A little know fact (Citation needed), is that we Chelsea fans were the first group of supporters to ever publicly, "en masse" show our appreciation to a former player, playing for an opposing team. The year 1986. The player Mickey Thomas. The venue The Hawthorns. I was but a young boy, ahem, at the time and remember being in the away end obviously, Mickey was warming up and ran down to where most of the Chelsea supporters were sitting/standing to retrieve a ball that was over hit to him. Everyone stood and applauded/cheered him, for his efforts the season before. (I think we were relegated). He looked into the crowd almost amazed and retuned the gesture. Hairs on my neck erected. It was the first time I had ever heard of this type of gesture, If anyone can recall an earlier one I am all ears.

