Liquidator 1969-1970 A Chelsea Memoir

by Mark Worrall

The 1969-70 season was momentous for Chelsea… a campaign that concludes with the Club winning the FA Cup for the first time in its history. It is also a period of awakening for Blues supporter Tommy Walker, a local boy from the World’s End whose passion for the team is matched by his love of music and Sophia Fossati, a girl he meets at the Isle of Wight FestivalAlmost fifty years later, Tommy’s health is failing fast and he asks his friend, author Mark Worrall, to write his memoirs. 'Liquidator' sets out Mark’s struggle to come to terms with Tommy’s situation and outlines how their friendship developed before focussing itself on Chelsea’s journey to FA Cup glory with match descriptions so vivid you feel you are at the games cheering on Peter Osgood as he scores in every round of the competition!Granular details of Tommy’s early life provide a fascinating snapshot of what following the Blues was like, both in the mid-1950s when he first sees Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge, and then later as he attends every match of the 1970 cup run, that culminates in a tempestuous and ultimately triumphant final replay against Leeds United.Vibrant, larger-than-life characters fill the pages as Tommy and his friends weave and bob around London, mingling with Chelsea players and rock stars in long-lost pubs and clubs at a time when man first walked on the moon and 'The Liquidator', a reggae-tinged instrumental with an infernally catchy beat, wormed its way into the consciousness of Blues supporters. The recurring theme of how quickly time passes is never far away as is the yearning for days gone by and those who left this life too early.

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2019

About the author

Associated initially with sharing the experience of watching association football, Mark has broadened the scope of his writing to embrace fiction, screenplays and journalism. He lives and works in London.
Mark Worrall is on Facebook

Reviews

[johnmarkie1905 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Chelsea fan I got this as a present from my partner who coincidentally also supports the blues 1970 was the year I began following Chelsea as we watched the highlights on television of the FA cup final replay my late mother who didn't particularly like football remarked she wanted Chelsea to win as Charlie Cooke played for Dundee the City of my birth so do I said i, and Chelsea became my team Charlie Cooke became my hero and what player he was this book means the world to me as it covers our famous victory throughout Tommy Walker you legend as is Mark Worrall brilliantly written with some very funny moments throughout as a blue I couldn't put it down fir us supporters who followed the team in those days this is a must read Osgood Hudson Bonetti Cooke Hollins Hutchison oh I could on brilliantly done Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea 💙

[Tony Hannington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read

An insightful and poignant story that captures, both the pain and the elation of a football fan in what were the true glory years of supporting a team through highs and lows. However it's far more than than, it's a love story of life itself without being over sentimental.

[Gary Steinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, superb read by Mark yet again, couldn’t put it down. A great tribute to Tommy and a great era to be Chels.