Chelsea FC: The Chelsea Story
1989/90
Chelsea are back in the First Division after a year away and looking to
make an impact.
Distributed by CBS Fox and made by World Action Sports (a branch of
ITV), it promises every goal from Chelsea’s season. But only in the League as
it’s a Football League video. But a 3-2 defeat against Scarborough in the
League Cup and a 3-1 defeat against Bristol City in the FA Cup aren’t something
to get too upset about missing out on. And if you were looking for our great
ZDS Cup campaign, that has its own video.
The change in production also means an uptake in the production value
of the video. Goals get replays now and there are multiple camera angles to
view them from. Jim Rosenthal narrates over fancy flashy graphics and keeps
everything up-to-date throughout the season (transfers, injuries, international
call-ups). Commentary comes primarily from Martin Tyler but also on occasion
from Peter Brackley, Gerald Sinstadt and the legendary Brian Moore. ‘The Saint’
Ian St John pops up to do co-commentary on the game at Hillsborough against
Sheffield Wednesday.
On the downside, there is awful background music to put up with.
Horrible public domain saxophone music that was so prevalent on football videos
in the 90’s. And no talking heads either, so if you wanted to know what was
going through the players and managers minds that year, you are plum out of
luck. Alternatively, you may be the type of person who just wants to jump
straight in the action so all that yammering just gets in the way.
There are some silly little mistakes as well, such as using the
Manchester City badge in the results graphics instead of the Chelsea one in a
game against Liverpool.
The major signings during that season were Alan Dickens from West Ham
and in November, big Erland Johnsen from Bayern Munich. Chelsea would lose Joe
McLoughlin and later Mickey Hazard but otherwise it was much the same side that
had won the Division Two Championship.
 |
| Kerry Dixon scores his 150th Chelsea goal |
Chelsea started that season really well and were top after three games.
The game against Wednesday at Stamford Bridge marked Dave Beasant’s 400th
consecutive appearance spanning three clubs (Wimbledon, Newcastle United and
Chelsea). One thing this video really does a good thing of highlighting is just
how good a keeper ‘Lurch’ could actually be, his performances against Sheffield
Wednesday, Manchester United and Crystal Palace were exemplary. He had a good
reputation for saving penalties (mainly due to his 1988 FA Cup final heroics)
and added two more during this season against Arsenal and Liverpool. Unfortunately,
he always had the clanger in him as well such as when he dropped a cross
against Wimbledon. Ultimately, that would cost him in his career.
Kerry Dixon would reach a milestone of his own, lobbing over Tottenham
Hotspur keeper Erik Thorstvedt in a 1-4 win at White Hart Lane he reached 150
goals for Chelsea. He would finish the season on 25, including a final day
hat-trick against Millwall, to move out on his own as Chelsea’s second highest
goalscorer of all time.
Title contenders was a word banded about in relation to Chelsea in the
early part of the season but inconsistency and a frailty in defence made that a
bridge too far. This is best illustrated in Chelsea’s disastrous December month
when they lost 2-5 to Wimbledon, 4-2 to QPR and 2-5 again this time against
Liverpool consecutively.
But Chelsea would battle back to claim a creditable 5th
place finish and maybe if Gordon Durie hadn't been injured most the season, Chelsea could have done better. Jim Rosenthal also informs us planning permission had been
accepted for a Sport and Leisure complex at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea Village
was on its way.
Some little curios though. Firstly the game against Manchester United
to show how quickly a clubs fortunes can change, Chelsea fans can be audibly
heard taunting their United counterparts with ‘Going Down! Going Down! Going
Down!’ And this was no early season hi-jinks, this game was played in March and
relegation a real possibility for United and manager Alex Ferguson. Impossible
to think today such a time ever existed.
Secondly, a game against Crystal Palace when our players gave them a
guard of honour for reaching the FA Cup final. It was a great achievement for
them but it’s a bit patronising isn’t it? They hadn’t won anything yet (and
wouldn’t, they lost the final and the Fergie story begins).
 |
| Crystal Palace given guard of honour at Stamford Bridge |
The home game against Tottenham Hotspur is of historical interest as
being the last time to date Spurs have won at Stamford Bridge.
All in all, it’s a well-produced video. Some games, such as away at
Sheffield Wednesday and home to Manchester United get more in-depth extended highlights treatment (as both games were broadcast live on ITV’s ‘The
Big Match’) but it delivers on its promise of showing all the major action from
all our other games too.
Just like Chelsea, the season videos are on the up.
Season Highlights:
4-1 win at Tottenham (Kerry Dixon’s 150th Chelsea goal)
Dave Beasant saves a penalty against Arsenal
1-0
win at Everton to go top of the table
Coming from 2-0 down against Southampton to win 2-3
Kerry Dixon 'Perfect' hat-trick against Millwall
Lowlights:
Losing 2-5 and 4-1 to Liverpool
2-5 and 4-2 defeats to Wimbledon and QPR respectively
1-2 defeat to Tottenham at Stamford Bridge
No comments:
Post a Comment