We’re now well into the home straight of the 2013/2014 football season. With three Premier League games remaining, at the time of writing we still have a chance of winning the League, and next week we face Athletico Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Final second leg at Stamford Bridge. The season hasn’t all been plain sailing. Refereeing fiascos at Villa Park and at home to Sunderland last week have cost…
Much has been made by the media (particularly the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph) of an alleged decision by the Premier League that they intend to “help” Chelsea by switching one of our forthcoming Premier League fixtures featuring Sunderland and Liverpool games to a Saturday. That’s great, until you look at the detail. One of our Champions League semi-final games must be played on a Tuesday. For the PL…
Spring brings a feeling of renewal; a fresh start. Supermarkets are advertising product discounts for a “spring clean”. The crocuses and daffodils are out – Hyde Park was looking stunning, albeit somewhat overcast today. For those of us of the Christian faith, the great season of Lent is upon us. And at the risk of being accused of attempting to steal the thunder of my dear friend, Driver on The…
We are jointly running a survey to gather Chelsea supporters’ attitudes to Safe Standing at football grounds in collaboration with other Chelsea supporter organisations, blogs and fanzines including: BlueTinted | CFCnet | cfcuk | Chelsea Daft | Chelsea Fancast | Chelsea Mad | Chelsea Supporters Club | Chelsea Supporters Group | Chelsea Supporters Trust | Famous CFC | Oh Dennis Wise | Plains of Almeria | Rivals | Talk Chelsea…
News this morning brings us reports that Chelsea are close to securing the signature of 18 year-old Croatian midfielder Mario Pašalić from Hajduk Split. A report on the club’s offiical website confirmed that German-born Pašalić is departing Antalya in Turkey today for London, where he will seal a move to The Blues, who have won the race for a €3m transfer ahead of the likes of Lazio. The club’s statement…
Firstly – an apology for the hiatus in the ramblings of this column, caused by preparing for the Chelsea Supporters Trust Christmas Party, Christmas itself and flu, in that order. Well, not really that order. The flu manifested itself just before Christmas, set in on Christmas Eve and left me with an attack of the horrors on Christmas Night. By Boxing Day I could barely stand up and, as a…
An occasional series of open discussions with opposition fans. They can say what they like about Chelsea and I promise to just shut up and listen. Toffee Tomy This is Tomy. Not Tommy, Tomy. She is from a long line of – no, let Tomy describe it herself… When did you start supporting Everton? I can’t remember honestly. As early as I can remember. My Dad used to rattle off…
This week TheChels is having a natter with journalist, author, genealogist, Pitch Owners’ Director and Chelsea FC’s official historian, Rick Glanvill. TC: These days you’re probably best known as Chelsea’s club historian, but your background is journalism. How did you start your career? RG: I always wanted to be a writer and my degree is in communications but I was earning a decent living as a nightclub DJ. I had…
I have to admit to a strange feeling before games these days. I only realised I’d had this feeling before the Manchester United game. But it had been there from the start of the season. It was a feeling I didn’t wholly understand. And then again, before the European Super Cup Final. Something was missing. There were the usual matchday feelings of course. Excitement, building up as the day wore…
Following the dispiriting gloom of the Benitez era, the return of the prodigal One seems to have brought with it an optimism long missed around Stamford Bridge. Pre-season results have been mostly encouraging, with a returning batch of loaned youngsters adding competition and depth to last season’s stretched squad. Bookies have installed the club as favourites for the title in a season where managerial upheaval has made unknown quantities of…