The Shed End, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Broadway, ‘Sarf’-West London in the early 1970s: my last game of English first division soccer before returning to Australia after a stint on the Daily Mail in Fleet Street.

“We” (the long-haired dope-smoking “Rock against Racism” badge-wearing Chelsea crew) as opposed to the “other” Chelsea crew (the shaven-headed dope-smoking “headhunters” from the National Front) are both cheering on the lads playing “Dirty” Leeds on a dirty day (we also had beer-drinking in common).

It ends nil-all; and I drift away to the Antipodes, from whence I had come, vowing to support the team “for evermore”.

I was there because I was a VFL Carlton CFC supporter in Melbourne who were also known as the Blues; so it seemed very natural to transmogrify my allegiance to the London CFC Blues (they were known as the Pensioners until 1952) from Chelsea.

However, whereas the Carlton side was among the top dogs in the VFL with 11 flags to their name until 1972, Chelsea were rubbish with just a single paltry premiership in 1955 in the first division of the English Football League to their credit since their establishment in 1905.

The first Chelsea team in 1905 was somewhat of an aberation with its puny, unloved, unwashed insomnolent paupers a complete contrast to the strutting multi-millionaire peacocks recently crowned the Kings of European association (soccer) football.

In 1904, Gus Mears acquired the Stamford Bridge athletics stadium with the aim of turning it into a football ground. An offer to lease it to nearby Fulham Football Club was turned down, so Mears opted to found his own club to use the stadium.

As there was already a team named Fulham in the borough, the name of the adjacent borough of Chelsea was chosen for the new club, having also considered names like Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC and London FC.

Chelsea were founded on 10 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards.

The first Chelsea team in 1905.

The club won promotion to the First Division in their second season, and yo-yoed between the First and Second Divisions in their early years. They reached the 1915 FA Cup Final, where they lost to Sheffield United at Old Trafford, and finished 3rd in the First Division in 1920, the club's best league campaign to that point.

Chelsea attracted large crowds and had a reputation for signing big-name players, but success continued to elude the club in the inter-war years.

Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side with shrewd signings from the lower divisions and amateur leagues, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954–55.

The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Cup, but the English Football League and the Football Association despised playing against the more-skillful Continental Jonny Foreigners; so Chelsea were prevented from entering the competition before it started.

So, not only did Chelsea win the latest edition of the European Champions' League Cup, we would/could/should have won the first one in 1956 – if nasty bastards like Tottenham Hotspurs didn’t cruel our pitch. The Spuds got their just deserts on the weekend when the fourth-placed club was evicted from next year’s Champions League because Chelsea (who finished sixth) won the “big ears” cup in Munich.

Chelsea's crest, 1952–53; some similarities to the Carlton monogram that preceded it by some 90 years.

Chelsea failed to build on this success, and spent the remainder of the 1950s in mid-table. Drake was dismissed in 1961 and replaced by player-coach Tommy Docherty. It’s not that Chelsea were born-losers like Man City – it’s just that Chelsea had a penchant for playing open attacking football that was much admired along the King’s Road in Swinging London.

Docherty built a new team around the group of talented young players emerging from the club's youth set-up and Chelsea challenged for honours throughout the 1960s, enduring several near-misses.

They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League Cup going into the final stages of the 1964–65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two. In three seasons the side was beaten in three major semi-finals and was FA Cup runners-up.

Under Docherty's successor, Dave Sexton, Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1970, beating Leeds United 2–1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.

The late 1970s through to the 1980s was a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club, star players were sold and the team were relegated.

Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade. In 1982 Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home.

On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay.

Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983–84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988–89.

The Chelsea players celebrate as Drogba scores final penalty.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer.

After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash. Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach the 1994 FA Cup Final.

It was not until the appointment of former European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit as player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top-class international players to the side, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top sides again.

Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup Final and the Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000.

Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup Final and Champions League qualification in 2002–03.

Chelsea captain John Terry climbed the most fabled staircase in the footballing universe to raise the FA Cup for a record fourth time. And at the heart of the celebrations was Didier Drogba.

In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by Portuguese coach José Mourinho.

Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (2004–05 and 2005–06), in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007).

In September 2007 Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant, who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League final, which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Grant was fired days later and succeeded by Luiz Felipe Scolari in July 2008.

Scolari spent only seven months in the job before being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the 2008–09 season, and guided Chelsea to a second FA Cup triumph in three years.

Two days later, former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager. In his first season, Ancelotti led Chelsea to their first league and FA Cup "Double"; in addition, Chelsea became the first English top-flight side to score over 100 league goals in a season since 1963.

Ancelotti parted company with Chelsea in May 2011 and was replaced by then Porto coach André Villas-Boas. In March 2012, Villas-Boas parted company with Chelsea after a poor run of results and former Chelsea player Roberto Di Matteo was appointed as interim first team manager.

Di Matteo led the club to a seventh FA Cup success, and to Chelsea's first UEFA Champions League title, where they beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties in the final.

If gentle readers, you are one of the theatre-goers still enthralled by the Fergie's ever-diminishing  Muppets at Old Trafford or Arse Wegner’s Highbury rent boys, come with me on a journey of discovery to a time when men were men and played with flair and grunt in the royal blue of  “the famous CFC”.

1970 FA CUP

A trip down memory lane by reporting on the 1970 FA Cup Final, as if it was today.

Chelsea are FA Cup champions for the first time after an attritional replay, with extra-time needed for victory against “Dirty” Leeds United.

Having fallen behind to a first-half Mick Jones goal, Dave Sexton's team battled back and Peter ‘The King of Stamford Bridge’ Osgood equalised with a brilliantly taken diving header 12 minutes from time, before David Webb's winner in the first half of extra-time.

After the 2-2 draw staged at Old Wembley 18 days ago, it was up to Manchester United's Old Trafford to try and decide the destination of the Cup, the first time since 1912 that it has needed a replay.

Chelsea were unchanged in personnel from that Wembley game, but captain Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris moved to right-back to mark Eddie Gray, while Webb, who had so struggled to cope with the Scottish winger in the first game, moved inside to centre-half. Leeds replaced injured, and at Wembley, error-prone goalkeeper Gary Sprake with David Harvey.

The formalities completed, Leeds kicked off into the strong wind and could have taken the lead in the first minute when Peter Lorimer skipped down the right and crossed low into the area. John Dempsey intercepted, and was lucky to see the ball canon backwards into Peter ‘The Cat’ Bonetti's arms rather than the net.

The first meeting had been a stormy affair and it didn't take long for this game's first foul, Webb exacting some revenge on Gray for his Wembley run-around before Charlie Cooke sent Leeds captain Billy Bremner to the floor.

It took six minutes for the Blues to threaten. Bonetti scooped a loose ball and released a throw out to the left. There followed an impressive passing spell, Harris eventually feeding Osgood, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area bobbled wide.

Leeds responded, and in truth, had had the better of the opening. Terry Cooper strode forward from left-back, his wayward shot falling into Lorimer's path, but the winger couldn't direct it on target either at the first or second opportunity.

As the game progressed, the tackles started to fly more frequently, Norman Hunter clashing with Eddie McCreadie before Lorimer shot just wide again.

The northerners were on top, breaking down Chelsea's attacks and surging forward, the next opportunity falling to Jones after Gray had crossed low to the near post.

Bonetti did well to push it wide for a 25th minute corner, easily cleared before Dempsey played his way into trouble, his backpass cut out by the lurking Lorimer who intercepted and shot. Fortunately McCreadie had anticipated and dropped deep onto the line to clear.

Three minutes later Allan Clarke should have done better after Bremner broke through the midfield, but the combined pressure of Harris and Webb was enough to put him off.

A few minutes later it was Bonetti's turn to come under a heavy challenge, Leeds number nine Jones clattering into him as they challenged for a high ball and sending him to the floor in need of treatment on his right knee.

The signs were not good, and as play restarted the goalkeeper was still visibly struggling. Already the better side, Leeds could sense this was their time to strike.

Sure enough the goal came. Chelsea's Ian Hutchinson lost possession in the Leeds half and white shirts darted forward. Gray and Clarke advanced the ball into Chelsea territory before Jones ran directly at goal, skipping between McCreadie and John Dempsey and firing past Bonetti into the top corner from 12 yards.

It was a superb goal but whether 'The Cat' could have saved it when fully operational can be debated. One thing for sure was that it left Chelsea with a mountain to climb, a goal down with a struggling goalkeeper.

The half-time whistle will have been welcomed by both managers. Sexton could rouse his men for an improved second half display while Leeds boss Don Revie would be content to go in one up.

Undoubtedly talented, they are the masters of locking a game up; their occasionally overly physical nature lending itself to protecting a lead, but Chelsea would have been buoyed by their ability to come from behind twice in the first game.

As the teams emerged for the second half it was evident Bonetti was still struggling. Osgood and co. would need to keep the ball at the other end to protect his bandaged knee.

The aggression persisted into the second period. Osgood's tackle from behind on Jack Charlton earned strong retaliation from the World Cup-winning defender, but the referee opted to take no action, his same response to the set-to between Hutchinson and Bremner minutes later.

Leeds came close to doubling the lead twice, first when Johnny Giles's effort was deflected just wide and then when Jones fired hard straight at the keeper from a tight angle.

As the hour mark passed, the game began to open up, Leeds still looking the more likely to score.

Sexton moved Hollins out to the left flank, and he sent in a deep cross aimed at Osgood. The forward won the header and nodded into the path of Baldwin, but the winger couldn't beat Harvey.

The next time 'Ossie' received the ball he was tackled by Bremner, who was repaid with a shove to the ground by Hutchinson. Strangely, it was Osgood booked by referee Eric Jennings, his flick at the diminutive midfielder deemed a more serious offence.

As the game entered its final 20 minutes, Osgood's influence began to grow. His touch remained first class despite the bobbly Manchester pitch, feeding Peter Houseman, but the winger's cross was straight to Harvey. It was enough to suggest that the Blues were not beaten yet though.

As Revie puffed on a cigar, Hutchinson won a header in the centre-circle and nodded down to Osgood who squared to Harris. The captain's long ball found Hutchinson in a more advanced position and again he won his header, setting up Hollins who will have been disappointed with his shot.

From the goal kick Harvey pumped upfield, Hollins eventually regained control and played to Osgood who found Hutchinson and ran forward. Cooke took the ball on and chipped into the Leeds area where Osgood had escaped Charlton's attention and flicked his header past the goalkeeper for a vital equaliser.

It was a truly superb goal, and what a time to score with 12 minutes remaining. His strike also meant Osgood had scored in every round of the Cup.

In the time left, neither side worked the others' goalkeeper, but the tackles continued to fly in. First Baldwin hacked at Hunter, then McCreadie nearly decapitated Bremner with a high clearance inside the Chelsea area and finally Hutchinson caught the red-headed Scot with a cheeky stamp. Doo-dah, doo-dah.

Somewhere between those unfavourable events the Blues did come close, breaking from their own box into the opposition's until Hutchinson fired wide and into the side netting.

Leeds could have had a penalty with two minutes remaining, Bremner again in the thick of it going down under Webb's challenge. The referee waved play on.

Just before the final whistle, something to look out for. Houseman broke down the left and turned, flicking the ball back through his legs turning Peter Madeley inside out. In four years' time, Johan Cruyff will do something similar and have the move named after him.

Right at the death there was a golden chance for Leeds, as Lorimer crossed to the far post but Jones headed over instead of in and so it was to an extra 30 minutes.

The first talking point of the additional time came when Cooke dispossessed Bremner and sped forward, the ball played to the far post, where Harvey and Osgood collided midair before carrying on the tussle with the ball well out of the way.

Both sides were giving as good as they were getting but neither looked like scoring a second goal until Lorimer half-volleyed straight at Bonetti and then Osgood fired high when perhaps he should have scored.

Tired legs meant that chances would become more readily available. Chelsea's next was decisive.

Hutchinson sized up another throw and released it high and long into the Manchester night, right onto the edge of the Leeds six-yard box. Harvey jumped, but his defender got there first and could only flick the ball on into the danger area.

Four players, two from either side jumped for the second ball but there was just one winner, David Webb, who bundled the ball over the line and into the net, his name to go down in history. Chelsea were in front right on the half-time whistle, the scorer the man who had had such a difficult time in the first game.

Just 15 minutes without conceding was all that was needed now for some first silverware, but Leeds would inevitably attack.

They did so but it was Hutchinson who put the ball in the net at the other end after Osgood's energetic break forward, only to see the offside flag raised and celebrations curbed.

With eight minutes left Sexton brought off his number nine and introduced Marvin Hinton to shore up the defensive line. It didn't prevent Leeds from pushing on though and their best chance fell with five minutes still to run.

A corner was only half-cleared, eventually falling to Clarke whose flick was cleared off the line by a combination of goalkeeper and defender Webb. Lorimer wasted a free-kick as Charlton moved up front to make a nuisance of himself.

Into the final two minutes Giles could find no way through the resolute Chelsea defence with his shot, and Leeds looked beaten.One last chance fell to the subdued Gray but is was well over and so followed a collective sigh of relief.

The final whistle followed seconds later and Chelsea were champions, the first FA Cup in the club's 65-year history secured and held proudly aloft by Ron Harris and his team-mates.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Bonetti; Harris (c), Webb, Dempsey, McCreadie; Baldwin, Hollins, Cooke, Houseman; Osgood (Hinton 112), Hutchinson.

Leeds (4-4-2): Harvey; Madeley, Charlton, Hunter, Cooper; Lorimer, Bremner, Giles, Gray; Clarke, Jones.

The DVD of the full 1970 FA Cup Replay with highlights of the Wembley game is available from the Online Chelsea Megastore, along with other Cup Final Merchandise.

THE HYMN

Abide with me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see —
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Henry F. Lyte

Ten Men Went to Mow

One man went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!,
One man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!,
Went to mow a meadow,

Two men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Three men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Four men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Five men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Six men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Six men, five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Seven men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Seven men, six men, five men, four men, three men,
two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Eight men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Eight men, seven men, six men, five men, four men,
three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

Nine men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Nine men, eight men, seven men, six men, five men,
four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

 (everyone standing)
Ten men went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow,
 (aside) Meadow!
Ten men, nine men, eight men, seven men, six men,
five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog,
 (aside) Spot!
Went to mow a meadow,

 (arms extended: \0/)
Chelsea!
 (clap x 3 above head: \0/)
Chelsea!
and repeat until you realise that everyone else
has sat down because it's now half time

Anon.