Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Abramovich to be boss at Chelsea?
WithBrown
FOR as long as I can remember, published pranks on April Fools Day has been the norm.
This month, I’ll continue to share some football spoofs which reached the publication stage.
In 2013, Chelsea fans were greeted with the shock news that Roman Abramovich was planning to move from the boardroom to the bootroom by taking charge of first-team affairs at Stamford Bridge.
A radio station first broke the news that Abramovich, who had gone through a string of managers since taking ownership of the club, had opted to take his coaching badges prior to assuming control of team affairs for the 2013-14 season.
Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli had been brought in to add weight to the story by saying he had been advising Abramovich on his new venture.
However, Blues fans were able to breathe easy when it was confirmed as an April Fools jibe.
BONNYRIGG resident Bruce Connolly was another who responded to the story regarding John Smith and Downfield JFC.
He opened in complimentary fashion, but his tale is not about John Smith: “I thoroughly enjoy your weekly pages, but the February 13 edition had particular resonance in two respects.
“First, I should say that I am Alex Connelly’s grandson – he of longstanding involvement with Downfield Juniors.
“So the picture of the circa 1958 team caught my eye for the unmistakable black-and-white hooped jerseys.
“My grandfather, although not pictured in that particular photo, was well ensconced with the club at this time and, indeed, had been from as far back as the 1920s when he was first involved as a player.
“When his playing days were over, he joined the committee, and he