Re-terry-ing early

For many Chelsea fans John Terry, who dramatically retiredfrom England duty, is a club legend fit to be spoken of in the same breath asStamford Bridge greats such as Ron 'Chopper' Harris. And he proved that byleading Chelsea to a 6-0 win against Wolves in the Capital One Cup onWednesday, September 26. As far as they are concerned he is a man who has beenlet down by the 'blazers' and been hung out to dry by officials looking tocover themselves. For them allegations of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand lastOctober are a media-generated storm in a tea cup, all the more so as he wascleared of criminal charges by a London court in July. Yet, judging byphone-ins following his retirement announcement, there are plenty of otherfootball fans who are far less enamoured of 'JT'. Both groups would probablyagree on Terry's merits as a tough-tackling centre-half who never gives up onthe most desperate of goal-line clearances.

Someone in no doubt about Terry's worth as a footballer iscurrent England manager Roy Hodgson, who had made it clear he wants the31-year-old in his squad as the team try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup inBrazil. This makes the timing of Terry's international retirement in one sensepuzzling, although the fact a Football Association improper conduct hearinginto the Ferdinand incident was due to start may provide an explanation. "Representingand captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a trulygreat honour," said Terry. "I have always given my all and it breaksmy heart to make this decision. I want to wish Roy and the team every successfor the future. "I am making this statement today in advance of thehearing of the FA disciplinary charge because I feel The FA, in pursuingcharges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, havemade my position with the national team untenable."

Terry made his England debut in 2003 and within three yearsbecame captain under coach Steve McClaren, a position he maintained when FabioCapello took charge of the national side. Yet after the furore involving QPR'sFerdinand in a Premier League match last October, FA officials felt they had nochoice but to stand Terry down from the captaincy. FA chairman David Bernsteindid so without first consulting Capello, a move that prompted the Italian'sresignation. For Terry and his supporters the fact he has been acquitted in acourt trial should be the end of any attempts to clear his name. However, theFA are likely to insist their charge is distinct from the racially-aggravatedpublic order offence of which Terry was cleared in July.