Tommy Baldwin, footballer who won the FA Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup with Chelsea – obituary

Tommy Baldwin, who has died aged 78, was a footballer who was at the heart of the great Chelsea side forged by Tommy Docherty in the 1960s and refined by Dave Sexton; playing up front or as an attacking midfielder, he helped them win the FA Cup in 1970, and their first foreign trophy, the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, the following year.

He was known as “the Sponge” by his teammates, partly for his ability to soak up pressure and partly for his ability to soak up drink, and he was a firm favourite of the fans, with their chant “His name is Tommy Baldwin, he’s the leader of the team.”

Thomas Baldwin was born in Gateshead on June 10 1945, and played for Wrekenton Juniors in the town. He signed professional terms with Arsenal in 1962, making his first-team debut in April 1965.

In September 1966 he scored the Gunners’ first goal in the League Cup, against Gillingham (the club had declined to participate in the previous six competitions) – but soon after, he moved to Chelsea in part-exchange for George Graham. He scored on his debut, a 4-1 win at Manchester City that sent Chelsea to the top of the table.

The club’s star striker Peter Osgood then suffered a broken leg, and for the rest of the season Baldwin played up front alongside Tony Hateley, who was brought in to replace Osgood. He scored 17 goals, including a winner in the FA Cup sixth round against Sheffield Wednesday that helped Chelsea advance to the final, where they lost to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tommy Docherty resigned in October 1967; his successor Dave Sexton kept faith with Baldwin and was rewarded with 16 goals that season, second only to the fit-again Osgood. Baldwin was second-best scorer again the following season despite four months out injured; his goals included two at Manchester United – one a cheeky backheel – in a 4-0 thumping for the hosts.

He played less in the ensuing couple of seasons following the signing of Ian Hutchinson, but he still had much to contribute from midfield as Chelsea reached the 1970 FA Cup final, scoring against Burnley in the fourth round.

The final, against Leeds United, went down as one of the great epics in FA Cup history, going to Old Trafford for a famous (and famously dirty) replay – and Baldwin was one of the stand-out performers with his willingness to bust a gut for his side and his ability to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play.

The victory meant that they qualified for the following season’s European Cup-Winners’ Cup. Chelsea sailed through to the semi-finals, where they saw off the holders, Manchester City. Baldwin was a substitute for the final in Athens, coming on late in a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, then was on for the start in the replay, which Chelsea won 2-1, thanks in part to his assist as Osgood scored Chelsea’s second goal.

Chelsea’s fortunes began to slide after that, though there was another final, in 1972, a defeat to Stoke in the League Cup at Wembley. As Sexton’s great side began to break up, Baldwin, despite beginning to suffer niggling injuries, was top scorer with only nine goals in 1973-74.

There were loan spells at Millwall and Manchester United before Baldwin joined the Brit invasion of the North American Soccer League in 1975, signing for Seattle Sounders. He retired in 1978 after a few games for Brentford, for whom he later worked as a coach; he also worked in property development.

Baldwin had a fraught relationship with alcohol, and in 1969 he was given a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a police officer following a drunken car chase.

Tommy Baldwin married Pauline Diamond in 1968; they had a daughter, Lucy but divorced in 1974. He then had a relationship with a photographer, Gabrielle Crawford, who had been married to the actor Michael Crawford; they had two sons but later parted.

Tommy Baldwin, born June 10 1945, died January 22 2024

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