Steve Sidwell admits he's fulfilling a family dream by turning out for Chelsea today at Wembley.

Sidwell is expected to start in the Community Shield clash against Manchester United and declared: "Signing for Chelsea was a great day for me because my dad is a big Chelsea fan.

"Growing up, he used to watch them from the Shed. He came with me when I signed my contract and it was really emotional. For a son to look at his dad and see his happiness at what I had achieved was great. He played an important part in everything I had done.

"As a young kid I didn't realise what hard work it was for my parents, all the travelling they had to do and the 100 per cent they put behind me. Never once did they pressure me into doing anything. This is payback time for them."

Sidwell, 24, added: "Running down my contract [at Reading] was a big gamble and people told me I was silly. But I wanted to test myself at the highest level and that's what I'll get at Chelsea - going for big titles, big prizes and Champions League football."