THERE was something familiar about the surroundings Ross Turnbull found himself in yesterday. After all, there’s no place like home, particularly when you can return with two of the most-coveted medals in world football.

Three years after leaving Middlesbrough, Turnbull chatted on the touchline at the ground of Northern League outfit Newton Aycliffe FC, the hometown club he now regularly helps raise money.

He might have only made ten first team starts for the Blues and had to contend with many supporters questioning his decision to leave Boro at the end of his contract in July 2009, but the last few weeks have gone a long way to justifying it.

There was a Champions League winners medal draped around his neck and a FA Cup winners medal in his hand. There are not too many English footballers that can look back at such honours when they retire.

But there he was. Turnbull, born and raised in Newton Aycliffe, where he was a pupil at Woodham Community Technology College, was still trying to come to terms with a crazy few weeks in which everything has seemed worthwhile.

After months of providing back-up to the world-class Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal, Turnbull’s part in the Stamford Bridge goalkeepers union should not be understated. In helping to keep Cech’s spirits up on the training ground and in the dressing room, Turnbull was overjoyed to have seen Cech make those penalty saves in last Saturday’s Champions League final.

Just to have been a part of the group at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern Munich were beaten on penalties in their own backyard, will stay with Turnbull forever. The whole experience will never, ever disappear.

Turnbull, who was on the bench for Chelsea’s FA Cup success over Liverpool, said: “Getting up there and touching the trophy was unbelievable. I’m just a normal person. I had dreams to be involved in lifting the FA Cup, the European Cup and you don’t expect it to happen. Here I was, here it was, happening to me. The celebrations, the joy of it all, are just so hard to explain.

“When we had won it, I just remember charging straight for Petr. It was the emotion of it all, it’s so difficult to remember everything.”

After the celebrations had died down in the Allianz, the Champions League winning squad returned to their hotel and partied until 7am, with the Chelsea players crashing out on the roof after many had jumped in to the pool fully clothed after drinking champagne.

“It was incredible, there were plenty of the lads who had lost out (to Manchester United) in Moscow a few years back, I think it was just a case of everyone wanting to get the job done this time,” said Turnbull.

“With the squad we have got, we knew we had the belief that we could win it. We should not have been where we were in the league and we had to turn it around. When Robbie (Roberto di Matteo) took over he knew, we all knew, we had to improve. It is great credit to him that we did it. Noone would have expected us to do it and we have proven a few people wrong.”

Such heights were on Turnbull’s mind when he decided to leave Middlesbrough, where he had graduated through the academy system, at the age of 24. Regular first team appearances may have been few and far between, but now he has the medals – and he is still only 27.

Does that mean he is ready to leave Stamford Bridge? He said: “Everyone wants to play football. When I went to Chelsea I was not expecting to play week in and week out. I wanted the experience of winning trophies. We have done that as a team.

“I want to play more regularly and the club understand that. This season has been frustrating as well. When you are not playing it is tough. Only one goalkeeper can play, it is difficult but my ambition is still there to get to the top.

“The club understand that I want to play more football. They want me to have more games, so we will see what happens in the summer. If it’s another year at Chelsea then I am more than happy to do so because I’m honoured to play for a great club.”

He added: “The whole experience that I have gained in these three years have been so special, I will take it with me for the rest of my life. That’s what life is about, experiencing things. I have done that. I was proud to play for Middlesbrough and I am proud to play for Chelsea, champions of Europe.”

* Ross Turnbull was speaking at the launch of a fundraising campaign for his local club, Newton Aycliffe FC.

The ex-Boro keeper is urging people to donate at least £1 as part of Aycliffe’s ‘Give Us A Quid!’ campaign.

The County Durham club have set up a specific PayPal account so fans can make easy and secure online payments, while cheques can also be sent in the post.

To donate go to paypal.com and send payment to aycliffefc@hotmail.co.uk or send a cheque to Newton Aycliffe FC at Paul McGeary, Treasurer, Newton Aycliffe FC, Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, DL5 5AG.