Chelsea legend Ron Harris has paid tribute to former goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, the ‘proper gentleman’ and ‘fitness fanatic’ who led by example in west London.
Bonetti, nicknamed 'The Cat' for his incredible reflexes, had been suffering from a long-term illness and passed away on Sunday, Chelsea confirmed.
In his professional career he made an incredible 729 appearances for Chelsea - a total only bettered by his captain, Harris.
In an era where trips to the pub and the dog tracks were a more accepted part of a footballer’s lifestyle, Bonetti remained the model professional, according to his captain, who regularly outshone outfield players who he beat in cross country runs for fun.
"He was a proper gentleman,” 75-year-old Harris told The Sun.
"I have never even seen him drink. He was a fitness fanatic, he would win all the cross-countries.
"If we had a day off in the week, the next day we would. do a cross-country around Epsom — and by the time he had finished the others were just coming round Tattenham Corner! He was a very placid fellow.
"He would never raise his voice or have a go at the back four. He was never in any bother, he was always punctual and his record speaks for himself.
"He would never go out, not even when we used to go away on pre-season tours or end-of-season tours.
"We used to always stay in a hotel on a Friday night, whether we played home or away — and five or six of us would go to the local dogs. But he would never do that, same as when we went abroad.
"He'd go sightseeing with the likes of John Hollins and Peter Houseman. We'd go out to have a drink but it was just not for him."
