The 1983–84 season was Chelsea Football Club's 70th competitive season. After five years in the Second Division, Chelsea won promotion to the First Division as champions, losing only four of their 42 league matches and pipping Sheffield Wednesday to the title on goal difference.
| 1983–84 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Ken Bates | ||
| Manager | John Neal | ||
| Stadium | Stamford Bridge | ||
| Second Division | 1st | ||
| FA Cup | Third round | ||
| Milk Cup | Third round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Kerry Dixon (28) All: Kerry Dixon (34) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 35,147 vs Sheffield Wednesday (21 January 1984) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 9,704 vs Gillingham (13 September 1983) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 21,127 | ||
| Biggest win | 6–1 v Swansea City (6 December 1983) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–2 v Leicester City (25 October 1983) | ||
|
| |||
Season summary edit
Manager John Neal revamped his squad after narrowly avoiding relegation to the Third Division the previous season. New signings included goalkeeper Eddie Niedzwiecki, centre-back Joe McLaughlin, midfielder Nigel Spackman, winger Pat Nevin, and striker Kerry Dixon.
Neal also added experience in the form of veteran utility player John Hollins, who rejoined the club on a free transfer from Arsenal. Hollins had made 473 league appearances for Chelsea between 1963 and 1975 before moving to Queens Park Rangers. He retired as a player at the end of the 1983-84 season but stayed on as a coach and eventually succeeded Neal as manager in 1985.
Chelsea opened the season with a resounding 5–0 home win over Derby County. Dixon scored twice and followed up with the winner in a midweek Milk Cup tie at Gillingham, both goals in victory at Brighton and four in the return leg against Gillingham. He continued to score prolifically, ending the season as the Second Division's leading scorer with 29 goals, 34 in all competitions.
By the end of November, Chelsea lay in 2nd place behind Sheffield Wednesday, having lost only one of their opening 17 league matches - 2–1 at Hillsborough. After losing twice at home in December and at Middlesbrough in the first match of the New Year, they closed out the season with a 17 match unbeaten run. This included a remarkable draw at Cardiff in which Chelsea scored three times in the last six minutes after trailing 3–0 at half-time. Promotion was sealed by a 5–0 win over Leeds at the end of April.
With two matches of the season remaining, Chelsea trailed Sheffield Wednesday by two points, albeit with a significantly better goal difference. When Wednesday were held to a goalless draw by Manchester City in their penultimate fixture, Chelsea took advantage by beating Barnsley 3–1 to move into pole position and clinched the title with a 1–0 win at Grimsby.
Squad statistics edit
- Substitute appearances in parentheses.
| Pos. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Steve Francis
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK |  Eddie Niedzwiecki
|
42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| DF | Micky Droy
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Keith Dublin
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | John Hollins
|
29 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| DF | Chris Hutchings
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| DF | Joey Jones
|
34 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| DF |  Joe McLaughlin
|
41 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| DF | Colin Pates
|
42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| MF | John Bumstead
|
30(1) | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34(1) | 7 |
| MF | Alan Hudson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Dale Jasper
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Keith Jones
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Colin Lee
|
25(8) | 3 | 4(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29(9) | 3 |
| MF | Tony McAndrew
|
13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
| MF | Nigel Spackman
|
40 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 3 |
| MF | Mickey Thomas
|
17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| FW | Paul Canoville
|
17(3) | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 22(3) | 7 |
| FW | Kerry Dixon
|
42 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 34 |
| FW | Derek Johnstone
|
0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 |
| FW | Pat Nevin
|
38 | 14 | 3(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42(1) | 14 |
| FW | Peter Rhoades-Brown
|
6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| FW | Duncan Shearer
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | David Speedie
|
32(5) | 13 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35(6) | 13 |
| FW | Clive Walker
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 13 | 4 | 90 | 40 | +50 | 88 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Sheffield Wednesday (P) | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 72 | 34 | +38 | 88 | |
| 3 | Newcastle United (P) | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 85 | 53 | +32 | 80 | |
| 4 | Manchester City | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 66 | 48 | +18 | 70 | |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 60 | 47 | +13 | 70 | |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 17 | 16 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 67 | |
| 7 | Carlisle United | 42 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 64 | |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Town | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 49 | 53 | −4 | 61 | |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 69 | 60 | +9 | 60 | |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 60 | |
| 11 | Fulham | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 60 | 53 | +7 | 57 | |
| 12 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 56 | 49 | +7 | 57 | |
| 13 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 53 | 64 | −11 | 57 | |
| 14 | Barnsley | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 52 | |
| 15 | Cardiff City | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 53 | 66 | −13 | 51 | |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 73 | 64 | +9 | 49 | |
| 17 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 41 | 47 | −6 | 49 | |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 52 | −10 | 47 | |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 47 | 73 | −26 | 47 | |
| 20 | Derby County (R) | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 36 | 72 | −36 | 42 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 21 | Swansea City (R) | 42 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 36 | 85 | −49 | 29 | |
| 22 | Cambridge United (R) | 42 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 28 | 77 | −49 | 24 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Results edit
Second Division edit
| 27 August 1983 1 | Chelsea | 5–0 | Derby County | London |
Spackman  4'Walker 52'Hutchings 54'Dixon 63', 68' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,388 |
| 3 September 1983 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Chelsea | Hove |
| Young 76' |
Dixon 26' (pen.), 81' |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 20,874 |
| 7 September 1983 3 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–0 | Chelsea | Blackburn |
| Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 5,873 |
| 10 September 1983 4 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Cambridge United | London |
| Bumstead 20' Walker 76' |
Goldsmith 2' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 14,425 |
| 17 September 1983 5 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | Chelsea | Sheffield |
| Lyons 47' Megson 84' |
Walker 2' |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 20,596 |
| 24 September 1983 6 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Middlesbrough | London |
| Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 15,822 |
| 1 October 1983 7 | Huddersfield Town | 2–3 | Chelsea | Huddersfield |
| Stanton 74' Lillis 84' |
Dixon 12', 50' Canoville 56' |
Stadium: Leeds Road Attendance: 13,280 |
| 8 October 1983 8 | Fulham | 3–5 | Chelsea | London |
| Davies 17', 22', 76' |
Dixon 9', 86' Jones 45'Nevin 49'Lee 59' |
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 24,787 |
| 15 October 1983 9 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Cardiff City | London |
| Nevin 17' Lee 63' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 15,459 |
| 22 October 1983 10 | Carlisle United | 0–0 | Chelsea | Carlisle |
| Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 6,774 |
| 29 October 1983 11 | Chelsea | 3–2 | Charlton Athletic | London |
| Speedie 24', 32' Dixon 78' |
Robinson 71' Moore 75' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,789 |
| 5 November 1983 12 | Oldham Athletic | 1–1 | Chelsea | Oldham |
| Palmer 64' |
Bumstead 75' |
Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 5,807 |
| 12 November 1983 13 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Newcastle United | London |
| Spackman 8' Rhoades-Brown 36'Speedie 46', 67' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 30,628 |
| 15 November 1983 14 | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Chelsea | London |
| Harris 52' |
Nevin 62' |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 14,393 |
| 19 November 1983 15 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Crystal Palace | London |
| Hollins 37' Speedie 63' |
Locke 10' Evans 24' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 19,060 |
| 22 November 1983 16 | Swansea City | 1–3 | Chelsea | Swansea |
| Pascoe 33' |
Bumstead 7' Nevin 21'Dixon 42' |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 7,848 |
| 26 November 1983 17 | Leeds United | 1–1 | Chelsea | Leeds |
| McCluskey 46' |
Dixon 58' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 20,680 |
| 3 December 1983 18 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Manchester City | London |
| Tolmie 44' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,142 |
| 6 December 1983 19 | Chelsea | 6–1 | Swansea City | London |
| Canoville 8', 40', 84' Nevin 24'Dixon 50'Bumstead 81' |
Walsh 57' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 12,389 |
| 17 December 1983 21 | Chelsea | 2–3 | Grimsby Town | London |
| Dixon 26' (pen.) Bumstead 60' |
Waters 65' Emson 75'Ford 77' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 13,151 |
| 26 December 1983 22 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–4 | Chelsea | Shrewsbury |
| Brown 44' MacLaren 75' |
Dixon 64' (pen.) Speedie 71'Bumstead 81', 84' |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 7,582 |
| 27 December 1983 23 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Portsmouth | London |
| Canoville 6' Dixon 39' |
Hateley 4' Dillon 11' (pen.) |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 25,409 |
| 31 December 1983 24 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | London |
| Speedie 77' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 18,542 |
| 2 January 1984 25 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Chelsea | Middlesbrough |
| Hamilton 39' Currie 87' |
McAndrew 55' |
Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 11,579 |
| 14 January 1984 26 | Derby County | 1–2 | Chelsea | Derby |
| Plummer 87' |
Cherry 5' (o.g.) McAndrew 76' (pen.) |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 16,727 |
| 21 January 1984 27 | Chelsea | 3–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | London |
| Thomas 16', 40' Nevin 80' |
Smith 82' Bannister 85' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 35,147 |
| 4 February 1984 28 | Chelsea | 3–1 | Huddersfield Town | London |
| Dixon 20', 44' Speedie 62' |
Doyle 55' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,922 |
| 11 February 1984 29 | Cambridge United | 0–1 | Chelsea | Cambridge |
| McAndrew 6' |
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 10,602 |
| 25 February 1984 30 | Chelsea | 0–0 | Carlisle United | London |
| Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 16,543 |
| 3 March 1984 31 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | London |
| Speedie 19' Dixon 71'McAndrew 75' (pen.) |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 12,736 |
| 10 March 1984 32 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Chelsea | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| McDermott 70' |
Speedie 52' |
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 36,506 |
| 16 March 1984 33 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Blackburn Rovers | London |
| Nevin 39' Speedie 45' |
Garner 70' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 18,905 |
| 31 March 1984 34 | Cardiff City | 3–3 | Chelsea | Cardiff |
| Gibbins 18' Owen 22' (pen.)Vaughan 25' |
Dixon 84' Lee 85'Spackman 90' (pen.) |
Stadium: Ninian Park Attendance: 11,060 |
| 7 April 1984 35 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Fulham | London |
| Dixon 1', 38' Speedie 18'Nevin 67' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 31,947 |
| 14 April 1984 36 | Crystal Palace | 0–1 | Chelsea | London |
| Nevin 83' |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 20,540 |
| 21 April 1984 37 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Shrewsbury Town | London |
| Dixon 6', 87' Nevin 32' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,295 |
| 24 April 1984 38 | Portsmouth | 2–2 | Chelsea | Portsmouth |
| Biley 62' Dillon 71' |
Thomas 5' Nevin 56' (pen.) |
Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 19,267 |
| 28 April 1984 39 | Chelsea | 5–0 | Leeds United | London |
| Thomas 6' Dixon 18', 23', 52'Canoville 89' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 33,447 |
| 4 May 1984 40 | Manchester City | 0–2 | Chelsea | Manchester |
| Nevin 65' Dixon 70' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 21,713 |
| 7 May 1984 41 | Chelsea | 3–1 | Barnsley | London |
| Speedie 37' Nevin 77', 89' |
Geddis 60' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,541 |
| 12 May 1984 42 | Grimsby Town | 0–1 | Chelsea | Cleethorpes |
| Dixon 41' |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 13,995 |
Milk Cup edit
| 30 August 1983 1st Round 1st Leg | Gillingham | 1–2 | Chelsea | Gillingham |
| Shaw 14' |
Walker 38' Dixon 57' |
Stadium: Priestfield Attendance: 8,633 |
| 13 September 1983 1st Round 2nd Leg | Chelsea | 4–0 | Gillingham | London |
| Dixon 40', 44', 54', 84' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 9,704 |
| 5 October 1983 2nd Round 1st Leg | Leicester City | 0–2 | Chelsea | Leicester |
| Dixon 23' Canoville 44' |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 7,825 |
| 25 October 1983 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Chelsea | 0–2 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Leicester City | London |
| A. Smith 26' English 83' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 15,646 |
| 9 November 1983 3rd Round | Chelsea | 0–1 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Thompson 70' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 22,932 |
FA Cup edit
| 7 January 1984 3rd Round | Blackburn Rovers | 1–0 | Chelsea | Blackburn |
| Brotherston 3' |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 10,944 |
References edit
- Glanvill, Rick (2006). Chelsea FC: The Official Biography – The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years. Headline Book Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7553-1466-2.
- Hockings, Ron. 100 Years of The Blues – A Statistical History of Chelsea FC 1905–2006.
External links edit
- 1983–84 season at stamford-bridge.com