The Best No.9 - Peter Osgood

Peter Osgood ( 1947-2006 ) 

Trying to not to sound like an old-timer, Peter Osgood was not your typical centre-forward, lean with bags of skill & sometimes bad temper. During my 70's time at The Bridge, he gave me some happy memories and that's what football is all about.

It helped when you had the skilful likes of Hudson & Cooke in the same team but Ossie always used to produce that something special when wearing the No. 9 shirt.  To think that he had to compete and lose out to the likes of Hurst, Chivers & Clarke for an England spot.  For me, those distant Shed chants of "Osgood, Osgood. Ossie's the King of Stamford
Bridge" will be hard to forget for this True Blue.

Another season and another premiership title, a title Ossie knew we would win but alas not around to celebrate it with his fellow players & fans. When I heard that Peter Osgood had died while attending a funeral in March of this year, I was shocked and sadden by the news.  Here was a guy who had given so much pleasure to thousands of Chelsea fans and when recently walking around the Bridge's pitch received such a warm reception. I placed tributes on his official website and the club's one and was amazed by the sincere comments.

I never met the man but he always came across as a cheerful and friendly person. His personal life was nothing like the over-the-top life of friend George Best.  He had fun but I've always been interested in what happened on the pitch not off it. As The Sun suggested in their small back page item, he was Peter the Great ( see top ) and has never been replaced as the club's No.9. Taken too soon at 59, I hope he's up there re-united with Hutch & Houseman discussing old times.

For many like myself, he's the reason I'm Chelsea Blue to my grave ... The King has left The Bridge.

SH - July 2007 (text)