Over the course of nearly 600 Chelsea matches, John Hollins developed the art of game reading, but one instance of his characteristically perfect timing triumphed over a career's worth of crucial interventions.
In the 1970 FA Cup final, with just minutes remaining and the Blues trailing Leeds 2-1, the Guildford-born Chelsea youth team alumnus came through with a crucial pass exactly when the Blues needed him the most.
Hollins slid into space on the inside left and delivered a precise near-post cross that Ian Hutchinson flicked in as Leeds prepared to play out for victory at Wembley.
All the legend surrounding that 1970 FA Cup run centers on the terrible rematch, in which both teams brutalized one another before Chelsea slogged to victory with a 2-1 victory in extra time at Old Trafford.
However, the Blues would never have had the opportunity for any of that Manchester mayhem if it weren't for Hollins' lone shining moment in that scrappy first final on a soggy Wembley ground.
The agile midfielder, who switched to right back later in his career, played in 592 Chelsea matches over the course of a long, high-caliber career, yet he only earned one England cap, against Spain in 1967 when he was 20 years old.
His older brother David went on to play for Wales. He was born in July into a footballing family.
Although Hollins took part in Chelsea's 3-2 victory against Leicester in the League Cup final in 1965, it was the 1970 FA Cup victory that would serve as the pinnacle of his Blues career.
A year later, Chelsea won the European Cup Winners' Cup, although Hollins was unable to play in the decisive final replay victory over Real Madrid due to an injury.
Hollins had a career-high 17 goals in the 1971–1972 season, assisting the Blues to the League Cup final, where they fell to Stoke.
After leaving Stamford Bridge in 1975, he spent four years each at QPR and Arsenal.
He scored his spot-kick as Arsenal was defeated in the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup shootout, and came within a penalty shootout of capturing a second cup with the Gunners.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0