Wikipedia

1983–84 Chelsea F.C. season

The 1983–84 season was Chelsea Football Club's 70th competitive season. After five years in the Second Division, Chelsea won promotion to the First Division as champions, losing only four of their 42 league matches and pipping Sheffield Wednesday to the title on goal difference.

Chelsea
1983–84 season
ChairmanKen Bates
ManagerJohn Neal
StadiumStamford Bridge
Second Division1st
FA CupThird round
Milk CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Kerry Dixon (28)
All: Kerry Dixon (34)
Highest home attendance35,147 vs Sheffield Wednesday (21 January 1984)
Lowest home attendance9,704 vs Gillingham (13 September 1983)
Average home league attendance21,127
Biggest win6–1 v Swansea City (6 December 1983)
Biggest defeat0–2 v Leicester City (25 October 1983)

Season summary

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Manager John Neal revamped his squad after narrowly avoiding relegation to the Third Division the previous season. New signings included goalkeeper Eddie Niedzwiecki, centre-back Joe McLaughlin, midfielder Nigel Spackman, winger Pat Nevin, and striker Kerry Dixon.

Neal also added experience in the form of veteran utility player John Hollins, who rejoined the club on a free transfer from Arsenal. Hollins had made 473 league appearances for Chelsea between 1963 and 1975 before moving to Queens Park Rangers. He retired as a player at the end of the 1983-84 season but stayed on as a coach and eventually succeeded Neal as manager in 1985.

Chelsea opened the season with a resounding 5–0 home win over Derby County. Dixon scored twice and followed up with the winner in a midweek Milk Cup tie at Gillingham, both goals in victory at Brighton and four in the return leg against Gillingham. He continued to score prolifically, ending the season as the Second Division's leading scorer with 28 goals, 34 in all competitions.

By the end of November, Chelsea lay in 2nd place behind Sheffield Wednesday, having lost only one of their opening 17 league matches - 2–1 at Hillsborough. After losing twice at home in December and at Middlesbrough in the first match of the New Year, they closed out the season with a 17 match unbeaten run. This included a remarkable draw at Cardiff in which Chelsea scored three times in the last six minutes after trailing 3–0 at half-time. Promotion was sealed by a 5–0 win over Leeds at the end of April.

With two matches of the season remaining, Chelsea trailed Sheffield Wednesday by two points, albeit with a significantly better goal difference. When Wednesday were held to a goalless draw by Manchester City in their penultimate fixture, Chelsea took advantage by beating Barnsley 3–1 to move into pole position and clinched the title with a 1–0 win at Grimsby.

Squad statistics

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  • Substitute appearances in parentheses.
Pos. Name League League Cup FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Steve Francis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK   Eddie Niedzwiecki 42 0 5 0 1 0 48 0
DF   Micky Droy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF   Keith Dublin 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   John Hollins 29 1 5 0 1 0 34 1
DF   Chris Hutchings 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 1
DF   Joey Jones 34 1 4 0 1 0 39 1
DF   Joe McLaughlin 41 0 5 0 1 0 47 0
DF   Colin Pates 42 0 5 0 1 0 48 0
MF   John Bumstead 30(1) 7 4 0 0 0 34(1) 7
MF   Alan Hudson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF   Dale Jasper 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
MF   Keith Jones 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF   Colin Lee 25(8) 3 4(1) 0 0 0 29(9) 3
MF   Tony McAndrew 13 4 0 0 1 0 14 4
MF   Nigel Spackman 40 3 5 0 1 0 46 3
MF   Mickey Thomas 17 4 0 0 0 0 17 4
FW   Paul Canoville 17(3) 6 4 1 1 0 22(3) 7
FW   Kerry Dixon 42 28 5 6 1 0 48 34
FW   Derek Johnstone 0(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0(2) 0
FW   Pat Nevin 38 14 3(1) 0 1 0 42(1) 14
FW   Peter Rhoades-Brown 6 1 1 0 0 0 7 1
FW   Duncan Shearer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   David Speedie 32(5) 13 2(1) 0 1 0 35(6) 13
FW   Clive Walker 6 3 2 1 0 0 8 4

[1] [2]

League table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Relegation
1 Chelsea (C, P) 42 25 13 4 90 40 50 88 Promotion to the First Division
2 Sheffield Wednesday (P) 42 26 10 6 72 34 38 88
3 Newcastle United (P) 42 24 8 10 85 53 32 80
4 Manchester City 42 20 10 12 66 48 18 70
5 Grimsby Town 42 19 13 10 60 47 13 70
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

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Second Division

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Main article: 1983–84 Football League Second Division
27 August 1983 1 Chelsea 5–0 Derby County London
Spackman   4'
Walker   52'
Hutchings   54'
Dixon   63', 68'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 17,388
3 September 1983 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–2 Chelsea Hove
Young   76' Dixon   26' (pen.), 81' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 20,874
7 September 1983 3 Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Chelsea Blackburn
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 5,873
10 September 1983 4 Chelsea 2–1 Cambridge United London
Bumstead   20'
Walker   76'		 Goldsmith   2' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 14,425
17 September 1983 5 Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 Chelsea Sheffield
Lyons   47'
Megson   84'		 Walker   2' Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 20,596
24 September 1983 6 Chelsea 0–0 Middlesbrough London
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 15,822
1 October 1983 7 Huddersfield Town 2–3 Chelsea Huddersfield
Stanton   74'
Lillis   84'		 Dixon   12', 50'
Canoville   56'		 Stadium: Leeds Road
Attendance: 13,280
8 October 1983 8 Fulham 3–5 Chelsea London
Davies   17', 22', 76' Dixon   9', 86'
Jones   45'
Nevin   49'
Lee   59'		 Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 24,787
15 October 1983 9 Chelsea 2–0 Cardiff City London
Nevin   17'
Lee   63'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 15,459
22 October 1983 10 Carlisle United 0–0 Chelsea Carlisle
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 6,774
29 October 1983 11 Chelsea 3–2 Charlton Athletic London
Speedie   24', 32'
Dixon   78'		 Robinson   71'
Moore   75'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 17,789
5 November 1983 12 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Chelsea Oldham
Palmer   64' Bumstead   75' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 5,807
12 November 1983 13 Chelsea 4–0 Newcastle United London
Spackman   8'
Rhoades-Brown   36'
Speedie   46', 67'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 30,628
15 November 1983 14 Charlton Athletic 1–1 Chelsea London
Harris   52' Nevin   62' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 14,393
19 November 1983 15 Chelsea 2–2 Crystal Palace London
Hollins   37'
Speedie   63'		 Locke   10'
Evans   24'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 19,060
22 November 1983 16 Swansea City 1–3 Chelsea Swansea
Pascoe   33' Bumstead   7'
Nevin   21'
Dixon   42'		 Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 7,848
26 November 1983 17 Leeds United 1–1 Chelsea Leeds
McCluskey   46' Dixon   58' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 20,680
3 December 1983 18 Chelsea 0–1 Manchester City London
Tolmie   44' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 29,142
6 December 1983 19 Chelsea 6–1 Swansea City London
Canoville   8', 40', 84'
Nevin   24'
Dixon   50'
Bumstead   81'		 Walsh   57' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 12,389
10 December 1983 20 Barnsley 0–0 Chelsea Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 10,300
17 December 1983 21 Chelsea 2–3 Grimsby Town London
Dixon   26' (pen.)
Bumstead   60'		 Waters   65'
Emson   75'
Ford   77'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 13,151
26 December 1983 22 Shrewsbury Town 2–4 Chelsea Shrewsbury
Brown   44'
MacLaren   75'		 Dixon   64' (pen.)
Speedie   71'
Bumstead   81', 84'		 Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,582
27 December 1983 23 Chelsea 2–2 Portsmouth London
Canoville   6'
Dixon   39'		 Hateley   4'
Dillon   11' (pen.)		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 25,409
31 December 1983 24 Chelsea 1–0 Brighton & Hove Albion London
Speedie   77' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 18,542
2 January 1984 25 Middlesbrough 2–1 Chelsea Middlesbrough
Hamilton   39'
Currie   87'		 McAndrew   55' Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 11,579
14 January 1984 26 Derby County 1–2 Chelsea Derby
Plummer   87' Cherry   5' (o.g.)
McAndrew   76' (pen.)		 Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 16,727
21 January 1984 27 Chelsea 3–2 Sheffield Wednesday London
Thomas   16', 40'
Nevin   80'		 Smith   82'
Bannister   85'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 35,147
4 February 1984 28 Chelsea 3–1 Huddersfield Town London
Dixon   20', 44'
Speedie   62'		 Doyle   55' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 17,922
11 February 1984 29 Cambridge United 0–1 Chelsea Cambridge
McAndrew   6' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 10,602
25 February 1984 30 Chelsea 0–0 Carlisle United London
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 16,543
3 March 1984 31 Chelsea 3–0 Oldham Athletic London
Speedie   19'
Dixon   71'
McAndrew   75' (pen.)		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 12,736
10 March 1984 32 Newcastle United 1–1 Chelsea Newcastle upon Tyne
McDermott   70' Speedie   52' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,506
16 March 1984 33 Chelsea 2–1 Blackburn Rovers London
Nevin   39'
Speedie   45'		 Garner   70' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 18,905
31 March 1984 34 Cardiff City 3–3 Chelsea Cardiff
Gibbins   18'
Owen   22' (pen.)
Vaughan   25'		 Dixon   84'
Lee   85'
Spackman   90' (pen.)		 Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 11,060
7 April 1984 35 Chelsea 4–0 Fulham London
Dixon   1', 38'
Speedie   18'
Nevin   67'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 31,947
14 April 1984 36 Crystal Palace 0–1 Chelsea London
Nevin   83' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 20,540
21 April 1984 37 Chelsea 3–0 Shrewsbury Town London
Dixon   6', 87'
Nevin   32'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 17,295
24 April 1984 38 Portsmouth 2–2 Chelsea Portsmouth
Biley   62'
Dillon   71'		 Thomas   5'
Nevin   56' (pen.)		 Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 19,267
28 April 1984 39 Chelsea 5–0 Leeds United London
Thomas   6'
Dixon   18', 23', 52'
Canoville   89'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 33,447
4 May 1984 40 Manchester City 0–2 Chelsea Manchester
Nevin   65'
Dixon   70'		 Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 21,713
7 May 1984 41 Chelsea 3–1 Barnsley London
Speedie   37'
Nevin   77', 89'		 Geddis   60' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 29,541
12 May 1984 42 Grimsby Town 0–1 Chelsea Cleethorpes
Dixon   41' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 13,995

[3]

Milk Cup

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Main article: 1983–84 Football League Cup
30 August 1983 1st Round 1st Leg Gillingham 1–2 Chelsea Gillingham
Shaw   14' Walker   38'
Dixon   57'		 Stadium: Priestfield
Attendance: 8,633
13 September 1983 1st Round 2nd Leg Chelsea 4–0 Gillingham London
Dixon   40', 44', 54', 84' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 9,704
5 October 1983 2nd Round 1st Leg Leicester City 0–2 Chelsea Leicester
Dixon   23'
Canoville   44'		 Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 7,825
25 October 1983 2nd Round 2nd Leg Chelsea 0–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		 Leicester City London
A. Smith   26'
English   83'		 Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 15,646
9 November 1983 3rd Round Chelsea 0–1 West Bromwich Albion London
Thompson   70' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 22,932

[3]

FA Cup

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Main article: 1983–84 FA Cup
7 January 1984 3rd Round Blackburn Rovers 1–0 Chelsea Blackburn
Brotherston   3' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 10,944

[3]

References

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  1. ^ CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB Players Statistics Season 1983-84 - bounder.friardale.co.uk
  2. ^ worldfootball.net - Chelsea FC Squad 1983/1984
  3. ^ a b c CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB Match Results Season 1983-84 - bounder.friardale.co.uk
  • Glanvill, Rick (2006). Chelsea FC: The Official Biography – The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years. Headline Book Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7553-1466-2.
  • Hockings, Ron. 100 Years of The Blues – A Statistical History of Chelsea FC 1905–2006.
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