February the 20th 1940 saw the birth of Jimmy Greaves in East Ham, London. Perhaps the most prolific goalscorer of his and any other era, Greaves was a schoolboy phenomenon, scoring over 100 goals in a single season for Chelsea Juniors and a first team regular by the time he was 17, scoring on his debut against Spurs (never a bad thing). Thereafter Greaves scored on every debut match; for England Youth, England Under-23, England Full, AC Milan, Spurs (boo-hiss), and West Ham.
In the four seasons that he spent at the Bridge he finished as leading scorer and totalled 132 goals from just 169 games! He holds the Chelsea record for the most goals scored in a single season, with an astonishing 41! In all he scored 357 league (all of which were scored in the First Division), and 44 goals for England. Alf Ramsey's decision to leave him out of the 1966 World Cup - a bout of hepatitis the season before the World Cup robbed him of a yard or two of pace - is still debated.
There is no doubt but Jimmy Greaves was natural, unique and class – maybe never to be repeated…..
Seven years after the birth of one Chelsea legend another was born.
Peter Leslie Osgood was the “King of Stamford Bridge” – the idol of The Shed. The instinctive crowd-pleaser, Osgood would glide past defenders with contemptuous ease before smashing or stroking the ball home.
Terrific, tall, lean and elegant, Ossie was excellent in the air and equally deadly on the ground. He has been described as a phenomenon. Peter had everything, power skill and pace.
Born at Windsor in 1947, Ossie was undoubtedly one of the most talented and exciting players of his generation.
Having signed from the junior ranks, where he was prolific, he progressed through the first team ranks signing professional forms in September 1964, where he matured sufficiently to warrant a place in the first eleven. As he scored goal after goal, he became one of the most wanted centre forwards in the English game.
Osgood has always meant a great deal to the average Chelsea fan. His loyalty in remaining at the club when he could have left in his prime was regarded as a sign of great allegiance. Osgood was a hero, furthermore, he was a hero who would never let the club down.
In March 1974, after almost ten full years at The Bridge, he was sold to Southampton where he continued to plunder goals. A brief loan spell at Norwich in 1976 was followed by a move to America with Philadelphia.
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In a Chelsea career total of 375 appearances he scored 150 goals! What elsea can you say?
Peter Osgood radiated power. He was phenomenal. No other striker compared with him for unpredictability, ingenuity and range of imagination.
Peter Leslie Osgood was "The King of the Bridge" and as he says himself:
"Blue has awlays been my colour and always will be."
Happy birthday lads - make it a good one!!
stevefurlong@chelsea-mad.co.uk