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So impressive was the form of Southend United's Bill Garner when he
lined up against Chelsea in a League Cup tie in September 1972 that just
three days later - and at a cost of £100,000 to the London club - he
was making his top-flight debut for the Blues, appearing as an early
substitute for the injured Alan Hudson in a defeat by West Ham. A burly,
traditional centre-forward who was at his best when attacking the ball
in the air, Garner made his first start in a visit to Coventry at the
end of the month and was amongst the scorers in a 3-1 victory. His first
season was dogged by injuries - the inevitable consequence of his
rugged playing style - but seven goals from 21 league appearances were
supplemented by three goals in four FA Cup games, a fine brace to beat
Bobby Robson's Ipswich side and a further strike which was quickly
followed by a sending-off as Chelsea triumphed over Sheffield Wednesday
at Hillsborough. A viral infection further hindered Bill's progress
during the Blues' troubled 1973/74 season, although he managed a further
seven goals - the highlight being a brace of headers in a 3-3 draw with
QPR - but the club were in crisis and the acrimonious mid-season
departures of Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson left a huge burden on
replacement players, Garner included, who were not blessed with the same
ability as their illustrious predecessors.
Chelsea ended that season in
17th spot but a year later were relegated, Bill failing to capitalise
on a fine start to the campaign when he scored three goals in the first
four games and was called-up by new England manager Don Revie as part of
a mammoth 84-man squad of players who Revie had earmarked as potential
international material. Sadly for Bill, just three more goals followed
after his initial burst and he was no more prolific in Division Two,
scoring just six times as Chelsea finished in mid-table in 1975/76
before missing the entire 1976/77 campaign through both injury and lack
of form, as the Blues clinched promotion at the second attempt. Having
found the net just once prior to Christmas in 1977/78 - scoring the only
goal of the game after just two minutes against Manchester United at
Old Trafford - Bill hit a fine run of form just after the festive season
with three goals in consecutive matches against West Ham, Birmingham (a
5-4 win!) and West Bromwich Albion. He was also instrumental in a
famous 4-2 FA Cup triumph over European champions Liverpool at the
beginning of January. However, only one more goal was to follow - a
consolation strike in a 3-1 defeat at West Ham - and it would prove to
be his last in a Chelsea shirt.
The Blues maintained their position in
the top-flight that season but were destined to finish bottom at the end
of 1978/79, and were relegated by Easter. However, by that time Bill
Garner had left the club. An appearance in an early-season defeat at
Derby was his last for Chelsea and in November 1978 he joined Cambridge
United on a free-transfer. (Kelvin Barker)
Bill Garner became a school teacher after his football career.
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