I was at school and he was my obsession. He was a footballer light years ahead any other of his age.
He was captain at 18 in a side that still included Chopper. Wilkins Britton Lewington and Stanley was a young midfield that got us promotion in 77. I met him years later through work. I remember a pass he hit all of 40 yards v Hull. It bounced once and second bounce it stopped dead such was the back spin. He was so modest he said anyone could do that with practice. He was also gutted to be sold to Man U. He didn't want to go and told Mears he wanted to be with his mates from the youth team. He was told the deal was done and we needed the money.
Nice guy and a great player probably appreciated more my the savvy Italians then he was here mainly due to his nickname at OT which was harsh.
RIP Butch
Those were dark days at Chelsea financially, but the Eddie Mac team with Ray leading the rest of the young boys had the potential to take us back to the glory days that we had seen a few years before, but a combination of bad luck and poor management from the upper echelons at the Club meant it was never destined to happen. We qualified for promotion more comprehensively than the Forest side that we now all know went on to do great things the following seasons, but they kept their great management team and players together but Mears and co. put through their own goal over a Company Car.
Ray Wilkins was the jewel in that Crown and I for one will never forget just how exciting it was to watch him play regularly. When he went to Man U he played in a deeper more defensive role than he did for us and a lot of people don't actually realise that even though he wasn't a prolific goal scorer at Old Trafford (IMO because of his change of role), he was when he played for us in a more advanced role sitting just behind the front 2, which I personally thought was his most effective position.
He has proved that wherever he went all over Europe he was not only a top class footballer with sublime skill in either foot but a thoroughly nice guy and a gentleman to boot. It's not often that high profile players are universally admired by fans of all Club's but I believe that Ray did achieve that distinction which is why multiple tributes have gone up today on JA from fans of all Club's and not just ones with obviously a special affection for him like us and United.
He also retained an affection for our Club for all of his life and I for one am proud to have watched him play all those years ago and he will be remembered by all of us as one of the greatest players ever to have graced the blue shirt.
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
First football too I bought was Chelsea as I was team blue in sports day and I can still see Wilkins in the seventies top.
Saw Ray score a screamer for Rangers against Celtic in August 88, and just liked the guy as a person too!
RIP Ray.
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 minutes ago
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Spurs Sandy paying tribute to Ray earlier and Wilkins captained Chelsea aged 18 at WHL in 1975.
comment by thebluebellsareblue (U9292)
posted 1 minute ago
First football too I bought was Chelsea as I was team blue in sports day and I can still see Wilkins in the seventies top.
Saw Ray score a screamer for Rangers against Celtic in August 88, and just liked the guy as a person too!
RIP Ray.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Football Top
comment by thebluebellsareblue (U9292)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 minutes ago
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Spurs Sandy paying tribute to Ray earlier and Wilkins captained Chelsea aged 18 at WHL in 1975.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at that game - we were relegated at the end of the season!
I was outside that game. I reckon I got the better deal.
Did anybody hear the call on Talk Sport the other night from a an ex Soldier who was homeless at the time he had a ‘chance’ meeting with Ray?
If you have not heard it, it really is worth listening to (I believe it is on twitter). It is a massive endorsement of all the nice things that everyone has said about him since we first became aware his life was in danger, let alone his sad passing.
comment by The Noble Lord Flash (U8334)
posted 6 hours, 29 minutes ago
Did anybody hear the call on Talk Sport the other night from a an ex Soldier who was homeless at the time he had a ‘chance’ meeting with Ray?
If you have not heard it, it really is worth listening to (I believe it is on twitter). It is a massive endorsement of all the nice things that everyone has said about him since we first became aware his life was in danger, let alone his sad passing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just saw the soldier piece from the Sun post earlier👍
Ray was just a sound bloke.
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Ray Wilkins to me
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posted on 4/4/18
I was at school and he was my obsession. He was a footballer light years ahead any other of his age.
He was captain at 18 in a side that still included Chopper. Wilkins Britton Lewington and Stanley was a young midfield that got us promotion in 77. I met him years later through work. I remember a pass he hit all of 40 yards v Hull. It bounced once and second bounce it stopped dead such was the back spin. He was so modest he said anyone could do that with practice. He was also gutted to be sold to Man U. He didn't want to go and told Mears he wanted to be with his mates from the youth team. He was told the deal was done and we needed the money.
Nice guy and a great player probably appreciated more my the savvy Italians then he was here mainly due to his nickname at OT which was harsh.
RIP Butch
posted on 4/4/18
Those were dark days at Chelsea financially, but the Eddie Mac team with Ray leading the rest of the young boys had the potential to take us back to the glory days that we had seen a few years before, but a combination of bad luck and poor management from the upper echelons at the Club meant it was never destined to happen. We qualified for promotion more comprehensively than the Forest side that we now all know went on to do great things the following seasons, but they kept their great management team and players together but Mears and co. put through their own goal over a Company Car.
Ray Wilkins was the jewel in that Crown and I for one will never forget just how exciting it was to watch him play regularly. When he went to Man U he played in a deeper more defensive role than he did for us and a lot of people don't actually realise that even though he wasn't a prolific goal scorer at Old Trafford (IMO because of his change of role), he was when he played for us in a more advanced role sitting just behind the front 2, which I personally thought was his most effective position.
He has proved that wherever he went all over Europe he was not only a top class footballer with sublime skill in either foot but a thoroughly nice guy and a gentleman to boot. It's not often that high profile players are universally admired by fans of all Club's but I believe that Ray did achieve that distinction which is why multiple tributes have gone up today on JA from fans of all Club's and not just ones with obviously a special affection for him like us and United.
He also retained an affection for our Club for all of his life and I for one am proud to have watched him play all those years ago and he will be remembered by all of us as one of the greatest players ever to have graced the blue shirt.
posted on 4/4/18
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
posted on 4/4/18
First football too I bought was Chelsea as I was team blue in sports day and I can still see Wilkins in the seventies top.
Saw Ray score a screamer for Rangers against Celtic in August 88, and just liked the guy as a person too!
RIP Ray.
posted on 4/4/18
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 minutes ago
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Spurs Sandy paying tribute to Ray earlier and Wilkins captained Chelsea aged 18 at WHL in 1975.
posted on 4/4/18
comment by thebluebellsareblue (U9292)
posted 1 minute ago
First football too I bought was Chelsea as I was team blue in sports day and I can still see Wilkins in the seventies top.
Saw Ray score a screamer for Rangers against Celtic in August 88, and just liked the guy as a person too!
RIP Ray.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Football Top
posted on 4/4/18
comment by thebluebellsareblue (U9292)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 2 minutes ago
I started going to Chelsea every game when I left school in 75, it coincided with Ray becoming the team captain, he became my new hero after Ossie and Hudson had been sold on.
To take over as captain in the presence of players like Chopper, The Cat and Charlie Cooke, is testament to such maturity at such a young age.
It's been a sad day for me today, good bye Ray, like many others I'll never forget you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Spurs Sandy paying tribute to Ray earlier and Wilkins captained Chelsea aged 18 at WHL in 1975.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at that game - we were relegated at the end of the season!
posted on 4/4/18
I was outside that game. I reckon I got the better deal.
posted on 6/4/18
Did anybody hear the call on Talk Sport the other night from a an ex Soldier who was homeless at the time he had a ‘chance’ meeting with Ray?
If you have not heard it, it really is worth listening to (I believe it is on twitter). It is a massive endorsement of all the nice things that everyone has said about him since we first became aware his life was in danger, let alone his sad passing.
posted on 6/4/18
comment by The Noble Lord Flash (U8334)
posted 6 hours, 29 minutes ago
Did anybody hear the call on Talk Sport the other night from a an ex Soldier who was homeless at the time he had a ‘chance’ meeting with Ray?
If you have not heard it, it really is worth listening to (I believe it is on twitter). It is a massive endorsement of all the nice things that everyone has said about him since we first became aware his life was in danger, let alone his sad passing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just saw the soldier piece from the Sun post earlier👍
Ray was just a sound bloke.
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