Hockings, Ron

[loz]

Tribute to Ron Hockings

Written by Geezer in November 2009

When talking about Chelsea legends it's only natural that we turn our thoughts to the many great players and managers who have graced ourselves with their presence in the name of Chelsea Football Club, it is after all these guys who formed our history on the football pitch.

So at a time when certain parts of the country questions whether or not Chelsea does actually have any history it seems only right that I draw your attention to a Chelsea legend responsible for capturing the history of our club - the late great Ron Hockings.

Ron Hockings was an extraordinary man who took it upon himself to write a diary of every match he attended and how ironic it should be that the first match he attended should be against the very team whose fans question our history - Liverpool. The date was January 4th 1947 and Chelsea won 3-1.

But it wasn't only first team matches which Ron would attend for he also attended reserve matches (Football Combination in the old days) and youth team matches (South East Counties league). During the course of his 59 years following Chelsea he would attend 1,483 home games and 1,220 away games. In total he attended 4,356 games as he also followed England around the globe and indeed watched many other matches as well during the course of his work. In the 1979/80 season alone he would attend 104 games including all 42 of Chelsea's 2nd division matches.

So what of the man himself? Well despite being so attached to Chelsea Football Club Ron had a long and happy marriage of 50 years to Jean and they had two children, Peter and Jacqueline. In fact, legend has it that on their first date Ron actually took Jean to watch a Chelsea match! Ron was also very famous for his love of a cup of tea that was quite often accompanied by a 'roll-up' and for a few years he was a steward in the old East stand.

Ron had followed Chelsea through good and bad times and had been one of the lucky ones to see Chelsea win the league title in 1955. Then came season 2004/05. Chelsea were going great guns in the league but in December 2004 Ron was diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite going to numerous specialists it became apparent to his family that Ron was going to delay any treatment until the end of the season such was his belief that this was going to be Chelsea's season. How fitting it was then that on 30th April 2005 Frank Lampard would score the two goals to ensure Chelsea won the Premiership trophy and even more appropriate that Ron should be invited on to the Stamford Bridge pitch during the final home game to join in the celebrations.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the subscribers to Ron's final piece of work '100 Years of the Blues' and although I never had the pleasure of actually meeting Ron I did have the pleasure of being in touch with him by email during this period. Although tinged with sadness I still cherish the last e-mail he wrote to me where he said 'please get me a programme, I miss it so much'. Ron passed away three weeks later.

The funeral was a remarkable and fitting affair lasting 90 minutes with a half time for oranges! The congregation wore Chelsea shirts and a very rousing rendition of 'Blue is the Colour' was sung by one and all as the coffin was carried in. Ron also had a little known obsession for music and chose three tracks for his service from Led Zeppelin, King Crimson and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Ron's work down the years includes:

- Statistical History of Chelsea Football Club 1905-85

- Statistical History of Chelsea Football Club 1905-86 2nd edition

- Statistical History of Chelsea Football Club 1905-88 3rd edition

- Chelsea FC Player Who's Who 1905-89

- European Cup 1st and 2nd edition

- South American Cups since 1893

- Nations of Europe Vol 1 & Vol 2

- 100 Years of the Blues

If any Liverpool fans happen to read this I urge you to read Ron's work and you will realise that, as a result of this remarkable man, Chelsea Football Club does actually have a history.

In celebration of a true Chelsea legend I'd like you all to join me in raising a cup of tea to the great man that is Ron Hockings.

Bluebeard's Comments on Ron

Ron Hockings lived in Bexhill, about half a mile from me. I didn't know him at all, but then I met Ron a couple of times, while I was working as a meter reader. We got chatting about Chelsea and he took me up into his loft, which was more of a Chelsea shrine. Memorabilia everywhere, and a collection of Chelsea programmes that left me drooling!

He was a lovely man, with a wealth of stories about following Chelsea down the years. He preferred a cup of tea to alcohol, but nevertheless was great company. The last time I saw him he was telling me about his trip over to Tromso and the people he met there.

I bought his book "90 Years Of The Blues" off of him at his home, and got annual updates for a few years. I'd highly recommend the book to anyone who has spent a fair amount of years following the Blues, even though it's basic match stats, it's like a walk down memory lane.

[SilverPolish]

Nice piece, but you omitted where I, and many others, first met Ron. He used to run the old supporters club which had a shop opposite the North Stand entrance. Up a pair of rickety wooden stairs at the back and you would hand over your one pound fifty or whatever to him for the coach to Ipswich. There weren't always football specials in the early 70s, and a lot of my early out of London games were on his coaches. He certainly was extaordinarily dedicated. I thnk my favourte story of his was about going away to Newcastle by in the 1950s. No motorways of course, so they had to leave on Thursday evening to make the Saturday kick-off!