The football on display between Boro and Fulham at the Riverside may not have been quite the five star performance we were looking for but there were some genuine heroes in the hospitality suite, if not on the pitch, as two of the Chelsea Pensioners enjoyed the VIP match day experience.
Donald Lochrie, eighty-four, and Kenny Rogers, seventy-six, are both lifelong Boro fans despite being part of The Chelsea Pensioners. They were guests of honour at the Riverside last Saturday.
The Chelsea Pensioners were founded in 1682 by King Charles II to give aid to war veterans and the orginal base, The Royal Hospital in Chelsea, still provides a comfortable home for those who wish to reside there, although Chelsea Pensioners can also be 'out pensioners' and live elsewhere.
The distinctive scarlet coats sported by the Chelsea Pensioners are worn with tricorne hats for ceremonial ocassions and are a more modern version of the uniform first introduced by the Duke of Marlborough at the beginning of the eighteenth century.
Donald Lochrie is in his eighth year as a Chelsea Pensioner, and when called on to the stage by Craig Hignett, who was hosting the pre-match entertainment, he exclaimed: "I hope they don't want me to sing!"
EB: Is this your first time here?
DL: Yes this is my first time at the Riverside. I used to come to Ayresome Park before I went to Chelsea.
And I followed Middlesbrough through the war in the days of my hero Wilf Mannion.
EB: And have you enjoyed the day, despite Boro not getting the win?
DL: Oh yes, the treatment here was absolutely first class.
You want to talk to Kenny though, he's the one with the stories...
Kenny Rogers - "Yes, really, and no not that one!" as he informed me - acquired a chair for me from a nearby table:
KR: So dear, what do you want to know?
DL: Tell her about coming back.
KR: I'm getting used to Middlesbrough again. I spent forty years in Australia and I came back to England and it was brilliant.
I'm reliving my past, I was born in Southampton but I'm Boro through and through.
The northern people are so hospitable. Southerners are not like that. You [northerners] go out of your way.
DL: And your room, tell her about your room...
KR: Red and white are my favourite colours, everything in my berth is red and white, I got rid of all the furniture!
Upon arrival at the Royal Hospital, each Chelsea Pensioner surrenders his army pension in return for residence and medical care and is given a berth (bedroom).
KR: I'd like to mention a few people, if I may.
Sue Gardener and Geoff Richardson [from the Official Supporters' Club], Diane O'Connell [MFC's Chief Community Officer] and Alan Jones [who accompanied the CP's to the match]. We wouldn't be be here if it wasn't for him.
Alan Jones: "I'm embarrassed, I've never been embarrassed in my life! The first thing is the staff here are excellent, so dedicated and efficient.
I've never known staff like this and i've worked in the industry. And The Supporters Club in general have been wonderful."
EB: I won't ask you what you think of our current Australian keeper...
KR: Well there was an Australian goalkeeper at either end and both had links to Boro so that was good...
EB: The result could have been better though.
KR: I tell you what, I'm seventy six and he's eighty four and we've got better eyesight than that ref and the linesmen! And you can put that in!
The Chelsea pensioners who graced the Riverside last weekend in their distinctive scarlet uniforms were true gentleman and delighted the supporters with their willingness to pose for photographs and share stories and opinions of Boro past and present. Hopefully they enjoyed their stay as much as I enjoyed talking to them.
First published on www.ComeOnBoro.com on 21/4/2008
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