Our look at Chelsea's 120-year history through the camera lens continues with the club's toughest period, before two of the Blues' most memorable campaigns, as we fought back from the brink of Division Three to thrive in the top flight a year later.
A legendary player at Chelsea, Eddie McCreadie was overseeing a changing of the guard among the current playing squad as manager in 1975, introducing several young players as we attempted to return to the top flight. Key among them was Ray Wilkins, one of the greatest-ever graduates from our youth system, who McCreadie made captain aged just 18.
It took two attempts, but we were promoted while playing a stylish brand of football which drew the crowds. McCreadie wouldn’t join us in Division One, though, after a contract disagreement. Instead, a chain of managers better known for their playing achievements produced some inconsistent years under Ken Shellito, Danny Blanchflower and Geoff Hurst.
We were back in Division Two before that approach changed with the arrival of experienced but unglamorous boss John Neal in 1981. Chelsea initially continued to struggle, only avoiding relegation to Division Three thanks to Clive Walker’s famous winner at Bolton Wanderers, but a rare spending spree in the summer of 1983 produced one of the most exciting Blues sides for a long time, earning promotion as champions before taking the top flight by storm in 1984/85.
Here are some of our favourite images from Chelsea's eighth decade...