LAMPS REWIND
Burley: It’s like being in a time-warp watching boss play youngsters. Back in the 80s kids like me were always given a chance
FRANK LAMPARD is taking Chelsea back to a bygone age – and creating a bright future for the club.
That’s according to former Stamford Bridge ace Craig Burley, who played at a time when Chelsea routinely brought young players through its ranks and into the first team.
Burley graduated alongside Frank Sinclair, Eddie Newton and Graham Stuart.
Now, a generation on, Chelsea are being forced to give youth a chance as a result of their transfer ban.
And, despite the odds being against him, it is an approach that is already paying a rich dividend for the Chelsea boss – particularly after last week’s 4-1 mauling of Southampton, with Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount again on the scoresheet.
“It’s almost like being in a time-warp because, in the 80s and the 90s, if you were a kid at Chelsea, you were going to get an opportunity,” said Burley (right).
“It has been almost the opposite since then. This season has reminded me of those days. You never know how these young players are going to get on, but they have coped really well so far, the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and (Fikayo) Tomori – and then you have (Ruben) Loftus-Cheek and (Callum) Hudson-Odoi coming back.
“This could be the best thing that has happened to them for quite a while. There’s a realisation that these players have to be given a chance. And fair play to Frank Lampard for doing it.
“The speed these guys are coming along shows he’s doing the right thing.”
Chelsea’s Champions League win over Lille saw 19-year-old Reece James become the latest player to be e handed his chance.
Now, with Chelsea firing on all fronts, Lampard will hope his young guns return from international duty ready for a fresh assault on the top four. It It’s a far cry from the d doom and gloom that surrounded the club last season. And a world away from the e environment that Bu Burley endured as an apprentice at the club. Then, with Stamford Bridge crumbling, everything was very different, including the way that players were encouraged to refuel.
“There isn’t too much I miss about having an allowance at the local hamburger and kebab shop when you’re an apprentice,” said Burley.
“No pasta and boiled chicken then, it was a £2 daily allowance in the hamburger and kebab shop opposite Fulham Broadway station. All the apprentices would go there after training.”
Chelsea were so hard up then that even that particular relationship was often fraught.
“I remember going in and the guy would be banging his fist on the table, shouting, ‘Not paying, not paying’,” said Burley, laughing.
“It turned out Chelsea were so hard-up they couldn’t even pay the kebab guy!”