In a candid revelation that has stunned football fans, Chelsea legend Joe Cole has confessed he missed the entire 2009 FA Cup final victory over Everton because he was sleeping off a heavy night out, hidden away in the Wembley skips by a sympathetic kitman. The former England midfielder, speaking on the Filthy Fellas podcast on December 14, 2025, admitted it “wasn’t my finest hour,” blaming injury frustrations and a lapse in standards during a turbulent season. “The kitman Mick Roberts clocked me. He said, ‘You don’t look great mate, lie down there’ and he barricaded me in between the skips, into the sort of den you’d make for your kids,” Cole recounted. “I slept in there until he came in and said we’d won the FA Cup, and we went out and celebrated. I let my standards slip but I’ve tried to be honest.”
Cole, 28 at the time, was sidelined for the May 30, 2009, final with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in January, ending his season early. Chelsea’s 2-1 win—Louis Saha’s opener canceled by Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard goals—capped a trophy-laden era under Guus Hiddink. Cole, a 2005-06 Premier League winner with Chelsea, had been a key player but struggled with form and fitness that year. “It’s important to be honest. You can’t talk about the great times and not talk about your mistakes,” he reflected, emphasizing accountability.
The confession has sparked a mix of shock and admiration. Fans praised his candor: “Joe Cole owning his mistakes—class act” (@CFCBlues, 50k likes). Critics noted the irony: Cole lifted the cup in celebrations despite missing the match. Mick Roberts, Chelsea’s long-serving kitman, couldn’t be reached, but colleagues recall his protective nature.
Cole’s career, from West Ham youth to Chelsea stardom (282 appearances, 2003-2010), included highs like the 2005 title but lows from injuries. Post-Chelsea stints at Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Coventry preceded retirement in 2018. Now a pundit, his honesty resonates: “Football’s glamour hides human moments—we all slip.”
As Chelsea chase 2025-26 glory, Cole’s tale reminds: legends are human. His skips nap? Not finest—but forever Chelsea.
