Peter Osgood RIP - 1st Anniversary Tribute

KING OF THE BRIDGE
By dixon9
March 14 2007

Today, March 1st 2007 is the 1st anniversary of the death of Peter Osgood and the last time I shed tears. (For younger fans who didn´t see him play there are video links at the end). I’d like to play a small part in paying tribute to his memory:

This was the man that sealed my addiction to Chelsea at a very young age.  Watching him weave through opposition midfields and defences and score some great goals was a privilege that I shall never forget.  There were many times, whenever he received the ball the Stamford Bridge crowd would increase their volume in expectation and the opposition would quieten down with some degree of dread.

 

Of course, he wasn’t the perfect footballer (Who was or is?).  There were times he would stroll around a bit or seen to be stood with hands on hips and flat-capped fans would murmur their disapproval – but then he would suddenly dart into action, show us his skill and all would be forgiven!

 

Originally one of “Docherty’s Diamonds” of the late sixties, “The Doc” gave him his debut at 17 and told him that he would give him a run of 6 games, and no matter how he performed, he would not be dropped.  Osgood delivered and the rest is history.

 

Docherty said that he had everything; “Two great feet, could head brilliantly, great balance and skill, fast……What more could you want?”  High praise indeed from one of the great figures of football history. 

 

Jack Charlton, a legendary Leeds centre-half and sworn enemy of Osgood even made his feelings known to Sir Alf Ramsey, the then England manager who didn’t like Osgood too much because of his “playboy lifestyle”.  “If we would have had Osgood (in a crucial match against Brazil) we would have won” he said.  His remarks probably didn’t go down too well with the rigid Sir Alf Ramsey but what a mark of respect from one of his greatest foes.

 

Osgood is Chelsea’s 4^th highest top scorer but will probably be the most remembered of contemporary Chelsea forwards.

 

I met him once, and although it was brief, I managed to ask him if he still felt that he missed playing, that when the boys run out the tunnel at the Bridge, did he still wish that was him?

 

“I never stop missing that” he replied.

 

Well, I and thousands of others miss you very very much Ossie – The King of Stamford Bridge that you still are for us.  Your ashes are under the Shed End penalty spot and your spirit is still with us.

 

 

The Shed looked up and saw a great star
Scoring goals past Pat Jennings from near and from far
And Chelsea won as we all knew they would
And the star of that great team was Peter Osgood

Osgood, Osgood, Osgood, Osgood
Born is the King of Stamford Bridge

 

 

Here are some video clips of Ossie:

 

Liverpool 65/66

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR5Wqm4xniA

 

AC Milan 65/66

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNbxOB_Y7Xs

 

Arsenal 72/73

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp9iVqV7kJ8

 

Real Madrid 70/71

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbnjsWwXpU0

 

West Ham 70/71

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScjsctiJ-g

 

 

Arsenal 71/72

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVp7ddtkHmM

 

4 Goals From Ossie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uDWwvq6FUo