Chrise 13a 8 letter background around 1 letter mentioned in clue.
All done. Good start then found last few difficult. The NE corner was very clunky I thought. Still unable to parse quite a few. 3d being one. I don't usually like so many anagrams but in this case Arachne has disguised them very well. Thanks to them for what turned out to be a bit of a challenge to close off.
Have to go 1d spoonerism for COD.
Off to meet a fellow Gooner who I generally only see at the ground in Topsham so we can talk about things other than football for a change.