HOW TO ATTRACT A GOOD COACH
(STRAIGHT FROM THE CHELSEA F.C PROCEDURES MANUAL—1961)

Success was still proving to be elusive at the completion of the 1960 season. The idea of employing an experienced and well qualified coach had failed to produce immediate results. The coach had proven to be a courageous and strong competitor, but was unable to keep performing at a high level due to his aging body.
Dowse and Hepworth were determined men and now they had a third strong spoke in their administration, 1955 premiership player Frank Parsons. Frank became Secretary enabling Frank Hepworth to transfer his attentions to the position of Treasurer. They were a formidable combination and arrived at a decision that would shape the club for many years to come.
They chose an untried young coach with the view that it would be a long term appointment concluding that this was the best course of action after several short term appointments had brought little success.

As was the practice at the time, an interview would be conducted in front of the entire committee. Most of the questioning was carried out by the hierarchy of the club, committee members were allowed to ask questions, and would vote on the outcome - all very democratic.


‘Doc’ White, with encouragement from his father, applied for the job. His father notified him at 4pm that he had an interview at 7pm at Chelsea that very day. Frank Parsons had asked former player Tommy Eley to ask his cousin Charlie Hutty to ask Doc’s father to tell ‘Doc’ that the interview was scheduled. And yes, they did have telephones and mail in those days—Chelsea Football Club, however, preferred older technology—word of mouth. Dutifully, ‘Doc’ arrived at the club for his appointment, only to discover that another applicant was in the process of being interviewed. He was left waiting outside in the cold with a sympathetic committeeman Stan Davies as company.
‘Doc’ White was subsequently appointed senior captain coach for the start of the 1961 season. He accepted the job.


Upon commencing training it was pretty clear to the new coach that the club had some very talented players at their disposal. He believed that there was a good chance of success. It also became clear that the club had developed a modus operandi whereby the reserves had become the focus of selection. The general consensus was that a seconds premiership was better than nothing. This mindset was quashed in quick fast time. The new broom was sweeping clean.
Unfortunately the season started poorly. The Seagulls lost the first five games and ‘Doc’ was becoming very mindful of  President, Claude, given his reputation for intolerance of failure.
Suddenly, in Round 6, something clicked into place and the Gulls crushed the bottom side Crib Point. Although this was no great achievement, it was a start, and from there some momentum began to build as Doc’s team began to find some faith in him and each other. In a barnstorming finish to the season they just missed the four on percentage.

THINGS WERE LOOKING UP!