The Legends of Chelsea
Scott Cheshire
Ask two Chelsea fans each to compile a list of their
favourite 100 players and although many stars would
feature on both lists, they’d also come up with
different names. Since 1905 more than 750 players
have appeared in senior competitive matches for the
Stamford Bridge club.
This book lists the personal choice of long-time
Chelsea supporter and acclaimed club historian, Scott
Cheshire, whose beautifully crafted essays will bring
back memories of former players and former glories.
Gianfranco Zola has recently been voted the greatest
player in the club’s history, and of course
Zola is included here. So are 22-stone goalkeeper
Willie Foulke and Jack Harrow, the first man to clock
up 300 appearances for Chelsea, despite losing four
seasons to World War One, as well as the two Tommys
– Walker and Lawton – Scottish and English
internationals respectively, both of whom ended their
glorious careers at Stamford Bridge.
Ted Drake is also here, the only manager ever to
guide Chelsea to the League championship, along with
centre-forward Roy Bentley, who captained that 1955
team. Then there are the record goalscorers: Jimmy
Greaves – who notched up 132 goals in less than
170 games – and Bobby Tambling, another record
scorer with 202 in 370 games, all before his 29th
birthday.
The Legends of Chelsea will inform and entertain,
settle some arguments and start new ones. Most of
all it will evoke memories of great players and great
moments in this great club’s story.
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