Graham Stuart

BEST MANAGER YOU PLAYED FOR?

HOWARD KENDALL was a terrific man-manager. I’ll always remember him welcoming me before my debut then straightening his tie and going off to introduce himself to my mum and dad in the players’ lounge.

BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED WITH?

I’M going for Andrei Kanchelskis. He absolutely terrorised defences. He was quick, powerful, scored goals and made them.

BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED AGAINST?

STUART PEARCE, but not because he was hard or intimidating. As a kid I played against him for Chelsea and Forest beat us 7-0. Stuart scored two and destroyed us.

TURNING POINT IN YOUR CAREER?

LEAVING Chelsea for Everton after becoming involved in an ugly contractual wrangle. It was a big lifestyle change after 22 years living in London. I still live on Merseyside.

BEST GOAL YOU SCORED?

FOR Chelsea against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. I picked up the ball just outside my own box and ran the length of the pitch. I only beat three players but it was the distance of the run before I slotted it past Chris Woods. A oncein-a-lifetime goal.

BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

WINNING the FA Cup will always stand out but to be part of a Charlton team that finished seventh in the Premier League was unbelievable.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CAREER?

GWYN WILLIAMS my youth coach at Chelsea. The years between 14 and 16 are so important for any player and Gwyn taught me the right ways for my future.

MOST-MEMORABLE GAME INVOLVED IN?

THE final game of the 1993-94 season when Everton had to beat Wimbledon at Goodison to avoid relegation. We went two down then I pulled one back with a penalty, Barry Horne scored an equaliser and I hit the winner in the 81st minute.

BEST STORY ABOUT A TEAM-MATE?

I’LL pass on that one, if you don’t mind.

SECRET ABOUT YOU?

I ONCE won a tenner off George Michael by beating him at pool. It happened at a party at a house owned by a big Chelsea supporter. I was there with Dennis Wise and Jason Cundy. George was part of Wham at the time and massively famous. It was the only time I’ve ever been starstruck.

GRAHAM STUART broke through Chelsea’s youth ranks and made almost 100 appearances for the club before moving to Everton. He helped them win the FA Cup – their last trophy – in 1995 before moving on to Sheffield United and Charlton. These days he’s an...