Chelsea 1988/89 Season Review
After the lacklustre effort of last season, Chelsea are back with a
bang.
If you had gone into hibernation for that year and picked up the video
to see how Chelsea had got on, I’m afraid the ending is given away in the first
two minutes. The title card tells the story: Chelsea, Champions League Division
Two.
Our host Steve Tongue (a distinguished journalist with a 40+ year in
sports journalism having worked for LBC,
Independent on Sunday, Evening Standard and author of the rather excellent Turf Wars: A History of London Football)
further gives the game away revealing Chelsea’s then-record 99 points tally.
The first talking head is that ever lovable rogue Ken Bates. He is in
truth more than a touch disparaging about the quality of teams that were in
Division Two. In fairness to Mr Bates, he’s not the only one. The vibe runs
through in all the interviews that they all thought they were too good to be there.
Maybe there is a ring of truth to that but the fact remains: you were there and
whose fault was that?
Bates remarks who wants to play Bradford and Shrewsbury when you could
be playing Liverpool and Manchester United. But being Chelsea, would probably
do better against Liverpool and United than against Bradford and Shrewsbury.
By bizarre coincidence, we have a recent example of Chelsea having
played against Liverpool, United, Bradford and Shrewsbury all in the same season.
In 2014/15, Chelsea’s record against Liverpool was won two, drew two. Against
United, won 1, drew 1. Chelsea were drawn against League Two side Shrewsbury in
the League Cup and scraped a 2-1 win. The FA Cup brought visit of Bradford and
a shock 2-4 defeat. Bates might be on to something.
Other talking heads that appear are Tony Dorigo (with his weird
Aussie-Yorkshire accent); Peter Nicholas (the lovechild of Jim Broadbent and
Peter Davison) and Graham Roberts (typically bland footballer interview).
Into the action with what sounds like Jonathan Pearce doing the linking
narrations and it is strange to think Chelsea didn’t actually start this season
well at all, failing to win any of their first six games. Fans must have been
worried it would be a continuation of last season.
It all turned with a win against Leeds United at Elland Road and from
there Chelsea never looked back.
Gordon Durie and Kerry Dixon ran riot throughout the season with goals
aplentyKevin Wilson, Graham Roberts and David Lee emerged as stars in the team.
Wilson was a useful striker who wore any number but 9 or 10. Roberts was one of
the last of the play hard, drink harder breed of footballer but a fine player
none the less and reliable from twelve-yards. David Lee was an always slightly
underrated player for Chelsea but would stay for another decade.
What possibly tipped things in Chelsea’s favour though was the signing
of new goalkeeper, Dave Beasant. This was the era when saying ‘Beasant for
England’ wouldn’t have gotten you laughed out of every pub in the land.
On the video, it’s still not all the games. All the home matches are
here but not all of the away games. Though the key ones remain: the first win
at Leeds; Watford; terrible looking footage of the win at Birmingham City to go
top of the league (I think it was recorded on a home video camera, the constant
jerking definitely implies no tripod fixing was in place); 7-0 win at Walsall
(filmed from the corner of the ground), Gordon Durie scored five and Dave
Beasant saved a penalty; and of course the big game at Maine Road when Chelsea
beat Manchester City 3-2 to all but seal promotion (Chelsea and Man City in a
title race? You’ll never see that again).
The City game was broadcast live on ITV and it’s nice to see Chelsea
stumped the cash to use their footage, so for a short time we get to enjoy Martin
Tyler on commentary. And though Chelsea’s own production had improved, the
difference between the footage of the ITV game and the rest of the video is
highly noticeable. The side camera view of Dorigo’s run from his own half for
Chelsea’s third looks epic.
Bates describes the City game as his highlight of the season and never
one for hyperbole, proclaims Chelsea ‘should have won by ten’ and Dorigo’s run
was ‘like the charge of the light brigade’.
Promotion was sealed with a 1-0 win against Leeds thanks to a goal from
Jon Bumstead but ‘Laughing’ Bobby Campbell kills the mood right before the
highlights claiming because everyone thought they were up already it was all a
bit of a ‘damp squid’ (yes, he does say ‘squid’).
The last little bit with Bates, never a man short on ambition, his aim
for next season is to see Chelsea competing for all the top prizes.
The trophy presentation at the final game of the season and it really
is an unimpressive looking trophy. A tiny little thing it is, you fear the players
are afraid of breaking it in their hands.
The last bit of the video is a goal of the season competition, prize
being a season ticket for the 1990/91 season. 13 goals, I don’t know who won
but I would guess Tony Dorigo.
So, after a year away, it’s farewell to Plymouth, Barnsley and Walsall.
Hello to Liverpool, Everton and Manchester United.
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