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Chelsea FanCast

50 Years of Chelsea - 1983-84

Continuing our series '50 Years of Chelsea' looking back, season by season, from the FA Cup winning 1970 season to present day; Stamford Chidge is joined by Jonathan Kydd, Clayton Beerman and Kelvin Barker, author of 'Celery: Representing Chelsea in the '80's' to look back at the 1983-84 season.


Having escaped relegation to Division 3 by the skin of their teeth the previous season, manager John Neal makes big changes bringing in Eddie Niedzwiecki, Pat Nevin, Joe McLaughlin, Nigel Spackman and Kerry Dixon to shake things up.


Neal's new look Blues make an immediate impact with a 5-0 win against promotion rivals Derby County and the rest as they say, is history, as Chelsea embark on one of the most memorable seasons in the their history.


Matches against Brighton, Fulham, Newcastle, Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff, the 5-0 against Leeds at home to confirm promotion and then Grimsby away to clinch the title live long in the memory.


Along the way, 34 goals from Kerry Dixon, Pat Nevin's wizardry on the wing, Mickey Thomas buzzing around everywhere and Joe McLaughin and Colin Pates calm leadership from the back combined to give Chelsea fans one of the most entertaining seasons of all time, with great free flowing and attacking football. "The Boys in Blue in Division Two, but we won't be here for long!"


The boys discuss this memorable season, the tales and anecdotes and the players who became Chelsea legends together with clips from the 'Chelsea Special' interviews with Colin Pates, Kerry Dixon, Paul Canoville and John Bumstead.

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