<P> Following this new beginning, the form of the side slumped again, finishing 14th in the next season . The spirit of the side began to disintegrate after Hollins and his assistant Ernie Walley fell out with several key players, notably Speedie and Spackman, who were subsequently sold . Hollins was sacked in March the following season with the side again in relegation trouble . Bobby Campbell took over in March but could not prevent Chelsea's relegation via the short - lived play - off system with a loss to Middlesbrough, a match which was again followed by crowd trouble and an attempted pitch invasion, resulting in a six - match closure of the terraces the following season . Nevertheless, the club bounced back immediately and emphatically, despite failing to win any of their opening six league games, and were promoted as Second Division champions with 99 points, 17 points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City . Importantly, Chelsea had managed to hang onto striker Kerry Dixon, who had a similarly prolific new partner up front in the shape of Gordon Durie, and Chelsea entered the 1990s as a First Division side . </P> <P> Chelsea had an impressive return to the First Division in 1989--90 . Campbell guided a squad of mostly unremarkable players to a creditable fifth place in the final table . Although the ban on English clubs in European football was lifted that year, Chelsea missed out on a UEFA Cup place because the only English place in the competition that year went to league runners - up Aston Villa . In the same season, he led Chelsea to their second Full Members Cup success, with a 1--0 win over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley . Despite recruiting the club's first million pound players, Dennis Wise and Andy Townsend, the next season proved a disappointment, as Chelsea finished 11th in the First Division and were knocked out of both cups by lower league opposition . </P> <P> Campbell was promoted to general manager at the end of the season; he was succeeded as team manager by first team coach Ian Porterfield, who helped Chelsea finish high enough in 1991--92 to qualify for the first - ever season of the Premier League . Porterfield was sacked halfway through the 1992--93 season, with the team having not won a league match for two months . He was replaced on a caretaker basis by 1970 FA Cup hero, David Webb, who steered the club clear of relegation and eventually secured an 11th - place finish . Webb was replaced by 35 - year - old former England midfielder Glenn Hoddle, who had just won promotion to the Premiership as player - manager of Swindon Town . </P> <P> Hoddle's first season as manager saw Chelsea's league form dip slightly, and for a time they were threatened by relegation, with the goals of £ 1.5 million signing Mark Stein playing an important part in survival . In the same season, Chelsea reached the FA Cup Final, where they faced Premiership champions Manchester United, a team Chelsea had beaten 1--0 in both league games that season . After going in 0--0 at half - time, United were awarded two second - half penalties by referee David Elleray in the space of five minutes, both of which were scored . With Chelsea having to attack, it left gaps in defence and United eventually won 4--0 . This was nevertheless sufficient for Chelsea to compete in the 1994--95 Cup Winners' Cup, since United had already qualified for the Champions League . They reached the semi-finals of that competition, going out 3--2 on aggregate to eventual winners Real Zaragoza . </P>

When were chelsea promoted to the premier league