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When recalling the glittering array of world stars who have illuminated
Stamford Bridge since the mid-1990s, it is bizarre to think that there
was a time when South-African born Colin Viljoen seemed an exotic
capture. Signed from Manchester City for £60, 000 in March 1980, Viljoen
had received two England caps five years earlier, whilst plying his
trade with Bobby Robson's impressive Ipswich Town side, but was the
wrong side of 30 when he joined a young Chelsea side who were making a
brave push for promotion. Recruited by Geoff Hurst to bring his
experience to bear in the middle of the pitch, he made his debut in a
2-1 victory against Burnley which kept the Blues at the top of the
Division Two table, but he struggled for fitness and was only able to
muster another three appearances that season as Chelsea eventually
finished fourth, missing out on promotion by goal difference.
A mere
seven appearances during the following campaign appeared to indicate
that Colin's Stamford Bridge career had run it's course, but Hurst was
relieved of his duties at the end of the season and his replacement,
John Neal, gave him the opportunity to prove his worth with a run of
five consecutive appearances at the beginning of the following campaign.
Again, he failed to sufficiently influence matters on the field,
although he was a driving force in a League Cup second round tie which
saw Kevin Keegan's impressive Southampton side dumped out over two legs,
but three days after disposing of the Saints, Chelsea were humiliated
6-0 at Rotherham, a defeat which proved to Neal that changes to his
squad were essential. Colin appeared just once more after the trouncing
at Millmoor, making his final appearance for the club five months later,
in a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle. He was released from his contract at the
end of the 1981/82 campaign and subsequently failed to reappear in
English football. (Kelvin Barker)
1966-1978 Ipswich Town 305 (45)
1978-1980 Manchester City 27 (0)
1980-1982 Chelsea 20 (0)
1982-1983 Southall
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