Upfront with Chelsea - Chris Westcott

Hilsdon, Lawton, Bentley, Greaves, Trambling, Osgood, Dixon, Zola. . . Names that send a tingle down the spine of those immersed in Chelsea's tradition and history. Few clubs can lay claim to such a distinguished line of centre-forwards. You cannot quantify their value in terms of goals, but you always can in terms of spirit. That indebtedness to the past, to the people who built the traditions that the current players have inherited. It should be a fundamental aspect of all sports, sustaining root from which norishment derives. Sadly the structure of football is such that the majority of player do not stay long enough to know or care about their club's history. That accusation can hardly be levelled at the supporter though and whilst the odd cap may be missing nowadays, the loyalty of Chelsea fan, young and old remains unquestioned. We are mostly fashioned by what we learn in our youth and inevitably we focus on the glamour; the heroes who create chances and win our hearts and minds. This book portrays these heroes, some high profile and some more supportive but no less influential. We share their experiences as they narrate career highlights and their time at Chelsea. The reader will savour the nostaalgia of Chelsea's history and some of the clubs's greatest players.