John Dempsey (footballer)
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John Dempsey (born 15 March 1946 in Hampstead, England) is a former footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s as a defender.
Starting his career with Fulham, making his debut in 1963 and 149 appearances over six years, Dempsey was signed for West London rivals Chelsea by Dave Sexton in January 1969 for £70,000. He made his Chelsea debut against Southampton in February that year and established himself in the side for the remainder of the 1968-69 season.
Dempsey featured in the successful Chelsea side of the early 1970s, winning the FA Cup with the club in 1970, playing in both fiercely-contested final matches against Leeds United as his side eventually ran out 2-1 winners. A year later, the Cup Winners' Cup was added with a win against Real Madrid in another replay in Athens, in which Dempsey scored the opener from a corner (one of only five goals he scored for the club) as Chelsea won 2-1. He won a number of international caps for the Republic of Ireland (he qualified to play for Ireland through his parents).
He had no further success with the club, but remained during the turbulent later 1970s, and eventually left in March 1978 with the club by then in Division Two, and moved to the Philadelphia Furies of the NASL, playing alongside fellow ex-Chelsea star Peter Osgood. In 1979, he was voted the NASL's defender of the year, beating Franz Beckenbauer into second place. He returned to England to become a manager, enjoying stints at Dundalk of Ireland, Maidenhead and Egham Town before retiring from the game in 1984.
He is now involved in local charity work and recently attended the tributes to Peter Osgood at Stamford Bridge following the latter's death.
