1955 A VERY BIG YEAR

1955 - A VERY BIG YEAR !!!!
GOLD! GOLD ! GOLD ! Would soon become the catch cry of Olympics commentator Norman May but at this stage it may well have been shouted around the streets of Chelsea as the local athletes began to achieve great things in a range of activities:
· The Chelsea Tennis Club won the Caulfield Carrum Tennis Association Pennant for the first time.
· Chelsea Life Saving Club won the Royal Life Saving Victorian Championships.
· Chelsea Fire Brigade were successful in becoming Victoria’s Champion Brigade defeating 147 other brigades to claim the title.
· Chelsea Yacht Club members were Victorian Champions in five different class yachting Championships.
· ‘Bonnie’ Johnstone was made a Life Member of the Federal Football League at its AGM.

FOOTBALLERS SHAPING UP

And the Football Club—they looked the goods. Could they pull off the seemingly impossible? The Seagulls were winning regularly and the town was starting to buzz. Local support was growing quickly as attendances increased. The main topic of conversation around the town was about football and the team’s prospects. Russell Grambeau led his star-studded team on a string of victories with their only conqueror being the old bogey team Mordialloc, who were able to chalk up two victories over them in the season proper, the second being by a miserly three points.
Finishing clearly on top of the ladder, the locals were a little relieved to see the end of Mordialloc at the conclusion of the first week of the finals and they settled down to the massive task confronting them—to win Chelsea’s first premiership at the top level.
They had the coach. Russell was an imposing ruckman who combined beautifully with local giant Kevin Phillips.
Their centreline was magnificent with the brilliant Alan Jones in the pivot, speedster Reggie Backman on one side and Billy Armstrong demonstrating his silky skills on the other wing.
Down the spine there was real talent with an outstanding spoiler in Bill Baker at full back and Don Gall, skilful and tight, playing with a great pair of hands at half-back. A young John Coughlan was a tough and fiery player who was capable of doing enormous damage from centre-half forward and the spearhead, Ron Price, had kicked plenty of goals during the season and was in top form.
The players supporting this framework were also highly skilled with the likes of Lou Owens demonstrating his ability to kick with precision using either foot. Best and Fairest winner Dick Gough was playing on a back-flank and 1953 Best and Fairest Bill Woodhead was unable to gain selection in the starting eighteen. He was 19th man. The names go on and on and one could write glowingly about any of these individuals. But suffice to say, the performances continued to impress as the Seagulls mounted their challenge.
But the true assessment of the quality of this team was made by the most knowledgeable of local football authorities, ‘Dumpy’ Smith. When asked how they would go against the highly rated 1962 premiership team, he replied with, “the 55ers would win, even if they had to play in gum-boots!”

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