It was a challenge Chelsea fans Dave and Debbie Hackett could not resist, writes ANDREW FFRENCH. The club's tycoon chairman Ken Bates met them at a posh players' dinner and cheekily suggested Dave should get Debbie pregnant.

"If you score tonight, I will be godfather," Bates joked at the club's Player of the Year event. So the couple, of Hollis Close, Witney, duly obliged - and Bates, true to his word, shocked them by turning up unannounced for the christening of daughter Mhari.

Financial director Dave's dream night came out of the blue when his wife surprised him with tickets for Chelsea's Player of the Year dinner in August last year.

Dave, 39, said: "I must be dreaming. I have a beautiful new daughter, Chelsea have won three cups in two seasons and then Ken Bates turns up at the church. This shows he is not just a hard-headed businessman."

It was Dave's 38th birthday and to his delight, he and his wife found themselves sitting next to Mr Bates at the posh Novotel in Hammersmith, London. Mum-of-three Debbie, 35, said: "Ken Bates was very friendly and the whole evening was very relaxed, so I told him how I had tricked Dave into thinking we were going to a pop concert instead.

"He seemed very amused and started scribbling some notes on a piece of paper for his after-dinner speech.

"In the speech, he mentioned Dave and added 'I have told this young couple that if they score tonight, I will be godfather'.

"We are convinced Mhari was conceived that night and afterwards, I wrote to tell Ken Bates about the birth.

"He wrote a very nice letter back congratulating us and although we sent him a standard invitation to the christening, we never thought he would really show up."

Mhari was born at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on May 21 and Mr Bates wrote to the Hacketts to congratulate them.

He said in his letter: "Congratulations on the latest baby girl. I was disappointed she had not been named Chelsea, that would have been great, particularly followed by Faith Hackett. "I am sorry I have taken so long to reply but I have only just got back from holiday.

"Do not worry about not producing a future Chelsea player, this gives you the opportunity to try again and meanwhile you are helping us to fill up the family section."

Father-of-four Dave, who has been a Chelsea fan since 1967, married second wife Debbie in 1991. He has an 11-year-old daughter, Laura, from his first marriage.

The fabric company director said: "The christening was last month and I looked round and Ken Bates was sitting quietly at the back.

"After the ceremony, he and his partner Suzannah came back to the house for a drink. The neighbours must have been amazed when they saw Mr Bates's big silver Bentley pull up outside.

"He presented Mhari with a little silver rocking horse which Suzannah had picked out specially.

"They stayed for about 20 minutes and then left. It was clear they didn't want to make us feel awkward by dominating the whole day. I would always have been a Chelsea supporter for life but all the effort Ken Bates went to has really made me feel part of the family at Stamford Bridge. "He has taken the club and the stadium to new heights and I am a great admirer."

Debbie, who has two other daughters, Eleanor, four, and Georgia, two, added: "In the end, we decided it would be a bit much to have Ken as godfather and when he turned up, he didn't mention it."

Next-door neighbours Rebecca Candlin, 15, and sister Nicola, 14, were asked to be godmothers instead.

Debbie added: "I have drawn the line over calling one of the girls Chelsea but we were both delighted when Ken came to the christening.

"He didn't let us know he was coming and when he showed up he said 'I thought I would surprise you, just like you surprised Dave." DAVE & DEBBIE'S DIARY

*AUGUST 12, 1997: Dave and Debbie celebrate his 38th birthday by sitting next to Ken Bates at the Chelsea Player of the Year Dinner and Dance. Tickets are £35-a-head.

*AUGUST 12, 1997: Daughter Mhari, now 15 weeks, is conceived in the hotel room of the Novotel.

*MAY 21, 1998: Mhari is born at the John Radcliffe Hospital, weighing 7lb 1oz.

*JUNE 16, 1998: Ken Bates writes a letter of congratulations to the Hacketts.

*AUGUST 12, 1998: Dave celebrates his 39th birthday.

*AUGUST 16, 1998: Mhari's christening is held at Witney Methodist Church. Ken Bates turns up unexpectedly.

KEN'S CAREER

Colourful chairman Ken Bates, 66, took over as the new owner of Chelsea Football Club in April, 1982.

The millionaire made his fortune in concrete before taking over at Stamford Bridge.

During the past few years a hotel, apartments, restaurants, a new family centre and a new 10,000 sq ft megastore, all known as Chelsea Village Plc, have sprung up at the club, transforming it into one of the smartest grounds in the Premiership.

Gone is the old running track which used to surround the pitch and fans now sit in the comfort of new stands instead of standing on the terraces in the Shed end.

In 1992, Mr Bates admitted having an affair with journalist Suzannah Dwyer, who is now his partner and accompanied him to the christening.

His secretary Jayne McGuiness said: "Ken has played a major part in the club's transformation."

Last night, Mr Bates said: "We look forward to welcoming the baby to the creche at Stamford Bridge and I would urge Dave and Debbie not to give up just yet as we are increasing the size of our stadium."

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