Chelsea’s mascot Jake Nickless shares the funniest encounter with Chelsea legend Steven Gerrard.
He pulled off the classic handshake trick with Gerrard by offering a handshake to Gerrard but pulled back at the last moment. Now the 19-year old semi-professional football player recalls that moment sheepishly.
“The week before, my dad found out that I was going to be mascot — he got it for me as a birthday present — and said you have to stand out. First of all they died my hair blue. It wasn’t my idea. Then that thing with the handshake was his plan.
”I said: ‘No, I’m not doing it. I’m too shy.’ When I saw him [Gerrard] in the tunnel, it was just instinct. I just shouted his name. All my friends take the mick as I sounded so young. He wasn’t embarrassed. He was just surprised because he probably thought I was going to shake his hand.
”My dad actually didn’t think I was going to do it. He said: ‘If you do it, we’ll go out the day after and buy you five PlayStation 2 games.’ And I got the games,” said now 19-year old Jake Nickless.
“Me and Gerrard actually didn’t speak at all, All I said was “Gerrard!” to get his attention.
”I remember Claude Makélélé and Michael Essien laughing as it happened, and John Terry gave me a pat on the head afterwards, when I walked back to hold his hand.
”I think everyone found it funny, apart from Stevie G,” he said.
Sorry, Stevie G, but we also think it’s hilarious!
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