John Dempsey dead at 78: Tributes pour in for former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland centre-back who won famous 1970 FA Cup final with Blues
- The defender was part of side who beat Leeds United 2-1 in FA Cup final replay
- He went on to score a decisive goal in the 1971 European Cup Winners' Cup final
- Dempsey scored seven goals in 207 appearances for Blues after 1969 move
Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland defender John Dempsey, who was part of the team who beat Leeds in the iconic 1970 FA Cup final, has died at the age of 78.
The centre-back followed his triumph in the FA Cup by lifting the European Cup Winners' Cup a year later in a victory sparked by his volleyed opener in the final replay as Dave Sexton's men defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in Piraeus.
Chelsea's tribute to Dempsey on the club website included his recollection of that goal,
The Blues legend said: 'It was a corner taken by Charlie Cooke and the goalkeeper punched it.
'It was about 12 to 15 yards out and I hit it on the volley and nine times out of 10 it would have gone anywhere, but thank God it went into the roof of the net and it was a fantastic feeling.
Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland defender John Dempsey has died aged 78 (pictured: going up for a header against Stoke and England's Gordon Banks)
Dempsey (centre) scored seven goals in 207 appearances for Chelsea after joining in 1968
He joining the Blues during the 1968-69 season in a £70,000 move from rivals Fulham
'The groundsman said to me it was the best goal he had ever seen on that pitch.'
That was one of seven goals Dempsey, who was brought up in Kilburn, scored in 207 appearances for Chelsea after joining during the 1968-69 season in a £70,000 move from rivals Fulham.
As a youngster, the future Blues icon's allegiances were mixed with his father taking him to watch the west London sides on alternate weeks, and Dempsey was in the crowd when Chelsea won the title for the first time in 1955.
The season after he moved he tasted FA Cup glory, with Leeds beaten 2-1 after extra time in a replay at Old Trafford after a 2-2 draw in the initial contest at Wembley.
The two famously physical sides from opposite ends of the country faced off against one another in two memorable contests.
Dempsey saved his goals for the most important occasions and he scored a header in the fifth round that year at Crystal Palace as Chelsea surged to the final.
That final saw him play alongside David Webb, Ron Harris and Eddie McCreadie in defence, with forward Peter Osgood saying of the quartet: 'We had the four assassins at the back.'
After the European success that then came in 1971, Dempsey also helped Chelsea finish runners-up in the League Cup in 1972, and remained with the club until 1978, when he moved to the Philadelphia Fury.
The following season he tasted FA Cup glory, with Leeds beaten 2-1 after extra time in a replay at Old Trafford (pictured: Dempsey, third from top right, before the final against Leeds)
He later frequently appeared with ex-Chelsea stars at Stamford Bridge for events (pictured: second from right with Marvin Hinton, Ron Harris, Tommy Baldwin and John Hollins in 2020)
Dempsey in later life worked as a carer in a centre for people with learning difficulties
There he reunited with Osgood and would be voted the North American Soccer League's defender of the year, ahead of Franz Beckenbauer.
Dempsey, who also won 19 caps for the Republic during his playing career, in later life worked as a carer in a centre for people with learning difficulties.
He also frequently appeared with ex-Chelsea stars at Stamford Bridge for events.
The club's official website added: 'All at Chelsea send our heartfelt condolences to John's wife Trish and all his family and friends at this difficult time.
'There is a small touch of irony about Dempsey’s most iconic moment in a Chelsea shirt.
'The tall, no-nonsense defender who was so good at stopping other players scoring was the man who, when the ball fell his way during a finely balanced European final against Real Madrid, executed one of the crispest volleys seen from a Chelsea player to set his side on the way to glory.'
