Ian Hutchinson (footballer born 1948)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 August 1948 | ||
| Place of birth | Derby, England | ||
| Date of death | 19 September 2002 (aged 54) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Burton Albion | |||
| Cambridge United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1968 | Burton Albion | 49 | (19) |
| 1968–1976 | Chelsea | 119 | (44) |
| 19xx–19xx | Cork United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Ian Hutchinson (4 August 1948 – 19 September 2002) was an English footballer who spent most of his injury-plagued career with Chelsea.
Hutchinson was born in Derby and started his career with non-league Burton Albion before signing for Cambridge United. In July 1968 he joined Chelsea for the modest sum of £5000. Chelsea coach Ron Suart had journeyed to Cambridge to watch a goalkeeper, but instead recommended Hutchinson to manager Dave Sexton.
Hutchinson was a striker noted for his impressive heading ability and for taking long throw-ins. On his debut against Ipswich Town, he sent in a series of long throws which reached the opposite side of the penalty area, confusing both the opposing defenders and the crowd and one of which an Ipswich defender inadvertently put into his own net. At Chelsea he proved to be the perfect foil for the more technically gifted Peter Osgood after a sparkling debut partnership in which both players scored in a 3-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday. During the 1969-70 season they scored 53 goals between them. That season turned out to be Hutchinson's most successful, as he scored an impressive 16 goals in 26 league appearances.
Hutchinson is most notable for his part in Chelsea winning the FA Cup that same season. In the notoriously physical final against Leeds United, he was often in the thick of the action. In the first match at Wembley his headed flick-on teed up Peter Houseman for Chelsea's first equaliser and he was later floored by a poor challenge from Leeds' Norman Hunter. Leeds took the lead with six minutes to go, but two minutes later Hutchinson, still limping from Hunter's challenge, headed in John Hollins' cross to take the game to a replay. Two weeks later at Old Trafford, with the game tied at 1-1 going into extra time, Hutchinson launched one of his trademark long throw-ins into the Leeds penalty area and it was headed in by David Webb to win the cup for Chelsea.
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