Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris is considered a legend of English football. The former Chelsea defender earned his nickname due to a notoriously tough style of tackling the opposition which involved aggressively ‘scything’ them down from behind. Playing between 1961 and 1980, Harris was the first Chelsea captain to lift both the FA Cup and European Cup and made an incredible 795 appearances for the London club, a record that still stands today.

After leaving Chelsea in 1980, Harris continued to play professionally with brief stints at Brentwood as player-coach and Aldershot as player-manager before retiring in 1985. Pursuing another passion, greyhound racing, Harris spent time in the ‘90s as a professional greyhound trainer while continuing to support his former club. It was around this time that Harris made a bid to secure another world record by attempting to the sign the most autographs in a year for a London Down’s Syndrome charity.

Known for legendary battles against the likes of George Best and Jimmy Greaves, Harris is still revered at Stamford Bridge, where there remains a suite named after him: he sometimes conducts impromptu stadium tours for thrilled fans. During a Player of The Year ceremony in 2011 Harris was awarded a Special Recognition Award by Chelsea to thank him for his unforgettable career. Now in his ‘70s, Harris resides in Dorset with Lee – his wife of over 50 years – and remains a much-loved football veteran, a sought-after public speaker and an experienced pundit.