Fizz and chips with Chelsea’s Ken Bates | Letter
Colin Sweeney recalls a restaurant encounter with the former chairman of the London football club, who died on 11 JulyOn my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary in 1999, we celebrated at...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Colin Sweeney recalls a restaurant encounter with the former chairman of the London football club, who died on 11 July 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 • Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section. Continue reading...