Sad news

RIP the 😺🌹🌹

RIP The Cat

Abiding memory of him was as a extremely agile goalkeeper who threw the ball further than he kicked it. I saw him throw the ball as far as the half way line many times. Also the save he made at Cardiff in '77 was one of the most amazing saves that I have ever seen as I am sure Brummie will concur with. It's just a shame that there is no footage of it (as far as I know) to show everyone just how unbelievable it was.

Does inimitable mean being pis..d out of your skull and driving when you should have taken the bus?

Brummie, from a while back...
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That's the image I put on my facebook. It was an FA Cup Semi Final at Villa Park v Liverpool in 65 I think.

If you look at the full picture there's a Liverpool player, who looks like Roger Hunt in between two Chelsea defenders, one of who might be Ken Shellito!

I've seen that whole pic, and it's McCreadie, Hunt, and then John Mortimore, I reckon.

comment by bloomike (U7734)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
Brummie, from a while back...
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That's the image I put on my facebook. It was an FA Cup Semi Final at Villa Park v Liverpool in 65 I think.

If you look at the full picture there's a Liverpool player, who looks like Roger Hunt in between two Chelsea defenders, one of who might be Ken Shellito!

I've seen that whole pic, and it's McCreadie, Hunt, and then John Mortimore, I reckon.
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I did think of Eddie Mac but he'd more of likely been on the left and I thought he bore much more of a resemblance to Shellito, although I'm probably wrong.

Mortimore I wouldn't recognise, I'd only have been around six them and he left us around that time.

comment by Chelsea_since_summer_1969 ✯ (U1561)
posted 11 hours, 20 minutes ago
RIP The Cat

Abiding memory of him was as a extremely agile goalkeeper who threw the ball further than he kicked it. I saw him throw the ball as far as the half way line many times. Also the save he made at Cardiff in '77 was one of the most amazing saves that I have ever seen as I am sure Brummie will concur with. It's just a shame that there is no footage of it (as far as I know) to show everyone just how unbelievable it was.
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That save is still the best I've ever seen in my lifetime.

It looked a goal all the way with The Cat way off his line, patrolling the edge of his area. As soon as the Cardiff player hit it over him from the center circle I was resigned to it being a goal if it was on target (which I believe it was).

How he managed to not only reach it but tip it over the bar, diving backwards I'll never know, he seemed to be in the air for what seemed ages. As us away fans were housed on the side, I had the perfect view of it.

I've often tried googling it without success but unfortunately in that era, TV coverage was very limited, especially for Division Two games.

Such a shame it couldn't have been recorded for future generations to enjoy!

comment by GeniusGreaves (U1302)
posted 15 hours, 6 minutes ago
Hi Brummie,

Very sad news about “The Cat”................I played against him in a behind closed doors gate at RAF Uxbridge. I was playing for the RAF representative side, also playing that day were Ron Harris, Alan Hudson, Charlie Cooke, Peter Houseman and some player with a bit of potential called Osgood🙄

Not sure I saw much of the ball that day, it seemed to be glued to Charlie Cooke’s foot!
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Nice story GG, Charlie Cooke was our answer to George Best. The architect of Ossies' diving header in the 70 FA Cup final replay at OT against the Stretford End.

Eddie Mac is on the left in the pic, and thus playing in his usual position, looking back at the Cat. 'Percy' Mortimore would have been centre half and also looking back in dismay - expecting the ball to go in! He was an excellent defender - strong, mobile, and JT-like in the air - a great character too. Probably captain in that game.

You have better eyes than me Bloo, there's no way I could recognise Eddie Mac at that range, (which is where you'd have expected him to be).

I thought the one one the right looked more like him but it would have put him out of his normal position, which is why I thought it might be Shellito.

I was watching some old Chelsea. Bonetti was ridiculously brave at the near post.