[Matthew Harding]

Matthew Harding
Vice-Chairman,
Chelsea F.C.
Football Fan.
Died 23 Oct 1996.

"Remember the past,
look to the future,
play the game."

Matthew Harding, a Chelsea fan from boyhood, made a fortune from the reinsurance business which enabled him to invest millions in the club he loved at a critical time in it's history. In return he was made Vice-Chairman and had a stand named after him. All was set for a dream partnership between Harding and Ken Bates, but they clashed in the boardroom over how best to spend those millions - Harding wanted to spend his money on players to attain success on the field, while Bates wanted to invest in infrastructure. This resulted in an increasingly bitter and public feud over who ran the club. It was never resolved. On the 23rd of October 1996 Matthew Harding was killed in a helicopter crash while returning from a Cup match at Bolton.

Although many Chelsea fans are ready to excuse Bates' obsessive publicity-seeking and increasingly autocratic ways, many more are disgusted by his public pronouncements on Harding both before and since his untimely death. Bates has never forgiven Harding, describing him as "an evil man" in a TV interview on the first anniversary of his death, and has even widened his vendetta to include Harding's living relatives. Harding's wife Ruth and her children are now banned from taking their customary seats in the East Stand. Despite Bates' hatred it should be recognised that Matthew, along with first Glenn Hoddle and then Ruud Gullit, was a catalyst in the upturn in Chelsea's fortunes. I prefer to try to forget the clash between two obstinate men and remember Matthew as a true fan.

Goodbye, Matthew, and thank you on behalf of all genuine football supporters.		 Chelsea Logo
"A tragedy that transcends
the allegiance to one
club and unites all
football fans."

A Liverpool supporter.

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