Matchday Memories: On This Day 1971 – See Cantwell’s CCFC Share Sizzling Six Goal Stalemate At Chelsea

Billy in the Sky Blue 1971-72

On this day over fifty years ago (4th September in 1971) Manager Noel Cantwell‘s last season at Highfield Road he took his side down to London to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in City’s seventh Division One game of the season. The Sky Blues had got their only win so far last Saturday over Newcastle United at Highfield Road thanks to a lone 57th minute goal from central defender (and now CCFPA member) Jeff Blockley. City were desperate not to add to their two losses to date, especially as they had been bashed 4-0 in their second defeat at West Ham United in midweek.

John in 1971-72

It would be hard for City, wearing their green and black striped away kit, as the Blues were defending a six game unbeaten run against the Sky Blues though both clubs were struggling. Chelsea were parading expensive new young signing Chris Garland and were managed by future Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Dave Sexton!

Dave Sexton OBE (1930-2012)

Unpredictably, in a crazy first half, when all the games six goals went in, the Sky Blues managed to claw their way back to a 3-3 draw after going 3-1 down. There were a fair number of Sky Blues fans there among the 35,549 crowd. The topsy-turvy goal fest went like this. The Blues took a third minute lead with Peter Osgood‘s first of a brace, only for Sky Blues’ young striker (now a CCFPA member) Billy Rafferty to reply just a minute later! Chelsea went 3-1 up with Osgood’s second after seventeen minutes and a third knocked in by John Hollins.

Dennis in the Sky Blue

The irrepressible (and deeply missed) ‘Ernie’ Hunt made all three Sky Blue goals first with the cross for Billy’s header and then taking the free kick which, with five minutes of the half left, gave John O’Rourke his chance to net with a great shot. Finally Dennis Mortimer made it even steven taking a clever pass from Ernie to make it 3-3.In the second half both defences kept their respective goals well protected.

Thanks to former Association committee member Dean Nelson you can watch goal excerpts from ITV’s Big Match coverage of the game and below that (in much more detail) the start of the game and Osgood’s first goal. To see both versions just click the images below:-

On this day 1971 I was at Stamford Bridge four days after watching City lose 4-0 at Upton Park, this time Sky Blues got a 3-3 draw with all the goals in the first half. City scorers Rafferty,O'Rourke and Mortimer. @ccfpa pic.twitter.com/SAyT5bLWep

— Deano's Sky Blues memories (@deanocity3) September 4, 2020

CCFC’s Manager, Noel Cantwell

Noel Cantwell‘s CCFC lined up for this game as follows :-

Bill Glazier, Wilf Smith, Mick Coop, Dennis Mortimer, Jeff Blockley, Bobby Parker, the late John O’Rourke, Willie Carr, Billy Rafferty, the late Ernie Hunt and Mick McGuire

We are delighted to record that all of these players later became Association members

Bob Dennison (CCFC Caretaker)

The two sides met again in the return in mid December and again it proved to be all square with a 48th minute Peter Osgood goal being cancelled out by a Willie Carr effort seventeen minutes into the second half.

Noel Cantwell was sacked on 11th March and remainder of the season was seen out by caretaker manager Bob Dennison.

By season’s end, however, the Sky Blues did enough to remain three places and eight points above the relegated duo (Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town).

CCFC 1971-72

Chelsea pulled away to finish seventh. In a tight race, Cloughie’s Derby County took the title just a point ahead of all three challengers Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.