Alternative History

All because Fulham refused to play at Stamford Bridge. That’s why the owner of the stadium started his own team, they became Chelsea and the style of the club was set long before Blue Ken took over. The ground was to become marshalling yards for the railway, but the plans were shunted into a siding as it developed into a multi-use complex – hosting greyhound racing, speedway, American Football, three FA Cup finals, electric fencing (with electric seating too – have you noticed how their fans all leap up when a decision goes against them ?? – 70 volts through the seats that is !!) and now conference centre, hotel, restaurants, etc. Anything but football really.Division Two became the first port of call for the Pensioners as the Southern League didn’t want to accept them into their competition. The club had already established a reputation for signing big stars and William “Fatty” Foulke, the 23 stone goalkeeper was one in a long line of imports which characterised this glitzy, showbiz club.

It is thanks to Chelsea, that the “Southern Softies” tag arose, because five of their players left the field when playing against Blackpool as the weather conditions didn’t suit their liking. Unsurprisingly they now have a much bigger dressing room than the away side.

Drake’s Ducklings were the first Chelsea side to do anything remarkable. His youngsters took the game by storm during the 1950’s and in 1955 the side won the League Championship for the one and only time. By 1961, they had drafted in the talents of the peripatetic manager, Tommy Docherty and four years later they became the proud winners of the League Cup. In fact, Cup competitions dominated their success, with the FA Cup (after a violent replay against Leeds United) in 1970, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1971 (after a forgettable replay against Real Madrid, who were at their lowest point), the FA Cup and the League Cup double in 1997 and the Cup Winners Cup again in 1998.

During the 70’s when the rich and famous flocked to Stamford Bridge, the club invested in a new stand which crippled them financially and caused the playing side to suffer. Dark times in West London indeed with relegation and Ken Bates taking over as Chairman after leaving that position at Oldham in 1982. It was the dogmatic style of leadership Chelsea needed to improve and they had a blaze of success winning Division Two in 1984, the 1986 Full Members Cup and Div. 2 again in 1989.

The success of the club during the 70’s had been based on a few signings and a hardcore of homegrown hard men. Mickey Droy and Chopper Harris before him were the sort of players favoured by the Blues and it is a progression from that heritage that sees Lebeouf in their defence now. It was only really when ex-Spur Glenn Hoddle arrived from Swindon to lead the side that they started playing football and attracting star names. Gullit, signed as a player, succeeded Hoddle as boss and the same happened with Vialli. There is talk of Chelsea changing their nickname from the traditional “Pensioners” to the Blue Helmets, because of their similarity to the United Nations. The Chelsea matchday magazine now comes in seven different language editions. The eradication of English talent from the side has been down to the influx of foreign stars, but the shadow of the 70’s money troubles must raise doubts about what will happen should further glory elude the current crop. The expectation of the fans and Mr. Bates means that Chelsea will be required to win big things soon or heads will roll. 

Just like the old days of the Shed then !!

But then, just when it looked like they might go bankrupt under the pressure of increasing bank repayments, along comes Roman Abramovich with his billion roubles to snap up all the top talent in Europe (and anywhere in the world that takes his Russian Express credit card).  The aim is to buy the Champions League, but whether that happens soon or later or before he gets bored or bumped off by the Russian mafia, we all wait to see.  In 2004-05, they managed to buy their way to their first top flight championship in 50 years and they have spent over £20 million on each of two players after this to try to succeed in Europe.

That elusive Champions League title still eluded them and the spending has escalated to £50 million on Fernando Torres from Liverpool and although they brought in Carlo Ancelotti as manager before that to win the Double in his first season, it all went wrong for him before Torres arrived.  A trophy-less season brought another change of manager and the seventh manager in seven years – Andre Villas-Boas – was brought in as the latest shiny new thing to grace the Kings Road after winning the Europa League with Porto.  The Portugeezer’s reputation was quickly tarnished as he tried to implement a clearance of the old guard from the Pensioners and he joined the scrapheap, as did club favourite Roberto di Matteo, who on the Champions League for Abramovich.  This brought Rafael Benitez, the former Liverpool boss who had slammed Chelsea when at Anfield, causing much ill-feeling among the Chelsea fans.  No surprise there then !  After that little unsuccessful experiment, Abramovich went back to what he knew and brought back the Prodigal One in the shape of Mourinho to take charge of the team once more.  After one successful season, he was ousted by the dressing room and Guus Hiddink was recalled to stave off relegation.  Another new manager in the shape of Antonio Conte took over in the summer of 2016, with the Italian Willie Carson taking the side to riches beyond the imagination of Richie Richsky – their oliphant owner.

 

FAMOUS PLAYERS : – Peter Osgood, Jimmy Greaves, Ron “The Hatchet” Harris, Pietro Del Picolo, Peter “The Cat” Bonetti, David Teal, David “The Dog” Beasant, Ernest Mallard, Bobby Tambling, Jack Cock, Arnold “Bonecrusher” Smith, G. Lory-Hunter.

FAMOUS FANS :- Richard Attenborough (Film Director), David Mellor (Ex-Tory MP and Radio presenter), Alec Stewart (cricketer), Tim Lovejoy (TV presenter Soccer AM [Sky TV], Something For The Weekend [BBC]), David Baddiel (Comedian), Damon Albarn (Musician – Blur), John “Interesting” Major (Tory MP and former PM), Bernie Ecclestone (Formula 1 mogul), Phil Daniels (Actor – Film – “Quadrophenia”, TV – “Eastenders”, Blur’s “Park Life” video); Omad Djalili (Comedian); Mark Hoppus (Musician – Blink 182).

Club Records 

Formed 1905
Turned Professional  1905
Became a Limited Company 1905
Previous names
Previous grounds
Nickname “The BLUES” or “The PENSIONERS”
Club Colours HOME :  Shirts – Royal Blue with black trim
Shorts – Royal Blue
Socks – White
AWAY : Shirts – Pale blue with black trim
Shorts – Pale Blue with side stripe
Socks – Black
THIRD : Shirts – Pink with Royal Blue stripes from top halfway down
Shorts – Pink
Socks – Royal blue with pink turnover
Record Premier League Win 8-0  v  Wigan Athletic    Home       09.05.2010

8-0  v  Aston Villa      Home       23.12.2012

Record Premier League Defeat 0-6 v   Manchester City   Away        10.02.2019
Record Football League Win 9-2  v Glossop North End   Div. 2       1.9.1906
Record Football League Defeat 1-8 v   Wolverhampton Wanderers   Div. 1        26.9.1953
Record Cup Win 13-0  Jeunesse Hautcharage   ECWC R1      29.9.1971
Record Fee Paid £71.6 million to Athletic Bilbao (Spain) for Kepa ARRISIBALAGA (8 August 2018)
Record Fee Received £89 million from Real Madrid for Eden HAZARD (7 June 2019)
Record Total Appearances 795 –  Ron HARRIS  (1961-80)
Record Football League Appearances 655 –  Ron HARRIS  (1961-80)
Record Premier League Appearances 492 –  John TERRY (1998-2017)
Record Premier League goal-scorer 147 –  Frank LAMPARD (2001-14)
Record goal-scorer in a Premier League season 29 – Didier DROGBA (2009-10)
Record goal-scorer in a season 43 – Jimmy GREAVES (1960-61)
Record goal-scorer in a League season 41 – Jimmy GREAVES (1960-61)
Record all-time goal-scorer  202 – Frank LAMPARD (2001-14)
Record Home Attendance (all-time) 82,905 v  Arsenal   Div. 1        12.10.1935
Record Premier League Attendance 46,824  v  Manchester United 30.11.2003
Record total of goals in a Premier League season 103  –  2009-10,  38 games
Record Premier League points total 75  –  1998-99,  38 games 
Record total of League goals in a season 103 –  2009-2010
Premier League  38 games
Record League Points Total 3 points for a win : 99  –  1988-89
Division 2
2 points for a win : 57  –  1906-07
Division 2
Most Capped Player while at club Frank LAMPARD  –  104  (England)
Youngest player
Ian HAMILTON  (16 years and 138 days)  v Tottenham Hotspur  (Division 1)  18.03.1967
Oldest player
Mark SCHWARZER  (41 years and 218 days)  v Cardiff City  (Premier League)  11.05.2014

 

Stadium details 

Address : Stamford Bridge, London SW6 1HS
Capacity : 40,834
Pitch size :  113 yards  x  74 yards  (103.3m x 67.7m)

Directions

Follow Tottenham High Road North and it turns into Fore Street. Continue forward.
At the “Edmonton Angel” junction, turn left onto A406 Westbound and follow the road for 4 miles until you reach the Hangar Lane roundabout.
Take the left onto the A40 Western Avenue and continue for 3½ miles.
DO NOT take the flyover, keep left and when at the roundabout turn right onto the M41.
Go over the next roundabout into Holland Road and follow the signposts for Chelsea in the one-way system.
Turn right into Earls Court Road.
Cross Cromwell Road and Old Brompton Road into Redcliffe Gardens.
Turn right at the traffic lights into Fulham Road.
The ground is ¼ on right.

Nearest Underground station :  Fulham Broadway (District Line)

 

Official website : www.chelseafc.co.uk

Honours

Premier League Champions 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, 2014-15, 2016-17
Premier League Runners-up 2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11
Division One Champions 1954-55
Division Two Champions 1983-84, 1988-89
Division Two Runners Up 1906-07, 1911-12, 1929-30,  1962-63, 1976-77
FA Cup Winners 1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
FA Cup Finalists 1915, 1967, 1994, 2002, 2017, 2020
League Cup Winners 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015
League Cup Finalists 1972, 2008, 2019
Champions League winners 2012
Champions League runners-up 2008
European Cup Winners Cup Winners 1971, 1998
European Super Cup Winners  1998
European Super Cup Runners-up  2012, 2013, 2019
Europa League Winners  2013, 2019
FA Charity Shield Winners 1955, 2000
FA Charity Shield Runners-up 1970, 1997
FA Community Shield Winners 2005, 2009
FA Community Shield Runners-up 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018
Full Members Cup Winners 1986
Zenith Data Systems Cup Winners 1990

Managers

 

John Tait ROBERTSON 1905-1907
David CALDERHEAD 1907-1933
Leslie KNIGHTON 1933-1939
Billy BIRRELL 1939-1952
Ted DRAKE 1952-1961
Tommy DOCHERTY 1962-1967
Dave SEXTON 1967-1974
Ron SUART 1974-1975
Eddie McCREADIE 1975-1977
Ken SHELLITO 1977-1978
Danny BLANCHFLOWER 1978-1979
Geoff HURST 1979-1981
John NEAL 1981-1985
John HOLLINS 1985-1988
Bobby CAMPBELL 1988-1991
Ian PORTERFIELD June 1991-1993
David WEBB 1993 
Glenn HODDLE July 1993-June 1996
Ruud GULLIT June 1996-February 1998
Gianluca VIALLI 12 February 1998 -12 September 2000 
Ray WILKINS/Graham RIX 13 September 2000 – 17 September 2000
Claudio RANIERI 18 September 2000 – 31 May 2004
Jose MOURINHO 02 June 2004 – 20 September 2007
Avram GRANT 20 September 2007 – 24 May 2008
Filipe SCOLARI July 2008 – February 2009
Guus HIDDINK February 2009 – 31 May 2009
Carlo ANCELOTTI 2009 – 2011
Andres VILAS-BOAS 2011 – 2012
Roberto di MATTEO 2012 –
Jose MOURINHO 2014 –
???  –

 

League Record
The Original First Division became the Premier League in 1994-95 with the Second Division becoming the First Division, the Second Division becoming the First Division, the Third Division the Second Division and the Fourth Division the Third Division.
The First Division was renamed The Championship from the 2004-05 season, with the Second Division becoming League One and the Third Division renamed
League Two.

Elected to Division Two 1905
Division Two 1905-1907
Division One 1907-1910
Division Two 1910-1912 
Division One 1912-1924
Division Two 1924-1930
Division One 1930-1962
Division Two 1962-1963
Division One 1963-1975
Division Two 1975-1977
Division One 1977-1979
Division Two 1979-1984
Division One 1984-1988
Division Two 1988-1989
Division One 1989-1992
Premier League 1992-