Ron Harris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ronald Edward Harris better known as Ron "Chopper" Harris, is a former English
footballer
who played for Chelsea
in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris is widely regarded as one of the toughest defenders
of his era - along with players such as Tommy Smith MBE
and Norman Hunter - hence the nickname
. His brother Allan Harris
was also a footballer with Chelsea
and QPR
and was for many years Terry Venables
' coaching partner.
in 1961 and made his senior club debut in February 1962 in a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday
. Within a year, he had established himself as a regular in the side, a position he would hold for the next eighteen years. He formed an important part of new Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty
's youth-oriented re-building of the club after relegation from the First Division
alongside the likes of Peter Bonetti
, Peter Osgood
and Bobby Tambling
.
Upon the club's return to the top division, Harris solidified his reputation as an uncompromising - yet talented - defender with a series of strong (and sometimes notorious) performances. His first honours with Chelsea came with a League Cup
win over Leicester City
in 1965
. In the same season, Chelsea were challenging for the league title for most of the year but ultimately finished third after winning just one of their final five matches. He became club captain the following year when Terry Venables
left for Tottenham Hotspur
and in 1967 became the youngest ever captain to lead out a side in the 1967 FA Cup Final
, although they lost 2-1 to Tottenham. Chelsea, led by Harris, reached another FA Cup final three years later, this time against Leeds United - a side then at their peak in English football.
That 1970 FA Cup Final is notorious for being one of the most physical of all time, it saw Harris come into his own in the role of both inspirational leader and uncompromising tackler. With Leeds having taken a 2-1 lead at Wembley with just six minutes remaining, it was his quick free kick
which led to Ian Hutchinson's headed equaliser to take the game to a replay. During the replay at Old Trafford
his late tackle on Leeds' playmaker Eddie Gray after just eight minutes (just one of many late tackles committed by both sides), left the latter a virtual passenger for the rest of the match: Chelsea eventually won 2-1 after extra-time.
The following season saw Harris lift Chelsea's first major Europe
an honour - the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- in another replayed final against Real Madrid
in Athens
. Chelsea also reached a second League Cup final in 1972, but surprisingly lost to Stoke
in what proved to be his last major final for the club.
. He finally left Chelsea in 1980 to become a player-coach at Brentford
, having played a record 795 games for Chelsea. He later had a brief stint as player-manager of Aldershot
.
(especially on Chelsea), an in-demand after-dinner speaker and recently penned an autobiography
, Chopper: A Chelsea Legend. He also has a suite named after him at Stamford Bridge
, in honour of his legend
ary status at the club.
On 13 November 2007, he took part in the limited edition autobiography CD series "60 minutes with...", when he was interviewed by David Knight. Ron spoke in detail about his historical career (information from www.60mins.tv)
Between 1 April 2009 and 1 April 2010, Ron Harris is attempting to set a new world record in signing the most autographs within a twelve month period. This is being done via a UK-wide tour and via the sale of signed photos online http://www.chopperharris.com
On 19 May 2011 he was given "Special Recognition Award" in a Chelsea player of the year ceremony.
Ron also conducts Legends Tours of Stamford Bridge.
Totals include 1 Charity Shield
appearance in 1970–71.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris is widely regarded as one of the toughest defenders
Football (soccer) positions
In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These...
of his era - along with players such as Tommy Smith MBE
Tommy Smith (footballer born 1945)
Thomas "Tommy" Smith MBE was a long-serving footballer with Liverpool, known for his uncompromising defensive style. Manager Bill Shankly once said of him: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried."-Life and playing career:...
and Norman Hunter - hence the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
. His brother Allan Harris
Allan Harris
Allan Harris was a footballer who played for Chelsea, Coventry City and QPR. His brother Ron was also a professional footballer....
was also a footballer with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and was for many years Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
' coaching partner.
Chelsea
Harris was a member of the Chelsea side which won the FA Youth CupFA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
in 1961 and made his senior club debut in February 1962 in a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. Within a year, he had established himself as a regular in the side, a position he would hold for the next eighteen years. He formed an important part of new Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty
Tommy Docherty
Thomas Henderson "Tommy" Docherty , commonly known as "The Doc", is a Scottish former footballer and football manager.-Playing career:...
's youth-oriented re-building of the club after relegation from the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
alongside the likes of Peter Bonetti
Peter Bonetti
Peter Phillip Bonetti is a former football goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. Bonetti was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname, "The Cat"...
, Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood
Peter Leslie Osgood was an English footballer who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing Chelsea and Southampton at club level, and was also capped four times by England in the early 1970s.-Chelsea:Born in a small road named Kentons Lane in Windsor, Osgood...
and Bobby Tambling
Bobby Tambling
Robert Victor 'Bobby' Tambling is a retired English footballer, who played most notably for Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the 1960s and 1970s...
.
Upon the club's return to the top division, Harris solidified his reputation as an uncompromising - yet talented - defender with a series of strong (and sometimes notorious) performances. His first honours with Chelsea came with a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
win over Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 1965
1965 Football League Cup Final
The 1965 Football League Cup Final, the fifth to be staged since the competition's inception, was contested between Leicester City and Chelsea over two legs. Leicester, the holders, were aiming to become the first side to retain the trophy while Chelsea were seeking to become the first London side...
. In the same season, Chelsea were challenging for the league title for most of the year but ultimately finished third after winning just one of their final five matches. He became club captain the following year when Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
left for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and in 1967 became the youngest ever captain to lead out a side in the 1967 FA Cup Final
1967 FA Cup Final
The 1967 FA Cup Final took place at Wembley on 20 May 1967, between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. It was the competition's first final to be contested between two teams from London, and is thus often dubbed the Cockney Cup Final. Tottenham won 2–1...
, although they lost 2-1 to Tottenham. Chelsea, led by Harris, reached another FA Cup final three years later, this time against Leeds United - a side then at their peak in English football.
That 1970 FA Cup Final is notorious for being one of the most physical of all time, it saw Harris come into his own in the role of both inspirational leader and uncompromising tackler. With Leeds having taken a 2-1 lead at Wembley with just six minutes remaining, it was his quick free kick
Indirect free kick
An indirect free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. Unlike a direct free kick, a goal may not be scored directly from the kick. The law was derived from the Sheffield Rules that stated that no goal could be scored from a free kick...
which led to Ian Hutchinson's headed equaliser to take the game to a replay. During the replay at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
his late tackle on Leeds' playmaker Eddie Gray after just eight minutes (just one of many late tackles committed by both sides), left the latter a virtual passenger for the rest of the match: Chelsea eventually won 2-1 after extra-time.
The following season saw Harris lift Chelsea's first major Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an honour - the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
- in another replayed final against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Chelsea also reached a second League Cup final in 1972, but surprisingly lost to Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in what proved to be his last major final for the club.
Moves
While many of Chelsea's star players departed during the 1970s for various reasons, Harris remained an ever-present in the side throughout a decade which saw them relegated twice and promoted once, although he lost the club captaincy to the 18-year-old Ray WilkinsRay Wilkins
Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
. He finally left Chelsea in 1980 to become a player-coach at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, having played a record 795 games for Chelsea. He later had a brief stint as player-manager of Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
.
In retirement
He is now a football punditPundit (politics)
A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities...
(especially on Chelsea), an in-demand after-dinner speaker and recently penned an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Chopper: A Chelsea Legend. He also has a suite named after him at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, in honour of his legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
ary status at the club.
On 13 November 2007, he took part in the limited edition autobiography CD series "60 minutes with...", when he was interviewed by David Knight. Ron spoke in detail about his historical career (information from www.60mins.tv)
Between 1 April 2009 and 1 April 2010, Ron Harris is attempting to set a new world record in signing the most autographs within a twelve month period. This is being done via a UK-wide tour and via the sale of signed photos online http://www.chopperharris.com
On 19 May 2011 he was given "Special Recognition Award" in a Chelsea player of the year ceremony.
Ron also conducts Legends Tours of Stamford Bridge.
Playing statistics
| Season | Club | Division | League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup | Europe European football European football is a colloquial term referring to any international football club competition that is organised by UEFA. Any club that wishes to participate in European football must qualify through their respective domestic league or domestic cup competitions... |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1961–62 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
First Division Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1962–63 | Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1963–64 | First Division Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
41 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| 1964–65 | 42 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 2 | ||
| 1965–66 | 36 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 52 | 2 | ||
| 1966–67 | 42 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 0 | ||
| 1967–68 | 40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
| 1968–69 | 40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 0 | ||
| 1969–70 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| 1970–71 | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 55 | 1 | ||
| 1971–72 | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 57 | 1 | ||
| 1972–73 | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 1 | ||
| 1973–74 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 1974–75 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| 1975–76 | Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
40 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 1976–77 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| 1977–78 | First Division Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
37 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| 1978–79 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| Chelsea total | 655 | 13 | 64 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 795 | 14 | ||
Totals include 1 Charity Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
appearance in 1970–71.
Playing Honours
- European Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
- Winners: 1971
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
- Winners: 1970
- Runner-up: 19671967 FA Cup FinalThe 1967 FA Cup Final took place at Wembley on 20 May 1967, between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. It was the competition's first final to be contested between two teams from London, and is thus often dubbed the Cockney Cup Final. Tottenham won 2–1...
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
- Winners: 19651965 Football League Cup FinalThe 1965 Football League Cup Final, the fifth to be staged since the competition's inception, was contested between Leicester City and Chelsea over two legs. Leicester, the holders, were aiming to become the first side to retain the trophy while Chelsea were seeking to become the first London side...
- Runner-up: 19721972 Football League Cup FinalThe 1972 Football League Cup Final took place on 4 March 1972 at Wembley Stadium and was contested by Chelsea and Stoke City. Chelsea went into the match as strong favourites having won the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the previous two seasons, whereas Stoke were attempting to win their...
- Winners: 1965
- FA Charity ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
- Runner-up 19701970 FA Charity ShieldThe 1970 FA Charity Shield was the 49th FA Charity Shield, the annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Football League and FA Cup competitions. It was contested between Everton, the reigning First Division champions, and Chelsea, holders of the FA Cup...
- Runner-up 1970
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
- Runner-up: 1962–63, 1976–77
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
- Winners: 1961
- Milk CupMilk CupThe Milk Cup is an international youth football tournament held annually in Northern Ireland. The cup matches are mainly played in the North Coast area of Northern Ireland, with matches taking place in the towns of Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballymena and...
: 4th Round 1983 (Brentford's Best Ever Finish)
Individual Honours
- Chelsea's Most League Appearances-657
- Chelsea's Most FA Cup Appearances-64
- Chelsea's Most Appearances in Total-795
- Special Recognition Award 2010-2011
External links
- Ron CHOPPER Harris Official Blog
- Ron CHOPPER Harris Official website
- Newcastle Fans profile
- http://www.chelseafc.com/page/Legends_Details/0,,10268~1966799,00.html Ron Harris at www.chelseafc.com
- Daily Telegraph / Telegraph Online article on Ron Harris
- Mirrorfootball.co.uk Article and video interview with Ron