Source: Telegraph
Jon Harley holds no grudges against Chelsea despite FA Cup heartache
In addition, his consultant, Frank Lampard, is the father of Chelsea's own Frank, so there are reasons aplenty for hoping that familiarity will not breed contempt. [LNB]Add to the equation Watford's Jon Harley, and the outcome could be fascinating. For Harley played in every game from the third round to the semi-final for Chelsea in the 2000 FA Cup, before losing his place to Celestine Babayaro in the final. [LNB]Chelsea won 1-0 in the last final before the rebuild, but Harley, now at Watford, is commendably cool about the way he was treated. [LNB]"I'd played 90 minutes [in all games] leading up to the final, then, the day before the final, the team was named, and four of the five subs were named and I wasn't actually involved," he recalls. [LNB]"The fifth sub was to be named on the morning of the game and I didn't expect it to be me because I think we have a few big players left out, Chris Sutton being one of them. [LNB]"So I just assumed it would be him, and the morning of the game the team was put up. And to be the fifth sub, I saw my name there; I was actually chuffed to be sub, even though it should have felt I was being dropped. It ended up being a good feeling. I've got my medal and felt I've earned it."[LNB]Harley joined Chelsea aged 11 and stayed until he was 21, during which time he built up a close relationship with John Terry, the Chelsea captain. Terry is suspended today, but the friendship remains. As does Harley's loyalty to Chelsea. [LNB]"They are still the team I support," added Harley, who arrived at Watford via Fulham, Sheffield United and Burnley – all, incidentally, still in this season's competition. [LNB]"When I stop playing, that will be my team. When I get the papers on a Sunday I always read their report. It's the first result I look at. My family has always supported them as well so that's sort of why as well." [LNB]
