Drake

I remember Dave Webb going in goal, but it was Alan Hudson who scored the ghost goal against Ipswich.

Surely you mean "co-written" with Ian Macleay? The book itself makes no mention of Ian Macleay, and, besides the various forewords and afterwords, is written entirely from Alan Hudson's point of view, in the first person. However, amazon.co.uk. lists both Alan Hudson and Ian Macleay as authors. The tendency to go off at a tangent is also highly noticeable. I know nothing of Alan Hudson's alleged unfair treatment of his supposed co-author and neither, to be perfectly frank, do I find the issue of authorship/co-authorship to be of major concern. I am currently a little over a fifth of the way through the book, and am finding it to be immense enjoyable, providing numerous insights and a positive wealth of information concerning matters both on and off the pitch. He also makes it clear just how much he appreciated the fans:

"Working Man's Ballet" arrived yesterday, and it's already proving to be something of a goldmine. I've also added Matthew Harding's introduction, to the book entitled The Pleasure and the Pain" along with Alan Hudson's own Matthew Harding: A Tribute to a new thread here, both of which are I feel, well worth sharing. And now a few images from "Working Man's Ballet" (captions by Alan Hudson): Assistant manager Ron Stuart gives Tony Frewin and myself a few tips on how to keep away from the King's Road while at Mitcham training ground in 1968. Day of the 1970 Final, and I can only make the head tennis team. The famous 'Cage' is in the background - the other Wembley. Peter Osgood's testimonial in 1975, Georger Best's only time in a Chelsea shirt, what a shame that was. And finally, an image I've already included in the Matthew Harding: A tribute thread: A picture to treasure. in the tunnel with Matthew Harding before the same Southampton game [as mentioned in the book] of 1995.

And from the end of "The Working Man's Ballet" by Alan Hudson: Matthew Harding: A Tribute by Alan Hudson At the beginning of the book I wrote of the story being a sad one and in waiting for publication we have just witnessed another tragedy. Matthew Harding, the man who went through every kick, header and tackle with us has tragically been taken away from his friends and loved ones in a horrific helicopter disaster. It was just before midnight on Tuesday October 1996, on the way back from his beloved Chelsea's Coca-Cola cup match at Bolton when we lost possibly the most famous and inspirational Chelsea fan of all time. I met Matthew only a few weeks ago and it was he who said. 'Yes of course I know Huddy, I've known him for years'. I just stood back and realised he really meant it, such was his passion for all the players who wore the 'blue' of his team. These are the last words to be written in my first ever book, and they are fittingly going out to Matthew. He belongs to the Working Man's Ballet along with the Bill Hudsons, Tony Waddingtons. Peter Housemans and Leslie Mays of the football world because, like all the others, Matthew started from scratch and ended up being such a success in our tiny little world revolving around the game of football. He was heading towards a reputation that would have seen him become one of the most important and influential characters ever to set foot inside a football field. I left a very sad Matthew Harding just 12 days before this tragic crash, he was disillusioned and disappointed that he was not getting there quickly enough, not getting Chelsea to where HE wanted them to be. He was being held back by powers that were out of his control, for the only thing Matthew ever wanted was Chelsea Football Club and he was prepared to sacrifice almost anything to get it. He did not want it for himself though, he wanted to get it and give it to the fans, but, before he gave it to them, he wanted to finish what he started. He wanted to hand them a club they could be proud of just like the one he started watching in the early 1960s. Matthew Harding had my utmost respect for what he was about to achieve and we will never know of all the great things he had in store for us. He was a man of fantastic insight, a man who should have been given the opportunity to carry on and 'go with it' instead of being ignored and at times demoralised and insulted by others at the Bridge. The time last season when he was 'barred' from certain parts of the ground was nothing short of ignorance and barbarism, to treat a man who was aiming his club at the stars in this manner was totally unacceptable to the likes of myself who admire men who stand up and show their passion and wear their hearts on their sleeves. I will never know what Matthew Harding thought of my book for he was due to let me know the day after he left us. So this book finishes the way it started with a feeling of ghostliness hanging over Stamford Bridge. Matthew has gone to the Board Meeting in the sky along with other great names mentioned in this book. He will be sadly missed, not only by those at Stamford Bridge, but by everybody who had the great fortune to meet him and be touched by him. My dedication to Matthew Harding I feel should be the last part of this book. This tribute could go on for ever so I will close by saying that 'Blue Really Is The Colour'. Alan Hudson: "A picture to treasure. in the tunnel with Matthew Harding before the same Southampton game [as mentioned in the book] of 1995.

From the beginning of "The Working Man's Ballet" by Alan Hudson: The Pleasure and the Pain by the late Matthew Harding How can I ever begin to describe how I feel about Chelsea, the club I have loved, cherished and adored for more than 30 years? Indeed, ask any football supporter to put their feelings about their club into words and they would have trouble telling you. I am no exception. My love affair with Chelsea began at the tender age of 8 ¾. I can even remember the date and the match clearly: 3 November 1962, Chelsea versus Newcastle United. They were in the old Second Division then. I can even remember where I sat: in the front row of the old North Stand, perched high above the corner flag. From that day I was smitten. It was the start of a special relationship that has never waned. Chelsea Football Club has meant more to me than even I thought possible. I am a fan, pure and simple. Unlike many boys, I never dreamed of playing for my club, not that I was good enough. Being a fan was good enough for me. The sense of belonging that being a supporter brings has given me joy beyond belief. I never chose to support Chelsea. I was taken there by my father and didn’t have much say in the matter. But it was love at first sight and that is how it should be. That’s why I did exactly the same with my own children a quarter of a century later, and like me, they are now all Chelsea diehards. Any player wearing Chelsea blue has been the object of my devotion which has never faltered in thirty years. Blue was and is the colour as far as I’m concerned. As long as he wore the blue Chelsea shirt, that was all that mattered. Once a Chelsea player moved to another club and the initial sense of loss and grieving was over, I would eliminate him from my thoughts; I still do. Similarly if a player from a rival club came to Chelsea, he would have my undying support the minute he put on the Chelsea strip. I can’t really explain why - can any fan? Chelsea players have come in and out of my life and I have in turn worshipped and adored them. From Bobby Tambling in the sixties to Ruud Gullit in the nineties, all have had my undying support and devotion. Alan Hudson is no exception. I was there when he scored his first home goal against Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge in March 1970. It was an evening game and from my vantage point in the North Stand, I watched as he appeared to glide effortlessly towards me. The Wednesday defenders seemed to move out of his way as he strode towards the goal before sliding the ball deliciously past the keeper from just inside the penalty area. When Alan scored that goal, he did it just for me. No one was happier than I was that night, jumping up and down in my seat, I’m sure my joy matched his. But tragedy struck just five days later. Alan damaged his ankle ligaments very badly at West Bromwich Albion, a match that appropriately we lost. With the Cup Final only a fortnight away, I was distraught. The pain I felt when I heard the news must have been as great as his. I was only sixteen at the time but twenty-five years later my memories are just as vivid. I never felt the need to meet Alan - with that Chelsea shirt on his back I already knew him. He was part of my life and that was that. But recently I have had the good fortune to meet him and it has been like meeting an old friend. It must be the blue blood that runs through his veins! The pleasure and the pain - Chelsea is both those things to me. It’s hard to explain but like any great love I don’t question it or even feel tempted to stray. I just know that Chelsea and I were meant for each other.

It appears as if I may be of the few who remains unconvinced of AVB's lack of culpability in his own dismissal, neither do I buy into player power rebellion theory beloved by the media. Is there perhaps something in the air at Stamford Bridge that affects Chelsea players, but from which even more successful, even more wealthy players at other clubs are seemingly immune? No I don't think so. It is care that I choose the word culpability. Because surely AVB's innate innocence, call it naivity if you will, has been one of the major contributory factors towards his own downfall. Whether it be the naivity of his dealings with the press that led to a concerted "AVB hasn't got a clue" media campaign, and with which I for one am willing to wager AVB found himself simply unable to cope. I have heard him described as a young Ranieri, a tinkerman whose decisions (selections, player positions and substituations) all too often make little or no sense to anyone but himself, with the inevitable result that the players are left both alienated and confused. I am opinion that this alienation and confusion is a far more realistic explanation for the increasingly poor run of results than the much touted theory that senior professional players, sated by success, have simply ceased to care about result, let alone that they will deliberately not play to the best of their ability as part of a concerted campaign to dispense with the services of a manager whose continual tenure at the club does not meet with their wholehearted approval.

The situation continues to deteriorate. Rangers today announced their intention to release no less than 11 players. The Daily Record also report that the salaries of those players not facing the axe will be slashed by 50%, and that Ally McCoist will also be be forced to accept a substantial decrease in pay. This latest move can surely only increase speculation that Rangers will ultimate have no realistic option other than to go into liquidation. Rangers in crisis: 11 Ibrox players set to be axed as administrators begin savage cuts

Since posting earlier today, I've finally managed to find that elusive copy of "The Working Man's Ballet", which I shall now read before commencing "The Tinker and Talisman".. However, here's a further excerpt from the foreword by George Best which I think is well worth sharing:

I hope the evening went well. In fairness to Alan Hudson, much of his bitterness resulted from a variety of injuries and illnesses, compounded by personal problems, including alcoholism and bankruptcy. I am still searching for a reasonably priced edition of The Working Man's Ballet by Alan Hudson, which is by all accounts, a fascinating read. The follow up, entitled "The Tinker and Talisman" is far more readily available, often at a very reasonable price. Having very recently bought the book, I have not yet had the time to actually read it. What I can tell you is that includes forwards from George Best (To my mate Huddy .... Your pal, George Best) and from our own Frank Lampard, who commences his contribution with: "Many people have a lot to thank Alan Hudson for and I am no exception". And finally, from the back cover:

if I may say so, the first half of this game in particular very much bears out what I've been saying elsewhere about the players not living up to their reputations, either individually or as a team. Here we have a squad choc-full of experienced Internationals, the majority of whom seem to be incapable of stringing a few passes together, have problems getting to grips with the basics of defending, and at the other end of the pitch, appear to be similarly inefficient at creating opportunities for our non-too prolific strikers. In short, this is a team that needs to go back to basics. Imagine if you will, a Brian Clough at the helm, or an AVB who is not only willing but able to emulate the great man. Unfortunately, Brian Cloughs are in exceedingly short supply. And AVB's credentials, currently under intense scrutiny, are looking somewhat questionable to say the least of it.

Purported player revolt aside, watching Porto v Man City last night gave some indication of the problems AVB is facing. The Porto players are in general skilful, comfortable on the ball, and are adept at keeping the ball, playing the ball out of defence, and are in general not prone to basic defensive errors which have on so many occasions cost us so dearly this season. It is not unreasonable I feel, for players of supposed International calibre, to possess the ability and the composure to pass the ball with accuracy, The frequency and the ease with which we have been dispossessed of the ball, coupled with the number of misplaced passes verges on the unforgivable for a side of title winning ambition, whether that title be Premier League Champions or Champions League winners. So are the team not playing to their potential, and if so why? Is our recent poor form due to the manager's failure to get the best out of his players, or is the simple truth that they are generally not as gifted as we would like to think? If the former, then I fear AVB's position may well be at risk. If not then what is required is an overhaul of the entire squad. Move out the under-performers, promoting from the reserve and youth squads, and the addition of a few fresh faces. My feeling is that failure to freshen up the squad will do more than present any new manager with precisely the same problems currently faced by AVB.

I see that Rangers have in fact entered administration. It now appears that due to UEFA rules, I may have been mistaken in my previous assumption that Rangers could still qualify for next season's Champions League. The repercussions of the current situation could be more immediate still. Rangers' next fixture, against Kilmarnock at the weekend, may not go ahead due to inadequate funds with which to pay the police. I will confess to being no great fan of Scottish football but find it extremely worrying that a club of such magnitude and global reputation as Glasgow Rangers are currently faced with the very real prospect of going out of existence.

I would also question the assertion that Ancelotti was sacked for finishing second, a phrase much beloved by tabloid journalists. I feel it would be more accurate to state that Ancelotti was sacked despite finishing second,. Sacked for finishing second implies that failure to win the Premier League was the sole reason for Ancelotti's dismissal, which is a gross simplification of the situation, failing to take into account such factors as the prolonged "bad moment". Whether Abramovich was correct in sacking Ancelotti is another question, as is that of the wisdom of appointing AVB. The problem with interpreting Abramovich's intentions, for fans and media alike, is the dearth of material available. The distinct scarcity of direct quotes gives endless scope for speculation. It could simply be that his apparent renewal of interest coincides with a respite from legal proceedings, It could also indicate concern over the recent run of results. Either way is largely guesswork.

Apologies if I didn't make myself clear. I was in fact referring specifically to the case of Ryan Bertrand as opposed to AVB's record of starting younger players in general. And so the problem I was alluding to was that of selecting the older and far more experienced but clearly out of form Ashley Cole over the younger Ryan Bertrand. Your irony in referring to the selection of Sturridge over the now departed Anelka and of Romeu, who is younger and less experienced than either Sturridge or Bertrand, over Mikel is therefore I am afraid, rather wasted.

Worrying indeed. Fortunately for Rangers however, such is the gulf between the old firm and the rest of the Scots Prem that even an automatic 10 point deduction may not be enough to prevent Rangers from qualifying for next year's Champions League and the income that comes with it.