Harris, Ron (1961-1980)

Ron 'Chopper' Harris (1961-1980)

Written by Lofty in June 2007

Ron 'Chopper' Harris was born on November 13, 1944 in Hackney, East London. He signed for Chelsea in 1961, and was a member of the Chelsea team that won the FA Youth Cup that same year. Between 1961-1980 Chopper played a record 795 times (655 of those in the League) for Chelsea, making his debut in the February 1962 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, and quickly establishing himself as a regular in Tommy Docherty's young Chelsea side. Like many of football's hard men, he was (and still is) a gentleman away from the pitch. Of his famous nickname he says:

"I got it because I used to scythe people down and that"

Chopper credits Tommy Docherty for giving him "that little extra bit of aggression", and it was under Tommy Docherty's management that he won his first senior trophy, the 1965 League Cup against Leicester City, which Chelsea won 3-2 on aggregate.

The following season he became club captain when Terry Venables moved to Tottenham, and in 1967 was the youngest ever captain of an FA Cup Final side, ironically also against Tottenham, playing alongside his brother Allan, who was then enjoying a second, albeit brief spell at Stamford Bridge.

Best known for his defensive qualities, in common with fellow defenders Dave Webb, Eddie McCreadie, Chopper could also play a bit. It is a little known fact that Chopper actually started out as an inside forward. During his career he scored only 16 first team goals, describing his most memorable moment as scoring a goal against Gordon Banks.

However, Chopper describes the 1970 FA Cup Final reply win at Old Trafford in 1970 as the highlight of his career: it was from his quick free kick that Ian Hutchinson's headed Chelsea's second equaliser in the first game at Wembley.

The following year, Chopper's leadership inspired Chelsea to further success, in the shape of the European Cup Winners Cup Final victory against Real Madrid.

This was Chelsea's first European trophy. Earlier that season, Chopper came very close to being banned from his own testimonial, the now legendary friendly against Glasgow Rangers - having accrued 3 cautions in 12 months, he was fined £150 and given a 5 week ban, fortunately for him suspended. As he told Goal Magazine:

"I thought the hearing was fair at the time and felt I’d been quite lucky. If the ban had not been suspended I might have missed my own Testimonial!"

It was once said of Chopper that "some of his tackles were even legal!" When asked who was his favourite opponent, Chopper replied:

"the one I have to mark"

A genuine football hard man, Chopper could take it as well as he could dish it out. According to Charlie George of Arsenal:

“Every time I played against Chopper, I took a right hammering. But I gave as good as I got. He whacked me really hard one time so I jumped up and down on his chest. He was coughing up blood according to the papers.”

In 1980, Chopper left Chelsea for Brentford, and 4 years later moved to Aldershot where he spent a single season as player/manager before hanging up his professional boots.

His services are now in demand as a football pundit (especially concerning Chelsea), and as an after-dinner speaker, and has recently written his autobiography , "Chopper: A Chelsea Legend".

He still turns out for Chelsea Old Boys FC and travels with the Blue Army Travel club to Champions League away games, acting as host to supporters for matches. There is now a suite named after him at Stamford Bridge, in acknowledgement of his legendary status at Chelsea FC.