FOOTBALL fan Sean Deverson is today experiencing a share of the Chelsea riches.

FOOTBALL fan Sean Deverson is today experiencing a share of the Chelsea riches.

He may not be worth quite as much as club owner Roman Abramovich but the 19-year-old Ipswich lad is ready to splash out after new-found wealth.

After winning an online football competition, Mr Deverson has found himself £10,000 richer and as a token edition on the Chelsea squad list along with the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

He has been given his own squad number and is set to get a mention on the club's website and in match programmes along with the rest of the squad.

It comes as Chelsea fans worldwide celebrate the Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday .

The former Copleston High School student, now studying teacher training at The University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, said: “I'm the envy of my friends at the moment.

“At the end of May I've been invited to go to Stamford Bridge again, take a mate and have a kick around on the pitch at half time.

“It will be a bit like living the dream.

“I'm an Ipswich Town fan as well but in the competition you had to choose your favourite Premiership team and Chelsea have always been my favourite team, even before the days of Abramovich.”

Mr Deverson, who rates defender John Terry as his favourite player, entered an online draw with Barclays Bank, which sponsors the Premiership. Other winners have been selected from across the country for the other 19 Premiership clubs.

Chelsea legend Ron Harris, known as Chopper, picked Mr Deverson as a winner at half-time at a game against Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge and the fan was invited onto the pitch to meet the former player.

He also won a signed shirt.

He said: “I've always been a fan of Ron Harris, I think all Chelsea supporters have, so it was great to meet him.

“I didn't realise he was going to be there so it was a good surprise.”

Mr Deverson, whose family home in Ipswich is in Britannia Road, said he has not yet decided what to do with the prize money.

He said: “I'm thinking about getting a car and have always wanted to go travelling after university so it will go a long way towards that.”

N Have you met your idol? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

N In March last year Roman Abramovich was listed by Forbes magazine as the richest Russian, the second richest person in the United Kingdom and the 11th richest person in the world - with an estimated fortune of $19.5billion.

N He took control of Chelsea in 2003 and by January last year had invested an estimated £440m in the club.

N This month the club announced a pre-tax loss for the year of £80.2m - the third largest in the history of English football. However, it was the lowest recorded under Abramovich.

N The record transfer fee Chelsea have paid for a player is around £30m, for Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan in May last year.

N The biggest fee they have received for a player is £12m, for Tore Andre Flo from Rangers in November 2000.