Chelsea: John Terry, Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti top London’s best one-club men
4. Ron Harris, Chelsea: 19 seasons, 795 appearances
Despite a player / coaching role for Brentford for three seasons (making 76 appearances), Ron “Chopper” Harris is only remembered for his time spent at Stamford Bridge. Unless, of course, you support Brentford.
Harris didn’t get his nickname because he owned an axe. He was a hard man of football. When he tackled you, you stayed tackled. From winning the FA Youth Cup with the “kids” in 1961, Harris went on to captain Chelsea to their first FA Cup win in 1970 and their first European win – in the Cup Winners’ Cup – just one year later. He also played in the club’s first League Cup win when the competition was better known as just the League Cup.
5. Ledley King, Tottenham Hotspur: 13 seasons, 321 appearances
Ledley King began his football career somewhere responsible for producing a host of Premier League players, Senrab FC in East London. He left there to join the Tottenham academy before making his debut in May 1999.
Through a career blighted by injury, there was no doubting King’s ability to play through the pain barrier. So bad did his knee injury become, it reached the stage where he was unable to train with his teammates, having a specific training regime of his own.
However, come matchday, he’d be there putting his body on the line for those that followed his club. Yet another example of a one-club man fully committing himself to the cause.
6. Mark Noble, West Ham United: 14 seasons, 475 appearances
Despite a plethora of big names through the ’60s and ’70s, it’s Mark Noble that is synonymous with West Ham United. Barring two short spells away from the club, Noble has been ever-present at West Ham since his academy days. Noble’s commitment to his team’s cause can never be doubted. Still, as the only player on this list still playing, there’s still time to blot his one-club man reputation. It’s unlikely, though.
The central midfielder, like so many here a captain, plays with a passion to match those on the terraces, another trait so admired by us fans. In 2016 Noble was granted Freedom of the London Borough of Newham for his services to the borough, again proving the value these one-club men give to their local communities.