Football Memories (IV) – Chelsea vs West Ham 1966!

It was 17 December 1966 and Chelsea were hosting West Ham at Stamford Bridge! 

At the beginning of the season, I had become a season ticket holder in the West Stand at the Blues, two years after the stand had opened.  

Now it is referred to as the Old West Stand, having been demolished in 1998 as part of the ongoing renovation of the stadium.  

I had a seat in the second row looking out on the edge of the penalty box at the north end of the ground, where the Matthew Harding Stand is today.

The match was Chelsea v West Ham United.  Less than six months earlier England had won the World Cup with Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters all having played a huge part in the competition.  

They also played in this match.  Bobby Moore was captain and played at number six, Geoff Hurst with the number ten shirt and Martin Peters wearing four.  

Unlike today, where players have their squad numbers In those days all teams were just numbered 1 to 11 and the number tended to relate to your position.

The game started and West Ham went 2-0 up with goals from Peter Brabrook, a former Chelsea player coming back to haunt us, in the 24^th minute and Peters in the 30^th minute.  

Chelsea managed to pull one back in the 40^th minute though Tommy Baldwin and the first-half finished 2-1 to the away team. 

The only real highlight for Chelsea fans was a fantastic save by their goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who sadly died earlier this year, by arching his back almost double to tip over a goal bound shot by a West Ham player.

The second half started, and Chelsea equalised through Tony Hateley in the 51^stminute.  Three minutes later Chelsea took the lead for the first time with a goal from Charlie Cooke.  

Back came West Ham and equalised in the 55^th minute and then went ahead again in the 59^th minute – Both goals scored by John Sissons.  

West Ham went further ahead in the 61^st minute with a goal from John Byrne to make the score 5-3.  Yet again Chelsea came back with a penalty scored by Bobby Tambling in the 80^th minute.  

Then, in the final minute of the game Tambling scored his second and Chelsea’s fifth to make the final score 5-5.  What a game !!!

By Ross Balaam