A CHEEKY CHAPP-IE - AND A WINNER!

IT was in the last century but I remember it like it was yesterday. Remarkably, Geoff Chapple had just led Kingstonian to victory against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Trophy final. It was May 15, 1999.

Why remarkable? Well, it was the fourth time he had achieved the managerial feat in six years. The fact he did it again in 2000 to make it five in seven was staggering.

The time I recall was just a simple walk around the perimeter of the Wembley pitch at the old stadium just past 6pm after Ks had beaten Rovers 1-0, thanks to Tarkan Mustafa's goal.

A few moments of quiet contemplation. Just Geoff and I.

Despite the understandable clamour for his attention, he spared me a few minutes as we walked and talked, not quite able to comprehend what he had just accomplished. I felt like I was in the presence of greatness.

Geoff always has time for his ex-players, most of them anyway, and I was privileged to have a special bond with him that I'd like to think we still share today.

Geoff's reaction to his own triumphs has always been that he is almost in awe of what has happened to him.

His achievements as a tough-tackling midfielder were far outdone by the subsequent waving of his managerial wand.

Windsor & Eton, where he also played, saw him build a reputation. Then, from 87 people watching his first game in charge at Woking in 1984, he put the Cards on the map.

The history books will forever list the matches that mattered the most. Cambridge United, Millwall, Everton and Coventry City are among them in the FA Cup. Beating West Bromwich Albion 4-2 in the same competition at The Hawthorns as an Isthmian League Premier Division club was up there with the greatest upsets of all time.

Hallmark

In addition, those five Wembley victories with two different clubs in seven years will never be beaten.

This was at a time when the word rotation was used more to explain the sun in relation to the earth's movement than team selection in the beautiful game.

Incidentally, his teams did play beautiful football. His hallmark.