TheChels.net – Features
Following Chelsea has never been for the squeamish or faint-hearted. I remember (dimly, I wasn’t sure what was going on at the time) Tommy Docherty leaving the club. With many talented young players appearing as if from nowhere, his team was a blend of youth and more youth (remember that) which boded well for the future. His motivational skills were stunning and those players achieved performances that belied their age…
Spanish midfielder Enrique “Quique” de Lucas Martínez arrived at Stamford Bridge on a four year contract in the summer of 2002 as one of the hottest properties in Le Liga. Enjoyed a good first season with the club, mainly playing on the right, and was unlucky not to get a look in at the start of the 2002/2003 season, before being allowed to join Alaves on a free transfer. Since…
One of the most skillful players ever to have pulled on a Chelsea shirt and is certainly one of the most popular. A truly great entertainer who played in four Cup Finals during his ten years at Stamford Bridge, as his Chelsea career was split into two parts either side of a 16 month stint at Crystal Palace. He had arrived at the club as a direct replacement for Terry…
Aged only 18, he was the most expensive teenager in club history when he cost £2.25 million from Belgian outfit Anderlecht in April 1997. He was already an established international with an Olympic Gold medal and won over the Stamford Bridge faithful when he made his debut against Leicester City. He faced competition from Graeme Le Saux and then Wayne Bridge during his time at the club but was part…
Part 1: Conflict. If you are of the persuasion that conflict and adversity brings out the best in an organisation, you may not be too upset by what is going on at Chelsea the moment. On the other hand, if you believe that collaboration is the way to achieve your aims, the events of the previous week may leave you with a sour taste. Conflict always exists within a football…
Was one of a handful of players recruited by Ted Drake out of the amateur ranks. Wasn’t really considered to be a first team regular except in 1957-1958 when he made 24 appearances. Was sold to Plymouth Argyle inn 1958 for £12,000 plus Wally Bellett. Moved back to Essex and spent 25 years working for Dagenham Cables as a training officer until being offered early retirement. He was awarded an…
Joined from non league Hillingdon Borough and became the first black player in club history when he made his league debut as a substitute against Crystal Palace in April 1982. Survived the gauntlet of racial abuse to help the club to the Second Division title in 1984, but within two years was sold to Reading for £50,000. Since retiring at the age of 24 through injury he has survived cancer…
Having watched Florent Malouda for the past four years, I have seen first hand his rise from a second half substitute to a first team regular. This is Flo’s story. Having arrived from Lyon in the summer of 2007, great things were expected of World Cup finalist Florent Malouda. However his first season didn’t exactly go to plan and was seen by many Chelsea fans as a ‘flop’, he struggled…
A schools’ sprint champion who was the complete striker and a key player for the club during the Docherty era. Dropped to allow a young Peter Osgood to play regularly but was reinstated following a fans’ petition. His Stamford Bridge career came to end a year later however when he was sent home from the airport prior to the first leg of a Fairs Cup tie with Barcelona. After hanging…
Has it really been fourteen years since the Carling Cup defeat to Bolton that carried so much significance for Chelsea Football Club? As dawn broke on 22nd October 1996, and as many supporters woke to read the newspaper and teletext reports of the previous nights match, far more striking headlines were being reported across the media. News of a helicopter crash were initially thought to be of little relevance to…