On This Day – 3rd December
Jimmy Greaves scored five goals for Chelsea in a home game against West Bromwich Albion on this day in 1960.
Stamford Bridge was just under a third full that afternoon as only 19,568 fans were in attendance. Those that decided to stay in the warm or go Christmas shopping missed out on a fine individual performance from one of England’s greatest goalscorers.
Greaves had surpassed the 100 league goal landmark two weeks previously when he scored a hat-trick against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge two weeks earlier. (You can read about that by clicking here). He would go on and score 40 goals in 41 league appearances over the course of the season before moving to AC Milan.
Greaves’s five goals were part of a comprehensive 7-1 win for Chelsea that December afternoon. It remains Chelsea’s biggest league win over West Brom.
Peter Brabrook and Ron Tindall scored Chelsea’s other goals and Alec Jackson scored the visitor’s consolation goal.
West Brom actually finished the First Division season above Chelsea in 10th position. Chelsea ended the season four points behind them in 12th place.
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