Following Tommy Docherty's abrupt departure, the Chelsea board made a brave choice in appointing Dave Sexton as manager. That decision bore glorious fruit, culminating in the 1970 FA Cup win and, a year later, European glory. How did this happen? How did Sexton steady the ship, strengthen his squad and get the best out of his players. Mercurial talents like Cooke, Hudson and Osgood. Club loyalists like Bonetti, Harris, McCreadie, Hinton, Hollins, Boyle, Houseman, Tambling and Baldwin. Signings, Birchenall, Webb, Hutchinson, Dempsey, Mulligan, Weller and Phillips.
This book looks at the games played under Sexton in that 1967-71 period and also examines his key decisions, his signings, the challenges of managing headstrong talents, the remarkable development of Hudson and Hutchinson, and the turnaround in team discipline, morale and performance that led to two major trophies in successive seasons. The 1970 FA Cup run is detailed, including the 'Sliding Doors' replay at Burnley, comfortable victories over London rivals Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers and the epic final and notorious replay against Leeds United. Similar focus is given to the 1970-71 European Cup Winners' Cup run, including the remarkable home victory over Bruges, hard-fought semi-final victories against Manchester City and the replay triumph over titans Real Madrid in Athens.
"The missing link between Tim's excellent previous books on Chelsea in the '60s and '70s and the story with all the glory. Typically granular and well researched".
Rick Glanvill, official Chelsea historian.