NextGen Series: Chelsea 4-3 Arsenal (AET)

March 29, 2013

Chelsea’s academy made it a fourth successive season with a Final appearance as their Under-19 team secured a place in the NextGen Series Final after a dramatic 4-3 extra time win over Arsenal Chuba Akpom had given Arsenal an early lead but a spell of three goals in ten second half minutes gave the Blues a commanding lead as Islam Feruz, Lewis Baker and Jeremie Boga all struck in quick…

Read More >>

NextGen Series: A Final Four Weekend in Como

March 28, 2013

The long Easter weekend is always a busy one on the football front, but it’s particularly jam-packed this year for Chelsea. Not only do the first team face the prospect of two games in the space of 48 hours, but the club’s Under-19 team head to Italy for the final stages of this season’s NextGen Series. A Friday afternoon Semi Final against Arsenal kicks off the extravaganza at Lake Como…

Read More >>

Under-18s: Chelsea 2-3 Bolton Wanderers

March 23, 2013

Chelsea’s Under-18s shared an entertaining five-goal affair with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday morning but unfortunately fell to a 3-2 defeat in snowy conditions at Cobham.  Jesse Starkey had given the Blues a first half lead which was cancelled out by a controversial Tom Walker penalty. Bolton went ahead in the second half but were pegged back by Ambrose Gnahore’s strike before Walker clinched the points late on.  Manager Adi Viveash…

Read More >>

Putting A Lid On The Chalobah Contract ‘Concerns’

March 22, 2013

A subject which has reared its head every few weeks since the turn of the year is supposed contract ‘situation’ Chelsea and Nathaniel Chalobah find themselves in. The England Under-21 international has a deal which currently runs through to the end of next season. This has led to general speculation that the European Champions may lose the services of one of their most talented young players. with Arsenal purported to…

Read More >>

Won’t Somebody Think of The Kids?

March 21, 2013

The challenge of becoming a professional footballer is fraught with peril. The dream of becoming a first team player with a top-flight side is even more precarious. Every year children as young as eight join club academies and work their way up through the age levels until a decision has to be made by academy staff as to whether they will make it to the 16+ group – in other…

Read More >>

The Loan Report: March 11-17

March 17, 2013

It was a much quieter week on the loan front than usual, with Chelsea’s many youngsters scattered across the globe not quite hitting their regular highs over the past seven days. Romelu Lukaku started as per usual for West Brom as they took on Stoke City but the two teams shared a goalless draw in a game devoid of incident. Lukaku had a couple of interesting moments including almost inadvertently…

Read More >>

NextGen Series: Chelsea 4-1 Juventus

March 17, 2013

Chelsea became the first team to book their place in the Semi Finals of the NextGen Series after an emphatic 4-1 victory over Juventus. A spectacular first half display left Dermot Drummy’s boys firmly in control of the tie to the tune of goals from Lewis Baker and Alex Kiwomya and whilst the Bianconeri fared much better later in the game and reduced the lead through Daniele Rugani’s header, late…

Read More >>

Under-18s: Chelsea 0-1 Everton

March 16, 2013

A much-changed and generally inexperienced Chelsea Under-18 team went down 1-0 at home to Everton in Barclays Premier Academy League action on Saturday morning in atrocious conditions at Cobham. A solitary strike from striker George Waring in the game’s opening exchanges secured three points for Kevin Sheedy’s visitors in a game they controlled and rarely appeared threatened in. Heavy rain, high winds and a sticky playing surface (having already moved…

Read More >>

The Loan Report: March 4-10

March 10, 2013

Romelu Lukaku took centre stage once again amongst Chelsea loanees this week as he struck his 14th goal of what has been an astoundingly successful season. The Belgian forward might even have added to his tally against Swansea on Saturday but missed a poorly taken penalty kick and thus had to settle for just the one. It was a well-taken effort as he ran across his man to meet a…

Read More >>

FA Youth Cup: Derby County 1-2 Chelsea

March 8, 2013

Chelsea’s youngsters booked a fifth FA Youth Cup Semi Final berth in six years on Friday night when they overcame a tough and spirited Derby County side 2-1 at Pride Park. Goals from Lewis Baker and Alex Kiwomya ensured a two-legged date with either Hull City or Liverpool in the coming weeks but the hosts were always in the game and hit the woodwork three times on the night. Adi…

Read More >>