Tommy_Baldwin

Tommy Baldwin

Tommy Baldwin

English footballer (1945–2024)

For the NASCAR crew chief, see Tommy Baldwin Jr.

Thomas Baldwin (10 June 1945 – 22 January 2024) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder or forward in The Football League for Arsenal, Chelsea, Millwall, Manchester United and Brentford.[2] He was capped twice by England at under-23 level.[3]

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Career

Baldwin was born in Gateshead and played for Wrekenton Juniors before joining Arsenal.[2] He turned professional in 1962, and made his league debut in the 3–0 defeat of Birmingham City in April 1965. In September 1966, he scored Arsenal's first ever goal in the League Cup competition, shortly before transferring to Chelsea in part-exchange for George Graham in 1966.[4][5] Playing in an attacking role, he scored 17 goals in his first season, including one on his debut against Manchester City,[6] and played in the 1967 FA Cup Final as Chelsea lost 2–1 to Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.[7]

Baldwin scored 16 goals in each of the next two seasons, but those years finished trophy-less.[6] In 1970, he played in the Cup Final against Leeds United, this time finishing on the winning side as Chelsea won 2–1 in a replay.[8] The following year, Baldwin helped inspire the side to a 2–1 win over Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup final replay in Athens,[9] but after that his star began to fade. Injuries, loss of form and disagreements with manager Dave Sexton over his social activities combined to reduce his opportunities to play,[10][11] and after spells on loan at Manchester United[12] and Millwall, in non-league football with Gravesend & Northfleet, and on non-contract terms at Brentford, he joined the coaching staff at Brentford.[2][6] He had made a total of 239 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 91 goals.[13] In 1975, Baldwin played for the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League. In 1976, the Sounders traded the rights to Baldwin to the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for Chris Bennett, but Baldwin did not sign with Vancouver.[14]

Nickname

It was thought that Baldwin was known as 'the sponge' for his ability, under pressure, to hold the ball and shield it skilfully from opponents while seeking an opening to set up an attack,[15] but according to his interview on The Chelsea Special podcast, it was because of his ability to soak up alcohol while in the pub with his teammates.[16]

Death

Baldwin died on 22 January 2024 after a long battle with illness, at the age of 78.[17][18]

References

  1. [1]
    "Tommy Baldwin". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
  2. [2]
    "Tommy Baldwin". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  3. [3]
    Courtney, Barrie (27 March 2004). "England – U-23 International Results- Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  4. [4]
    "Tommy Baldwin". Arsenal Player Database. Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  5. [5]
    "New recruits at home and abroad". The Times. 1 October 1966. p. 5. Baldwin is thrown in free with the cheque, leaving one with the feeling that it is Chelsea who have come out of the deal best—a promising young player plus £50,000 all for the man, Graham, who cost Chelsea only £6,000 from Aston Villa three seasons ago.
  6. [6]
    "Tommy Baldwin Chelsea FC". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collections. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  7. [7]
    Green, Geoffrey (22 May 1967). "Orthodox wingers sharpen Spurs mobility". The Times. p. 13.
  8. [8]
    "1970 FA Cup". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. [9]
    Green, Geoffrey (22 May 1971). "Now Chelsea add to prize list". The Times. p. 15. Chelsea decided on a 4–2–4 pattern of play with Baldwin brought in as a second striker to help Osgood in the middle. In the first half this made a sharp difference, upsetting the Spaniards and helping Chelsea to achieve a mastery.
  10. [10]
    "Now Hutchinson back in training after injury". The Times. 20 January 1974. p. 8. Tommy Baldwin, also out of the first team for much of the season, came out of plaster yesterday. Baldwin suffered a recurrence of achilles tendon trouble after missing several games with a thigh injury.
  11. [11]
    "Sexton stays as Chelsea manager says chairman". The Times. 5 March 1974. p. 7. This season [Sexton] has had disciplinary problems and there has been little peace in the camp since he dropped Osgood, Alan Hudson, Tommy Baldwin and Peter Bonetti for the New Year's Day game.
  12. [12]
    Smith, Martin (15 December 2007). "Tommy Baldwin recalls fun days at Chelsea". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  13. [13]
    Players Appearances Ba-Bd, Bounder.friardale.co.uk
  14. [14]
    Chris Bennett: Canadian utility man, Web.archive.org
  15. [15]
    Chelsea Football Club The Full Statistical Story 1905 - 1986 by Scott Cheshire and Ron Hockings. ISBN 0-9511640-0-7
  16. [16]
    [dead link]
  17. [17]
    Blow, Tom (22 January 2024). "Chelsea legend Tommy Baldwin dies aged 78 as tributes pour in for former Man Utd star". The Mirror. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  18. [18]
    "Tommy Baldwin 1945–2024". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
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