PROLIFIC fundraiser Billy Birch has shown Premier-ship leaders Chelsea the red card after they cancelled his trip to their training ground at short notice.

Billy, who has raised a total of £62,890 over the years, was told his once-ina-lifetime visit to meet play-ers and staff of the nation's top side was off just a week before he was due to travel down on January 17.

He said: 'I'm absolutely gutted and to make things worse, Chelsea didn't even give me an alternative date or reason why my invite was off.

'I'd been looking forward to going for a year after they originally asked me down in recognition of all my charity work in January 2004.

'I'd even pulled out of a camping holiday with my family on the original date I was given in August.

'I was going to pay my own expenses and make the journey down overnight by coach to be there on Monday morning.

'And I'd been told I'd be given a couple of souvenir items from the club for me to take back and raffle for funds but all of a sudden I was told it was off and there was to be no second chance.'

In the past, Billy had enjoyed a good relationship with the wealthy West London club and had even received a personal letter from former manager Claudio Ranieri which he treasures and has framed on his wall at home.

The Chelsea snub was the latest in a series of setbacks for Billy who has become somewhat disillusioned with the attitudes of some companies towards his tireless fundraising efforts.

'I've had a lot of knock-backs recently and the clubs and companies know who they are.'

The Pioneer attempted to contact Chelsea FC to ask them to explain their actions but no-one at the club was available for comment.