Probably best remembered as a genuine fan (rather than a generous benefactor) who tried by the use of his wealth, that he had been fortunate to accumulate, to accelerate the club that was a major part of his life toward the greatness he dreamed of. 
In his book “Chelsea – Football Under the Blue Flag” former Chairman Brian Mears describes a cold March evening, which saw a young Mathew Harding (amongst a crowd of 29,590) witness a wonderful solo run from Alan Hudson, which took him through the entire Sheffield Wednesday defence and seal victory for The Blues. It was a wonder goal that was to leave a lasting impression on the 12-year old. Brian Mears recalls that young, impressionable Matthew:
“Standing on the platform at Fulham Broadway station waiting for the District Line tube home, young Master Harding kept reading the official match programme with it’s royal blue cover; it cost one shilling, or five pence.
Later on Harding was to eschew buying programmes as he stated, ‘I was not interested in the opposition. I knew who was playing for Chelsea and that was good enough for me. If they did not wear a blue suit they weren’t a member of my family.’”
“Matthew loved to look back at the great Chelsea players. He was a great fan of Tommy Docherty and was on record as stating: ‘When this club was on it’s uppers, relegated, Ted Drake sacked and everything falling apart, along came Tommy Docherty. He took over and built a fantastic side. It was all English you know, not a lot of people realise this. We were the first to wear the all-one-colour strip. It was dashing football and great days.’”
Shortly before his death he wrote that Hudson’s majestic goal against Sheffield Wednesday that cold March night, was his own personal favourite all-time Chelsea goal. Coming from someone with his intensive knowledge of the minutiae of Chelsea folklore there can be no greater compliment.
Brian Mears describes this conversation with Matthew with great fondness stating:
“I can see him now as he spoke of the goal, smiling that old Matthew smile. I used to meet Matthew for a drink in his favourite watering hole and discuss Chelsea, old times and their future.”
Matthew really was a true Blue. His sudden loss was tragic and ultimately, sadly ironic. 
The sadness that remains for the family he left behind is also tinged with an irony that he was not able to see his vision of the club come to fruition.
He would have celebrated the current status of The Blues in the most successful period in the club’s history. The Cup Final victories, the crop of internationals on the playing staff and the development of Stamford Bridge into one of the best stadiums in Britain remains as tribute to the work he and Chairman Ken Bates undertook to transform the fortunes of Chelsea Football Club.
I will leave you with those immortal words from Matthew:
“I was not interested in the opposition. I knew who was playing for Chelsea and that was good enough for me. If they did not wear a blue suit they weren’t a member of my family.”