Chelsea photo - mystery oppo

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

I bought this photo recently among a few Chelsea - all very nice condition and with a stamp on the back - but no other details.

This one was thought to be v Blackpool but I asked my friend Crossy for confirmation of that and he said it's not Blackpool.

I know it's Stamford Bridge and the Chelsea defender John Harris is far right. He's actually in all the photos in this batch so maybe they're from his collection. Anyway, that makes it the 1955/6 season at the very latest as he left Chelsea towards the end of that season - but obviously it could be earlier than that.

And if it's not Blackpool, in their tangerine, then who is it? Must be in red shirts, in very bright sunshine. None of the red shirt teams had badges - so that rules out Liverpool, Charlton & Middlesbrough. Plus Forest didn't play at the Bridge between 1934 and 1958.

So that leaves a blue-shirted team in change kit, presumably red. Could it be Leicester City? They had a badge on their shirts. What does the team think? All suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

[Grumpypants]

I agree with you Pete. Just looked in one of my old 50's books and the kit does look like the Leicester City kit. The line up of players that looks similar is W Webb from the 53-54 season (but could be totally wrong!!) Hope that helps.

[cfcmartin1965]

Hi Pete,

John Harris only made 3 appearances for Chelsea during the 1955/56 season against the following

Man.City away 11/02/56
Luton Town home 02/04/56
Sheff.Utd. away 07/04/56

However according to the Chelsea v Luton progamme from that day Luton's kit was down as white shirts & black shorts.

Hope this helps

Martin

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Thanks, both.

I reckon it's before 55/6 - and if it's v Leicester it can only be 18th December 1954 as they were in Div 2 all other seasons between 1938/9 and 1957/8 (Their only other game at the Bridge in that period was a cup tie in 1945/6).

So the 2 teams for the 54/5 game were:-

Chelsea: Robertson, Harris, Sillett, Armstrong, Greenwood, Saunders, Blunstone, McNichol, Bentley, Stubbs, Parsons.

Leicester: Anderson, Jackson, Milburn, Baldwin, Russell, Froggatt, Griffiths, Worthington, Graver, Rowley, Hogg.

Chelsea, in their Championship-winning season, won 3:1.

So, if it's Leicester, my money would be on the Foxes' player being Arthur Rowley. Who would the Chelsea player be on the left? And behind Rowley that might be Ron Greenwood?

[nutfield priory]

Pete

My immediate thoughts when I looked at the photo was of Chelsea v
Birmingham City, have not a clue to which season though.

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Good shout Nutfield, although Birmingham didn't play very often at the Bridge. 1948/9 and 49/50 - Harris played in both games. FA Cup tie 1952/3, Harris didn't play. Then they didn't play there again till 55/6 and Harris didn't play. So if it is Birmingham then it's 48/9 or 49/50.

I'll ask a Blues man I know.

[DonQuixote]

Chelsea v Birmingham City....Dec 17, 1949.

Yer man Harris did play, as did Harry Medhurst, the Chelsea keeper...

Must have been early in the game - no mud/stains on the kit...

Took one look at Harris' shorts which narrowed it down a tad, plus
Brum have got white cuffs on their [red?] shirts and are the only
side I can come up with who Chelsea played against with that
shape of badge on their shirt...

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Thank you, Don Quixote!!

If you're sure about this I'll go with that. I reckon the player in the photo is the Birmingham player front row, second left in that team pic.

Still waiting to hear from my Blues contact. I'll confirm when he replies.

[DonQuixote]

Once I had sussed out the Chelsea keeper I checked out his appearances on one of their websites and from there it was just a process of elimination but the badge was the saving grace.

Without that, would have been a struggle methinks.

That's Gil Merrick in goal for Blues, no? The Joe Hart of his day at the '54 World Cup....

I'm enjoying these little challenges...got any more to browse over?

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Yes, Gil Merrick in the Birmingham team.

Could have more Don, I'll see what I can do.

Cheers!