Clydebank v Chelsea,1965/66

[kiza]

Looking for confirmation that this friendly took place at Kilbowie Park about July 1965,a 2-2 draw. It may well have been the previous close season under ES Clydebank. I was at the game but would like confirmed for a bet struck with a mate.

[Scottish]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. It was a bit earlier than that, Oct 28th 1963 and it was as East Stirlingshire before the merger with Clydebank, a 2-2 draw at Firs Park. Frank Sandeman scored both 'Shire's goals and Bobby Tambling bagged a double for Chelsea. According to the Evening Times of Oct 29th there was a return scheduled for Stamford Bridge in the spring of 1964 but I have no details of that. The match may well have been fixed up as part of the deal which took Eddie McCreadie from 'Shire to Chelsea.

[Tom Brogan]

Is it possible the game in question is the one played on Friday 4th August 1967 at Kilbowie? I have the programme somewhere. I couldn't find a match report for it, but there is a brief preview on the day of the game in the Evening Times here.

[Scottish]

That was 2-2 as well so if it was a Kilbowie fixture then that would be the one.

[Alan McCabe]

The match was indeed between East Stirlingshire and Chelsea and was arranged as part of a deal that took three Shire players - Eddie McCreadie, John Mulholland and Tommy Knox - to Chelsea.
I have the programme framed at work. And there was supposed to be a return match at Stamford Bridge but this never did take place.