An 18-year-old left winger of great potential at the time, Spector was still at Hendon Grammar School when he came to Chelsea’s attention.

He bunked off school to play a reserve team game. At the time Chelsea trained just down the road at the Welsh Harp Reservoir. On a personal level, the first half of that match did not go well but fortunately, recently appointed Chelsea manager Ted Drake only watched after half-time and Spector scored in the second half.

The news he was subsequently picked for a first-team game was delivered by his school’s headteacher who from then on, had to give permission for each of Spector’s call-ups.

The England youth international made his debut in February 1953 in a win against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. He retained his place for a second replay in an FA Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion played two days later.

West Brom were top of the league while Chelsea were second from bottom but we were holding our own in this contest and with extra time played, forced a third replay.

At neutral-venue Highbury, Spector’s direct and pacy wing-play really made an impact and he had a direct hand in two goals and contributed to a third in a 4-0 triumph. A fifth-round match against Birmingham was equally crammed into the schedule and a tired Chelsea were knocked out.

Spector made one appearance early in the following season but facing competition for a place with a young Frank Blunstone and Jim Lewis, in a squad that was developing into Chelsea’s first league championship winners, after playing six games for the club he opted instead for university and a career in aeronautical engineering. This was a time when there was a limit on players’ wages.

Having played for Chelsea as an amateur, Spector continued as an amateur footballer and was capped by the England Amateur international side, as well as winning the FA Amateur Cup with Hendon.

We send our deepest condolences to Miles’s family and friends.