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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport

Fizz and chips with Chelsea’s Ken Bates

Chelsea chairman Ken Bates celebrates a win by bowing to his players on 11 May 2003 at Stamford Bridge stadium, London.
Chelsea chairman Ken Bates celebrates a win by bowing to his players on 11 May 2003 at Stamford Bridge stadium, London. Photograph: Ben Radford/Getty Images

On my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in 1999, we celebrated at one of the restaurants at Chelsea’s stadium, Stamford Bridge. On being told this, the club’s chairman, Ken Bates – who died last weekend – and his partner came down from their flat and bought pink champagne for all of us. Ken asked one of the great-grandchildren for a chip. The child, Matthew, said no, but when offered £1 for it, agreed to the transaction. Ken then wrote a promissory note on a napkin to guarantee him a position in Chelsea’s finance department.
Colin Sweeney
London

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