Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Ron "Chopper" Harris: A Chelsea legend

From today's Daily Telegraph:

Ron Harris is exactly as you might hope him to be. While other sportsmen have a persona that is mere construct, Harris remains Chopper still: unwavering, tougher than teak, no more likely to shirk a question than he would a challenge. Plus, as he proves while taking The Daily Telegraph round his old haunts at Stamford Bridge, immensely good value.

He is giving us a sampler of a special, sold-out Legends Tour he is conducting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of when he became the first Chelsea captain to lift the FA Cup in 1970.

"I know, 40 years where did it go?" he says, as we sit in the Shed End.

Don't ask me. I was at the Chelsea vs Leeds FA Cup final in 1970, which finished as a 2-2 draw. Chelsea won the reply at Old Trafford 2-1.

Later life is bound to prove something of a disappointment if your team wins the FA Cup when you are 10.

Jim White's interview did remind me of something I had quite forgotten. Because of the World Cup that summer, the Chelsea vs Leeds final took place as early as 11 April.

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