Star's great post about his dad gave me a lot of food for thought in the lead up to yesterdays game. As a result his post inspired me to live out a boyhood dream which I can now close the book on after today.

As a kid I was raised in Southgate, North London. Pretty much every other weekend during the season from 1972/73 through to 1976 (we moved to Bedfordshire after this) I would walk from my house to Southgate tube station and travel to Fulham Broadway via Earls Court to watch my beloved blues.

During the months of April to May the cherry blossom trees would be in all their floral splendour and when the wind blew the petals would fall resembling something like a ticker tape celebrationary parade. Strange though it may seem to some I used to imagine it was a parade celebrating Chelsea winning the league. I vowed that one day I would take that walk when we really were champions.

Sadly over time I had forgotten that vow however Star's great post made me think a lot about the old days so for that reason I parked about half a mile from where I used to live on Sunday morning and made the old journey I used to make as a kid. Today, after an overnight stay at Chelsea I returned to Southgate. As I turned into St Thomas Road the first two cherry blossom trees were in full colour. The wind began to blow and the petals started to fall. I was a champion and I was living my boyhood dream. I was a kid again and it was fantastic. The route was the same all the way to my car which was actually covered with petals.

I don't care how stupid this dream sounds - all I know is that it felt absolutley fantastic to be doing something I'd dreamed of as a kid - and all because of two things. 1) Chelsea are the Champions 2) Star's post.

Thanks Star - I owe you mate.

It doesn't sound stupid at all, it sounds absolutely delightful! I can imagine you skipping along the road all chirpy and joyful.

It's never too late to fulfill a childhood dream!

It doesn't sound stupid at all, it sounds absolutely delightful! I can imagine you skipping along the road all chirpy and joyful.

It's never too late to fulfill a childhood dream!

Too right. Its never too old to do anything.

Good on you Geez, and good on you Star too.

Thanks again Star for your eloquent post about your dad. It brought back memories of my dad and his love for our club. Again I would like to pay tribute.

Now I know for sure that I never want to live in London for an extended period of time. The Cherry Blossoms in the Washington, D.C. area bloomed (and rained their blossoms all over the place) over a month ago, and I figure the difference between here and London is due to the bitterly cold weather you get over there in Spring.

But Stamford Bridge is in London, Phillip. I rest my case. :D

Good point, Moi. That, and the fact that are so many kabob houses and Indian restaurants and waffle houses in London do make it a really fine place to live.

I take everything back that I said.

Nice one Geezer.

Not to hijack your thread, but at FT yesterday I pointed up to the sky and shouted "that's for you David" - he's the guy who got me into Chelsea and took me to my first game. He died 5 years ago and to this day I'll never forget what a fantastic football club he introduced me to. I wouldn't have been there if he hadn't have persisted with me - so I dedicated it to him.

Yesterday was about appreciation for me, think we're all a little bit more thankful for winning the league this time round. Perhaps not the first one which will never be beaten, but the second one especially.

Good on yer mate . Really nice story

Good post geezer, glad you got to live that dream.

I wasnt in west london to enjoy it firsthand, but yesterday afternoon really did feel surreally good. I hope one day I can enjoy that feeling firsthand drinking a beer and waving a scarf on the Kings Road, rather than in my living room.

Nice one Geezer,

I feel priveleged to be part of your dream mate.

I also again want to thank everyone who responded to my post. I am stunned by how much it touched so many peoples hearts.

But my biggest thank you has to go to my lovely fiance' Danielle who without, I could not have had the courage to open my heart over something I have bottled up for over a decade. At 730pm this Saturday my kids will know my story, we have booked a meal at Frankie's Restaurant to celebrate what I hope and believe will be the greatest moment in our history, when we complete the 'Double' - it's when I show them my original post with a couple of additions of a more personal nature, which will explain a lot of things in my life to them that will bring us even closer if that is possible.

You lot on here have inspired me to do this more than you can imagine and for that i'm eternally grateful.

Danielle and I are getting married next May, as some of you know, she's the same age as my children, they love her, her family are all Chelsea fans as well, brother, dad and grandad and we get on wonderfully well.

We have decided to move back to the London area after we are married, job relocation is easy as we both work for the 'magic sign' and head office is in Middlesex. This is something else that has always been missing from my life, the urge to return to my roots has always been there.

The aim is also to build up enough loyalty points next season to get a season ticket each, then everything i've ever wanted will be there, saying that with Danielle I could live at the end of the earth.

Once again .... Good on you Geezer

Thanks again Star for your eloquent post about your dad. It brought back memories of my dad and his love for our club. Again I would like to pay tribute.

[/quote

] Nice one

Danielle and I are getting married next May, as some of you know, she's the same age as my children, they love her, her family are all Chelsea fans as well, brother, dad and grandad and we get on wonderfully well.

Congrats mate. Hope the boys give you a back-to-back in wedding present

Great post Geezer. As Moi said, its never too late!

It's a good thing to relive happy memories we should all take courage from these events and try, at least once, to smile on the inside.

Star's great post about his dad gave me a lot of food for thought in the lead up to yesterdays game. As a result his post inspired me to live out a boyhood dream which I can now close the book on after today.

As a kid I was raised in Southgate, North London. Pretty much every other weekend during the season from 1972/73 through to 1976 (we moved to Bedfordshire after this) I would walk from my house to Southgate tube station and travel to Fulham Broadway via Earls Court to watch my beloved blues.

During the months of April to May the cherry blossom trees would be in all their floral splendour and when the wind blew the petals would fall resembling something like a ticker tape celebrationary parade. Strange though it may seem to some I used to imagine it was a parade celebrating Chelsea winning the league. I vowed that one day I would take that walk when we really were champions.

Sadly over time I had forgotten that vow however Star's great post made me think a lot about the old days so for that reason I parked about half a mile from where I used to live on Sunday morning and made the old journey I used to make as a kid. Today, after an overnight stay at Chelsea I returned to Southgate. As I turned into St Thomas Road the first two cherry blossom trees were in full colour. The wind began to blow and the petals started to fall. I was a champion and I was living my boyhood dream. I was a kid again and it was fantastic. The route was the same all the way to my car which was actually covered with petals.

I don't care how stupid this dream sounds - all I know is that it felt absolutley fantastic to be doing something I'd dreamed of as a kid - and all because of two things. 1) Chelsea are the Champions 2) Star's post.

Thanks Star - I owe you mate.

Great post mate. Makes me a bit emotional reading this. Hope you had a great walk, Geezer.

Really nice read Geezer. We're becoming far too sentimental on here!

No, we are not. I love reading stories like this. I hope you had your eyes closed and envisioned the walk as a kid...maybe even took a little skip in there too

Fulfilling your boyhood dream like that, it sounds like a happy ending for a movie rather than something you'd expect to happen in real life. Stories like these just warm the heart, even if I don't know you personally. Great one, geezer!

Hope it all goes well on Sat Star.

Didnt realise you worked for McDonalds though.