Football: Chelsea honour late vice-chairman Harding
Chelsea marked the 20th anniversary of the death of club vice-chairman Matthew Harding prior to their Premier League home game against Manchester United on Sunday. The front cover of the match programme was inspired by the programme produced for the first game after Harding died in a helicopter crash on October 22, 1996. A life-long supporter, Harding is credited with laying the foundations for the modern Chelsea. Banners in the Matthew Harding Stand, renamed after his death, read: "MATTHEW HARDING'S BLUE AND WHITE ARMY" and "MATTHEW HARDING -- ONE OF OUR OWN". Fans unfurled a large flag bearing his image. "We also remember Matthew Harding this weekend," long-serving captain John Terry wrote in the match programme. "Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of his death and we will pay tribute to him today because this club owes so much to him. "As well as a popular vice-chairman, he was a massive Chelsea fan and his family still are -- I know some of them are guests of the club today. "He has never been forgotten by this club or you supporters and it is fitting that the north stand bears his name. It would be great to win this one for him." Harding died aged 42 when a helicopter taking him back from a League Cup game at Bolton Wanderers crashed, killing him and his three fellow passengers as well as the pilot.
