Harrow's finest.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to another long time lad from up this way, namely John "Gonzo" Gonzales, aged 61 who had battled against his illness for a long time. He was well known to plenty, in and around our surrounding area as well as Watford ,Hemel, MK, Fulham, North Kensington etc and BITD,would have been seen in The Ifield, The Lily,7 Stars, The tournament, POW etc and had for a few years, shared a season ticket with similar long term supporter, his sister,Maria. The club had previously been told of his passing and sent a letter of condolence and supplied a bag of lapel pin badges which were worn by plenty, including those who don't follow Chels. Carried from the church to the tune of the Liquidator, he was buried in Stanmore, North west London with a Chelsea flag covering his coffin and family and friends remembered him and his love of old school reggae with the usual enthusiasm after. So, no more will players be a accused of being " Lacka-sidaisycal" ! RIP Gonz.

Plenty of time spent on the Q and A section. Gambling seems to have been the start but was helped by the club especially The chairman,who he sort of saw as a father figure.He was asked if he was contradicting what he'd said in his book about Bates but gave the perfect answer saying every son has had a row with his dad. He intimated he'd been the victim of a set up by someone when he received an early morning visit from OB looking for the usual which was a waste of his and their time saying " you can come to your own conclusions". The incident in the Nags head pub was him being pushed too far and he reacted probably like we might have done too but he wasn't on top form at the time. Obviously he's got a DVD and book to promote but he was good value and mixed with everyone posing for photos,talking about the bust ups with teammates and opposition,(great story about Alan McDonald,QPR centre back)and his and the teams awareness of what was going on off the pitch at Brighton,seeing us all over Highbury on that opening day, Friday night at City etc. He's now back doing some hospitality at SB and getting on with his life so good luck to him.Back in the 80's he gave us some of the best times we ever had as fans and regardless of recent times he should be remembered for that. He seemed a bit embarrassed when someone called him King Kerry but that's what he was at the time with a goal tally worthy of any top striker.

Saturday,myself and approximately 100 others attended an evening with one our greatest goalscorers at a social club in Ruislip,West London and a good time was had by all. He spoke honestly about Bates, Speedo etc and heaped plenty of praise on our fans from back in the day and also gave us the full story regarding his fall from grace. A pleasure to have been there along with probably 75+ Chels,mainly from Harrow and the local area and good to see so many old faces. Well done all involved.

Plenty of harrow and South harrow's finest in there that day even though we didn't get along with each other normally.mutual hatred for the dippers took precedence.bundles of "free Joe Pearce" flyers being chucked in the air whilst all the shenanigans were going on.during a lull in the trouble,OB managed to create a no man's land gap in their section which just gave everyone space to get a run up kick off again.not the best crowd control tactics.

Remember getting searched on the way in to Coventry and a bloke in the queue next to us was having 2 pool table balls removed from his jacket by plod. Bizarre to say the least!

I seem to remember the capital radio DJ Graham Dene doing something in front of the shed,a Singalong or similar?

Traditionally,most national newspapers London offices had football writers/Journo's from the east of the city who had a bias against us and others from different parts of London. Their opinions generated in to copy which sold well and that still continues long after fleet Street has gone. It's not that long ago certain members or the press were happy to buy drinks for fans and goad them to cause trouble. Never forget,all journalists have a duty to get a story no matter what. Scum.

Gordon Bartlett,manager of Wealdstone FC sacked today after 22 years in charge. Recent run of results and performances not good but shabby treatment of a non league legend That's for sure.

I think we were in the trinity stand that day and remember our lot coming in the right side of the Holt end just as the game ended. Lot of H to H outside too.The memory a bit blurred but think we took a 'luxury' coach a year or two later and were seated above the away end. The driver took us back to a pub we used to regularly stop at outside MK and when we left later he was so bladdered he wanted one of our lot to drive it home. We sobered him up with a pizza.

Poor coaching. Same as the senior team, the players have their natural ability watered down by our tactical planners. none of our top premier players ever perform for our country. tonight's commentary kept saying we look tired and we're on our knees physically. When was the last time any England side's opponents were described as the same? We always seem to be less fit and apart from dead ball situations, inept at having any superior ability. There will be no change until we return to our own style and stop trying to be all things continental. just listening to the same old b******s from ex pro's on talksport about lessons will be learned and we'll come again.

LB wasn't it? I think he was a junior solicitor (status not age).

That looks like a certain Mark G from Woking for those of you who know him. last time I saw him he was hairless and apart from his face, completely tattooed.

2 words-Brighton away!

"Who's the w#**er in the white" - that chump in the white jumper in the side stand giving it large as we got soaked at Bristol city in the cup in 1990.

Forgot to add Rhodes brown v the dippers,FA cup. lively ol' day that was !

This! That well known highly respected, fair and balanced scribe in yesterday's Times devoted the whole of the back page in the sports section to create exactly the above. Even better was their 'top' football correspondent on the city game claiming that fernandinho 'could have been sent off'! Told you before they are all scum.

Pop v cambridge Nevin v Geordies Kerry Friday night at Maine rd-wilson,speedie combo Mickey Thomas v sheff Wed 4-4 cup match Franco in Stockholm

It seems we're all forgetting something. make no mistake, the british sports press are scum. they know it.we know it and they know that but don't give a flying one.they've been hanging us out to dry for years as fans of club and nation alike.

1990 bristol city away in the cup.colour photocopiers were a new thing then and someone we associated with had access to one and they copied the original light blue match ticket plenty of times,enough for loads to get in. alledgedly! Plenty of OB checking tickets on the way in but the torrential rain made them less bothered I think. Watford away was always easy to just walk in. Wembley with dodgy hi vi's and "catering staff passes". Southampton over the low wall onto the program shed roof. At OT one season,helping someone who'd " had a turn" and needed medical attention immediately which meant being ushered in thru a side gate without a ticket check. Saw a fella at SB about 2 years ago get rumbled and chased and caught with his dodgy police pass.his young boy stood crying whilst he was cuffed and led away until a mate took care of him.

It was the sense of belonging,camaraderie and a chance to experience being on the edge of terror ! S'funny,although the films about fv are all generally rubbish the common thread in all of them is that they get right the first moment the younger character gets involved and the adrenalin rush he gets . I can remember being absolutely terrified at what was going on around me seeing mates get hurt and the sound of glass smashing,loud shouts and screams until all of a sudden the moment came when you knew you had to do what you gotta do. Afterwards it felt like you'd lost your viginity and you wanted to do it again and again............and again! Not condoning it just telling it how it was. The exuberence of youth.

that fella who tried to lamp flasher if my memory is right was a trainee solicitor called LB? became a bit of a folk hero for a while and the national press(scum of the earth) loved the fact he had a 'proper job'.

As previously mentioned,after Grimsby we went back to Doncaster and had one of the maddest evenings ever having fun and games with Sunderland and then dirty leeds who lovingly removed all our coach windows whilst we were down in the town assisting other chels who were having problems. still one of the best away games of the last 40 odd years.

was that the evening game where that pompey fella threw an empty spirit bottle from the side terrace in to our end? i can remember OB standing near us,directing other rozzers by radio in to nick him as they'd seen who it was and then him trying to deny it and being led away blubbing his innocence the mug! very lively by the hospital afterwards too.

Was at the game and the grief started just on half time at the end that the away side were playing towards. The other end which should have housed the home fans was shut for the new seats installation so you had both sets of fans in the same end with no segregation. Mainly young home wannabes taunting older erm, more "experienced" away supporters who as you say,dealt with the problem after being attacked outside the ground.the away side regularly take anywhere between 100 and 300 to away games and although are well respected for doing so are occasionally subject to minor problems from home fans who see them as a threat due to their numbers.

He's as funny as toothache. Unlike other recent news stories we don't know the full facts but its plain to see that spuds fans are clearly doing what they've always done. I hope that the " 40 year old man from brighton " doesn't become completely identified as that would be terrible for him...