Every fan wants to see their team’s new striker score on his debut. A goal in your first game is a sure fire way of getting the crowd and the media on your side. But, is a goal on your debut really that important, or is it actually the kiss of death? Let’s take a look at some of the debut goal scorers.

DECO

First Goal: vs Portsmouth (17th August 2008)

Games: 58

Goals: 6

Honours: Premier League, Community Shield

The little Portuguese playmaker joined Chelsea from Barcelona in the summer of 2008. He scored in the Premier League vs Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge in a 4-0 win. A Chelsea career hampered by injury and a less than expected impact limited Deco to just 58 appearances and 6 goals.

Florent MALOUDA

First Goal: vs Man Utd (5th August 2007)

Games: 188 (and counting)

Goals: 42 (and counting)

Honours: Premier League, FA Cup (2), Community Shield

The Frenchman joined the blues from Lyon in the summer of 2007. His debut was against Man Utd in the Community Shield and he scored an equalising goal in the 44th minute. Chelsea eventually went on and lost on penalties. Since joining CFC, Malouda has won the Chelsea Players Player of the Year as well as appearing in a Champions League final and captaining his national side.

Andriy SHEVCHENKO

First Goal: vs Liverpool (13th August 2006)

Games: 77

Goals: 22

Honours: League Cup

Perhaps the most talked about Chelsea transfer of all time. It is widely believed that the Ukrainian hitman was signed from AC Milan by Roman Abramovich himself, and was the main reason why Jose Mourinho is no longer with the blues. On 13th August 2006 Shevchenko opened his Chelsea goal scoring account in the Community Shield defeat to Liverpool. A lack of confidence and managers’ belief along with niggling injuries stopped Sheva from being the player we all wanted him to be. The £30m man played 77 games and scored 22 goals, including a belter against Spurs in the FA Cup. He did play in the League Cup final win vs Arsenal in 2007.

Adrian MUTU

First Goal: vs Leicester (23rd August 2003)

Games: 38

Goals: 10

Honours: None

Mutu scored on his debut vs Leicester City. However, the Romanian is probably best known as someone who has constantly owed Chelsea £16m in compensation after failing a drugs test. The striker is reported to have taken cocaine and was sacked by the club and banned from football for 7 months. In his short Chelsea career he played 38 games and scored 10 goals.

Boudewijn ZENDEN

First Goal: vs Newcastle (15th August 2001)

Games: 59

Goals: 4

Honours: None

After his £7.5m move from Barcelona, the Dutch winger didn’t really have the greatest of times at Chelsea. His lack of form and persistent injuries restricted his chances. Zenden did play in the FA Cup final vs Arsenal in 2002, coming on as a substitute for Mario Melchiot in the 76th minute.

Jimmy Floyd HASSELBAINK

First Goal: vs Man Utd (13th August 2000)

Games: 177

Goals: 87

Honours: Community Shield

“Oh Jimmy Jimmy, Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink!”. One of my favourite Chelsea strikers of all time. He had two main attributes: his powerful shot and his massive grin. The Dutch hitman was a cult hero at Stamford Bridge due to his goal scoring exploits. My two main memories of Hasselbaink are his ‘perfect’ hattrick vs Spurs (left foot, right foot, header), and his goal against Chelsea for Charlton where he refused to celebrate in front of his loyal blues fans.

George WEAH

First Goal: vs Spurs (12th January 2000)

Games: 15

Goals: 5

Honours: FA Cup

Perhaps my favourite ever debut goal due to the opponents and the story behind the goal. Chelsea signed the former World Player of the Year on loan from AC Milan. He arrived in London on the day of the home game vs Spurs. Later that day the Liberian came on as a 56th Minute substitute for Tore Andre Flo. With the game looking like it would end up 0-0, the striker popped up with a header in the 87th minute, leaving Ian Walker to pick the ball out of the back of the net. Weah only played for half a season, but managed to pick up an FA Cup winners medal later that year after Chelsea beat Aston Villa at Wembley, courtesy of a Roberto Di Matteo goal.

Tore Andre FLO

First Goal: vs Coventry City (9th August 1997)

Games: 163

Goals: 50

Honours: FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup

The 6 foot 4 Norwegian striker was probably better with his feet than with his head. He had many great games in a Chelsea shirt. It would be hard to pick his best performance; was it his hattrick vs Spurs at White Hart Lane or his brace against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League? He is still one of our highest received transfer fees after his move to Rangers for £12m.

Paul HUGHES

First Goal: vs Derby (18th January 1997)

Games: 23

Goals: 2

Honours: None

Perhaps an unknown to some Chelsea fans, the midfielder didn’t really break into the first team. His debut goal was a surreal moment. A half time substitute for Dennis Wise, the relatively unknown youngster picked up the ball, played a couple of one two’s before scoring. Immediately the crowd started cheering ‘Hughesie, Hughesie, Hughesie’, mainly because that was the chant for Chelsea’s other Hughes, ‘Sparky’. After various loan spells, Hughes eventually signed for Southampton and teamed up with former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle.

Paul FURLONG

First Goal: vs Norwich City (20th August 1994)

Games: 85

Goals: 17

Honours: None

Furlong became Chelsea’s record signing in 1994 after Glenn Hoddle splashed out £2.3m on the Watford striker. The tall striker never really lived up to his price tag, but did have some success in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup run. He formed a partnership with Mark Stein. After just two years he left Chelsea and signed for Birmingham City as he found his position under threat by the signings of Mark Hughes and Gianluca Vialli.

Mick HARFORD

First Goal: vs Oldham Athletic (15th August 1992)

Games: 34

Goals: 11

Honours: None

Harford is probably best known to Chelsea fans as the player who scored their first ever goal in the Premier League. Signed from Luton Town for £300,000, he was at the club for less than a season after he was sold to his hometown club of Sunderland for £250,000, despite the fact he was the blues leading goal scorer.

Eddie NEWTON

First Goal: vs Everton (2nd May 1992)

Games: 214

Goals: 10

Honours: FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners Cup

Eddie came through the Chelsea youth ranks with his good friend Frank Sinclair. The midfielder is one of the few people who have scored an FA Cup final goal for Chelsea, which he did vs Middlesbrough in 1997, assisted by a flick from Gianfranco Zola. Newton’s Chelsea career was cut short by serious injuries, but did try to continue at Birmingham City. He has coached at Chelsea and was also Roberto Di Matteo’s assistant at West Brom last season.

Tony CASCARINO

First Goal: vs Crystal Palace (8th February 1992)

Games: 45

Goals: 8

Honours: None

The tall Irishman was signed from Celtic in 1992. He spent a season and a half at Chelsea and picked up an FA Cup runners up medal. After leaving Chelsea for Marseille in 1994, Cas went on to become a radio pundit and a semi-pro poker player.

Joe ALLON

First Goal: vs Wimbledon (17th August 1991)

Games: 18

Goals: 3

Honours: None

Joe signed for Chelsea from Hartlepool United in 1991 for a fee of around £250,000. The striker only managed to play a small number of games, and was even sent on loan to Port Vale before being sold to Brentford in 1992.

Paul ELLIOTT

First Goal: vs Wimbledon (17th August 1991)

Games: 54

Goals: 3

Honours: CFC Player of the Year 1992

The TV pundit was once one of the most promising signings Chelsea ever made, moving from Celtic in 1991. His career was ended in 1992 by a tackle from Liverpool forward Dean Saunders. He later filed a lawsuit against Saunders, although he lost his case after it was decided the Welshman was not at fault. However, in 2003 he was awarded an MBE for his work with young players and anti-racism initiatives.

Kerry DIXON

First Goal: vs Derby County (27th August 1983)

Games: 420

Goals: 193

Honours: Full Members Cup

Chelsea’s 2nd highest ever goal scorer (although Lampard is catching him up quickly). The striker was a gamble signing from Reading for £150,000 (plus £25,000 if he ever played for England). The gamble was to pay off as he scored 2 goals on his debut vs Derby, the last Chelsea player to record such a feat. The England striker was instrumental in Chelsea’s promotion to the 1st Division as 2nd Division champions. He formed a great partnership with short Scottish striker David Speedie. He is also one of the last players to have had a Chelsea testimonial, beating a Spurs XI 5-1 at Stamford Bridge. Dixon would later play against Chelsea at Wembley in an FA Cup semi final for Luton Town. Kerry can often be found on Chelsea TV on a Friday night in the fans live phone-in show.

David SPEEDIE

First Goal: vs Oldham Athletic (18th September 1982)

Games: 205

Goals: 63

Honours: Full Members Cup, Chelsea Player of the Year 1985

The tiny Scottish Forward signed for Chelsea from Darlington for £80,000. Speedie actually scored 2 goals on his debut. He formed a great partnership with Kerry Dixon, aided by Pat Nevin on the wing. Speedie’s greatest achievement was probably scoring a hattrick in the 1986 Full Members Cup final win at Wembley vs Manchester City.

Peter OSGOOD

First Goal: vs Workington Town (16th December 1964)

Games: 380

Goals: 150

Honours: FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, Chelsea Player of the Year 1973

The King of Stamford Bridge, or Ossie as he is known to some fans, Peter Osgood is one of Chelsea’s greatest ever players as voted for by the fans. In fact, he came second, only beaten by Gianfranco Zola. He is the only player to have a statue of himself at Stamford Bridge. Also, his death saddened football fans in SW6 and beyond. The Legend had his funeral at the home of the blues and laid to rest under the penalty spot at The Shed End. He is also the last player to score in every round of the FA Cup when Chelsea beat Leeds in the competition in 1970. Osgood scored twice on his Chelsea debut vs Workington Town.

Bobby TAMBLING

First Goal: vs West Ham (7th February 1959)

Games: 370

Goals: 202

Honours: League Cup, Chelsea’s all time top goal scorer

Chelsea’s all-time leading goal scorer. He was made Chelsea captain in 1962 and helped the blues win promotion back to the 1st Division, becoming the youngest ever captain to lead a side to promotion. The Striker spent over 10 years at Chelsea and is one of the only players to have scored 5 goals in one game for Chelsea. Bobby won the League Cup in 1964/65 and scored in the Final vs Leicester.

Jimmy GREAVES

First Goal: vs Spurs (24th August 1957)

Games: 169

Goals: 132

Honours: None

Chelsea’s most prolific goal scorer of all time, the England striker made his debut at the age of 17. After spending 4 seasons at Stamford Bridge he left to join AC Milan, although against his wishes as Chelsea wanted the transfer fee he commanded. Greaves holds two goal scoring records for Chelsea: Most goals in one season (41 goals) and most hattricks (13).

_____________________________

If you liked this blog piece then please follow me on Twitter: @ChelseaChadder

Please vote for your favourite Chelsea goal scoring debutant in the poll below.