Inside-forward, John McNichol, a crucial member of our first title winning side in 1955, has died aged 81.
The Scotsman was the first signing of new manager Ted Drake in 1952. He came from Brighton for £12,000.
All his League football had been played in the old Division Three with Brighton. But he immediately formed an attacking partnership with centre-forward Roy Bentley and, in 1953/54, Les Stubbs who played inside-left.
That season he scored his only hat-trick for us, Bentley and Stubbs getting the other goals in a 5-1 home win over Blackpool.
In the title winning year, Chelsea's first title in our Jubilee celebration season, John played 40 of the 42 League games and was second top scorer with 14. Roy Bentley hit 21.
John's contribution was not only his goals, and Bentley's higher tally was helped by John's creative, tricky play.
When the team was broken up at the end of the following season, he was retained and played on until 1958. For a few games he played alongside the boy who, ultimately, replaced him, the legendary Jimmy Greaves.
Throughout his time at Chelsea he travelled in by train from Brighton each day, mostly with his title winning colleagues and close friends Eric Parsons and Stan Willemse.
In the summer of 1958 he was sold to Crystal Palace for £2,000, and when he retired from playing he worked there in the commercial department.
In all competitions, he made 202 appearances for us and scored 66 goals.
Over the last decade he had been one of the old boys who has most enjoyed the regular get-togethers, first started by supporter Tony Banks, of the 1955 team, and had maintained his ties with Parsons and Willemse.
John McNichol was born in Kilmarnock on 20 August 1925, and died following a stroke on 17 March 2007. He was a true champion.
phillip carter a klub egyik tiszteletbeli elnokhelyettese volt. a gepen utazott meg a fia, a pilota es meg egy utas.
innen is reszvetem a csaladjaiknak.
istenem, szornyu deja vu, tulsagosan is hasonlit ez matthew harding balesetere...
Eltűnt Phillip Carter, a Chelsea labdarúgócsapatának tiszteletbeli elnöke, aki a keddi, Liverpool elleni Bajnokok Ligája-elődöntőt a helyszínen tekintette meg.
Carter a találkozót követően magánhelikopterével indult vissza Londonba, ám haza már nem érkezett meg.
"Egyelőre annyit tudunk, hogy Phillip rajta ült a gépen, amely azonban rejtélyes körülmények között eltűnt" - nyilatkozta a Carter & Carter cég szóvivője.
A private helicopter carrying a wealthy supporter of Chelsea FC is missing after carrying him back from last night's Liverpool v Chelsea Champions League match.
The Twin Squirrel helicopter was carrying Phillip Carter when it disappeared off radar screens.
A private helicopter carrying a wealthy supporter of Chelsea FC is missing after carrying him back from last night's Liverpool v Chelsea Champions League match.
The Twin Squirrel helicopter was carrying Phillip Carter when it disappeared off radar screens.
Updated: 09:20, Wednesday May 02, 2007
Sky News understands that senior Chelsea FC officials were on board a private helicopter that disappeared off radar screens last night.
Chelsea FC say they are not aware of any officials being involved in an accident.
Police have not confirmed who was on board the craft.
Updated: 09:14, Wednesday May 02, 2007
Senior Chelsea FC officials are reported to be on board a private helicopter that has disappeared off radar screens.
It left John Lennon Airport in Liverpool last night and was heading to a private landing site near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, when it vanished.
A police spokeswoman said: "Details are sketchy at the moment.
"The helicopter, we believe, had about four or five people on board and was a twin-engine Squirrel.
"It left John Lennon Airport in Liverpool at about 11pm last night and was on its way to a private address near Peterborough.
"It appears to have disappeared off the radar. At the moment we are trying to find out more.
"The best case scenario is that it has made an emergency landing somewhere.
“I had my team talk with them after the game,” Mourinho said. “It was nothing special. I wanted them to remember where we are and what we are doing and what we have to do. Just basic and normal things. They have still achieved a lot and have a lot they can win. They have a big chance on Tuesday to do something incredible for their careers and for this club.
Newcastle skipper Parker has said of the game against his former team-mates:
'One thing we'll have to do is battle and get in their faces, and I'm sure players like myself and others will do that.
'They have every chance of the quadruple because they have the spirit there and can win games even when they are not playing well. Hopefully they won't get the result on Sunday, but after that I wish them the best of luck.'
Newcastle skipper Parker has said of the game against his former team-mates:
'One thing we'll have to do is battle and get in their faces, and I'm sure players like myself and others will do that.
'They have every chance of the quadruple because they have the spirit there and can win games even when they are not playing well. Hopefully they won't get the result on Sunday, but after that I wish them the best of luck.'
