1969–70 Chelsea F.C. season

56th competitive season of Chelsea F.C.

Chelsea 1969-70 football season

Chelsea

1969-70 season

Chairman

Manager

3rd

Winners

Fourth round

Top goalscorer

League:
Peter Osgood (23)
All:
Peter Osgood (31)

Highest home attendance

61,479 vs Manchester United (21 March 1970)

Lowest home attendance

24,904 vs Burnley (17 September 1969)

Home colours

Away colours

← 1968–69 1970–71 →

The 1969-70 season was Chelsea Football Club's 56th of competitive football, and the club's 43rd in the English top flight.

The club began the season having not signed a single player. Defender Paddy Mulligan, who joined in October for £17,500, was the sole recruit during the campaign. Bobby Tambling spent his final season with the club. He moved to Crystal Palace on loan in January before leaving permanently in May. Tambling departed as Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer, a record he held until 2013 when his tally of 202 goals was surpassed by Frank Lampard.

The season proved to be a success, as the club won the FA Cup for the first time in their history with a hard-fought replayed win over Leeds United. The club also finished 3rd in the First Division, their highest placing since 1965. Chelsea were for a time in title contention, although an indifferent start and heavy defeats at the hands of rivals Leeds and Everton ultimately ended their chances.

Midfielders John Hollins and Peter Houseman did not miss a game. Hollins was also voted Chelsea's Player of the Year by the fans. Peter Osgood finished as top scorer, with 31 goals in all competitions, and became the last man to date to score in every round of the FA Cup. The average home attendance for the season was 40,342.

Squad statistics

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Peter Bonetti	36	0	8	0	4	0	48	0
GK	Tommy Hughes	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
DF	John Dempsey	37	2	8	1	3	0	48	3
DF	Ron Harris	30	0	8	0	3	0	41	0
DF	Marvin Hinton	28	0	2(2)	0	4	0	34(2)	0
DF	Stewart Houston	6(3)	0	0	0	1	0	7(3)	0
DF	Eddie McCreadie	30(1)	0	8	0	2	0	40(1)	0
DF	Paddy Mulligan	8(2)	0	0	0	0	0	8(2)	0
DF	David Webb	35	4	8	3	3	0	46	7
MF	John Boyle	7(1)	0	0	0	3	0	10(1)	0
MF	Charlie Cooke	35	4	6	0	3(1)	1	44(1)	5
MF	Alan Hudson	29	3	6	0	2	0	37	3
MF	John Hollins	42	6	8	1	4	0	54	7
MF	Peter Houseman	42	3	8	6	4	0	54	9
MF/FW	Tommy Baldwin	19(2)	5	5	1	1	0	25(2)	6
FW	Alan Birchenall	15(1)	3	0	0	4	2	19(1)	5
FW	Ian Hutchinson	27(1)	16	8	5	1	1	35(1)	22
FW	Peter Osgood	38(2)	23	7	8	3	0	48(2)	31
FW	Bobby Tambling	7(2)	0	0	0	0	0	7(2)	0

Substitute appearances in parentheses. Substitute appearances included in totals

Results

First Division

Main article: 1969–70 Football League First Division Liverpool v Chelsea

9 August 1969 1	Liverpool	4–1	Chelsea	Liverpool
	Lawler 27' St John 48', 83' Strong 60'		Hutchinson 47'	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 48,383

West Ham United v Chelsea

11 August 1969 2	West Ham United	2–0	Chelsea	London
	Peters 68' Hurst 84'			Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 39,003

Chelsea v Ipswich Town

16 August 1969 3	Chelsea	1–0	Ipswich Town	London
	Hutchinson 74'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,613

Chelsea v West Ham United

20 August 1969 4	Chelsea	0–0	West Ham United	London
				Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 43,346

Southampton v Chelsea

23 August 1969 5	Southampton	2–2	Chelsea	Southampton
	Paine 3' Kemp 31'		Osgood 4', 76'	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 25,935

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

27 August 1969 6	Tottenham Hotspur	1–1	Chelsea	London
	Pearce 79'		Webb 46'	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 47,395

Chelsea v Crystal Palace

30 August 1969 7	Chelsea	1–1	Crystal Palace	London
	Osgood 68'		Hoy 36'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 41,908

Manchester City v Chelsea

6 September 1969 8	Manchester City	0–0	Chelsea	Manchester
				Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 35,995

Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers

13 September 1969 9	Chelsea	2–2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	London
	Dempsey 59' Osgood 62'		Curran 83', 87'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,599

Chelsea v Burnley

17 September 1969 10	Chelsea	2–0	Burnley	London
	Birchenall 58' Houseman 90'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 24,904

Leeds United v Chelsea

20 September 1969 11	Leeds United	2–0	Chelsea	Leeds
	Giles 37' (pen.) Lorimer 78'			Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 33,130

Chelsea v Arsenal

27 September 1969 12	Chelsea	3–0	Arsenal	London
	Birchenall 10', 52' Baldwin 85'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 46,370

Sunderland v Chelsea

4 October 1969 13	Sunderland	0–0	Chelsea	Sunderland
				Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 24,216

Chelsea v Derby County

11 October 1969 14	Chelsea	2–2	Derby County	London
	Houseman 57' Hollins 82'		Hector 52' O'Hare 71'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 51,421

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion

18 October 1969 15	Chelsea	2–0	West Bromwich Albion	London
	Osgood 40' Cooke 45'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 34,810

Newcastle United v Chelsea

25 October 1969 16	Newcastle United	0–1	Chelsea	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
			Osgood 58'	Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 40,088

Chelsea v Coventry City

1 November 1969 17	Chelsea	1–0	Coventry City	London
	Cooke 47'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,899

Sheffield Wednesday v Chelsea

8 November 1969 18	Sheffield Wednesday	1–3	Chelsea	Sheffield
	Prendergast 90'		Hutchinson 40', 58' Osgood 75'	Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 18,044

Chelsea v Everton

15 November 1969 19	Chelsea	1–1	Everton	London
	Osgood 11'		Husband 6'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 49,895

Ipswich Town v Chelsea

18 November 1969 20	Ipswich Town	1–4	Chelsea	Ipswich
	Viljoen 37'		Hutchinson 12' Osgood 63', 84' Hollins 90'	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 20,935

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

22 November 1969 21	Nottingham Forest	1–1	Chelsea	Nottingham
	Newton 43'		Cooke 62'	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 23,808

Manchester United v Chelsea

6 December 1969 22	Manchester United	0–2	Chelsea	Manchester
			Hutchinson 12', 38'	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 49,344

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea

13 December 1969 23	Wolverhampton Wanderers	3–0	Chelsea	Wolverhampton
	Wagstaffe 41' Curran 43', 51'			Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 26,775

Chelsea v Manchester City

20 December 1969 24	Chelsea	3–1	Manchester City	London
	Webb 26', 30' Hutchinson 42'		Summerbee 88'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 34,791

Chelsea v Southampton

26 December 1969 25	Chelsea	3–1	Southampton	London
	Hutchinson 31', 61' Hollins 68'		Channon 86'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 41,489

Crystal Palace v Chelsea

27 December 1969 26	Crystal Palace	1–5	Chelsea	London
	Queen 17'		Osgood 36', 65', 78', 80' Houseman 85'	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 49,498

Chelsea v Leeds United

10 January 1970 27	Chelsea	2–5	Leeds United	London
	Hollins 36' Osgood 41'		Clarke 16' Cooper 47' Giles 57' (pen.) Lorimer 60' Jones 64'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 57,221

Arsenal v Chelsea

17 January 1970 28	Arsenal	0–3	Chelsea	London
			Hollins 40' Hutchinson 81' Baldwin 89'	Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 51,338

Chelsea v Sunderland

31 January 1970 29	Chelsea	3–1	Sunderland	London
	Osgood 19', 22', 78'		Baker 71'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,775

Derby County v Chelsea

11 February 1970 30	Derby County	2–2	Chelsea	Derby
	Durban 79' Hector 83'		Osgood 43' Baldwin 78'	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 35,109

Chelsea v Newcastle United

25 February 1970 31	Chelsea	0–0	Newcastle United	London
				Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 35,341

Coventry City v Chelsea

28 February 1970 32	Coventry City	0–3	Chelsea	Coventry
			Baldwin 25' Webb 53' Hudson 82'	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 37,448

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest

7 March 1970 33	Chelsea	1–1	Nottingham Forest	London
	Baldwin 8'		McCaffrey 84'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,280

Chelsea v Stoke City

17 March 1970 34	Chelsea	1–0	Stoke City	London
	Cooke 89'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,996

Chelsea v Manchester United

21 March 1970 35	Chelsea	2–1	Manchester United	London
	Hutchinson 14', 19'		Morgan 75'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 61,479

Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday

25 March 1970 36	Chelsea	3–1	Sheffield Wednesday	London
	Hutchinson 8' Osgood 21' (pen.) Hudson 57'		Sinclair 4'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,590

Everton v Chelsea

28 March 1970 37	Everton	5–2	Chelsea	Liverpool
	Kendall 1' Ball 4' Royle 39', 47' Whittle 59'		Dempsey 64' Osgood 88'	Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 57,828

West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea

30 March 1970 38	West Bromwich Albion	3–1	Chelsea	West Bromwich
	Brown 30', 68' Astle 47'		Hutchinson 57'	Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 31,207

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

4 April 1970 39	Chelsea	1–0	Tottenham Hotspur	London
	Baldwin 4'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 44,925

Stoke City v Chelsea

13 April 1970 40	Stoke City	1–2	Chelsea	Stoke-on-Trent
	Stevenson 53'		Hutchinson 13' Skeels 39' (o.g.)	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 22,707

Burnley v Chelsea

14 April 1970 41	Burnley	3–1	Chelsea	Burnley
	Dobson 10' Kindon 15', 57'		Hollins 16'	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 12,030

Chelsea v Liverpool

18 April 1970 42	Chelsea	2–1	Liverpool	London
	Osgood 21', 68' (pen.)		Graham 26'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 36,521

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Everton (C)	42	29	8	5	72	34	2.118	66	Qualification for the European Cup first round
2	Leeds United	42	21	15	6	84	49	1.714	57	Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round
3	Chelsea	42	21	13	8	70	50	1.400	55	Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
4	Derby County	42	22	9	11	64	37	1.730	53	Qualification for the Watney Cup
5	Liverpool	42	20	11	11	65	42	1.548	51	Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:

Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup first round as the 1969–70 FA Cup winners.
Derby County and Manchester United qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.

League Cup

Main article: 1969–70 Football League Cup Coventry City v Chelsea

2 September 1969 2nd Round	Coventry City	0–1	Chelsea	Coventry
			Hutchinson 50'	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 24,790

Leeds United v Chelsea

24 September 1969 3rd Round	Leeds United	1–1	Chelsea	Leeds
	Madeley 90'		Birchenall 71'	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 21,933

Chelsea v Leeds United

6 October 1969 3rd Round Replay	Chelsea	2–0	Leeds United	London
	Cooke 63' Birchenall 78'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,485

Carlisle United v Chelsea

15 October 1969 4th Round	Carlisle United	1–0	Chelsea	Carlisle
	Hemstead 79'			Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 18,513

FA Cup

Main article: 1969–70 FA Cup Chelsea v Birmingham City

3 January 1970 3rd Round	Chelsea	3–0	Birmingham City	London
	Osgood 42' Hutchinson 78', 89'			Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 45,088

Chelsea v Burnley

24 January 1970 4th Round	Chelsea	2–2	Burnley	London
	Hollins 67' Osgood 69'		Dobson 80', 88'	Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 42,282

Burnley v Chelsea

27 January 1970 4th Round Replay	Burnley	1–3 (a.e.t.)	Chelsea	Burnley
	Coates 35'		Houseman 72', 116' Baldwin 92'	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 32,000

Crystal Palace v Chelsea

7 February 1970 5th Round	Crystal Palace	1–4	Chelsea	London
	Hoy 52'		Osgood 37' Dempsey 64' Houseman 73' Hutchinson 86'	Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 48,479

Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea

21 February 1970 6th Round	Queens Park Rangers	2–4	Chelsea	London
	Venables 27' (pen.) Bridges 62'		Webb 7' Osgood 8', 43', 58'	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 33,572

Chelsea v Watford

14 March 1970 Semi-Final	Chelsea	5–1	Watford	London
	Webb 3' Osgood 58' Houseman 73', 79' Hutchinson 75'		Garbett 12'	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 55,209

Chelsea v Leeds United

11 April 1970 Final	Chelsea	2–2 (a.e.t.)	Leeds United	London
	Houseman 41' Hutchinson 86'		Charlton 21' Jones 83'	Stadium: Wembley Attendance: 100,000

Chelsea v Leeds United

29 April 1970 Final Replay	Chelsea	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Leeds United	Manchester
	Osgood 78' Webb 104'		Jones 36'	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 62,078

Notes

References

"Frank Lampard breaks Bobby Tambling's Chelsea scoring record". BBC Sport. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
^ CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB Match Results Season 1969-70 - bounder.friardale.co.uk

Soccerbase
Hockings, Ron. 100 Years of the Blues: A Statistical History of Chelsea Football Club. (2007)

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1969–70 in English football

« 1968–69 1970–71 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Levels 5–6	Isthmian League (level 5 only) Northern Premier League (level 5 only) Southern League (Premier, One)
Levels 7–9	Athenian League (Premier, One, Two) Cheshire County League (level 7 only) Eastern Counties League (level 7 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 7 only) Lancashire Combination (level 7 only) Midland Football Combination (level 7 only) Midland League (level 7 only) Northern League (level 7 only) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Spartan League (level 7 only) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (One, Two) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only) Western League (level 7 only) Yorkshire League (One, Two)

Cup competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (Final) FA Amateur Cup
Football League cups	League Cup (Final)

European competitions

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Burnley Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Derby County Everton Ipswich Town Leeds United Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Southampton Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers
Second Division	Aston Villa Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Bristol City Cardiff City Carlisle United Charlton Athletic Huddersfield Town Hull City Leicester City Middlesbrough Millwall Norwich City Oxford United Portsmouth Preston North End Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield United Swindon Town Watford
Third Division	Barnsley Barrow Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Bradford City Brighton & Hove Albion Bristol Rovers Bury Doncaster Rovers Fulham Gillingham Halifax Town Leyton Orient Luton Town Mansfield Town Plymouth Argyle Reading Rochdale Rotherham United Shrewsbury Town Southport Stockport County Torquay United Tranmere Rovers Walsall
Fourth Division	Aldershot Bradford Park Avenue Brentford Chester Chesterfield Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Exeter City Grimsby Town Hartlepool United Lincoln City Newport County Northampton Town Notts County Oldham Athletic Peterborough United Port Vale Scunthorpe United Southend United Swansea Town Workington Wrexham York City

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