ARTICLES

A Memorable Match …. Many Moons Ago

It was Christmas Day 1957 and I was taken by my father and grandfather to see Chelsea play Portsmouth in the old Division One of the Football League.

Published

12 years ago

May 20, 2011

Scott Balaam

It was Christmas Day 1957 and I was taken by my father and grandfather to see Chelsea play Portsmouth in the old Division One of the Football League.

My father took his place where he normally stood, under the North Stand. Not the North Stand of today, but a 1000 seater on stilts, built in 1939 just before the Second World War. My grandfather and I went up into the North Stand to watch one of the most remarkable matches ever seen at Stamford Bridge.

The game was nearing half-time when the Portsmouth centre-half (in those days you had two full-backs, three half-backs, two wingers and three forwards), Jimmy Dickinson put through his own goal.

Two minutes into the second half the Chelsea centre-half, John Mortimore, did exactly the same!! As the players made their way back to the centre circle for the restart Jimmy Dickinson ran the length of the pitch and shook hands with John Mortimore!! I wonder if that would happen today?

The match itself ended 7-4, with a certain Jimmy Greaves scoring four. His first hat-trick for Chelsea. A game to remember.

By Ross Balaam

A.k.a. OBG