Background
Hutchinson was born in Derby and started his career with non-league Burton Albion before signing for Cambridge United.
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-insurance
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 Netto.
During the 1969-1970 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.
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.
Despite more impressive performances in the following years at Chelsea, the remainder of his career was blighted by injuries, including two broken legs, a broken arm, a broken toe and persistent knee trouble, which kept him out of the side"s successful Cup Winners" Cup run the following year and limited him to just 4 appearances in the 1972-1973 season. He retired in July 1976 aged 27, having been unable to conquer his injury woes. He made 144 appearances for Chelsea and scored 58 goals.
All that remained of his playing days was a brief stint with non-League Dartford Football Club, during which he often took to the field in immense pain.
There followed a spell as Chelsea"s commercial manager in the late 1970s and in more recent years Hutchinson worked in corporate hospitality for several clubs. He died in September 2002 after a long illness.