Stamford-Bridge.com Site Banner

Chelsea FC Profile: Dick Spence

| Player Summary || CGS Research Links |

Full Name: Richard Spence

Nickname(s): Dickie

Born: Saturday, 18th July 1908
Place of birth: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England
Height: 5' 7"
Died: Saturday, 12th March 1983 (aged 74)
Place of death: Ealing, Middlesex, England

Involvement with Chelsea:


Men's 1st Team Player from 1934 to 1950
Youth Team Coach from 1947 to 1975


Dickie was one of very few players to appear for Chelsea both sides of World War 2.

Until Thiago Silva took his records, he was Chelsea's long term record holder as oldest ever first-team player & first-team goal-scorer.

After retiring as a player, Dickie remained with Chelsea for a further two + decades, into the 1970s as a coach and played an important part in the newly set-up youth programme at the club, unearthing and nurturing such talents as Jimmy Greaves, Terry Venables & Bobby Tambling.

Playing Career:


Thorpe Colliery
Barnsley
Chelsea (Oct 1934 to Jun 1950) - cost: £5,000 - Retired

* Retired = Retired from playing at the end of Chelsea contract, or for reason stated

Chelsea First-Team Career Summary

Competitive Debut: Saturday, 6th October 1934, Everton 3 - 2 Chelsea

Age on debut: 26 years 2 months 18 days

100th Appearance: Saturday, 26th December 1936, Chelsea 2 - 1 Leeds United

200th Appearance: Saturday, 26th January 1946, Chelsea 2 - 0 West Ham United

Last Competitive First-Team Appearance: Saturday, 13th September 1947, Chelsea 1 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

See full chronological appearance listing HERE

Appearances

Season League F.A. Cup Lg Cup Europe Oth* Ttl
1934 / 35 34200036
1935 / 36 40500045
1936 / 37 39200041
1937 / 38 28000028
1938 / 39 41600047
1945 / 46 060006
1946 / 47 33400037
1947 / 48 600006
Total22125000246

Goals

Season League F.A. Cup Lg Cup Europe Oth* Ttl
1934 / 35 19000019
1935 / 36 13000013
1936 / 37 8200010
1937 / 38 500005
1938 / 39 11000011
1945 / 46 010001
1946 / 47 700007
Total63300066


* oth = other competitive matches such as Full Members Cup, Charity/Community Shield, Fifa World Club Cup.
Figures in ( ) are substitute appearances and are also included in the totals.
i.e. Dick Spence made 246 appearances for Chelsea, of which 0 were as a substitute.

Competitive Matches Played

CompDateHome  AwayAtt
League6th Oct 1934Everton32Chelsea17,827 match lost
League13th Oct 1934Chelsea21Huddersfield Town32,151 match won scored 1 goal
League20th Oct 1934Birmingham01Chelsea22,572 match won
League27th Oct 1934Chelsea02Stoke City39,160 match lost
League3rd Nov 1934Leeds United52Chelsea13,295 match lost
League10th Nov 1934Chelsea23West Bromwich Albion18,362 match lost scored 1 goal
League17th Nov 1934Blackburn Rovers12Chelsea10,781 match won
League24th Nov 1934Chelsea25Arsenal43,419 match lost
League1st Dec 1934Portsmouth11Chelsea18,076 match drawn
League8th Dec 1934Chelsea41Liverpool29,005 match won scored 4 goals
League15th Dec 1934Manchester City20Chelsea28,797 match lost
League22nd Dec 1934Chelsea21Middlesbrough23,724 match won scored 1 goal
League25th Dec 1934Chelsea20Aston Villa46,746 match won scored 2 goals
League26th Dec 1934Aston Villa03Chelsea52,886 match won
League29th Dec 1934Chelsea11Derby County50,687 match drawn
League5th Jan 1935Leicester City10Chelsea14,593 match lost
F.A. Cup12th Jan 1935Chelsea11Luton Town46,492 match drawn
F.A. Cup16th Jan 1935Luton Town20Chelsea23,041 match lost
League19th Jan 1935Chelsea22Sunderland37,096 match drawn scored 1 goal
League30th Jan 1935Tottenham Hotspur13Chelsea28,121 match won scored 1 goal
League2nd Feb 1935Chelsea00Preston North End31,994 match drawn
League9th Feb 1935Grimsby Town31Chelsea12,442 match lost
League20th Feb 1935Chelsea30Everton11,701 match won
League23rd Feb 1935Huddersfield Town30Chelsea13,593 match lost
League6th Mar 1935Chelsea22Birmingham13,016 match drawn scored 1 goal
League9th Mar 1935Stoke City01Chelsea13,186 match won
League16th Mar 1935Chelsea71Leeds United35,698 match won scored 2 goals
League23rd Mar 1935West Bromwich Albion22Chelsea13,721 match drawn
League30th Mar 1935Chelsea42Blackburn Rovers34,470 match won scored 3 goals
League6th Apr 1935Arsenal22Chelsea54,020 match drawn scored 1 goal
League13th Apr 1935Chelsea11Portsmouth44,787 match drawn
League19th Apr 1935Chelsea42Wolverhampton Wanderers44,636 match won
League20th Apr 1935Liverpool60Chelsea14,297 match lost
League22nd Apr 1935Wolverhampton Wanderers61Chelsea32,703 match lost scored 1 goal (1 Pen)
League27th Apr 1935Chelsea42Manchester City22,593 match won
League4th May 1935Middlesbrough22Chelsea17,505 match drawn
League31st Aug 1935Chelsea22Liverpool41,224 match drawn
League4th Sep 1935Chelsea35Stoke City23,687 match lost
League7th Sep 1935Grimsby Town13Chelsea14,917 match won scored 1 goal
League9th Sep 1935Stoke City30Chelsea21,310 match lost
League14th Sep 1935Chelsea10Leeds United35,720 match won
League16th Sep 1935Blackburn Rovers10Chelsea14,610 match lost
League21st Sep 1935West Bromwich Albion12Chelsea17,183 match won
League28th Sep 1935Chelsea31Sunderland61,051 match won
League5th Oct 1935Birmingham21Chelsea22,625 match lost
League12th Oct 1935Chelsea11Arsenal82,905 match drawn
League19th Oct 1935Everton51Chelsea18,934 match lost
League26th Oct 1935Chelsea21Bolton Wanderers36,080 match won
League2nd Nov 1935Huddersfield Town20Chelsea16,684 match lost
League9th Nov 1935Chelsea21Middlesbrough33,408 match won
League16th Nov 1935Aston Villa22Chelsea58,717 match drawn scored 2 goals
League23rd Nov 1935Chelsea21Brentford56,624 match won scored 1 goal (1 Pen)
League30th Nov 1935Sheffield Wednesday41Chelsea16,014 match lost
League14th Dec 1935Preston North End20Chelsea16,178 match lost
League21st Dec 1935Chelsea22Wolverhampton Wanderers20,063 match drawn scored 1 goal
League25th Dec 1935Manchester City00Chelsea36,074 match drawn
League26th Dec 1935Chelsea21Manchester City41,732 match won
F.A. Cup11th Jan 1936Norwich City11Chelsea32,398 match drawn
F.A. Cup15th Jan 1936Chelsea31Norwich City31,734 match won
League18th Jan 1936Leeds United20Chelsea18,999 match lost
F.A. Cup25th Jan 1936Chelsea41Plymouth Argyle53,703 match won
League1st Feb 1936Sunderland33Chelsea23,755 match drawn
League8th Feb 1936Chelsea00Birmingham30,268 match drawn
F.A. Cup19th Feb 1936Chelsea00Fulham52,096 match drawn
League22nd Feb 1936Chelsea22Everton17,136 match drawn
F.A. Cup24th Feb 1936Fulham32Chelsea30,696 match lost
League4th Mar 1936Middlesbrough41Chelsea7,968 match lost
League7th Mar 1936Chelsea12Sheffield Wednesday27,221 match lost
League11th Mar 1936Chelsea22West Bromwich Albion13,225 match drawn
League14th Mar 1936Bolton Wanderers23Chelsea18,925 match won scored 1 goal
League21st Mar 1936Chelsea10Aston Villa48,761 match won
League28th Mar 1936Brentford21Chelsea34,986 match lost
League4th Apr 1936Chelsea10Huddersfield Town22,369 match won
League10th Apr 1936Chelsea11Derby County54,336 match drawn scored 1 goal
League11th Apr 1936Portsmouth20Chelsea18,605 match lost
League13th Apr 1936Derby County11Chelsea21,407 match drawn scored 1 goal
League18th Apr 1936Chelsea52Preston North End26,274 match won scored 3 goals
League22nd Apr 1936Chelsea10Portsmouth13,982 match won
League25th Apr 1936Wolverhampton Wanderers33Chelsea12,683 match drawn
League27th Apr 1936Arsenal11Chelsea40,402 match drawn
League2nd May 1936Chelsea51Blackburn Rovers18,078 match won scored 2 goals
League29th Aug 1936Leeds United23Chelsea19,379 match won scored 2 goals
League2nd Sep 1936Chelsea32Grimsby Town25,671 match won
League5th Sep 1936Chelsea13Birmingham32,803 match lost
League8th Sep 1936Grimsby Town30Chelsea12,667 match lost
League12th Sep 1936Middlesbrough20Chelsea21,278 match lost
League16th Sep 1936Chelsea20Liverpool18,123 match won
League19th Sep 1936Chelsea30West Bromwich Albion41,112 match won
League26th Sep 1936Manchester City00Chelsea30,004 match drawn
League3rd Oct 1936Chelsea11Portsmouth45,735 match drawn
League10th Oct 1936Preston North End10Chelsea20,040 match lost
League17th Oct 1936Chelsea11Sheffield Wednesday34,488 match drawn
League7th Nov 1936Wolverhampton Wanderers12Chelsea16,510 match won
League14th Nov 1936Chelsea13Sunderland48,901 match lost
League21st Nov 1936Huddersfield Town42Chelsea12,382 match lost scored 2 goals
League28th Nov 1936Chelsea40Everton31,623 match won
League5th Dec 1936Bolton Wanderers21Chelsea13,439 match lost
League12th Dec 1936Chelsea21Brentford51,079 match won scored 1 goal
League25th Dec 1936Stoke City20Chelsea24,897 match lost
League26th Dec 1936Chelsea21Leeds United27,761 match won scored 1 goal
League28th Dec 1936Chelsea10Stoke City16,675 match won
League2nd Jan 1937Birmingham00Chelsea17,673 match drawn
League9th Jan 1937Chelsea10Middlesbrough30,201 match won
F.A. Cup16th Jan 1937Chelsea40Leeds United34,859 match won scored 2 goals
League23rd Jan 1937West Bromwich Albion20Chelsea9,642 match lost
F.A. Cup30th Jan 1937Millwall30Chelsea41,503 match lost
League3rd Feb 1937Chelsea44Manchester City11,620 match drawn
League6th Feb 1937Portsmouth41Chelsea16,447 match lost
League13th Feb 1937Chelsea00Preston North End27,465 match drawn
League20th Feb 1937Sheffield Wednesday11Chelsea16,052 match drawn
League27th Feb 1937Chelsea42Manchester United16,382 match won
League6th Mar 1937Derby County11Chelsea15,010 match drawn
League13th Mar 1937Chelsea01Wolverhampton Wanderers34,078 match lost
League20th Mar 1937Sunderland23Chelsea21,825 match won scored 1 goal
League26th Mar 1937Chelsea30Charlton Athletic64,463 match won
League27th Mar 1937Chelsea00Huddersfield Town31,384 match drawn
League29th Mar 1937Charlton Athletic10Chelsea45,860 match lost
League3rd Apr 1937Everton00Chelsea20,648 match drawn
League10th Apr 1937Chelsea01Bolton Wanderers23,271 match lost
League17th Apr 1937Brentford10Chelsea22,042 match lost
League24th Apr 1937Chelsea20Arsenal53,325 match won
League1st May 1937Liverpool11Chelsea8,278 match drawn scored 1 goal
League28th Aug 1937Chelsea61Liverpool41,553 match won
League1st Sep 1937Leeds United20Chelsea18,858 match lost
League4th Sep 1937West Bromwich Albion40Chelsea23,097 match lost
League8th Sep 1937Chelsea41Leeds United17,300 match won
League11th Sep 1937Chelsea20Birmingham34,072 match won
League20th Nov 1937Chelsea22Manchester City40,197 match drawn
League27th Nov 1937Leicester City10Chelsea18,883 match lost
League4th Dec 1937Chelsea31Huddersfield Town31,475 match won scored 1 goal
League11th Dec 1937Derby County40Chelsea12,886 match lost
League15th Jan 1938Chelsea22West Bromwich Albion20,378 match drawn
League22nd Jan 1938Birmingham11Chelsea18,480 match drawn
League29th Jan 1938Chelsea01Middlesbrough27,081 match lost
League5th Feb 1938Stoke City21Chelsea22,693 match lost scored 1 goal
League19th Feb 1938Arsenal20Chelsea49,573 match lost
League26th Feb 1938Chelsea13Blackpool27,301 match lost
League9th Mar 1938Brentford11Chelsea20,401 match drawn
League12th Mar 1938Chelsea00Bolton Wanderers38,171 match drawn
League19th Mar 1938Sunderland11Chelsea19,327 match drawn
League26th Mar 1938Chelsea20Everton27,043 match won
League2nd Apr 1938Manchester City10Chelsea31,033 match lost
League9th Apr 1938Chelsea41Leicester City20,211 match won scored 1 goal
League15th Apr 1938Chelsea02Preston North End54,735 match lost
League16th Apr 1938Huddersfield Town12Chelsea18,356 match won scored 1 goal
League18th Apr 1938Preston North End00Chelsea32,096 match drawn
League23rd Apr 1938Chelsea30Derby County25,032 match won scored 1 goal
League27th Apr 1938Chelsea11Charlton Athletic21,843 match drawn
League30th Apr 1938Wolverhampton Wanderers11Chelsea27,718 match drawn
League7th May 1938Grimsby Town20Chelsea14,601 match lost
League27th Aug 1938Liverpool21Chelsea33,868 match lost
League31st Aug 1938Chelsea31Preston North End24,821 match won scored 2 goals
League3rd Sep 1938Chelsea30Leicester City37,323 match won
League5th Sep 1938Bolton Wanderers02Chelsea19,616 match won
League10th Sep 1938Middlesbrough11Chelsea28,359 match drawn
League17th Sep 1938Chelsea22Birmingham39,505 match drawn scored 1 goal
League24th Sep 1938Manchester United51Chelsea34,557 match lost
League1st Oct 1938Chelsea11Stoke City35,320 match drawn
League8th Oct 1938Blackpool51Chelsea24,878 match lost
League15th Oct 1938Chelsea42Arsenal64,443 match won
League22nd Oct 1938Brentford10Chelsea31,425 match lost
League29th Oct 1938Chelsea02Derby County37,919 match lost
League5th Nov 1938Grimsby Town21Chelsea11,461 match lost
League12th Nov 1938Chelsea40Sunderland37,103 match won scored 1 goal
League19th Nov 1938Aston Villa62Chelsea41,678 match lost
League26th Nov 1938Chelsea13Wolverhampton Wanderers32,456 match lost
League3rd Dec 1938Everton41Chelsea27,959 match lost
League10th Dec 1938Chelsea30Huddersfield Town23,257 match won
League17th Dec 1938Portsmouth21Chelsea21,536 match lost
League24th Dec 1938Chelsea41Liverpool6,801 match won scored 1 goal
League26th Dec 1938Leeds United11Chelsea27,586 match drawn
League27th Dec 1938Chelsea22Leeds United32,692 match drawn scored 1 goal
League31st Dec 1938Leicester City32Chelsea13,180 match lost
F.A. Cup7th Jan 1939Chelsea21Arsenal58,095 match won
League14th Jan 1939Chelsea42Middlesbrough26,750 match won
F.A. Cup21st Jan 1939Chelsea30Fulham69,987 match won
League28th Jan 1939Chelsea01Manchester United31,265 match lost
League4th Feb 1939Stoke City61Chelsea25,205 match lost scored 1 goal
F.A. Cup11th Feb 1939Chelsea11Sheffield Wednesday60,920 match drawn
F.A. Cup13th Feb 1939Sheffield Wednesday00Chelsea47,549 match drawn
League18th Feb 1939Arsenal10Chelsea54,510 match lost
F.A. Cup20th Feb 1939Sheffield Wednesday13Chelsea51,879 match won
League25th Feb 1939Chelsea13Brentford33,511 match lost
F.A. Cup4th Mar 1939Chelsea01Grimsby Town45,409 match lost
League8th Mar 1939Derby County01Chelsea6,697 match won scored 1 goal
League11th Mar 1939Chelsea51Grimsby Town17,102 match won scored 2 goals
League15th Mar 1939Chelsea11Blackpool12,971 match drawn
League18th Mar 1939Sunderland32Chelsea10,954 match lost
League25th Mar 1939Chelsea21Aston Villa31,255 match won scored 1 goal
League1st Apr 1939Wolverhampton Wanderers20Chelsea28,747 match lost
League7th Apr 1939Charlton Athletic20Chelsea29,014 match lost
League10th Apr 1939Chelsea13Charlton Athletic27,070 match lost
League15th Apr 1939Huddersfield Town31Chelsea11,731 match lost
League22nd Apr 1939Chelsea10Portsmouth28,744 match won
League26th Apr 1939Birmingham11Chelsea28,637 match drawn
League29th Apr 1939Preston North End11Chelsea13,333 match drawn
League6th May 1939Chelsea11Bolton Wanderers18,232 match drawn
F.A. Cup5th Jan 1946Chelsea11Leicester City39,678 match drawn
F.A. Cup10th Jan 1946Leicester City02Chelsea25,368 match won
F.A. Cup26th Jan 1946Chelsea20West Ham United65,726 match won scored 1 goal
F.A. Cup30th Jan 1946West Ham United10Chelsea35,000 match lost
F.A. Cup9th Feb 1946Chelsea01Aston Villa65,307 match lost
F.A. Cup12th Feb 1946Aston Villa10Chelsea55,000 match lost
League31st Aug 1946Chelsea43Bolton Wanderers62,850 match won scored 2 goals
League4th Sep 1946Chelsea03Manchester United27,750 match lost
League14th Sep 1946Chelsea30Leeds United56,484 match won
League18th Sep 1946Manchester United11Chelsea30,275 match drawn
League21st Sep 1946Grimsby Town21Chelsea21,932 match lost
League28th Sep 1946Chelsea22Charlton Athletic63,859 match drawn
League5th Oct 1946Middlesbrough32Chelsea44,082 match lost
League12th Oct 1946Chelsea25Stoke City67,935 match lost
League19th Oct 1946Portsmouth02Chelsea36,474 match won scored 1 goal
League26th Oct 1946Chelsea21Arsenal56,432 match won
League2nd Nov 1946Blackpool10Chelsea23,365 match lost
League9th Nov 1946Chelsea32Brentford50,242 match won
League16th Nov 1946Sunderland12Chelsea41,227 match won scored 1 goal
League23rd Nov 1946Chelsea13Aston Villa63,896 match lost scored 1 goal
League30th Nov 1946Derby County31Chelsea27,946 match lost
League7th Dec 1946Chelsea11Everton41,255 match drawn
League14th Dec 1946Huddersfield Town14Chelsea9,011 match won scored 1 goal
League21st Dec 1946Chelsea12Wolverhampton Wanderers43,006 match lost
League25th Dec 1946Chelsea12Preston North End37,126 match lost
League4th Jan 1947Chelsea31Liverpool59,226 match won
F.A. Cup11th Jan 1947Chelsea11Arsenal70,257 match drawn
F.A. Cup15th Jan 1947Arsenal11Chelsea53,350 match drawn
League18th Jan 1947Leeds United21Chelsea37,884 match lost
F.A. Cup20th Jan 1947Arsenal02Chelsea59,590 match won
F.A. Cup29th Jan 1947Derby County10Chelsea19,079 match lost
League1st Feb 1947Charlton Athletic23Chelsea32,959 match won
League8th Feb 1947Chelsea00Grimsby Town17,896 match drawn
League15th Feb 1947Stoke City61Chelsea30,408 match lost
League1st Mar 1947Arsenal12Chelsea52,606 match won
League8th Mar 1947Chelsea14Blackpool30,365 match lost
League5th Apr 1947Chelsea30Derby County52,886 match won
League7th Apr 1947Blackburn Rovers12Chelsea35,646 match won
League19th Apr 1947Chelsea10Huddersfield Town39,753 match won
League26th Apr 1947Wolverhampton Wanderers64Chelsea44,260 match lost scored 1 goal
League3rd May 1947Chelsea14Sheffield United32,110 match lost
League10th May 1947Chelsea20Middlesbrough22,482 match won
League26th May 1947Chelsea03Portsmouth26,048 match lost
League23rd Aug 1947Blackpool30Chelsea27,389 match lost
League27th Aug 1947Chelsea10Blackburn Rovers36,375 match won
League30th Aug 1947Chelsea10Derby County59,919 match won
League6th Sep 1947Huddersfield Town31Chelsea24,837 match lost
League10th Sep 1947Chelsea11Sunderland30,085 match drawn
League13th Sep 1947Chelsea11Bolton Wanderers41,242 match drawn

Non-Competitive First-Team Appearances

Season Appearances
1934 / 35 1
1935 / 36 2
Total3

Non-Competitive First-Team Goals

SeasonGoals
1935 / 36 1
Total1


Figures in ( ) are substitute appearances and are also included in the totals.
i.e. Dick Spence made 3 appearances for Chelsea, of which 0 were as a substitute.

Non-Competitive First-Team Matches Played

CompDateHome  AwayAtt
Friendly6th May 1935Linfield23Chelsea17,671 match won
Friendly17th Aug 1935Chelsea32Chelseaunknown match lost
Friendly24th Aug 1935Chelsea22Chelsea1,000 match drawn scored 1 goal

Non-First-Team Appearances

Season Appearances
Total0

Non-First-Team Goals

SeasonGoals
Total0


Figures in ( ) are substitute appearances and are also included in the totals.
i.e. Dick Spence made 0 appearances for Chelsea, of which 0 were as a substitute.

Non-First-Team Matches Played

CompDateHome  AwayAtt

Chelsea Graves Society Info & External Research Links:


Link to the CGS Ancestry profile for Richard Spence View CGS profile for Richard Spence on Ancestry

Return to Player Directory.
Return to Home page.

Chelsea FC Player Dick Spence

Games Won: 87
Win Percentage: 35.37%
Total Bookings: 0
Times Sent Off: 0

Teammates

During his Chelsea first-team career of 246 appearances, Dick Spence played alongside the following 66 players (number of appearances together in the same match-day squad in brackets)

David Alexander (1)
Len Allum (66)
Jimmy Argue (109)
Ken Armstrong (6)
Jimmy Bain (13)
Joe Bambrick (62)
George Barber (152)
Ned Barkas (25)
Bill Barraclough (76)
Sidney Bathgate (11)
Sid Bidewell (2)
Peter Buchanan (24)
Harry Burgess (135)
Alec Cheyne (7)
Wilf Chitty (13)
James Copeland (1)
Allan Craig (144)
Alex Davidson (1)
Len Dolding (16)
Dickie Foss (43)
Hughie Gallacher (4)
John Galloway (3)
George Gibson (84)
Ray Goddard (6)
Len Goulden (43)
Bob Gregg (15)
Bob Griffiths (25)
Alf Hanson (42)
John Harris (47)
Jack Horton (14)
Jock Hutcheson (13)
Johnny Jackson (43)
Tommy Law (25)
Tommy Lawton (40)
Fred Lewis (5)
Bob MacAulay (40)
James Macaulay (28)
Alex Machin (40)
Jack Mayes (9)
John McInnes (3)
Harry Medhurst (17)
Harold Miller (89)
George Mills (107)
Billy Mitchell (100)
John O'Hare (92)
Eric Oakton (20)
Leslie Odell (5)
Johnny Paton (16)
Joe Payne (46)
Ernest Reid (1)
Fred Richardson (1)
Bill Robertson (32)
Robert Russell (2)
Willie Russell (8)
Bob Salmond (28)
Jack Sherborne (3)
Doug Smale (9)
Jack Smith (48)
Willi Steffen (15)
Albert Tennant (7)
Tommy Walker (41)
Sam Weaver (108)
Alex White (14)
Reg Williams (14)
Danny Winter (47)
Victor Woodley (154)