Sam Hutchinson, who made his Chelsea debut under Jose Mourinho 19 years ago, is preparing to play for non-league Farnham Town in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday. The 37-year-old defender-turned-midfielder signed a two-year contract with Farnham Town this summer.
Hutchinson's career has seen him play over 200 Championship games, notably for Sheffield Wednesday, and have spells with clubs including Nottingham Forest, Reading, and AFC Wimbledon. His time at Chelsea was marked by a chronic knee injury that led to his temporary retirement at 21 in 2010, followed by a period of depression for which he sought help.
In May 2025, Hutchinson suffered a heart attack during a game for AFC Wimbledon and underwent successful heart surgery. He was told a branch of an artery was 75% blocked and had a stent fitted. Despite this health scare, he returned to play for AFC Wimbledon before joining Farnham Town, where he has helped the team win four of their first eight games in the National League South.