Soccer Players “Shocked” After Being Sent Home

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30733, 24 April 1965, Page 13

Soccer Players “Shocked” After Being Sent Home

(N.Z.P.A.- Reuter —Copyright •

LONDON, April 23

Ihe eight Chelsea club soccer players sent home from Blackpool yesterday for a breach of club discipline said in a statement early today that they had done nothing to be ashamed of.

They admitted to a breach of club discipline in that they were late back at their Blackpool hotel.

The players id they issued] the joint statement “in fairness to the reputation of our-1 selves as individuals and as; members of the Chelsea Foot-i ball Club.” •

“We are shocked by the] punishment, which we believe!

is out of all proportion,” the players said.

■‘Not in Nature”

“We have worked tremendously hard this season and are sorry it has ended like this. It has not been in our nature to misbehave, and anyone who had seen us play should know that we could not play as hard as that unless we were dedicated to fitness and the game.” The players, including the captain, Terry Venables, were sent home by the Chelsea manager, Mr T. Docherty.

He told them; “‘You are not playing for Chelsea again this season.”

Late Night Out

The move followed a reported late night out by the players in the bright Lancashire resort town.

Mr Docherty’s step could cost the London club the league championship. Chelsea is in third place, with two matches to play. The eight players involved are Marvin Hinton (rightback), Eddie McCreadie (leftback), John Hollins (righthalf). Bert Murray (outsideright), George Graham (in-side-right), Barry Bridges (centre-forward), Venable and a reserve winger, Joe ! Fascione.

Bridges was named on Tuesday for the England team to tour Yugoslavia, West Germany and Sweden. Yesterday, Hollins and Murray were chosen for the under-23 tour of West Germany, Czechoslovakia and Austria. Officials of the Football Association said they could not comment on possible changes until the matter was reported to the F.A. Mr Docherty is a known disciplinarian and it is largely because of his strictness and dedication that Chelsea has had such a good season. It won the League Cup and reached the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup.

Mr John Webster, manager of a Blackpool bowling alley, said in Blackpool last night: i “The Chelsea players came! here for a drink on Wednesday night, as has been their habit since they came here. They stayed until the club closed at 1 a.m. They behaved I themselves as they have al- ! ways done.”

A special board meeting of the club next Wednesday will decide whether the suspended players will miss the tour of Australia, starting on May 2. “At this stage I think they will be allowed to go,” a club spokesman said. “I think it unlikely the board will stop them."