Organisatorisches » Green Bay earlier Sunday.

In all my decades of attending Stamford Bridge, players, managers and owners have come and gone whilst the only constant was Lord Richard Attenborough. Honorary life vice-president, shareholder, club director, Stamford Bridge host to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen: If someone had have asked him, Attenborough would willingly have accepted the role of Chelsea FCs chief cook and bottle washer. The connection to the club for the highly acclaimed actor, film director and producer can be traced back over 75 years when as part of his preparations to play the role of a gangster in a movie Attenborough got to train with the players. He is famously quoted as saying throughout his life he had two love affairs - his wife of seven decades and Chelsea Football Club. His lasting legacy occurred in 1982. After decades of neglect, the then-club owners had embarked on overly ambitious plans to completely rejuvenate Stamford Bridge. This coming at a time of volatile oil prices, Middle East tensions and the globe in an economic freefall. All combined with extremely high interest rates construction costs spiralled out of control. Stamford Bridge began to resemble an abandoned construction site, more than it did a soccer venue. The club flirted with bankruptcy. Property developers spotted an opportunity it could not resist they began purchasing from distressed shareholders their holdings in the valuable land Stamford Bridge was situated on– this for a club which had been formed in a pub across the street in 1905. The only news coming out of Chelsea in those troubled days was discussion of demolishing the ground and turning it into a residential area for the super-wealthy. Stamford Bridge borders one of the most expensive postal codes on the planet, and the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington. I recollect it vividly. The Mears Family who had formed the club in that pub back at the turn of the 20th century, began losing control. Brian Mears, the chairman and grandson of the club founder was ousted in a boardroom coup. Speculation was rife on what minority shareholder Richard Attenborough, would do with his shares. In the end, Attenborough got a promise from Ken Bates - who would buy the club in late 1982 for the princely sum of £1 plus all its debts – that he would not move the club out of the community that meant so much to the man who won an Oscar for that years Hollywood Blockbuster, Gandhi. Simply put if Attenborough had sold out to the property developers, a wholly different Oscar would not be running out at Stamford Bridge in the number 8 shirt today. Nor would Roman Abramovich be taking in matches form the luxury of the owners private box. For that matter Chelsea, if it had survived, would most likely be playing in the second or third tier of English football and not competing for yet more Premier League or Champions League titles. We certainly wouldnt be seeing the abundance of Chelsea jerseys in the football pubs and city streets worldwide. Its reason why Chelseas supporters have begun a petition to rename the East Stand at Stamford Bridge in the memory of a man who was friends, and on first name terms with Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers and Presidents. No one outside of players, the coaching and medical staffs are allowed into the fabled Stamford Bridge dressing room pre-game, not even Abramovich. Such is the stature of the man: Attenborough was welcomed with open arms. There was no better sight at Stamford Bridge than witnessing Attenborough taking his seat, next to his wife in the directors box, surrounded by his own ‘private security that came in the irresistible form of the Chelsea Pensioners. Those retired military serviceman - who reside in the Royal Hospital Chelsea and who come resplendent in bright red military jackets - you will often have often caught a glimpse of from Stamford Bridge TV broadcasts. Youd often see Attenborough driving his very distinctive Rolls Royce around the streets which surround Stamford Bridge. My own favourite personal memory came in 1998. Attenborough was in Montreal to film his movie Grey Owl, with the man who would go on to become James Bond, Pierce Brosnan in the lead role. Filming took place in a small Quebec town some 200 km outside Montreal. The name of that town was Chelsea, population 6,500. You couldnt make it up. Sunday, Mar. 29 was deemed an off day and Chelsea were playing Middlesbrough at Wembley, it was the League Cup Final. There were no digital satellite channels back in 1998. You wanted to watch any live football you had to go to one of very few sports bars which had old school bulky satellites which didnt always pick up the signals. Most often they would just provide grainy pictures and no commentary. Not this day. Taking up my usual spot with the other four Montreal-based Chelsea supporters 15 minutes before kickoff Attenborough walked in. Amiable and approachable Attenborough was like a kid who had just had a drop off from Santa Claus. He somewhat resembled him too. Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2-0, their second coming from the man who in 2012 led them to Champions League Glory, Roberto Di Matteo. Attenborough was in no rush to leave. There was a lap of honour on the hallowed Wembley Stadium pitch to take in. On what would today have been Lord Attenboroughs 91st birthday, Chelsea announced earlier that in consultation with his family, they plan a lasting memorial for Stamford Bridge. Saturday afternoon Chelsea will trot out at Goodison Park wearing black arm bands in memory of a man everyone connected to Chelsea owes an immense debt of gratitude to. As English football has evolved into the multi-billion dollar global business it is today we can be sure we will not witness the likes of “Dickie” Attenborough ever again. Hes cut from a cloth not even Abramovich could afford. Listen to Everton v Chelsea – Live on the TSN Radio Network Saturday 12:30pm et / 9:30am pt Noel Butler can be reached at: Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter China Jerseys 2020 . "This is my city," the Toronto native said upon his arrival Wednesday night. And the 35-year-old former league MVP says he is hoping to making 2014 a memorable year. Wholesale China Jerseys . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. 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The Spurs signed Parker to a multi-year contract extension on Friday, ensuring that the six-time All-Star point guard will be in the fold whether Duncan and Ginobili are able to continue their careers or not.Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Russell Wilson tossed a game-winning 35-yard TD pass to Jermaine Kearse 3:19 into overtime and the Seattle Seahawks rallied past the Green Bay Packers 28-22 on Sunday to become the first defending champion to reach the Super Bowl in 10 years. The Seahawks miraculously overcame five turnovers, four of them Wilson interceptions, and a 12-point hole in the waning minutes of regulation in the NFC Championship Game. The stunning turn of events kept their dream of becoming the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 2004 New England Patriots alive. Seattle will play the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona. Seattle scored 15 points in a 44-second span late in the fourth to take the lead, only to see Mason Crosby hit a 48-yard field goal to force OT. Wilson finished 14-of-29 after going just 2-of-9 in the first half and totaled 209 yards for the Seahawks, who have won nine consecutive postseason home games. Aaron Rodgers was 19-of-34 for 178 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Green Bay, which scored the first 16 points of the game. Final Score: New England 45, Indianapolis 7 Foxboro, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and LeGarrette Blount rushed 30 times for 148 yards and three scores, as the New England Patriots dominated the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7, in the AFC Championship Game at a rainy Gillette Stadium.dddddddddddd. The Patriots will next try to derail the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks advanced to Super Bowl XLIX by rallying from a 16-point deficit for a thrilling 28-22 overtime win over Green Bay earlier Sunday. The matchup will be an intriguing one, especially for the head coaches. Current Seahawks coach Pete Carroll guided the Pats from 1997-99 before being replaced by Bill Belichick, who has engineered New England to six Super Bowl appearances and three titles (2001, 2003, 2004), all with Brady under center. Sundays victory was Belichicks 21st in the postseason, moving him past Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Landry for the most all-time. Additionally, New Englands eight Super Bowl appearances are tied with Pittsburgh and Dallas for the most in NFL history. New England, playing in the AFC title game for a fourth straight season, pulled away by outscoring the Colts, 28-0, in the second half. Brady finished 23-of-35 passing for 226 yards and was picked off once. Julian Edelman had nine catches for 98 yards for New England, which lost the previous two AFC title games, to Denver and Baltimore, respectively. Andrew Luck was stymied all night, as he connected on just 12-of-33 passes for 126 yards and a pair of interceptions for the Colts, who won at Denver last week. ' ' '