Harris salutes Hutchinson

Hutchinson (right) is marked by Jack Charlton in 1970

Chelsea legend Ron "Chopper" Harris has paid tribute to former team-mate Ian Hutchinson, who has died after a long illness.

Derby-born Hutchinson, renowned for his long throw, was a centre-forward in Chelsea's 1970 FA Cup-winning side.

He died on Thursday at the age of 54 after a long illness.

"I knew he had been ill for quite some time and just recently he had got steadily worse," said Harris.

"Ian was very much part of the side. He was big brave lad who was fantastic from a defender's point of view because if you got a ball down the line he was that brave he used to go where other people feared to go.

"He was a 110% player and I think that was why he went down ever so well with Chelsea.

"He also scored the equalising goal for us at Wembley (in 1970) that took the game into a replay and he was responsible for the winning goal (in the replay) with a long throw which he took."

Hutchinson partnered Peter Osgood in the Chelsea attack and played 144 games between 1968 and his retirement in 1976, scoring 58 goals.

A minute's silence will be held before Chelsea's UEFA Cup first round, first leg game against Viking Stavanger at Stamford Bridge later on Thursday.

The Chelsea players will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

"At the moment I'm playing a golf tournament with a lot of the old Chelsea players and most of them are devastated," Harris told Sky Sports News.