The Chelsea FanCast looks back, season by season, to 50 Years of Chelsea history from 1970 to the present day.
Stamford Chidge is joined by Jonathan Kydd and Mark Meehan to look back at the 1975-76 season.
Chelsea find themselves in Division Two having been relegated the previous season. Eddie McCreadie is charged with rejuvenating Chelsea and this season is very much one of transition.
McCreadie put his faith in the youth, giving an 18 year old Ray Wilkins the Captaincy and bringing in players such as John Sparrow, Gary Stanley, Ian Britton & Teddy Maybank. In truth he had little choice as the Club had almost gone in to receivership over the summer.
Understandably, Chelsea were consistently inconsistent, with very up and down league form which saw no wins in the last 9 games to finish in 11th; Chelsea’s lowest ever league finish at that point.
The high point of the season was perhaps also the low point as Chelsea lost 3-2 to Fedora wearing Malcolm Allison’s Crystal Palace in the 5th round of the FA Cup. 55,000 crammed in to Stamford Bridge that day as Chelsea supporters sniffed some unexpected cup glory, but it was not to be. At least 3rd Division Palace reached the semi-final, ironically played at Stamford Bridge.
But this season was arguably the making of one of the greatest home grown talents seen at the club; Ray Wilkins, who was the leading appearance maker (47) and top goal scorer (12).
From here it could only get better…
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