PAT NEVIN: STILL GOT IT

Chelsea columnist and former flying winger Pat Nevin took part in a Legends tournament on behalf of the Blues on Sunday, and turned out to be rather successful…

Here was me thinking last week was my last column of the season, but no, an extra missive is necessary following the over 40s competition that Chelsea entered on Sunday at Craven Cottage. Much to my surprise and delight, there where more than 15,000 souls who turned up for what became a very entertaining afternoon.

There were two semi-finals, Arsenal v Spurs preceded by our own match up with hosts Fulham. The Whites had the likes of Chris Coleman and Stan Collymore, my erstwhile team-mate at Channel 5 TV, while we certainly trumped that with our star player Gianfranco Zola.

I have to say I was delighted to start in a talented if vertically challenged midfield three of Franco, myself and Jody Morris, Gareth Hall played the anchor role and we did our best to imitate Iniesta, Xavi and Messi from the start.

I suppose it helps if you have Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink up front alongside a brilliantly fit Tore Andre Flo. It also gives you a bit of confidence if the mountainous Michael Duberry and Ken Monkou are creating a central defensive wall that was all but impenetrable. Add to that Andy Myers, Frank Sinclair, Bernard Lambourde and Danny Granville and it was a sturdy, determined back line. Fulham were certainly up for it from the start but we managed to get a goal ahead when Jimmy slotted home the opener from six yards after being set up by some little Scottish bloke with a number 7 on his back – modesty prevents me from naming him!

Eventually we powered ahead even allowing for a penalty scored by Fulham, the only way they looked likely to beat Dave Beasant who was on sparkling form. Big Dave even got a hand to the penalty, but the result was rarely in doubt. Jimmy scored two more, one a real classic thump that would still be travelling now had the net not intervened.

I will forget the modesty for a second to reveal that I notched the other two in a 5-1 victory. One of those goals was a left-footed curler from outside the box, which even my wife refused to believe really happened until she saw it on ITV 4 who covered the entire event.

Throughout the 40 minutes, 20 each way, the subs rolled on and off with Clive Walker and Clive Wilson both slotting in effortlessly to the game plan. Walker was the oldest on the team and to be fair he looked at least as sprightly as anyone in the tournament.

Job done and the final awaited with managers Tommy Docherty and Johnny Vaughan saying little about the team other than cracking a few jokes. He looked confident that his charges could overcome Spurs who had defeated Arsenal; Parlour, Merson, Sansom et al, 2-0 in a much slower paced second semi, just the lift we needed that our fitness would count.

The final was once more a pretty one-sided affair even if Tottenham did have some half decent possession, with the likes of Ramon Vega, Micky Hazard, Darren Anderton and Justin Edinburgh trying to make up for the fact that Graham Roberts had obviously put on one or two pounds over the years. Actually Robbo did well but once more the Blues were fitter, sharper and quicker to the ball throughout.

The goals were the highlights, and Ken Monkou started it. It would have been an injustice had Gianfranco not scored but when we got a free-kick just outside the box the crowd demanded that the Italian magician should have a go. He didn’t disappoint. Curled over the wall and dipping so sharply it was almost at ground level when it went over the line, I do not think any keeper playing today would have saved it. Joyous celebrations ensued and rightly so.

Jimmy scored yet again and Jody Morris cracked in yet another 20- yarder to underline the supremacy of the Chelsea side. There was even time for a few cameo moments from my old partner from back in the ’80s, Kerry Dixon.

So there you have it, Chelsea did at last manage some silverware this season and it was even caught by the cameras. A few of the goals are worth catching if you get a chance either on ITV4′s play again facility or doubtless in the future on Chelsea TV. For all those moments I will own up to a favourite if you will indulge me.

After scoring one of my goals in the first game Gianfranco Zola came up to congratulate me, if a still picture of the both of us together exists it might just make it on to my mantelpiece. He was the one player above all the stars from other eras I wouldn’t have enjoyed playing with more than anyone else, it was great to get the opportunity.

I look forward to chatting to you all again next season and by then it will be about the real team.