Celery - Heroes & Villains

John Neal – Bought a team of unknowns and turned them into superstars. A truly great manager.
Eddie Niedzwiecki – Heading for great things prior to receiving his injury. It was no coincidence that his final game for Chelsea was also the club’s last victory for nearly six months.
Joey Jones – Chelsea would have been relegated at the end of 1982/83 had Joey not signed, and the club would have gone the way of the likes of Aldershot had they been relegated. The most important signing in Chelsea’s history.
Micky Droy – Big man with a big heart. One of the handful who dug deep to stave off relegation in 1982/83.
Kerry Dixon – A goal machine and a genuine legend.
David Speedie – Didn’t suffer fools gladly, as some of his teammates discovered during his first season at Stamford Bridge. Formed a majestic partnership with Dixon.
Pat Nevin – Not a bad player, was he? Those Newcastle players are still chasing him.
John Bumstead – Can anybody actually recall John having a bad game during his 13 years in the first-team?
Nigel Spackman – Never stopped running, never stopped pointing. Had the proverbial third lung.
Paul Canoville – Faced up to some horrendous abuse with great dignity, and paved the way for the likes of Hasselbaink, Desailly, Makelele et al at the Bridge.
Steve Clarke – Joined at a bad time, stayed long enough to enjoy the good times. A loyal servant.
Colin Lee – Mr Versatile. Not given the credit he deserves for his commitment to the cause. Never let anybody down, no matter what position he played in.
Graham Roberts – A huge presence throughout the 1988/89 Division Two campaign.
Colin Pates – Local boy done good. Captained the side to promotion at the age of 21 and went on to become the first Chelsea skipper to lift a trophy at Wembley.
Mickey Thomas – Loves the Chelsea supporters almost as much as we love him. Never on a losing Blues side in 1983/84.
Ron Harris – Made his 794th appearance for Chelsea in May 1980 – a record that will never be beaten.

John Hollins and Ernie Walley – Two wally’s for the price of one.
Alan Mayes – They say that time is a great healer but the memories of all those A.Mayes-ing missed chances refuse to go away.
Micky Fillery – So much talent, so little commitment. Venables said he would turn him into an England player. By the time he had the opportunity to do so, Fillery’s career was over, having failed to make the grade at Torquay United.
Tony Dorigo – Apparently not in any way responsible for Chelsea’s relegation at the end of his first season. Like a greyhound along the left-flank, he was no slouch when it came to jumping ship when the chips were down either.
Gary Bennett – Useless centre-half whose appalling challenge on Colin Lee led to the Chelsea man missing the 1982 FA Cup 6th round clash with his old club, Spurs.
George Courtney – Referee who just couldn’t stop giving Manchester United penalties against Chelsea. Gave two in one game on one occasion, both of which were proven by TV to be wrong calls.
Tom Fitzharris – Referee of Chelsea’s clash with Leicester in April 1989. What was really going on that day, Mr F?
Malcolm MacDonald – Questioned Kerry Dixon’s ability after the Chelsea man scored his fourth goal in two games against MacDonald’s Fulham side in 1983/84. Was apparently sober at the time, too.
Mel Sterland – Loved a scrap with his Chelsea opponents during their many clashes throughout the decade. Almost always on the losing side, and he speaks like a woman.
Perry Groves – Terrible challenge which put Graham Roberts on a stretcher failed to disguise that Groves was almost as untalented as he was ugly. Not as ugly as Keown, though.
The Chelsea Collection – Talking of ugly. Seventies clothes at Nineties prices. In the Eighties. ‘We love you Chelsea, we do…’