RON CHOPPER HARRIS - PROFILE

Aylesford Football Clubs patron Ron “CHOPPER” Harris will forever be associated

with Chelsea, having made his debut for the club in February 1962, aged just 17. He went
on to make a record 795 appearances, including 657 in the league.

Ron was a member of the Chelsea side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1961,
after rising to first-team status, he became a key part of new
manager Tommy Docherty's youth-orientated re-building of the club.

His first senior honours came with a League Cup win over Leicester City in 1965.
He became club captain the following year, and in 1967 became the youngest
ever captain to lead out a side in an FA Cup final, against Spurs.

Chelsea, led by Harris, reached another FA Cup final three years later,
eventually beating Leeds United 2-1 after extra-time in a replay. Further honours
came with the European Cup Winners' Cup the following year.

He finally left Chelsea in 1980 to become player-coach at Brentford,
and later had a brief spell as player-manager of Aldershot.

 He is now a popular after-dinner speaker and has published a well-received
autobiography, Chopper: A Chelsea Legend.

Ron Harris was handed a special recognition award for his 795 appearances
and important place in the club's history. He led the team to our first FA Cup in 1970 and
 followed that up a year later with the Cup Winners' Cup, 40 years ago this week. His 2011
accolade was presented by former team-mate and defensive partner John Dempsey.

Upon receiving the award, 'Chopper' said:
'John and Frank have played 500 times, so they have a long way to go and I'm quietly
confident that I'll still be the leading appearance maker. They've been looking a little bit
grey lately! They've scored goals better than me. In my 21 years I only ever scored 13,
but we had some fantastic goalkeepers in my time! I remember every goal I've scored!
I've been in the game a long, long time and I'm very, very proud.'