Chasetown invite to Queen's Roger Taylor

As a member of one rock's most successful bands he's played in some of the grandest and biggest stadiums in the world.

But the homely surroundings of The Scholars Ground in Staffordshire - capacity 2,000 - are now extending a welcome to Roger Taylor.

The legendary Queen drummer is a fan of Chasetown Football Club and has been invited to become honorary president.

He expressed his fondness for the club after meeting Burntwood councillor Paul Atkins at a pub in Cornwall.

Mr Atkins is a lifetime Scholars fan and met the musician in the Ferryman pub, at Helston.

The two enjoyed a pint together and chatted about football and Chasetown Football Club in particular, after the drummer enquired about a Scholars hat Councillor Atkins was wearing.

On his return Councillor Atkins told club bosses of the meeting, and they sent Mr Taylor a package of shirts, DVDs of games and memorabilia.

With the package was a letter asking Mr Taylor to become honorary president at the club. The club is now awaiting a reply.

Councillor Atkins said: "It was simply a chance meeting. I had been down to Cornwall to visit my daughter and bumped into Mr Taylor in the pub.

"We got chatting about football after he spotted the hat I was wearing. He is a big football fan and said he had followed the fortunes of the club ever since the FA Cup successes of recent seasons. We had a good time chatting about football and about Chasetown in particular."

Comedian Frank Carson, a friend of chairman John Donnelly, is also an honorary president of the club.

Chasetown gained national recognition in November 2005 when the BBC televised the club's FA Cup first round home tie with Oldham Athletic. The team held their Football League opponents to a 1-1 draw.

In the 2007-08 FA Cup they made the third round for the first time after holding Port Vale to a 1-1 draw and winning the replay 1-0.

They lost the third round match to eventual finalists Cardiff City, but they became the lowest ranked club ever to reach the third round.

They have just been promoted to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.