The Memorial Service for Peter Osgood was finally held at his beloved Shed End at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 1st October 2006.
The hour long service began with a rousing entrance from the Coldstream Guards behind a guard of honour formed by the ChelseaPensioners. It was hosted by long term Chelsea fan Neil Barnett. Clad in a blue and white scarf and clutching an umbrella, he introduced speakers including Tommy Docherty, Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti and also representatives from Ossie’s early days at Spital Old Boys and his close family.
Jokes were made about the weather as the skies literally opened right at the beginning of the service, the speakers (with the exception of the 78 year old ‘Doc’ who waved them away..) being shielded with umbrellas!
Indeed I think all of us who knew Ossie thought he was indeed ‘having a laugh’ as we stood listening to the opening words through thunder and driving rain under the dark grey cloudy skies…
There were two marquees either side of the penalty area; housing Peter’s family, Lord Cadogan, Chelsea pensioners in all their finery and players past and present. The current team was represented by captain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, alongside ‘old boys’ Tommy Baldwin, John Boyle, Barry Bridges, John Dempsey, Kerry Dixon, Steve Finnieston, Joe Fascione, Allan Harris, Marvin Hinton, John Hollins, Tommy Langley, Garry Stanley, Terry Venables, Ray Wilkins, David Webb and former managers Ron Stuart and Bobby Campbell.
Ex-Southampton manager Lawrie Mcmenemy and players Peter Rodrigues, Jim Steele and Brian O’Neill were also present.
The prayers, eulogy and singing were led by season ticket holder and opera singer Stuart Pendred and The Reverend Martin Swan – another Chelsea supporter. After a short but particularly apt poem, the clouds parted and bright sunlight flickered momentarily into life as groundsman Jason Griffin assisted with the burial of the ashes under the penalty spot. Captains Ron Harris and John Terry then unveiled a plaque at the side of the pitch.
The skies began to darken once again as video clips of Ossie were shown on the large screens. He spoke about how honoured he was to have been associated with the club and how proud he was of his achievements there. Especially last year, when he was voted greatest Chelsea player of all time by the players themselves. For a moment, it was as if he was still with us as some of the crowd began chanting “Osgood is good, Osgood is good” ….
Then the images disappeared from the screen, the chants died down as hundreds of blue balloons with the number 9 on them were released into the London skies. Simultaneously, ‘Blue is the Colour’ boomed out over the loudspeakers, and everyone joined in as the band and the players left the pitch…
Neil Barnett said it all with his final words; “He was, is and will always remain The King of Stamford Bridge.”