In the’70 replay I had to rattle Eddie Gray. I did it quite well. Years later he said: ‘Have this back’.. it was a metal boot stud WALLY MEETS

BRUISE was the colour when Ron Harris lifted the FA Cup for Chelsea 50 years ago.

And dear old ‘Chopper’ thought his days of winning silverware were over until a surprise gift on the after-dinner circuit reminded him of the brutal final.

The Blues captain introduced himself to Eddie Gray in the replay at Old Trafford with a tackle so fierce the Leeds winger was reduced to a hobbling passenger and Chelsea won a violent sequel after extra-time.

Years later, at a reunion between a record-breaking full-back and the match-winner he neutralised, it was Gray (above) who enjoyed the last laugh.

“I did a corporate golf day with Eddie and afterwards, he announced he wanted to make a special presentation to an old friend,” recalled Harris (below, with the cup). “He reached into his pocket, handed me one of those metal screw-in studs and said, ‘Chopper, you left this in my kneecap at the cup final – I thought you’d like it back’.

“Eddie had given David Webb a hard time in the first game, so I swapped flanks in the replay and I was told to follow him wherever he went. If I could rattle him, that was my job – and without patting myself on the back too much, I did that quite successfully.

“In fairness, it took me eight minutes to catch up with Eddie on the night, about seven minutes later than I’d have liked. I’ve never liked being late for appointments, or for a train. The only things I’ve ever been late for are tackles.”

Now 75, Harris will pause for a few moments before today’s Wembley showpiece to remember absent friends from the final in 1970 – this year alone Peter Bonetti, Norman Hunter and Jack Charlton have passed away.

He will then settle down in his seat in a corporate lounge at Stamford Bridge to enjoy the youthful promise of Frank Lampard’s team.

Harris still has the club record for appearances with

795 games. And say what you like about his tackles, he remains a genial witness on the differences between modern football and the game he played.

“The thing I remember most about 1970 is the pitch at Wembley was a disgrace,” he chuntered. “Whoever decided to stage the Horse of the Year show a few days before the FA Cup final needs locking up.

“The other thing that stands out is the tackles. In the replay at

Old Trafford, Eddie Mccreadie caught Billy Bremner on the back of his neck with a high tackle. If he did that today, he would have been banned for six months.

“Both teams dished it out, but both teams took it.

There was no rolling around, squealing and feigning injury, like you see these days.

“I think there was only one player booked over the two games.

“If I was still playing now, I’d be lucky to get through the warm-up without a red card.”