Sinclair: Legends game will be fantastic tribute to Wilkins

Frank Sinclair says dedicating Friday’s Legends match at Stamford Bridge to the memory of Ray Wilkins is the perfect way to pay tribute to Chelsea and QPR legend.

A Chelsea XI, mainly made up from the double cup-winning squad of 1998, are taking on an Inter Milan side full of star names from their recent past.

Former Chelsea captain and assistant coach Wilkins died last month and the match is now being dedicated in his memory with a donation to be made from the Chelsea Foundation to Crohn’s & Colitis UK, as nominated by the Wilkins family.

Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Wise and Gianluca Vialli will be joined by players who played for Chelsea while Wilkins was a coach, including Michael Ballack – while the Inter squad includes Javier Zanetti, Youri Djorkaeff and Francesco Toldo.

Sinclair told West London Sport: “It’s a fantastic way to show our respects to a legend of the game.

“It’s great opportunity and fitting way for us to remember Ray. There will be so many players who had a strong bond with him so it means a lot to a lot of people.

“There will be a crowd of more than 30,000 and his family will be there and walking the teams out as well.”

Former Blues defender Sinclair came through the Chelsea youth ranks and made his debut in 1990.

He was part of the team that won the 1998 European Cup Winners Cup and he also scored in the League Cup win over Middlesbrough in the same year.

“It’s been fantastic meeting up with everyone again,” he added.

“There are a few of the lads I see regularly but quite a few that I don’t get the chance to meet up with very often like Dennis and Gianfranco. It has been brilliant to catch up.”

“Playing at Stamford Bridge in front of a big crowd on such a memorable occasion will be amazing.”