By Martin Walker
Ross Turnbull says it still hasn’t sunk in yet that he’s a European champion.
The Newtonian was an unused substitute for Chelsea as they won the Champions League in a dramatic final on Saturday night.
Turnbull is still drawing his breath after a whirlwind weekend, with Saturday evening’s celebrations going into the early hours of Sunday morning in Munich, followed by an early flight back to London for a jubilant parade through the streets of Fulham.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, it still all seems unreal,” said the 27-year-old former Aycliffe youth team player.
“It’s something you dream about when you’re a kid, but you never think you’ll experience it for real.
“I think back to kicking a ball about in the playing fields with my mates, Sean Tarling and Darren Craddock, and my days with Aycliffe Youth FC.
“I remember watching Liverpool’s Champions League Final win in 2005, sat with my mates in the Oak Leaf Sports Complex, and seven years later I’m there and it’s just so hard to describe.”
Turnbull returned to the club hotel in Germany to celebrate with his wife, dad Steve and mum Maureen and his older brother Craig.
“It was nice to be able to share it with my family,” he added.
“My parents have been so supportive over the years, back to the Aycliffe days when they’d travel all over the place, taking me to games.”
Turnbull admits the game itself, and Didier Drogba’s dramatic winning penalty, conjured every emotion in one.
“The atmosphere was brilliant, both sets of fans did their bit, there wasn’t any animosity at all, everyone was just having a good time and making lots of noise,” he said.
“It was quite tense as well, with the game bring so close, and when they scored in the 83rd minute, you do think that’s game over.
“But then Didier has gone and scored another crucial goal for the club to take it to extra-time.
“The penalty shoot-out was unreal, and when Didier scored the winning penalty it just felt like every emotion all rolled into one – joy, pride, passion.”
See more pictures of Turnbull here