Share your memories of supporting Chelsea Football Club
Thursday, 05 February 09, 01:55 PM · Comments (100)
Post last updated Friday, 06 February 09, 05:35 PM
Every fan has their own special memories of supporting Chelsea FC; memories such as why we started following the club, the first match ever attended, visits to Stamford Bridge, watching our heroes like Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Tambling, Chopper Harris, Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke, Alan Hudson, Ray Wilkins, Pat Nevin, Kerry Dixon, Steve Clarke, Dennis Wise, Luca Vialli, Franco Zola, John Terry, Frank Lampard et al, following the team abroad, what we were doing when so-and-so scored that goal, favourite moments, matches... the list is endless.
Compiling fans' memories, stories and anecdotes into a blog post is something I've wanted to do for a while now. If you want to include yours, use the comments form or drop me an email; I will periodically add the best of them (subject to editing for typos etc.) to this post (most recent at the top), which will expand over time into a resource readers can revisit again and again (the post will feature at the top of the home page whenever there's a lull in Chelsea news, and will be available at any time via the Memories link in the navigation menu). There's no time limit, minimum or maximum number of words; and you can add as many memories as you like.
I'm in the process of writing about a few of my own; I will add them in the coming days and weeks.
To kick things off, Blingo Starr, a former contributor to the blog (and author of one of my favourite posts, "Can you beat Spurs too often?"), wrote about his favourite season for the Who's who page back in 2006.
Chelsea Memories
How I got to be a Chelsea fan by Fiftee
Currently totalling 19-and-a-bit years, the length of my Chelsea memories seem to be somewhere in the middle ground of the comments I've read below.
It all began in the playground of a rural Norfolk village primary school (I know, you're all asking yourselves, 'Well, why wouldn't it?').
As any self respecting 9 year-old will tell you, following the crowd and copying the popular kids is the only way to survive. So why I did the opposite and picked Chelsea and not Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal is still beyond me. Probably because, well, blue's the best colour isn't it? I will add, at this stage, that like every other boy (and maybe some girlies) in my school, the Canaries are my second team, but they were never quite cool enough to be first.
And so it began. To this day, I still own (and often reminisce with) a completed 'Pro Set' collectors card file - circa 1991. From memory, it was someone's (Panini?) first foray into card collecting and not stickers in my lifetime. It cost me (well, Dad) an amount I doubt I want to consider, but it was well worth it when I finally opened a pack of cards - no doubt fresh off the school bus and just out of the newsagent's - and there it was. The Gordon Durie card to complete the Chelsea team. The tens of pounds that were spent collecting the other 300-odd cards were almost irrelevant. Who cared about your Ian Ormondroyds, your Glyn Hysens, your Wallace brothers - it was all about completing the Chelsea team.
A few years later, my nan bought me the full, Commodore-sponsored, red and white diamond kit. The words 'pig' and 'muck' still apply. I was so happy, playing football for eight hours solid - only stopping for a bag of chips at lunch time - on a Saturday down the local park pretending I was the next Gavin Peacock. Some years later, I remember going shopping and getting my dad to buy me the blue home shirt sponsored by Coors that had some 'ridiculously hard to flatten down' red material on the neck. I was going to pay him back about £3 a week for what seemed like an eternity, until I passed some exam or other (cycling proficiency / 20m freestyle / SATS - I don't recall) and he wrote off the rest of the debt. It was all good.
I first saw Chelsea live on Wednesday 17th April 1991. They rolled into Carrow Road and won 3-1 and I was hooked. I have signed programme from that match, unfortunately it only contains 14 Norwich signatures, but still. I saw them a few more times at Norwich (mostly '92 - '95) by which time I'd started playing football myself and so was looking out for the results on Saturday until Sky well and truly turned football on its head and now I can turn out in the rain on a Saturday at 3 o'clock safe in the knowledge I won't miss Chelsea as they simply never kick off at the same time.
And so to the admission. I've seen Chelsea more times as an away team than I have at Stamford Bridge. I've made a few trips, but having been playing football for the same length of time I've been earning proper money, I've never had the chance to make weekend games, especially now that the newest member of the fan club has arrived. My first visit to the Bridge was on a Wednesday in November 1999 when we beat Hertha Berlin 2 - 0 in the Champions League, Didier D (that's Deschamps, not Drogba) scoring. The past 10 years have seen me resigned to being an armchair fan, but the exposure we have on TV certainly helps. I was in Gran Canaria in 2002 when we won the last FA Cup at Wembley, watching in a bar on the beach with the now Mrs Fiftee (she had to put up with the football even then). Honeymoon in the States in 2005 was interrupted by a 2.30 a.m. alarm to visit the ESPN bar in the New York New York hotel in Vegas to watch us against someone I now can't quite remember.
To the 'now'. I do remember some not exactly great times as a Chelsea fan, but (fortunately for me) nothing near what some of the seasoned bloggers experienced. I remember the gut-wrenching heart-ache of the 1994 cup final; the disappointment that all our European exploits were almost unwatchable on Five as they struggled with the pictures from some obscure Scandinavian region (but, my God, still infinitely better than ITV's current mess); the pure mockery of the whole Winston Bogarde situation; M-O-S-C-O-W. But, as with most things, the good times outweigh the bad.
The sheer uniqueness of the FA Cup wins (last winners at the old Wembley, first winners at the new Wembley); the league titles; Jimmy and Eidur forging the sort of partnership on the field that we can only dream of; Jody Morris / Neil Shipperley / Damien Matthew all destined to be the next big thing. Maybe. Roman 'rescuing' us and giving us a taste of 'how the other half live'. JT being the last of a dying 'heart on sleeve, body on the line' breed; Frank being so good everyone else is just jealous. And who can forget the goal posts. The 'super-size' 5-a-side goals we used to have at the Bridge were, to this day, still the best I can remember. Oh, and this result: Chelsea 5 - 0 Manchester United. One that's lived long in the memory. Obviously.
Regardless of current form, these are good times people. Cherish them.
My favourite season by Blingo Starr
My favourite season is the 1988/89 campaign spent in the old Second Division. Given some of the alternatives - our first Premier League title last year, Gullit's sexy football, Vialli's epic cup winning team - this may seem an odd choice, especially as we began by losing 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers in front of 8,722 bemused fans. In fact, we wouldn't win any of our first six games, and we had sold our best player, the mesmerizing Pat Nevin, to Everton in the summer.
Players and fans alike were still horribly traumatized by relegation, despite us finishing fourth from bottom of Division One. For the first and only time there was a play-off, involving three teams from the Second Division and one, us, from the first. We murdered Blackburn Rovers in the semi-final, Nevin scoring his final goal for Chelsea. The final was less pleasant, we lost 2-0 away to a pumped up Middlesbrough. Then, despite having 40,000 packed into Stamford Bridge, we played timidly and only managed to scrape a 1-0 win. The 2-1 defeat on aggregate condemned us to the dreaded drop.
The outlook was bleak, the club had massive financial problems, our support was noted only for violence and extinction was a real, daily possibility. However, that 1988/89 season turned into a memorable one, and I was lucky enough to attend just about every game. Despite our poor home support, we regularly took many thousands to away games, and it was these that provided the real highlights: an unlikely 2-0 victory away at Leeds, our first win of the season; a 7-0 spanking of Walsall, in which Gordon Durie scored five; a fantastic, breathtaking 3-2 win at Maine Road against Manchester City, with whom we were contesting the title.
Then almost exactly 17 years ago as I write this, on April 15th 1989, our 28 game unbeaten run came to an end at Leicester. That day will not be remembered for Chelsea's 2-0 defeat however. All afternoon the legion of Chelsea fans at Filbert Street had been glued to their portable radios. Something was happening at Hillsborough, where Liverpool were playing Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final. Eighty-nine fans died that day, on terraces I had stood on only a few seasons before. No one who was there will forget the sombre, silent mood in and outside the ground. A black day for football fans everywhere.
I think we sealed promotion the following week, beating Leeds 1-0 at home in front of 30,000 ecstatic fans, and we went on to post a jaw dropping 99 points. It was a world away from today's Chelsea. You could turn up five minutes before kick off and get in. You could buy a ticket with a handful of change. You could stand. You never saw any highlights on television. And Richard Keys had yet to be discovered roaming in a Borneo jungle. Of course, the title winning season of 2004/05 runs it close, but for me that 1988/89 season will always be extra special. It epitomized triumphing in the face of adversity - there were no Roman roubles in those days.
In our first game back in the top flight, in August 1989, we played Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Welcome back to the big time!
Share your favourite memories in the comments.
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100 Comments · Add yours
I'm with you mate - my best memories are from the 80's when we had that incredible, and I mean effing incredible away support. So, my top 3 would be:
1982: Chelsea 2 Thieving Scousers 0 ..Peter Rhoades Brown..unbelievable, and etched in my mind like it was yesterday. How the hell did we beat the Euro Champs with that team?
1983: Bolton 0 Chelsea 1; several thousand Blues fans in the pouring rain watching Clive Walker score a thundering half volley to save us from being relegated to Div 3.
1984: Arse 1 Chelsea 1: First game back in Div 1 after promotion. Sunny day, early kickoff, and a Dixon volley in front of the Clock How many fans did we take to the Library that day - never seen anything like ti before or since. I went bleedin bananas that day...and have stayed that way since. A life changing moment.
My favourite season is 1996-1997 this is actually the season I started to support Chelsea. I have arrived first time to England, it was for my Master Degree. From the first day I have been told to pick up a team to support, because everybody supports a team. Everybody, back then, was supporting Man Utd, even one of my younger brothers supported Man Utd and still does (There are no perfect families :-(). The last thing I wanted is to band the wagon and to flaw with the stream. I have chosen Chelsea because of Gullit and Zola. What can I tell you guys my choice was good, that season we won the FA Cup!!! Since then I am Chelsea supporter and some years ago brought two of my friends to the Chelsea supporters family.
KTBFFH
2006:Chelsea 3 Mancester united 0. This was the best chelsea side i have seen for ages. Gallas, Cole and carvalho scoring fantastic goals. It remains vivid in my mind.
Beating Man Utd 3-1 at Old Trafford when we were already champions. That was a great memory
Nick, having the memory and attention span of a Goldfish, it's difficult to delve back into the annals of time to recollect early Chelsea. My first and not so good memory was our defeat to Rottenham in the Cup Final in '67, I do recall a rather tearful evening, and dreading going to school on the Monday.
Apart from our recent success and many moments of sheer exctasy under JM's stewardship, one moment will always stick in my mind.
That was Hutchinsons equaliser against dirty Leeds in 1970; we were totally outplayed but just kept plugging away. My heart sunk when Leeds scored near the end, but soon turned to euphoria when Hutch scored, sheer bloody magic. And of course his long throw (he was the originally Rory Delap) for Webb to score the winner at Old Trafford just cemented his legend status in my book.
@ Clive "That was Hutchinsons equaliser against dirty Leeds in 1970; we were totally outplayed but just kept plugging away. My heart sunk when Leeds scored near the end, but soon turned to euphoria when Hutch scored, sheer bloody magic. And of course his long throw (he was the originally Rory Delap) for Webb to score the winner at Old Trafford just cemented his legend status in my book."
Ian Hutchinson was so much more than a Rory Delap. His horrific leg break would have seen off most people but Hutch was a real fighter. I'm not sure why the long throw is so demeaned in modern day football as its the same as getting a corner. Its a deadly weapon and its pure football snobbery from the ponces like Wenger who see it as another version of the 'long ball' game.
I've made no secret of the fact that it was the 1970 FA Cup winning side that turned me to Chelsea and many of my childhood heroes come from that team, Charlie Cooke, Peter Osgood, Peter Bonnetti, Hutch, the tragically late Peter Houseman, David Webb and of course Alan Hudson and Chopper Harris. My eyes well up just thinking about them. What's more, the attraction was based on the swagger of the team, an arrogance and cockiness that wasn't built on success, but on enjoyment of the game and the enjoyment they gave on and off the pitch. Even at 10 you could imagine your Dad in the pub with the players getting pissed the night before a game.
The Leeds team were so prim and proper with their smart blazers and reverence of Don Revie, whereas our lot bought there clothes on the Kings Road and although they respected Sexton, one always imagined them ignoring any night time drinking and women filled embargoes.
Halcyon days indeed.
As for favourite seasons overall......thats a tough call and one which I will debate over the usual Guinness gallon tonight as I sit in my local country hostelry near a roaring log fire. If it snows, we might even get a lucky lock-in.
I agree with you Tony, Hutchinson was so much more, a true lengend in my book. I know he'll never be mentioned in the same breath as Ossie, Cooke etc etc.. but he typified true grit in our team at the time.
Some golden moments for me....as its so quite here today. Newbury currently doing a passable impression of the Canadian Ice Road truckers environment.
Like Jimmalo - the 2006 win over Manchester United, when Jose shook Fergies hand with 5 minutes left to allow himself time to celebrate on the final whistle.
Some years ago, being in the uncovered half built West Stand - 1999 maybe a midweek home game against Villa. I think we may have been at 1-1 from a goal down and we absolutley battered Villa and when the winner went in (Flo if I recall correctly) the bloke next to, 6'6" of man mountain picked me up like I was the FA Cup and gave me a hug that nearly ended up with respirators being needed. If it had a roof then I'm sure it would have come off such was the roar......
One more for now.....on a coprporate jolly at 3-Point Lane in a box behind some of the vilest Spuds fans I've had the misfortune to be near, directly opposite the Chelsea fans. Its 2-2, we've been battered and are frankly lucky to be at 2-2. 92nd minute we get a rare corner. Petit floats it in and up pops the magnificent thoroughbred form of M Desailly (can't we get him in as a defensive coach?) to head home a late and totally undeserved winner. As it went in I felt some hands on my shoulders from another corporate freeloader like myself and the words 'stay fucking seated if you want to live and shut the fuck up'. Assuming he was a Spurs fan I duly did my pressure cooker impression for the remaining minute or so, listening to the Spuds fans bemoaning their fate at our 'cheating' hands. When we got back into our beer-laden box it turns out the guy was a Chelsea fan and had merely been looking out for me to make sure I didn't get the shite kicked out of me. On the way out, walking through a rough old estate to the car, a bunch of 6ft plus muscle bound Mike Tyson lookalikes asked me the score. I told them and when they started cursing...I just said..'Yeah, Chelsea bastards'. Cowardice or good sense?
Morning all,
Nice one Nick, great idea. Hideous business of work in the way today, so a brief run through a few personal highlights to be expanded upon later:
Signing Gullit - what, THAT Gullit? Blimey.
Zola turning Julian Dicks inside out. Too many Franco moments to mention but this was up there with the best for me.
Mark Hughes, Vicenza - the moment where even the hardest blue heart quietly admitted he wasn't just a dirty Manc any more. Probably the best (and certainly the wettest) goal celebration ever. Until the final, that is...
Roman pitching up with his roubles; Chelsea making headlines across the globe - nothing would ever be quite the same again.
April 30, 2005. The perfect day. Even arriving home at midnight to find I'd lost my door keys didn't dampen the spirits. Sat on doorstep beneath the stars and viewed footage and pictures from our title-winning day until phone battery ran out. Smoked and smiled a lot. Wife eventually arrived home 2 hours later to find grinning drunken fool slumped in the doorway.
(Returning to the pub the day after to reclaim keys whilst suffering one of the most epic hangovers ever was far less enjoyable.)
Tony - you available for a (presumably medicinal) beer tomorrow (assuming the game doesn't get frozen out)?
I just said..'Yeah, Chelsea bastards'. Cowardice or good sense?
@Tony
My main philosphy in life has always been... "it's better to be a live coward, than a dead hero".
You were sensible sir!
I'm falling in-line right behind Clive at five #5 that is.
My first was away to someone in Brum (WBA I think) just AFTER Osgood broke his leg which leaves me ruing never having seen the real Ossie Chelsea like never having seen the real Syd Floyd.
The best match was against Brian Clough's Forest where I was privileged to see what we now call the "modern game" for the first time.
It wasn't even a year that Forest won anything.
I think we lost 1:0 but the score was irrelevant and I recall leaving the ground as if exiting an afternoon cinema, eyes blinking in the stark daylight as the harsh reality of London's streets returned.
The previous couple of hours had passed so quickly that most of us couldn't even discuss it's merits en route to the pub.
But please note that we were up for it and played our part. Chelsea sides have always wanted to play good football, but we have struggled in the past to impose ourselves on the opposition, which maybe what Jose really brought to the party.
@ KJ_II - I am hoping beer will be an option tomorrow, although it will depend on the game being on. Tonights forecast is grim, grim and thrice grim and Hull being an Eastern sort of place it's not beyond the realm of possibility that they might not be able to get to London, fans and team.
Having said all that, if it's on then I'm hoping to be consuming a medicinal Guinness before the game.
From my soon to be released Memoir – “Daniel’s Hashes – One man’s grim struggle with Corned Beef addiction”
I’m seven and apart from the odd trip to relatives, a holiday on the coast or back in Ireland, perhaps a trip to Regent Street and Trafalgar Square to see the tree and the lights at Christmas, South Tottenham is my whole world.
It’s May 1967 and everyone I know and everywhere I go, everybody is backing Spurs. I can’t quite understand why Chelsea don’t have any fans and like some strange changeling creature, an outsider in the vibrant Spurs loving world, feel drawn to offer my support to those lonesome, friendless souls from West London. (My mother tells me that for some unfathomable reason I had been a Southampton fan to this point in my life.)
I don’t see the game, there is, as yet, no television in our house.
It’s Sunday, the day after and the family head down to Tottenham Town Hall for the victory parade. I need to know and keeping asking, to everyone’s obvious confusion, whether somewhere there’s a large crowd gathering to make Chelsea feel loved, even though they’ve lost. Sitting on a wall, bereft, watching the Cup joyously paraded past, a piece of me floats away to West London.
The die is cast, my fate is sealed.
(posh BBC announcer “ and the 2nd instalment from this week’s Book of the Week will be on at the same time tomorrow”)
Reply to BlueBayou:
It's good to know that this phenomenon works both ways.
Here in the Surrey Borders there's an inexplicable rash of Totties and Arses too numerous for counting.
Now I see that they've just taken pity on those N.London used to (almost) be's.
Just trying this reply thingy out.
When I saw it on the previous comments I thought it was some fancy way for the guys to make their beer venue arrangements!
Anyway, let's see what happens...
F*!king A1 Chelsea Blog!
Superb
The reply thingy does this..
Reply to fansincethesixties:
See!
The season Blingo writes about is the one when I started watching Chelsea regularly, and all I can really remember from the first few games - watched from the lovely old West Stand - was the fascinating, mythical, frightening Shed: trying to work out what they were singing, what the different arms movements signified, why people were throwing celery around. I really feel sorry for the kids today that they'll never experience the majesty, wit and camaraderie of terrace culture, for all its faults.
The highlight of the season was the 1-0 promotion-and-title-clinching victory against Leeds, a week after Hillsborough and in front of more than 30,000 fans, which was probably double our average gate. 'Chelsea are back, Chelsea are back!'
I moved to the Shed the following season.
*pedant alert - i;m pretty sure we beat Blackburn, not Bolton, in the play-off semis. We are the only team to ever have been relegated from the top flight through the play-off system.
What a sadly deprived childhood you had BB - by the mid-60s in my part of the west coast of Scotland I was first able to see Chelsea's then regular appearances on The Big Match on Sunday afternoons on LWT [in the days when Brian Moore used to shout a lot when excited],available via Ulster TV thanks to strange topographic and electronic quirks.
I adopted them because my brother had when he'd come to London and I started attending home games when I moved here in the long hot summer of '76 -and I could make a case for 76/77 being my favourite season not just because it was all new and exciting.
Eddie McCreadie's young side, captained by Butch Wilkins [with hair], were unbeaten at home in old Division 2 that year and clinched promotion, after a wobbly spell, when Charlie Cooke was persuaded back to provide some steadying experience. Still one of the great "might have beens" if Mears hadn't pissed off McCreadie and he had stayed to manage the side back in Division 1 the next year.
I guess my favourite memories of individual games I was at are the two 4-2 FA Cup ties against Loserpoo:
the 1978 one for its sheer glorious unexpectedness given our relative status at the time, and that wonderful image of a startled Ray Clemence contriving to miss Clive Walker's long-range effort for the first goal;
the 1997 one for the astonishing turn around and switch from despair to elation that so enhances the experience. I well remember moping around the concrete gulag that was the refreshment area of the East Stand Upper Tier at half-time feeling miserable that at 0-2 down we had messed it up again in a year we'd all really thought we could have a decent go at winning something more prestigious than the Zenith Data Systems trophy at last.
Then Sparky and Vialli turned it all around in glorious fashion.
So many memories, and therefore where to start ?
Here's 3 memories of Chopper Harris :
- against Liverpool, right at the end of his career when we were in disarray and he was playing in central midfield, so long ago in fact that Liverpool might even have been champions then. Graeme Souness is strutting his stuff in midfield, on the ball, looking left and right; Chopper goes straight through the middle of Souness, emerging the other side with the ball and passes neatly out to our right winger. A perfectly executed, clean tackle. Souness is left on the ground in a rage and gets up to foul the nearest person with the ball he can get to and is booked for it - a wonderful moment in a 0-0 draw.
- A non-descript game, I don't know when, and my memory says maybe against Stoke, but I can't be sure. I know it featured a standardly comprehensive Chopper tackle though, the sort that you could get booked for, which took a bit more doing back then. I remember that tackle because I remember watching the game on MOTD that night and realised that I had been part of the extremely audible 'oooo' wincing noise picked up by the crowd effects microphones as Chopper had made contact.
- And lastly we mustn't forget the occasional bit of skill, and I won't be the only one with this memory, but in a game of many memories, the shot that hit the post against Bruges. Was it from 40 yards out ? Or does everything become longer in the telling and the passing of the years ?
Beating Barcelona at home 4-2 scoring 3 goals in the first 15 or so mins and the winning header by JT which knocked the Spanish Champions out (more speacial because of all the emotions surrounding Drogba's red card in Nou Camp (Anders Frisk), Jose's clashes with Rijkiiard & Ronaldinho + Etoo's clashes with the Chelsea officials. Knocking out Liverpool in last year's Champions League Semi + winning back-to-back Premiership title by beating Man U 3-0 came very close to the best moment, in addition to, the FA Cup triumph (Drogba's late winner) and Jose's "Special One" introduction in England.
Hi all.
Currently at home 'caring for' Fiftee Jnr as the missus experiences something quite alien to her - a 5 day week at work. New blog looks amazing, the changes making it almost as good as (most of) the content !!!
Nick, have emailed you my 'memories'. Admittedly they dont account to as much as some people, but I'll keep busting through the 'characters left' limit and will then lose track of what I've written myself, so all in one place is best for me !!
Reply to Fiftee:
That's not fair.
When my missus works a full five days, nobody stays home to care for me.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
2 things for me stick in my memory from the past and when I frst started going to chelsea, Wise scoring an over the head kick in the last minute at QPR. Great crowd away from home, as though it was stamford bridge How we were 2-0 I don't know.
Secondly, Vinny Jones started the singing at the home game before in the shed with one man went to mow. The place went mental.
Lastly cannot leave out Lampard scoring the second at bolton to win the league, if they don't win it this year or any time soon, they can't take it away from us.
Just got the official club text.
Cech is OUT for tomorrow. Hilario deputises.
Reply to andy:
I knew this would happen....
It's going to take a bit of getting used to, but:
Hit reply on the particular comment that you're replying to, otherwise just submit as before.
Full marks for giving it a try Andy, (I think that there's a few scaredy cats out there!)
Reply to PeteW:
You're right, PeteW. Just checked and it was Blackburn, not Bolton. I've edited the post accordingly.
My first game was the season after, back in Division 1. Away to Southampton at The Dell; I went with my Saints supporting uncle. Chelsea won but I can't remember the scorers.
Up until that point I was more a fan of football than of one specific team. That said, I had read a great deal about the early seventies Chelsea team (somebody invent time travel so I can go back and see them play) and used to tell friends that they were my team even though I had never been to Stamford Bridge.
Most of my favourite memories of games at the Bridge are from 1996 to 2003, when I used to go more often than I do now.
I'm rereading Rick Glanvill's Official Biography of the club at the moment. Every fan should read it, especially if you've joined the fold since Abramovich bought the club. It's a great read.
@fansincethesixties - I will make sure to enable replies on all future posts. It seems to work well.
@Fiftee - I haven't received your email yet.
Reply to blueboydave:
@ BBD
"What a sadly deprived childhood you had BB - by the mid-60s in my part of the west coast of Scotland I was first able to see Chelsea's then regular appearances on The Big Match on Sunday afternoons on LWT [in the days when Brian Moore used to shout a lot when excited],available via Ulster TV thanks to strange topographic and electronic quirks."
Deprived! I think not. Would this finely honed intellect, rapier wit and deeply cultured sensibility have developed were it exposed daily from birth to the mindless pap of television?
(Mind you I was dying to watch Batman)
@CT #25
I'm sure he'll slot in to our well drilled defence and there will be no perceptible change to our usual performance at set pieces.......
Just spent a very enjoyable two and a bit hours at the village pub for a leisurely lunch with the wife and a few (cough) shandys don't you just love the snow.
Anyway just read that Liverpool have contacted the FA with regard Lucas's red card and the one match ban.... to see if they can get it extended to the end of the season.
I thank you, just getting my coat it's fu**ing cold.
errr I don't understand what 'appened wiv me post. I wasn't aware I'd used the reply thingy
That has to be the day TSO was sacked. Best day on earth!
The worst was shipping out Wise for no reason at all.
And
Chelsea 3 Barca 1
Flo x2, Zola FK, Figo
btw who is Blingo?
'Secondly, Vinny Jones started the singing at the home game before in the shed with one man went to mow. The place went mental. '
I'd forgotten this! There was a period when Vinny or Kerry Dixon or whichever sub was warming up behind the goal would be serenaded by a chorus of 'Kerry, give us a song...' from the Shed, then everybody would go 'ssssshhh!' and the player would stop, look at us, raise their arms and bellow 'One Man Went To Mow...' and we'd all join in.
Can't imagine that happening now!
Nick - my very first game was Watford (a) in October 1987. We won 3-0 and went second in the league, then didn't win another match until April. My big regret is that I never got to see Nevin at his peak, but at least I saw him play once.
Nick I've had a few beers I should feel benevolent, please use some form of pesticide for trolls, it's becoming tiresome.
I grew up in Burton on Trent and I think supported Derby County for six months or so in 1978 as my Dad suggested I support my local team. Six months later my baby sitter who was a chelsea fan converted me. From then on everytime he babysat he came round with more Chelsea posters from Shoot and the like..Kenny Swain..Mickey Droy etc. I think I even had a Graham Wilkins one at one point!
First time I saw them was versus Derby at the Baseball Ground. We were playing in the Jade/Grey Chelsea Collection kit. Pat Nevin was still with us. We lost 2 - 0. The second goal was a belting overhead kick by John Gregory.
First time I saw them at the Bridge was a 2 - 2 draw against Oldham. Graham Roberts scored both of ours. I remember my Dad freaking out at the time because it cost £13.00 to sit in the East Upper.
First trip to the Bridge by myself was 1-0 win against Liverpool in 92 or 93. Hoddle was in charge and Shipperly scored but it was one of those "did it cross the line" goals that was given.
Despite our two recent Premiership Crowns, in a way I felt more joy at our 1997 Cup Final Win. I'd had years of being convinced that we'd never win anything. To see us win something that wasn't the Simod or Full Members Cup had almost been unimaginable up to that point!
@Chelseablog
"I will make sure to enable replies on all future posts. It seems to work well." - It works great, but better see #30 above (probably operator though, error, easily done).
Two points (For a win?):
1. Good thinking to introduce the reply thingy on this navel-gazing excuse: we wouldn't want to mess up a real post, would we?
2. Will it be possible to select a particular portion of text to reply to, rather than let the software decide?
The standard of writing here really is good and many comments have lots of gems in them, so it would be really great to be able to highlight a para or two then hit reply.
Reply to Clive:
It's just very poor trolling, really; when asked for your favourite Chelsea moments, you ignore title and cup wins, great wins over Spurs, United, Arsenal and Liverpool and so forth and pick the sacking of the club's most successful manager ever.
Must try harder. Or just fuck off, one or the other.
Nick,
Just pressed send - sorry, was almost there then the Sky box went tits-up half way through Peppa Pig and it all kicked off in my living room. He's pacified with Wall E on the PS3 at the moment, long may it continue.
Not good news about Cech. But, dare I say it, it is 'only' Hul....
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
You know he wouldn't have been 'successful' if sir rednose & venger weren't rebuilding.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
This is getting too spooky.
First Felipe follows the Rafben lead on press relations.
Then Gerhard gets injured after they sell Keane to the Tots.
Now Cech is out following Carlo's likewise move.
Somebody also mentioned an insider saying that Petken like the Rotund One, next they'll be doing a job swap, please no.
Felipao we do like you, honest...please stay.
Reply to moffat:
Must try harder, or fuck off - the advice still stands.
Reply to PeteW:
"Ah, Nevin at his peak..." - well his debut season [83/84] would be another good contender for favourite season when John Neal put together a side of lower league/Scottish transfers which won old Division 2 after Micky Thomas arrived in January - and, according to my trusty Scott Cheshire book, Pat was second top scorer with 14 goals that year.
@BB - I understand your pap denial - the period I wrote about above came just after a 5 year spell when my parents banished the TV from our house, leaving me to scour BBC Light Programme for deadly joys like The Al Read Show/The Clitheroe Kid - still available in all their horror for masochists everywhere from those jolly people at BBC Radio 7.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
I'll see what I can do. I haven't got access to the code but I will let the people who do know. The reply functionality seems a bit arbitrary at the moment, in that it doesn't always include the complete comment being replied to (I included all of PeteW's comment in 27).
JD, think we need to just make a concerted effort to ignore him and he'll soon get bored and go away.
He's clearly not a Chelsea fan, so will probably just bugger off and irritate some other set of decent supporters.
"You know he wouldn't have been 'successful' if sir rednose & venger weren't rebuilding."
Wenger rebuilding?
Puts me in mind of Petrocelli a sort of whodunnit back in the 70's. He was a lawyer and along with the wife had moved to some out of the way place. They were living in a mobile home while he built a house. Every week the show seemed to start with him in the middle of building a wall, trowel in hand before he headed off to defeat the forces of evil and finished with him at the same wall working away. Every week the wall is about waist height. It never got any higher, the house never got any further.
#fsts
"but better see #30 above (probably operator though, error, easily done)."
Yep I'm like a cow with a gun.
And finally
LINK
Reply to moffat:
You don't deserve a reply because you're obviously just trying to rile people up, but here goes.
I don't know who Blingo was or is, and I haven't heard from him for over two years now. His posts were always great reads though.
That game against Barca at the Bridge in 2000 is one of my favourite of all time, even though I wasn't there. I was living in Worcester at the time. I remember the evening and goals like it was yesterday and intend to add a more in-depth account to this post.
As JD said, try harder or fuck off.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
i forgot Frank Sinclair's own goal, (Middlesbrough 1-0 Leicester). own goal from 40 yards, perhaps the other frank should try this.
We got some elders up here.Brothers talking about the 60s and 70s as if it was yesterday.I got to give y'all mad respect.My hat is off for y'all.I think have had a shot at Tony in the past as if we are mates.Didnt know you were that old[m a late 70s baby].My apologies for being so disrespectful[we Africans are very respectful people]Thats the bad thing about blogging you dont get to see the next man at the other end.Peace
Reply to Chaka:
Do all Africans also know how to really hurt a guy?
Don't you dare start respecting me, pal.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
I hope you're not taking this too seriously Chaka...can't wait much longer for a retort, things to do.
I just updated the post with Fiftee's story about how he came to be a Chelsea fan. I will add more over the weekend.
Reply to PeteW:
I'm with Pete on this one if we all ignore the twat he won't get his kicks by people responding to his obvious attempts to wind people up.
Reply to Clive:
Don't feed the Trolls!
Is anyone else having trouble with the cfc website?
For a few days now it's been hanging my PC - there's a round turning thing on the fixtures tab which seems to be trying to do something but can't.
I've taken to starting a separate ff window (rather than a new tab) just so I can close it when the inevitable happens.
Looking for news on Q who seems likely to play, according to beeb.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
The official site's home page doesn't work in my browsers with ad and Flash blocking turned off; but I can get it to load when I use Safari and Camino with Flash blocking turned on.
Bloody Flash-based websites.
I can still click on and access the News section from the top menu in Firefox on my PC:
LINK
Quaresma's in the squad:
LINK
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Please can we leave the race element out please. We have to be respectful to each other. Enough of this boys, can't take.
I just want to talk about football and good football. I just happen to really hate Mam U and liverpool
Reply to Clive:
I agree, I am with pete on this one too. Just hate these pillocks winding people up.
Does that fact that I predicted Cech getting an injury as soon as we let Carlo go, mean I have some sort of psychic powers....?
Sadly not.
I see Robben has shaken off a bout of flu... Brave soul tha he is...
Reply to ChelseaTony:
So where do you go for your medicinal Guiness then. Frank's new Pub. No hilario is on, do we play 6 2 2?
Reply to Jimmalo:
Yes totally agree. It is the best game. I was pissed for two days at the World's End. It was fab. Still rememeber every minute of that
@Fiftee
Great post mate, it sums up all that is good about our beloved blues. My other recollection of why I started to follow Chelsea was a playground argument with some friends who followed Utd as did I did at the time (sorry I was only 7 and stupid, and I suppose I still am) and it lead to me being different so Chelsea were the team I chose, and the rest as Liverpoo supporters would say is history.
I do have one bone to pick with you, the New York Hotel in Vegas isn't quite as good as The Venetian ;-)
Reply to Clive:
I also heard that after the slagging of Benitez, Fergie is outting out for auction the highest for his reply to Benitez. No takers just yet as he has fallen out with every newspaper in town.
Reply to chelseablog:
Thanks for the note.
Yes indeedy, flash is the culprit. I downloaded the latest version and at least I can now see status bar which just says loading...
Big improvement though, as I can now navigate some of the site.
@54 Saw it coming and thought I'd laid that spectre to rest #49
So many memories.......
My old man started taking me to Chelsea games at around 6 or 7....... If the truth be known, the football in the late 70's was so poor, he started taking me to the pub and we would eventually get to the game at about 3-15!
My memory is hazy about years and dates, but one of the first games I remember was our famous 4-3 win over Bolton at home in 78.
Chelsea were dire at this time and were 3-0 down at half time and looking appalling. With around 15 minutes left to go the Blues brought on Clive 'Flash' Walker who streaked past the Bolton full back time and again providing perfect crosses (perhaps Florent should look for the video!).... First we got a consolation goal, then another and then it began to dawn on those people that had bothered to stay behind that we might get a point. The equaliser duly arrived before in the final minute Walker again beat the hapless fullback and crossed for 'Fat' Sam Allardyce to slice the winner into his own net.... Possibly the best comeback ever.
Onto 1982..... Chelsea were still struggling with Marler Estates over the ownership of the ground and the football was still abysmal. The FA Cup gods drew us a home tie against far and away the best side of the times, Liverpool. For the first time in ages, in fact the first time in my footballing lifetime, the Bridge was full to capacity to see he of the double barrelled surnam, Peter Rhodes-Brown streak away from the halfway line to shoot past Ray Clemence and a late Colin Lee goal put the icing on a brilliant day.
To top off a spendid day we were drawn to play Tottenham in the 6th Round at home (my first experience of sitting in 'the benches' of the West Stand), which drew another capacity crowd and a Mickey Fillery free kick had us dreaming of Wembley at HT. Unfortunately 'our destiny' was shortlived as Spurs hadn't read the script and got up for a 3-2 win.
The Saturday is coming and it is about time to stop our sentimental memories and get back to business. Fat Rafa preparing himself for some TV show, probably some Spanish crying soap opera.
LINK
Clive,
I hear you on the Venetian.
But first night there, time difference and all, and I was ecstatic to see the ESPN bar in our hotel, so I didn't have to stray too far at 2.30 in the morning.
Only wish a return trip was on the cards...
As BBD has already pointed out, the 83-84 season was really special for all fans that had seen the dim dark days of the previous 10 years.
The gaffer, John Neal had almost taken us to the Third Division the previous season but he had spent very little cash to bring in 'Steady Eddie' Niedzweicki, Joe McLaughlin, Nigel Spackman, Kerry Dixon and my first real Chelsea Idol, 'Wee Pat' Nevin. The first home game saw Derby trounced 5-0 and this was a sign of things to come, as they swept all before them week after week. Heaps of brilliant memories from this year included crushing the Barcodes 4-0, missing 2 penalties in one game (Nevin's was possibly the worst miss ever, as it was more of a backpass than a shot) against Pompey on Boxing Day and then fans spilling over the pitch for the entire second half against Leeds and Man City as we clinched first Promotion and then the Championship in our last couple of home games. This is perhaps even more precious in my memory than winning the Premier League, as it was the first time I had ever seen us win anything.
Following season, Dixon's opening goal at Highbury to see us return to Division 1 was special and our form held up to see us finish in the top 6 before Neal had a heart attack and John Hollins led the club downhill.
From 84-90 we were up and down between leagues 1 and 2 and the period was probably more reknowned for the fighting amongst the fans, than for the football, before I departed to Australia in 1990.
When I first arrived in Oz, it was almost impossible to get any football news at all. A phone call to a '1800'number first thing on a Sunday morning was the best way to get the results and an hour's worth of highlights at midnight on a Monday invariably missed the Chelsea games.
And then it all turned a little silly..... First Hoddle, then Gullit, Vialli, Desailly, Deschamps and Zola all turned up at my beloved Chelsea and perhaps my biggest regret is that I missed out on seeing these legends each week
There was interseting article on the Sky website with Martin Tyler and some stats. Some fan asked how may sendings off Liverpool had this season and what would be their position in the league had their games finished with 11 v 11
Apparently they would be 8 points worse off in fourth position.... they really are shite, so we shouldn't complain about our play. :-)
Since the arrival of Roman, things have naturally been surreal and obviously my trip back to the UK timed to coincide with winning the League for the first time was a wonderful experience.
For me the pick of the moments at that time revolved around the camaraderie of the players rather than the football. Watching them speed about in the golf cart in front of the fans after picking up the winners medals, and then being at Parsons Green to see the open topped bus parade was a great memory.
In truth though, watching Chelsea for me was never about winning the league, but about the experiences that happen along the way.... The highs and lows that make up a football fan's experiences are what football is all about. And as any true Chelsea fan would know, our history is far more colourful than the Scousers would have you believe!
Carefree forever!!!!!!
Reply to Clive:
As long as they can un-shite themselves when they visit OT, hopefully we'll be in a position to still care.
BTW: My missus has started looking very strange when I keep nipping onto the PC at every opportunity - she probably thinks I'm visiting an on-line dating site or something.
Funny thing is, she doesn't seem that bothered...
Sitting back and enjoying reading about some of your great memories.
Still giving myself some much needed thinking time. To start at the beginning with my first Chelsea shirt when i was 4 (it was the first Cools one, with a red trim for some reason)? Or perhaps start with my first game (an amazing 6-2 against Sunderland at the Bridge in 1996)? For the moment, i'll enjoy looking back at the numerous great Chelsea moments for all us born Chelsea fans. And that excludes one certain "fan" who seems to have an obsession with pissing people off. At first it was annoying, then just strange, then it was simply idiotic, yet now i just feel sadness for a person whose life is so empty of anything worthwhile that he feels he has to make repetitive comments about nothing, just to give his life some meaning. I hope you find happiness soon Moffat - actually fuck that, i hope you end up like this bloke:
LINK
Do not even try to tell me there was penalty against Dawson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@70 Why not? There clearly was. Crappy performance though, particularly after the substitutions..
We're so laughably bad that i'm fearing for our CL place. I'd take a Van Persie inspired Arsenal to beat Tottenham tomorrow and then we'll have a 3 point gap keeping us in 4th. And when will we lose that lead? At Villa Park (probably) or the Emirates (definitely).
The chants of "you don't know what you're doing" started nice and early this week and hopefully Kenyon would have taken notice. A Portuguese flop, on loan from Inter will not save our season because we have a much bigger problem which is that the team don't seem to care about playing for Scolari. There's virtually no passion or determination which is all the fans ask for. The winning mentality went with our home record against Liverpool but since then the side appears to have wilted.
I usually look forward to this period of the season - Carling Cup final day gives me a great day out, going for the title and then the return of the knockout stages of the CL. But this season we've got virtually nothing of note that we can still win. Instead i'll look forward to Roman wielding his axe in a couple of months. That's almost as inevitable as Utd winning the title.
@ 66 Clive,
sorry to be the one to tell you this, but we are crap right now...and no need to get delirious pretending we are not. Take your head out of the sand buddy.
@Deep Blue
Where did I say we were brilliant, learn to read.
I would expect the 'Zola to Chelsea' campaign to begin... oooh, any time now...
In fact, let me be the first:
'Zola (and Clarke) to Chelsea!!'
@CE
That's called tapping up in my book, you have to be careful otherwise we'll be docked points and heavily fined. ;-)
Oh dear, Guess who got the job of doing the review.
@ Habs - Portuguese flop? he was the only player who looked like getting us a goal today. He did more today than malouda has since he arrived.
Can you hear that?
Its me sharpening the hatchet.......
@Tony
Some glimmer of hope Liverpoo are losing.
@Clive, just don't mention it in front of Sheffield Utd and we'll be ok.
Glimmer is right.
Still the good news is I've managed to pursuade work to pay for hospitality tkts for the Watford match. I'll have to mind my language a bit, but its free booze and grub! Oh and I get to torment my Watford aupporting client!
"Oh and I get to torment my Watford aupporting client! "
I wouldn't count on it.
Funnily enough for the first 25 minutes I thought we were actually more positive and effective than we've been for a while. Mainly because we were using width effectively.
Then things just got messier and messier. Each substitution made the team worse.
On the plus side: the clean sheet (quite comfy at the back apart from those two or three horrendous errors at the end). Quaresma looks just the player we needed (though he won't use his left foot for anything, it seems). Kalou had some very promising moments too -- his turn for his shot near the end was fantastic.
On the negative side: what's happened to Herr B? He seems to be getting slower and less accurate every week. The second half was much worse than the first, which is pretty inexcusable when you need a result. And Anelka I'm afraid is just a passenger in that type of game. I honestly think he might as well not have been there. No wonder we're having trouble scoring.
It's perfectly obvious that we don't deserve to be competing for the title. Nor do 'Poo who are also rank, frankly. We need to see if we can survive in the top 4 and have a major rethink in the summer, one way or another.
Fuck my old boots, that was bloody dreadful.
Best of luck with the review TG; if you can keep the expletives down to double figures, then mister you're a better man than I...
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I know he was better than Malouda has ever been but hewas taken off after an hour and i'm still not sure if he's good enough for a big club.
And i see Liverpool have scraped another win tonight. I know they're not exactly great but at least they can call themselves challengers by grabbing a late win when 2-1 down with 2 mins to go. A couple of months ago, some fans were still clingin to the thought that we were ttle challengers, now it seems we're in a straight fight for 4th. Frankly, it's embarrassing for a side like us.
I wonder who we'll all be supporting tomorrow in the N.London derby? Spurs to do us a favour? Or is it just too difficult to support Spurs?
Reply to haberdashers:
I shall be cheering for a complete structural failure of the foundations under White Hart Lane ensuring that the whole place plummets towards the firey pit at the centre of the earth.
Failing that, a draw and a few red cards will do.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
If we've learnt anything of the years... it's the old chestnut of, you should never rely on Spurs.
over the years not of.... we need the edit facility :-)
Reply to Clive:
Most definitely; it's almost a dead cert that they will fold faster than Superman on laundry day (to quote Bart Simpson).
@Tony; just trying to keep my spirits up..;@)
Reply to haberdashers:
Habs, it was his first game. He looked good and to my mind shouldn't have been substituted. Especially for the lumbering deadbeat Drogba.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
Good to see you, sorry about missing the beer.
I've kept the expletives down, but the venom is being spat all around.
I think I've made my mind up on Scolari.....
I am speechless, simply speechless.... we are fighting for fourth place!
Wilkins is disappointed that some fans sung ' You Don't Know What You're Doing'..... but believes that it's fortunate that Scolari probably wouldn't have understood anyway!
And right there, in a nutshell, is the problem. Say goodbye Phil, and go coach Brazil.
This review is harsh. But true.
I am so down in the dumps. i cant even bring myself to watch MOTD because I fear for the safety of my new TV.
I need to kick the shite out of something.........
Reply to ChelseaTony:
I've got a neighbours cat you can kick, it keeps crapping on my lawn. A bit like the way Scolari and Chelsea are crapping on us fans.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
From watching the game at home it did look like Quaresma had the pace, skill and trickery which we've been missing. If his sub was one by Scolari to try and win the game, then it was an idiotic one as we shouldn't have taken off an attacking player when struggling to score or even create anything. Perhaps it was wrong of me to call him a flop so early in his Chelsea career but i've got to trust Jose's player judgement ahead of Phil's. Not only because Phil is an idiot and the worst manager we've had in Roman's reign but because Jose never gets rid of a player he doesn't have to unless he's made his mind up about him. So time will tell if he's good enough for us but he won't help us win the CL as he's cup-tied and he won't win us the title because we're so far behind. So why he's here, i don't really know. Perhaps because Phil is unable to buy anyone who he hasn't worked with before. I think his scouting network only extends to the 4 Portugal and Brazilian squads he's worked with in the past.
And watching Ray on SSN is really embarrassing for Phil. He wields out his bald monkey as he's afraid of the mauling he'd receive in the post-match press conference and all we hear is the same Political, nothing answers as always: "The lads are frustrated..." and "...all we need is a bit of luck." Actually Ray, we need you to fuck off back to your retirement home, because you may have been a great player but you're an awful "assistant" manager. Neil Barnett on Chelsea TV last night responded to the fans who complained about Clarkey's departure that he left because he was sidelined by Phil who does ALL the coaching. That's just a bigger indictment of Phil's ability and brings into question the point of Ray.
It's already Utd's title, so where else do i turn for some entertaining football? Of course, ITV's coverage of England on Wednesday. It'll be edge of the seat watching.
we may still win the FA cup and even the CL! Stranger things have happened like liverpool winning it while being 30 points behind and not qualifying for the following CL! In case any of you dont know where to look anymore, follow Inter and Jose! he's doing just fine, now 8 points ahead of AC in 2nd and not lost at home yet! Oh the good old days!!!
I have very hazy memories of my first game but I do know it was against Villa and TONY Hateley scored. Possibly '65, '66 or '67, I believe. I stood down at the front of the Shed and loved every minute of it. Then those awful years of travelling to some of the pitholes of the lower Leagues. Hereford was fun as I recall but the worst trip of my life was Sunderland away in the League Cup semi final. As I recall Dale Jasper gave away a penalty and then went off with a broken arm (shame it wasn't his neck). It was a long journey North on the old Footie Special. Then standing in the open end at Roker and it effing snowed!! Freezing cold back onto the train and no heating!! Got back to Kings Cross at 0530 next morning after getting stuffed 2-0.
I have spoke about this game before but I shall never forget the night we played FC Bruges in the Q/F of the ECWC in '71. We lost the first leg 2-0 and it was Dempsey I think who had got sent off. In those days suspensions ran from Monday to Monday and players got so many weeks banned, not games. I really cannot remember why but the King of the Bridge had been banned for EIGHT weeks. His suspension finished on the Monday before the return leg and all the papers were on about whether Sexton would pick him or not. Anyway, Dave did. I had been told by my Dad I wasn't allowed to go as a punishment for something lol. But I was there. I stood in the Shed that night and it was the first time I had ever heard the WHOLE stadium roar the team on. It must have been nerve tingling down on the pitch. It was a wall of sound as the roars of "Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea" rang out. I am sure Ossie got the first but as time ran out, the fans got more and more frantic. The sound intensified. Then with less than 10 minutes to go, dear old Mary (Peter Houseman RIP)scored the equaliser. That was it!! Sheer bedlam and the Belgies never stood a chance after that, In extra time we got two more and Ossie crowned his performance with another.
By the way, Habs, I was at the game today and I thought Quaresma did ok ...... so did Anelka.I watched anelka carefully and he did an awful lot of the ball. At one point in the second half after another stupid ball had been given away, it was he that chased back to the halfway line and made the tackle that retrieved the ball. If anyone was crap today, it was Frank and Ballack!!
i have been supporting chelsea fc sciene i was 3 as my mother has always supported them
i have a very big connection with football and hate that some of our fans only started support us when we started to win all the time...
my fav player is lampsrd and themn terry
lampard is one of THE best players ive ever seen as is jhon terry .
i now that lampard or terry would never leave us and if they did chelsea would be losing a huge peice og=f history
ilast year was a very emontail year for us as we lost in pentilites but no matter what any one says i no it was not jhon terrys fault we lost and if any of you reading this rite now think that you are not realy supports...
it was unfortiunite that it was jhon but he slipped and that could have happebned to anyone...
my fav memory was when we bet liverpool for the first time in like 3-4 years...
thanks
charlie xxxx