The reason is because stumbling across the Chelsea's official website, Paul Canoville Chelsea's first ever black player is up for a literary award, William Hill Sports Book of the Year award for 2008 and his inclusion in this Cult Hero series was pencilled in for a later date.

His autobiography Black and Blue, chronicles his days as the first black Chelsea player, his fight to be accepted by Chelsea fans (remember we are talking about the 80s here), and his battle against illness and drugs.

This article isn't about Canoville's book or his shortlisting into a major literary award, this article has been written quickly to celebrate Paul's acheivements and the way he has found a way out of his problems and turmoil and why at the end of the day, Paul Canoville is a Chelsea cult-hero.

Paul joined Chelsea in 1981 and it was at this time that Chelsea Football Club attracted the far-right and neo-nazi of political groups.

I remember clearly they were 'mad' days and even though Paul was playing in a Blue shirt I couldn't understand why he was being targeted and subjected to even Chelsea boys throwing bananas at him and chanting pure filth nastiness - as I said Paul was wearing the Blue shirt.

After all he was Chelsea and he was playing for Chelsea.

Perhaps the Milk Cup Quarter-final replay at Hillsborough in 1985 finally won over the 'hardcore' Chelsea fans.

At half-time, Chelsea were 3-0 down, Paul came on as a second-half substitute and within seconds of the second-half starting Paul scored to make it 3-1.

Chelsea were rampant in that 2nd half, coming back from 3-0 down to lead 4-3 with Paul scoring twice, Mickey Thomas and Kerry Dixon scoring before Doug 'The Thug' Rougvie gave away a penalty in the last minutes for Wednesday to equalise.

For me that night I was at the mercy of a radio, 'cos I had not long got married and not had a penny pot to p**s in and being a Chelsea supporter at that time was a right right downer for me at least for personal and financial reasons.

Of course as news came through of the turnaround, spirits lifted and I couldn't wait to see the come-back on TV that night, despite Rougvie's late indiscretion.

Paul by the end of that season had scored a total of four competitive goals (including two in the mega match against Wednesday), makng 21 full appearances and 14 subs appearances in all competitions (which were League, FA Cup and Milk Cup)

The game went to a 2nd replay (if you want to know the result, go google or wait until another 'cult' article is published).

When Chelsea won promotion back to Division One in 1984 as champions, Paul played 22 games in all plus 3 as sub in the league, scoring seven goals.

In 1986 Paul was sold to Reading for £50,000 and within three months Paul had suffered a dislocated knee, a torn cartilage and a rupture to his cruciate ligament, the latter injury ultimately ended his career at the young age of 24.

All in all Paul played 79 times for Chelsea scoring 11 times, 16 times for Reading scoring 4 goals.

Between 1988 and 1991 Paul played non-league football for Enfield and Maidenhead Utd making a total of 26 appearances and scoring 5 goals.

Paul has suffered and beaten non-hodgkin's lymphoma, which is an aggressive form of cancer which the attacks the immune system.

Other than writing his book (Black and Blue) alongside Chelsea historian Rick Glanville, Paul is involved with Chelsea ex-player tours at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's education programmes, Reading Stars extension project in a local prison and Showing Racism the Red Card projects with school children which coincided with Black History month.

Paul has been seen at Stamford Bridge recently making half-time appearances and has appeared on a few occasions on Chelsea TV.

My reason for his inclusion in the Chelsea 'cult hero' list is simply(and the easiest reason) his celebration after scoring Chelsea's fourth goal (his 2nd goal of the game) in that remarkable 4-4 cup-tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

See those highlights below:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5VpOUxqWr_s