Chelsea and Scotland legend Eddie Macready dies at the age of 85

Growing up in Cowcaddens in Glasgow, McCreadie was overlooked by scouts at local club Partick Thistle and instead joined Falkirk East Stirlingshire.

While there, he was spotted by Chelsea manager Docherty, who took him to Stamford Bridge for just £5,000, a transfer that included provision for two Chelsea friendlies against East Stirlingshire – the second of which never happened.

However, McCready moved from the Scottish Second Division to be hailed by Docherty as the best left-back in Europe and made 410 appearances for Chelsea.

His combative and attacking style was reminiscent of a modern-day wing-back, and he memorably filled in for the injured Barry Bridges as an emergency striker in the 1965 League Cup final win, scoring a stunning solo goal as he ran almost the length of the pitch before skipping past England goalkeeper Gordon Banks.

McCreadie also faced disgrace in the FA Cup win over Leeds as a television audience estimated at 28 million watched him perform a kung-fu-style flying challenge on Scottish team-mate Billy Bremner, with his feet at head height, but received no warning from referee Eric Jennings.

After retiring from playing, McCreadie joined Chelsea’s coaching staff in 1974, as Ron Swart’s side slid towards life back in the Second Division.

The Scottish manager took over from Swart, who departed in April 1975, and although he was unable to prevent relegation, he rebuilt the team around 18-year-old midfielder Ray Wilkins and returned Chelsea to the top flight in 1977.

However, he left before the start of the new season after a falling out with chairman Brian Mears, expressing surprise that his offer to resign was accepted after a company car was rejected.

McCready moved on to a new challenge of coaching in the United States with the Memphis Rogues, then the Cleveland Force, before finally retiring from football in 1985.