John Terry reveals Chelsea academy team-mate Rob Woolaston was the greatest talent he played with who failed to live up to his potential – after winger called in sick on the day of his first-team debut under Ruud Gullit
- John Terry made his Chelsea first-team debut at the age of 17 in 1998
- He went on to captain the club and spent all but one year of his career at the club
- The ex-Blues skipper revealed who from the academy didn’t fulfil his potential
- Rob Woolaston was an ‘incredible’ winger but called in sick on day of his debut
John Terry has named former Chelsea academy player Rob Woolaston as the best player he’s played with who did not live up to their potential.
Blues legend Terry played in the first-team for 19 years after making his debut at the age of 17 in 1998, captaining the club from 2004.
He then played for Aston Villa for one season in 2017-18 before joining the coaching staff at Villa Park yet now out of work, Terry has revealed who from the Chelsea set-up did not go on to the great things expected of them.
John Terry played in the first-team for 19 years after making his debut at the age of 17 in 1998
Terry said that Rob Woolaston was the best player he worked with who didn’t fulfil his ability
When asked about players who never fulfilled their potential, Terry replied: ‘Probably a boy called Rob Woolaston at Chelsea.
‘He was like a midfielder/winger, had so much ability. I still know Rob now, but mentally didn’t have that to go and push himself.’
Terry then goes on to describe the key moment Woolaston spurned his opportunity at the Blues.
‘He got chose to train with the first team at a really young age, 17 or 18, did really well and (Ruud) Gullit told him he was going to play in the first team in a cup game.
Woolaston was about to be given his first-team debut by Ruud Gullit before calling in sick
‘He then phoned up on the day of the game and said he was sick. All of us, if we were sick or felt like we were at the end of the world, we would have still gone and played the game, we wouldn’t have given up that opportunity.
‘He actually done it two or three times and he was just not mentally ready for the game, but ability-wise, incredible.’
Woolaston did not progress to bigger and better things, and was playing for non-league Harrow Borough back in 2012.
Terry went on to captain the club and won five Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge