea side who are not permitted any supporters inside the ground as a result of ongoing building works. Undeterred, Kerry Dixon, Kevin Wilson (2) and Steve Clarke score the goals to earn a hugely popular three points. It’s the least that Chelsea’s supporters expect from a visit to White Hart Lane these days, but it was a pleasant surprise back then.

...And a few to forget

14/1/80 – Chelsea 0 Wigan Athletic 1

League newcomers Wigan send the Blues out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle. It’s cold and it’s very, very embarrassing.

31/10/81 – Rotherham United 6 Chelsea 0

Goalkeeper Petar Borota waves goodbye to his job as Chelsea lose by six to the mighty Rotherham. An old, bald guy scores three and renowned non-scoring centre-forward Ronnie Moore bags a brace. John Bumstead misses twice-taken penalty. Twice.

23/4/83 – Burnley 3 Chelsea 0

Chelsea plunge to their lowest-ever position, third bottom in Division Two, as a result of a humiliating defeat at Turf Moor against basement side Burnley.

13/2/85 – Sunderland 2 Chelsea 0

Everything goes wrong in the Milk Cup semi-final first-leg as the Blues concede two dubious penalties and end with just nine fit men on a freezing night in the North-East. The Sunderland Constabulary welcome all visitors from London with an iron fist. And boot. The second-leg goes pear-shaped too.

31/3/86 – QPR 6 Chelsea 0

Two days after a home thrashing by West Ham, Chelsea’s title aspirations are left in tatters by another heavy defeat at the hands of a small club. The home side’s supporters look extremely smug as they leave the ground and head for home… on their tandem.

28/5/88 – Chelsea 1 Middlesbrough 0

Gordon Durie’s goal is not enough to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit, and Chelsea are relegated. Most of the action takes place after the final whistle.