5 minutes ago, erskblue said:

Had the privilege of watching him play for Glasgow Rangers from Dec 87-late 1989.

Total class.

He did a great job at Rangers. Probably his finest moment at Rangers was when he scored with a wonderful volley in the 5-1 victory over Celtic in August 1988. I think it's safe to say that the two clubs which mean most to Ray are us and Rangers. He's due to play in the Chelsea legends v Rangers legends at Sutton United on 17 June. I suspect he'll play for both sides. Looking forward to that game.

13 hours ago, erskblue said:

Hard to believe now, but Rangers were offering Luca better wages than us and I think he was on the verge of signing for them.

We came in with an offer, he talked to the club agreed terms then had to tell Rangers chairman David Murray he was signing for us.

I think he signed from juve after they had just won the champions league?

16 minutes ago, erskblue said:

The other striker that I thought of about having great movement along with Luca was Herman Crespo.

 

Yes good shout ersk, he was another one with movement, and a great shot, as paul jewel and wigan will vouch for!!

8 minutes ago, chi blue said:

I think he signed from juve after they had just won the champions league?

He did. Just had a look at his record with Chelsea. 21 goals in 58 games. I reckon that one of his finest moments wasn't a goal but was the cross he put in for Zola's header against Vicenza in 1998.

Check the sideburns!

Have already posted this picture in another thread but no harm in posting it here.

Funny story from Ray Wilkins time at Ibrox.

Ray and Trevor Francis were reading the famous Italian sports paper La Gazetta del sport. A large broadsheet,pink in colour.

Not the normal newspaper then to be found in the Ibrox home dressing room!

They were so engrossed that suddenly they smelt burning and Ray quickly dropped the paper when he realised one of the younger players had crept up and set it on fire with a match!

The childish games young footballers play...

 

21 minutes ago, erskblue said:

Funny story from Ray Wilkins time at Ibrox.

Ray and Trevor Francis were reading the famous Italian sports paper La Gazetta del sport. A large broadsheet,pink in colour.

Not the normal newspaper then to be found in the Ibrox home dressing room!

They were so engrossed that suddenly they smelt burning and Ray quickly dropped the paper when he realised one of the younger players had crept up and set it on fire with a match!

The childish games young footballers play...

 

@erskblue sounds like the sort of prank that McCoist or Durrant would have carried out.

42 minutes ago, Boyne said:

@erskblue sounds like the sort of prank that McCoist or Durrant would have carried out.

I'm sure I read that story in Ally McCoists autobiography and I believe the player carrying out the prank was Iain Durrant!

I remember that my old man said that Ray Wilkins was one of the best British midfield players he had ever seen.

Believe me,that was high praise.

Gianluca Vialli co wrote a very good book with Gabrielle Marcotti back in 2007 called ' The Italian Job'.

Insights into Italian football and I think a comparison with English football.

Well worth a read. Sure I have a copy somewhere.

Vialli had some career before he joined us. European winners medals. Serie A winners medals with both Sampdoria and Juventus and a then world record transfer fee when moving from Sampdoria to Juventus. £12.5 million in summer 1992.

That doesn't sound alot today,but believe me it was (obviously!) back then.

And we signed him on a free transfer...

On 20/05/2017 at 09:35, Carshalton Blue said:

Wolves 1 Chelsea 1 1977

That's my cousin far right ( ginger in the cap) He came home with Tommy Langley's shirt that day........... Just after this photo was taken he got whacked by an old bird's brolly for his troubles!! :D 

pettsy:Great story about your cousin in the picture above. Admit to laughing out loud.

1 hour ago, pettsy said:

That's my cousin far right ( ginger in the cap) He came home with Tommy Langley's shirt that day........... Just after this photo was taken he got whacked by an old bird's brolly for his troubles!! :D 

Haha love stories like that mate.

v Sunderland Milk Cup 1985

10 hours ago, Boyne said:

He did. Just had a look at his record with Chelsea. 21 goals in 58 games. I reckon that one of his finest moments wasn't a goal but was the cross he put in for Zola's header against Vicenza in 1998.

He must have scored more than 21, no? I remember him scoring 18 alone in 1997/98. Or was the 21 only in the league?

47 minutes ago, George Mills said:

He must have scored more than 21, no? I remember him scoring 18 alone in 1997/98. Or was the 21 only in the league?

Your right 21 league goals scored 40 overall.

20 hours ago, Boyne said:

I recently picked up my 2nd signed photo of Peter Houseman.

Another image from my Chelsea v Man City August 21st 1971 - my first Chelsea game:

On 5/23/2017 at 07:14, Boyne said:

Seem to remember Houseman being nicknamed "Mary". Does anyone know why ?

22 hours ago, erskblue said:

pettsy:Great story about your cousin in the picture above. Admit to laughing out loud.

Haha! Yea I know mate.....knowing my cousin as I do I can just picture it. He would have pissed himself laughing too :)