Chelsea FanCast

Stamford Chidge, Jonathan Kydd and Mark Meehan interview former Chelsea player, Nigel Spackman and discuss his two spells at the club in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Nigel Spackman signed for Chelsea in 1983 and joined Kerry Dixon, Pat Nevin, Joe McLaughlin and Eddie Niedzwiecki as John Neal’s new recruits launched Chelsea’s campaign to return to the top flight.

Spackman was crucial to Chelsea’s title winning season in the heart of the midfield with John Bumstead and was a key part of the side that took Division One by storm and won the Full Members’ Cup.  

Nigel left the club in 1987 after falling out with the draconian Ernie Whalley and was sold to Liverpool, but he returned 5 years later to join an underachieving Ian Porterfield side. However, things were about to radically change at the club when Glen Hoddle was appointed player manager.

Although Spackman was out for long periods due to a long-term back injury, his swansong for the club came in the 1994-95 season when he was the rock which saw a young and inexperienced Chelsea side reach the semi-final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Fondly remembered as a player who never gave less than 100% in his 8 years at the club; many also remember Spackman for the public service he rendered by swinging a right hook at Martin Keown. He was sent off, of course, but received a standing ovation from the Stamford Bridge crowd.

We talk to Nigel about the great 1980’s side, John Neal and what went wrong with John Hollins and Ernie Whalley and what was it like to come back to Stamford Bridge and play for Glen Hoddle, the European campaign and playing in midfield with Ruud Gullit. Oh, and we talk about that punch!

Covering two fascinating periods of Chelsea’s history the interview with ‘Spackers’ is a great accompaniment to our ’50 Years of Chelsea’ series.