David Speedie

Early career

Born in Glenrothes, Scotland but raised in Yorkshire, Speedie worked as a coalminer, playing for Brodsworth Welfare, before signing professional terms with Barnsley in 1978. Without having scored a single goal for Barnsley in 21 appearances, he moved to Darlington in 1980, where his talent first became apparent. Just two years later, he was spotted by then-Chelsea manager John Neal, who signed him for £80,000 in May 1982.

Chelsea

Speedie had a five-year stint at Chelsea where he formed a prolific strike partnership with Kerry Dixon. Speedie's strength, scoring prowess, work-rate and unlikely heading ability (he is 5 ft 7 in tall) perfectly complemented both Dixon and winger Pat Nevin as the trio notched up over 200 goals between them in three years. Before the arrival of Nevin and Dixon, however, Speedie had played an important part in Chelsea's survival in the Second Division a year earlier, with his seven goals (including two on his debut against Oldham Athletic) that season proving crucial. Speedie was the Chelsea Player of the Year 1985 and popular with the fans for his consistent gutsy performances. In 1986, he became the first senior player since Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup final to score a hat-trick at Wembley, as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 5–4 in the Full Members Cup final, after Chelsea had led 5–1. That year Chelsea finished sixth in the league, having been in the hunt for the league title for most of the season before a…

Speedie continued his career at non-league level for a host of clubs including Stamford AFC and Hendon where he made five appearances whilst failing to score. Indeed, his most impressive 45 minutes came as a replacement goalkeeper for the second half of Hendon's first game of the 1996–97 season against Sutton United after first choice Scott Ashcroft got injured just before half time. He also made a handful of Northern League appearances for Crook Town. He retired having scored 150 career goals. Speedie lived for a while in Dublin where he commented for Setanta Sports and played for Francis AFC in Dublin's United Churches League. Speedie allegedly made racist remarks at a charity event in 2004. In 2020, Chelsea removed Speedie's name from the only two named entrances of Stamford Bridge stadium, put up by former club chairman Ken Bates in the 1980s.

Barnsley

Football League Fourth Division promotion: 1978–79 Chelsea

Football League Second Division: 1983–84 Full Members' Cup: 1985–86 Blackburn Rovers

Football League Second Division play-offs: 1992 West Ham United

Football League First Division promotion: 1992–93 Stamford

United Counties League: 1997–98 Benevolent Cup: 1997–98 Lincolnshire Senior 'A' Cup: 1997–98 Hinchingbrooke Cup: 1997–98 Scotland

The Rous Cup: 1985 Individual

Chelsea Player of the Year: 1985 PFA Team of the Year: 1991–92 Second Division