Peter Osgood, David Webb, and chopper harris

[dellboypete]

Went to a seminar at Stamford Bridge yesterday afternoon – in the Ron Harris suite. The seminar was OK but the highlight was a guided tour of the stadium by Ron Harris himself.

 

There were about 30 people at the seminar and the first thing he asks is “Have we got any real football fans here?” Of course loads put their hands up and when asked it was the usual ManU etc and never go to games.

 

It so happens my boss who I went with has been a season ticket holder at Chelsea since the late 60’s and Chopper was his hero as a kid. So when he found out I’m a ST at the saints we got preferential treatment!

 

There was a question and answer sesh and amongst other questions somebody asked him did he play against any players as hard as him, and after mentioning the likes of Yeats, Smith etc of lpool, he came up with Dennis Hollywood and John McGrath. Two of my heroes as a kid – in fact John McGrath and Brian O’neil coached our school team for half a season when they were doing their FA coaching badges.

 

One of my first ever away games after I went to secondary school was Chelsea away in 1967 – I still remember it as it was the Saturday before school started in September – we won 6-2 – and Ron Harris said that that was one of his biggest ever nightmares with Ron Davies (4) and Martin Chivers (2) giving their defence hell and he also mentioned John Sydenham (possibly after me prompting him) who nobody could get near all afternoon. The other highlight (not for me though) was the massive fight on Fulham Broadway underground station afterwards.

 

I asked him what happened to David Webb – who did so much to keep us in the old 1st div before he went to Chelsea and became one of their favourites – Chopper said that they have lots of team reunions but that webbo as he called him, very rarely has anything to do with football anymore and has become a bit of a recluse.

 

Of course I had to ask him about Peter Osgood (splendid statue of him outside the ground by the way). Probably the biggest legend in Chelsea history I gather, and massive with us too, especially after '76. It was obvious that the Chelsea team of the late 60’s and early 70’s was extremely close knit and when Osgood died he said it was like losing a brother.

 

I was lucky enough to meet Ossie when I lived in Dubai – he did an after dinner talk at the old Country Club and PhilippineSaint and I (in former guises) both got completely rat-arsed (found your coat yet Pete?). I went armed with saints shirts, books etc and he signed them all. Sadly he died shortly after that.

[TopGun]

That's a good read!

[EastleighSoulBoy]

I remember one game, maybe 69/70, at the Dell when Harris and Webb clashed while going for a 50/50 ball. Harris ended up on the red gravel. Not long after that another opportunity arose, this time Webb was a little further away than Harris, Harris looked at Webb, launching himself, stopped and with a sweep of his arm and a slight bow, let Webb clear the threat.

[Lets B Avenue]

I remember one game, maybe 69/70, at the Dell when Harris and Webb clashed while going for a 50/50 ball. Harris ended up on the red gravel. Not long after that another opportunity arose, this time Webb was a little further away than Harris, Harris looked at Webb, launching himself, stopped and with a sweep of his arm and a slight bow, let Webb clear the threat.

 

Whilst both playing for Chelsea?