It has also been said that each of us, whoever we admire in this life, whoever our heroes may be, to meet them in the flesh would only disenchant and destroy our own individual, perfect mind sets. Never, ever, meet the people that you most admire!
Take it from me, I never expected in my life I would ever have the opportunity to meet those I most admire and respect. To realise and fulfil every “little boy’s dream”, (I may physically be 31-years-old but my mind and spirit belong to that of a 12-year-old), to experience the reality of watching our team from “behind the scenes”, to encounter and converse with each of the squad, surely we are in Disney territory here?
To respond to the author who stated that, “nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it,” – you are so wrong.
To face the reality of my fantasies and dreams – it only exceeded my every expectation.
To come face-to-face and converse with Gianfranco Zola?
His humility, fragility, politeness, shyness and humour was every bit as impressive as his strengths so often encountered and displayed on the pitch.
This man has left a mark on me.
Today, the 1st September 2002, it is Chelsea V Arsenal. I am comfortable and content with the familiar surroundings of Stamford Bridge. I am at peace to see and hear all that means so much to me. The informal and jovial banter/Chelsea speak of the supporters as we make our way from the Fulham Broadway tube station and re-immerse ourselves within our spiritual home. The colourful but “we never smile” Chelsea pensioners who wait patiently in line, proudly displaying various medals. Always frowning never smiling - the length of their support clearly written on each of their faces. The Bridge itself with it’s bars, restaurants and proud new stands. The new Shed sits proudly with it’s history and its passion – never to be questioned and never to be removed.
All these things are comfortable and familiar and yet today I carry an unease. Today I am at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea – Arsenal and yet I have no ticket? Today I am the guest of Neil Barnett and Match-day Magazine. My role to fulfil the one of the uncomfortable, uneasy, nervous competition winner who will sit and watch in awe in surroundings so familiar on television and in my dreams but are not ever expected to become part of one’s reality.
I, Steve Furlong, will view the entire game from the press box. I will surround myself with journalists, pundits, Sky TV presenters, ex-players, ex-players turned journalists, current players, current players wives, current players children, heroes, villains (Martin Keown) and the odd Chelsea legend (Roberto Di Matteo). Today the unreal and the real will merge. Today the perfection of fantasy has become an unreal reality.
Like me, how many of you have dreamed/fantasized about meeting the team? Your team. Chelsea.
How many of you have sat at home and dreamt about walking through the tunnel and up onto the pitch, giving words of encouragement to each of the players as you do so? Listening to their conversations, watching their every move from within inches away. This was my reality and so much more.
What would you do or say when confronted with the reality and physical presence of the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (he held the door open for me), Eidur Gudjohnsen (he ignored me), Marcel Desailly, Bolo Zenden, Carlo, De Goey, Stevie Clarke, Graeme Le Saux, John Terry, Gronkjaer, Roberto Di Matteo. Yes today I overdosed on heroes.
What do you say to Eidur or Jimmy? How’s the knee? Nice goal mate? I hear Spain’s nice this time of year? And so here lies my other problem – what to say and not what to say. My theory? Say nothing until mental checks/procedures have been passed at least three times. Check, re-check….speak!
To witness the post match interviews in the tunnel from within a few feet; to converse with players in the bar following the game; to look upon the doting father Graeme Le Saux, gently taking his daughters hand willing her to interrupt Neil Barnett as he attempts his post match summing up for ChelseaTV - all of this is a reality which seems so unreal.
To say I may have lost touch, to lose the ability to distinct between the real world and fantasy may have been a fairly accurate assessment at this stage of the day’s proceedings.
It was at this point that I was then ushered onto the pitch to interview Gianfranco Zola. The brain had gone, my nerves were shot and I was about to confront the legend of Zola.
“…..but nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it…..”
This man surpassed my every expectation. I will say it again. His humility, fragility, politeness, shyness and humour was every bit as impressive and numbing as his strengths so often encountered and displayed on the pitch.
This man has left me changed.
A great American writer once said that “language is just a way to explain away the wonder and glory of the world. To deconstruct. To dismiss. True beauty cannot be explained or understood.”
I therefore have no intention of deconstructing the encounter with Gianfranco. I cannot explain the wonder and glory of the moment.
But give me time. For those of you that are interested I will relay the conversation that took place on this sunny, Sunday afternoon. But……give me time……….coming soon on Chelsea Mad.
stevefurlong@chelsea-mad.co.uk