Ron Harris (English footballer)

Last updated

Ron Harris
Personal information
Full name Ronald Edward Harris [1]
Date of birth (1944-11-13) 13 November 1944 (age 80)
Place of birth Hackney, London, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1960–1962 Chelsea
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1962–1980 Chelsea 655 (13)
1980–1983 Brentford 61 (0)
Total716(13)
International career
1966–1968 England U23 4 (0)
Managerial career
1984–1985 Aldershot
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ronald Edward Harris (born 13 November 1944), known by the nickname "Chopper" for his tough style of defending, is an English former footballer who played for Chelsea in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris captained Chelsea to FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup success, and made a club record 795 appearances. His brother Allan Harris was also a professional footballer and they were teammates at Chelsea in the mid-1960s.

Contents

Chelsea

Harris was a member of the Chelsea side which won the FA Youth Cup 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 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. He won four caps for England U23 between 1966 and 1968. [3]

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 European 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.

Moves

While many of Chelsea's star players departed during the 1970s (due to Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson falling out with manager Dave Sexton, and due to the financial crisis caused by the building of the new East Stand, and the financial impact of relegation), Harris remained ever-present in the side throughout a decade which saw them relegated twice and promoted once, although he was replaced as Club Captain by John Hollins at the tail end of the 1971/72 season. Harris was primarily a central defender in the mould of Bobby Moore and Norman Hunter but in later years he was often played out of position as circumstances dictated. After the retirement of Eddie McCreadie, he played at left back for a considerable time and was used as cover at right back when injuries left the financially struggling Chelsea short of cover.

In the closing stages of his career, he also played as a holding midfielder in a role similar to Claude Makélélé, providing a screen for a defence that was often caught out by counter-attacks. Over an 18-year period Harris was rarely out of the first team. In 10 seasons he averaged 41 league games out of 42 and in 5 other seasons he averaged over 37 games. He finally left Chelsea in 1980 to become a player-coach at Brentford, having played a record 795 games for Chelsea. [4] He later had a brief stint as player-manager of Aldershot.

In retirement

Harris was a professional greyhound trainer for several years during the 1990s. [5]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivision FA Cup League Cup EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea 1961–62 [6] First Division 300000——30
1962–63 [6] Second Division 700000——70
1963–64 [6] First Division4123010——452
1964–65 [6] First Division4225060——532
1965–66 [6] First Division362600010 [a] 0—522
1966–67 [6] First Division4207030——520
1967–68 [6] First Division4005010——460
1968–69 [6] First Division40050304 [a] 0—520
1969–70 [6] First Division3008030——410
1970–71 [6] First Division38130409 [b] 01 [c] 0551
1971–72 [6] First Division41030904 [b] 1—571
1972–73 [6] First Division4213070——521
1973–74 [6] First Division3622010——392
1974–75 [6] First Division4202040——480
1975–76 [6] Second Division4004010——450
1976–77 [6] Second Division1902010——220
1977–78 [6] First Division3714010——421
1978–79 [6] First Division4001010——420
1979–80 [6] Second Division3921020——422
Total655136404802711079514
Brentford 1980–81 [7] Third Division 2903020——340
1981–82 [7] Third Division2001020——230
1982–83 [7] Third Division901040——140
1983–84 [7] Third Division30—20——50
Total61050100—00760
Career total716136905802711087114
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in FA Charity Shield

Honours

Chelsea Youth

Chelsea

Records

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Bonetti</span> English footballer (1941–2020)

Peter Philip Bonetti was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England. He was known for his safe handling, lightning reflexes and his graceful style, for which he was given the nickname "The Cat". He was one of several goalkeepers who specialised in a one-armed throw which could achieve a similar distance to a drop kick.

Peter Leslie Osgood was an English footballer who was active during the 1960s and 1970s. He is best remembered for representing Chelsea and Southampton as a forward at club level, winning the FA Cup with each, and was also capped four times by England in the early 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Graham</span> Scottish footballer and manager (born 1944)

George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Wise</span> English football player and manager (born 1966)

Dennis Frank Wise is an English former professional football player and manager who played as a central midfielder. He spent the majority of his career at Chelsea, from 1990 to 2001.

EdwinGray is a Scottish former football player and coach. Gray was a cultured winger, who was an integral member of the legendary Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s, later twice becoming the club's manager. He is part of the Gray family.

David James Sexton was an English football manager and player. He was notable for managing Chelsea to their first European trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hollins</span> English footballer (1946–2023)

John William Hollins was an English football player and manager. He initially played as a midfielder, before becoming an effective full-back later in his career. Hollins played in the Football League, predominantly for Chelsea, with whom he won the FA Cup, Football League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He made 592 appearances for Chelsea over two spells from 1963 to 1975 and from 1983 to 1984, making him one of six players to have made over 500 appearances for the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Cooke</span> Scottish footballer

Charles Cooke is a Scottish former footballer. He played as a winger for Aberdeen, Dundee, Chelsea and Crystal Palace, before ending his career in the United States.

David James Webb is an English former professional footballer who made 555 appearances in the Football League playing for Leyton Orient, Southampton, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester City, Derby County, AFC Bournemouth and Torquay United. He became a manager, taking charge of Bournemouth, Torquay United, Southend United, Chelsea, Brentford and Yeovil Town.

1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s – 1950s – 1960s – 1970s – 1980s – 1990s – 2000s – 2010s – 2020s

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie McCreadie</span> Scottish footballer and manager

Edward Graham McCreadie is a Scottish former footballer who played at left-back, mainly for Chelsea. He later became a football manager.

Alan Anthony Hudson is an English former footballer who played for Arsenal, Chelsea, Stoke City and the Seattle Sounders as well as the England national football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 FA Cup final</span> Football match in London, England

The 1970 FA Cup final was contested by Chelsea and Leeds United. The match took place on 11 April 1970 at Wembley Stadium and ended 2–2, making it the first FA Cup final to require a replay since 1912. The replay was staged at Old Trafford and played on 29 April; after four hours of fiercely contested football, Chelsea eventually won 2–1. To date, this is the last time both the final and replay were scheduled to be played in April; all subsequent FA Cup final ties have been scheduled to be played in May, with only the 2020 FA Cup final delayed and played later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peter Houseman was an English footballer who played as a winger. He was best known for his part in Chelsea's F.A. Cup-winning side of 1970. He later signed for Oxford United. He was killed along with his wife and two friends in a car crash in 1977.

The 1980–81 season was the 101st season of competitive football in England.

The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.

The 1969–70 season was the 90th season of competitive football in England.

Marvin Hinton is an English former footballer who made nearly 400 appearances in the Football League playing as a defender for Charlton Athletic and Chelsea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea F.C.–Leeds United F.C. rivalry</span> Football rivalry

The rivalry between Chelsea and Leeds United is a football rivalry between London-based club Chelsea and Yorkshire-based Leeds United. The rivalry first emerged in the 1960s after a series of fiercely contested and controversial matches, when the two clubs were frequently involved in the pursuit of domestic and European honours culminating in the 1970 FA Cup final, which is regarded as one of the most physical matches in English football history.

This article documents the history of Chelsea Football Club, an English association football team based in Fulham, West London. For a general overview of the club, see Chelsea F.C.

References

  1. ↑ "Ron Harris". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Rollin, Jack (1981). Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1981–82. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 72. ISBN   0-362-02046-9. OCLC   868301130.
  3. ↑ "England – U-23 International Results – Details". RSSSF . Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Players Appearances He-Ho". Bounder.friardale.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN   0-948955-22-8.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Ron Harris". 11v11.com. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. pp. 422–425. ISBN   978-1906796716.
  8. 1 2 Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 491. ISBN   0354-09018-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.