Football Memories (II) – Chelsea vs Portsmouth 1957!

On 24^th August 1957, future star Jimmy Greaves made his debut for Chelsea at Tottenham when he was only 17 years old.  

The game finished 1-1 and Greaves scored Chelsea’s goal.  

Later that year Greaves was rested by manager Ted Drake for six weeks from mid-November until Christmas Day.  Hard to believe now but in those days professional football was played on Christmas Day.

And this was to be last (old) First Division match played on that day.  

Three generations of Balaam went to the match – me, my dad and grandad.  

Before the game we had a mug of Bovril before my dad went to stand in his usual place under the North Stand whilst my grandad and I went up to the North Stand.

It was a VERY memorable match!  Portsmouth opened the scoring in the 7^th minute with a goal from Barnard and Chelsea equalised immediately with a goal from Greaves a minute later. Portsmouth then scored two quick goals in the 10^th and 11^thminutes with Harris and Gordon getting on the scoresheet. Once again Chelsea hit back with two goals from Greaves in the 15^th minute and Tindall in the 17^th minute.  

Incredibly that was SIX goals in under 20 minutes!!!

Chelsea took the lead for the first time in the match through an own goal from Rutter in the 23^rd minute and Greaves completed his hat-trick in the 25^th minute.  

Not bad a Christmas Day for Jimmy Greaves – getting a cheeky 25-minute hat-trick! 

In the 33^rd minute Mortimore, the Chelsea centre half, put through his own goal.  

Rutter, who had done the same for Portsmouth earlier, ran the length of the field and shook his hand!!  

Greaves’ day got even better when he scored the final goal of the first half in the 35^th minute.

After the incredible opening 45 minutes the second half was somewhat of an anti-climax with only one goal scored in the 80^th minute by Sillett.

What a special day … one I won’t ever forget.

FINAL SCORE : Chelsea 7 : Portsmouth 4