| 1964-65 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Joe Mears | |||
| Manager | Tommy Docherty | |||
| First Division | 3rd | |||
| FA Cup | Semi-finals | |||
| Football League Cup | Winners | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Barry Bridges (20) All: Barry Bridges (27) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 61,277 vs Liverpool (16 April 1965) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 20,952 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (12 December 1964) | |||
The 1964-65 season was Chelsea Football Club's 51st of competitive football, and their 38th in the English top flight.
Chelsea were involved in a battle for the First Division championship with Manchester United and newly promoted Leeds United. The three clubs also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, with the two Uniteds paired together while Chelsea faced off against reigning league champions Liverpool. A 2–0 defeat at Villa Park saw Chelsea's hopes of a league and cup 'double' evaporate, and their title hopes then nosedived with only two wins from the remaining eight league matches.
The season ended in controversy and ignominy after eight Chelsea players were alleged by manager Tommy Docherty to have broken a curfew imposed prior to their penultimate match, resulting in those responsible being sent back to London in disgrace. [1] The Blues' heavily weakened side were thrashed 6–2 by Burnley, and defeat to Blackpool in their final match meant Chelsea had to settle for a third-place finish, five points behind the top two.
However, some consolation was gained from success in the nascent Football League Cup. Chelsea overcame Birmingham City, Notts County, Swansea Town, Workington and Aston Villa, before beating Leicester City 3–2 on aggregate in the final to claim the first domestic cup title in the club's history.
| 22 August 19641 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–3 | Chelsea | Wolverhampton |
| Tambling Venables | Stadium: Molineux Attendance: 25,181 |
| 26 August 19642 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Aston Villa | London |
| Tambling Bridges | Hateley | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 30,389 |
| 29 August 19643 | Chelsea | 3–1 | Sunderland | London |
| Murray Graham Shellito | Herd | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 46,710 |
| 31 August 19644 | Aston Villa | 2–2 | Chelsea | Birmingham |
| Hateley Wylie | Murray Tambling | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 19,740 |
| 5 September 19645 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Chelsea | Leicester |
| Appleton | Hollins | Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 22,186 |
| 9 September 19646 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | London |
| Venables | Pearson | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 31,973 |
| 12 September 19647 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Fulham | London |
| Bridges | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 41,472 |
| 16 September 19648 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–3 | Chelsea | Sheffield |
| Dobson Fantham | Graham Murray | Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 18,176 |
| 19 September 19649 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Leeds United | London |
| Venables Hollins | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 38,006 |
| 26 September 196410 | Arsenal | 1–3 | Chelsea | London |
| Court | Tambling Venables Murray | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 54,936 |
| 30 September 196411 | Chelsea | 0–2 | Manchester United | London |
| Best Law | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 60,769 |
| 3 October 196412 | Chelsea | 5–1 | Blackburn Rovers | London |
| Bridges Tambling R. Harris | McEvoy | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 34,913 |
| 10 October 196413 | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Chelsea | Nottingham |
| Crowe | Bridges Venables | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 35,320 |
| 17 October 196414 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Stoke City | London |
| Graham Murray Tambling | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,650 |
| 24 October 196415 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Chelsea | London |
| Jones | Graham | Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 52,927 |
| 31 October 196416 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Burnley | London |
| Irvine | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,040 |
| 7 November 196417 | Sheffield United | 0–2 | Chelsea | Sheffield |
| Murray Bridges | Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 23,505 |
| 14 November 196418 | Chelsea | 5–1 | Everton | London |
| Graham Bridges Murray Tambling | Gabriel | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 30,716 |
| 21 November 196419 | Birmingham City | 1–6 | Chelsea | Birmingham |
| Jackson | Mortimore Graham McCalliog | Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 19,803 |
| 28 November 196420 | Chelsea | 0–3 | West Ham United | London |
| Sealey Peters Hurst | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 44,204 |
| 5 December 196421 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–2 | Chelsea | West Bromwich |
| Bridges Graham | Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 15,277 |
| 12 December 196422 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | London |
| Bridges | Crawford | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 20,952 |
| 19 December 196423 | Sunderland | 3–0 | Chelsea | Sunderland |
| Sharkey Harvey Herd | Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 41,236 |
| 26 December 196424 | Chelsea | 2–0 | Blackpool | London |
| Bridges | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 30,581 |
| 2 January 196525 | Chelsea | 4–1 | Leicester City | London |
| Murray Graham McCreadie Bridges | Stringfellow | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,344 |
| 16 January 196526 | Fulham | 1–2 | Chelsea | London |
| Cook | Tambling Graham | Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 26,400 |
| 23 January 196527 | Leeds United | 2–2 | Chelsea | Leeds |
| Storrie Charlton | Graham Bridges | Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 47,109 |
| 6 February 196528 | Chelsea | 2–1 | Arsenal | London |
| Graham | Radford | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 46,798 |
| 13 February 196529 | Blackburn Rovers | 0–3 | Chelsea | Blackburn |
| Tambling Murray Bridges | Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 16,683 |
| 6 February 196530 | Chelsea | 0–1 | Nottingham Forest | London |
| Barnwell | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 29,038 |
| 22 February 196531 | Stoke City | 0–2 | Chelsea | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Murray Graham | Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 28,005 |
| 10 March 196532 | Chelsea | 3–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | London |
| Venables Tambling Bridges | Gilzean | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 51,390 |
| 13 March 196533 | Manchester United | 4–0 | Chelsea | Manchester |
| Best Herd Law | Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 56,261 |
| 22 March 196534 | Chelsea | 3–0 | Sheffield United | London |
| Murray Bridges | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 31,837 |
| 31 March 196535 | Everton | 1–1 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
| Gabriel | Murray | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 40,384 |
| 3 April 196536 | Chelsea | 3–1 | Birmingham City | London |
| Tambling Lynn Bridges | Lynn | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,975 |
| 12 April 196537 | West Ham United | 3–2 | Chelsea | London |
| Hurst Sissons | Venables Bridges | Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 33,288 |
| 16 April 196538 | Chelsea | 4–0 | Liverpool | London |
| Tambling Hinton Murray | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 62,587 |
| 17 April 196539 | Chelsea | 2–2 | West Bromwich Albion | London |
| Murray Tambling | Crawford Howshall | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 30,792 |
| 19 April 196540 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
| Chisnall Strong | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 41,847 |
| 24 April 196541 | Burnley | 6–2 | Chelsea | Burnley |
| Lochhead Irvine | R. Harris Houseman | Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 15,215 |
| 26 April 196542 | Blackpool | 3–2 | Chelsea | Blackpool |
| Charnley | Tambling Mortimore | Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 16,008 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United (C) | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 89 | 39 | 2.282 | 61 | Qualification for the European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 83 | 52 | 1.596 | 61 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 3 | Chelsea | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 89 | 54 | 1.648 | 56 | |
| 4 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 69 | 60 | 1.150 | 49 | |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 71 | 67 | 1.060 | 47 |
| 23 September 19642nd Round | Birmingham City | 0–3 | Chelsea | Birmingham |
| Graham Tambling | Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 15,300 |
| 26 October 19643rd Round | Chelsea | 4–0 | Notts County | London |
| McCalliog Tambling A. Harris | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 6596 |
| 11 November 19644th Round | Chelsea | 3–2 | Swansea Town | London |
| Brown Graham | Todd Williams | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 5979 |
| 25 November 19645th Round | Workington | 2–2 | Chelsea | Workington |
| Carr Napier | Bridges | Stadium: Borough Park Attendance: 18,000 |
| 16 December 19645th Round Replay | Chelsea | 2–0 | Workington | London |
| Osgood | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 7936 |
| 20 January 1965Semi-Final 1st Leg | Aston Villa | 2–3 | Chelsea | Birmingham |
| Hateley | Tambling Bridges Boyle | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 12,022 |
| 10 February 1965Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Chelsea | 1–1 | Aston Villa | London |
| Graham | Hateley | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 17,425 |
| 15 March 1965Final 1st Leg | Chelsea | 3–2 | Leicester City | London |
| Tambling Venables McCreadie | Appleton Goodfellow | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 20,690 |
| 5 April 1965Final 2nd Leg | Leicester City | 0–0 | Chelsea | Leicester |
| Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 26,957 |
| 9 January 19653rd Round | Chelsea | 4–1 | Northampton Town | London |
| Tambling Bridges Foley | Foley | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 44,345 |
| 30 January 19654th Round | West Ham United | 0–1 | Chelsea | London |
| Tambling | Stadium: Upton Park Attendance: 37,000 |
| 20 February 19655th Round | Chelsea | 1–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | London |
| Bridges | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 63,205 |
| 6 March 19656th Round | Chelsea | 5–1 | Peterborough United | London |
| Tambling Hollins Bridges Murray | Crowe | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 63,635 |
| 27 March 1965Semi-Final | Liverpool | 2–0 | Chelsea | Birmingham |
| Thompson Stevenson | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 67,686 |
| Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League Cup | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | Peter Bonetti | 41 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 0 | |
| GK | John Dunn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | Allan Harris | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| DF | Ron Harris | 42 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 53 | 2 | |
| DF | Marvin Hinton | 40 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| DF | Eddie McCreadie | 34 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| DF | John Mortimore | 28 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| DF | Ken Shellito | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| DF | Frank Upton | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| DF | Ian Watson | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| DF | Allan Young | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | John Boyle | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| MF | Joe Fascione | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | George Graham | 30 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 21 | |
| MF | John Hollins | 41 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 52 | 3 | |
| MF | Peter Houseman | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| MF | Thomas Knox | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| MF | Jim McCalliog | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | |
| MF | Billy Sinclair | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | Jimmy Smart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | Terry Venables | 39 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 8 | |
| FW | Barry Bridges | 41 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 51 | 27 | |
| FW | Dennis Brown | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| FW | Bert Murray | 40 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 51 | 18 | |
| FW | Peter Osgood | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| FW | Bobby Tambling | 33 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 25 | |