BRIAN BASON

Born: 03 September 1955

Came from: Chelsea   Went to: Crystal Palace

First game: 27 September 1977   Last game: 24 January 1981

Appearances: 149 (146/3)   Goals: 11

Born in Epsom in Surrey, and a midfielder, having joined from his first club, Chelsea, in 1977, ahead of spending four seasons at Home Park, a venue he had played at, on several occasions for Chelsea reserves throughout the 1970s.

He was spotted by Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty playing for Chelsea Juniors / Minors as part of the club's reach into the Crawley and wider Sussex area and eventually signed apprentice terms at 15 for his boyhood club, alongside Ray Wilkins. They both honed their craft in a struggling Chelsea team, cleaning the boots of such legends as Peter Osgood, Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti & Bobby Tambling.

He made his debut under new manager Dave Sexton, aged just 17 - and only just 17 too - by 13 days in fact, against Sheffield United in 1972. Between 1970-71, he had also played for England Schoolboys 15 times and scored twice. This and his youthful breakthrough at Chelsea had him pegged very much as a rising star. However, this was cut short after a heavy tackle by Arsenal's Sammy Nelson at Highbury in an October 1976 League Cup tie, in which he suffered a badly broken leg. He ended up with a double fracture of his right shin.

After treatment and recovery, he was loaned to Vancouver Whitecaps in the NASL (North American Soccer League), the precursor to the modern-day MLS, in 1977, to gain match fitness and confidence. He was managed there by former Argyle manager Tony Waiters. His time there saw him face the legendary Pelé and also George Best. In total, he played 19 times and scored three goals for the Canadian NASL side.

Returning to Chelsea, he found it hard to regain his first-team place under new manager Ken Shellito. In total, across five years at Stamford Bridge, he was limited to just 24 appearances and had scored one goal, though that goal, versus Carlisle United, was judged the 6th best goal of 1976.

18 months after his injury, he was allowed to move to Home Park and joined Argyle for £30,000. Bason was a highly versatile player who filled a number of positions for the Pilgrims, making one shy of 150 appearances for the club and scoring 11 times, in what was the most stable & productive period of his career.

After his time at Home Park, he joined Crystal Palace, signed by Ron Noades on a free transfer, for two seasons from 1981-1982, playing 27 times without scoring. His spell included a nine-game goalless loan spell with Portsmouth, in the first of those two campaigns.

His last Football League club was Reading in the 1982-83 season, where he played 41 times before winding down his career, close to where he started, back in Sussex with Three Bridges.

He initially returned to the West Country and ran a hotel and the Malabar club in Truro whilst still turning out for Newquay until almost 40 years old. He remained local until his return to the Surrey area, where he continued in the hostelry trade, running several pubs there and across the Home Counties. He later worked as a sales rep in Daventry, before, in later life and retirement, settling in Brittany, France.