Football During World War II – Football League War Cup
The Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945 which aimed to fill the gaping hole left in English Football by the cancellation of the FA Cup.
Throughout the latter 1930s it was becoming inevitable that a second World War with Germany was coming. On 3 September 1939 following Germany’s invasion of Poland, Neville Chamberlain announced war on Nazi Germany.
On 14 September 1939, the government announced football games would continue but not under the divisions that the game traditionally held season to season. The Football League survived 18 League matches before it was abandoned.
After a fifty mile travelling limit was established, the football association divided the football league into separate regional leagues with reduced attendance numbers.
In the interests of public safety, the number of spectators allowed to attend these games was limited to 8,000.
These arrangements were later revised, and clubs were allowed gates of 15,000 from tickets purchased on the day of the game through the turnstiles.
Football stadiums during this time were used as military bases. Many footballers during this time left their careers to join the Territorial Army. The lack of numbers in squads saw clubs inviting Guest Players to play.
Between September 1939 and the end of the war, 783 footballers joined in the war effort. 91 men joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers, 76 from Liverpool, 65 from Huddersfield Town, 63 from Leicester City, 62 from Charlton, 55 from Preston North End, 52 from Burnley, 50 from Sheffield Wednesday, 44 from Chelsea, and 41 each from Brentford and Southampton, Sunderland and West Ham United.
Each season saw the divisions switched around from region to region. The first season of the Wartime League 1939-40 season, saw ten divisions established, two in the north of England, one in the West Midlands, one in the East Midlands, one in the South West and two in London, which were both played in two sections.
Categories: A Brief History of Chelsea Tags: Chelsea History, World War II
The East Stand – Stamford Bridge History
The latest installment of the Here4TheChelsea look at the history of Stamford Bridge
Capacity: 10,925
The East stand and its redevelopment nearly cost the club its life when work in the vast new East Stand was completed in 1973.
Originally intended as the start of a comprehensive redevelopment of the stadium, the stand ran over time and over budget.
This put paid to the stadium redevelopment and put the club in difficulty both on and off the pitch, which took the club nearly two decades to recover from.
The East Stand essentially survives in its 1973 three tiered cantilevered form, although it has been much refurbished and modernised since.
The oldest stand, the East Stand is located along the east side of the pitch.
The stand has three tiers and is the heart of the stadium, housing the tunnel, dugout, dressing rooms, conference room, press centre, AV and commentary box.
The middle tier is occupied by facilities, clubs, and executive suites. The upper tier provides spectators with one of the best views of the pitch and it is the only stand to have survived the extensive redevelopment of the 90s.
Previously it was the home to away supporters on the bottom tier; however at the start of the 2005/2006 season then-manager José Mourinho requested the move of the family section to this part of the stand to boost team morale. Away fans were moved to the shed.
Categories: A Brief History of Chelsea Tags: East Stand, Stamford Bridge
The Shed End – Stamford Bridge History
Our latest installment from Here4TheChelsea blog’s history of Stamford Bridge
The Shed End is located along the south side of the pitch. In 1930, a new terrace was built on the south side for more standing spectators.
It was originally known as the Fulham Road End but supporters nicknamed it ‘The Shed’ and this led the club to officially change its name.
This became the most favoured spot for the loudest and most die-hard support, with its own songs and areas such as the ‘white wall’.
With great sadness for many fans the terrace was demolished in 1994, when all-seater stadia became compulsory by law as a safety measure in light of the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster.
The seated stand which replaced it is still known as the Shed End (see below).
It opened in time for the 1997/98 season and along with the Matthew Harding Stand is an area of the ground in which many vocal fans congregate today.
The view from the upper tier is widely regarded as one of the best in the stadium. The Shed also contains the centenary museum and a memorial wall where families of deceased fans are able to leave a permanent memorial of their loved ones indicating their eternal support for the club.
A large chunk of the original Shed End terrace still stands today and runs along the south side of the stadium, it has recently been decorated with lights and large images of Chelsea legends.
Since 2005 it has been where away supporters are housed, they are given 3,000 tickets towards the east side which is roughly half of the stand.
Peter Osgood’s ashes were laid to rest under the shed end penalty spot in 2006.
Get FamousCFC.com on your KINDLE
Follow Us On FACEBOOK
Subscribe via RSS
Categories: A Brief History of Chelsea Tags:
The Matthew Harding Stand – Stamford Bridge History
This week we will be looking at the history of Stamford Bridge courtesy of the Here4TheChelsea blog.
We will go into detail stand by stand, starting with the Matthew Harding Stand.
Matthew Harding Stand
The Matthew Harding Stand, previously known as the North Stand, is along the north edge of the pitch.
In 1939, a small two storied North Stand including seating was erected. It was originally intended to span the entire northern end, but the outbreak of World War II and its aftermath compelled the club to keep the stand small.
It was demolished and replaced by open terracing for standing supporters in 1976. The North Terrace was closed in 1993 and the present North Stand of two tiers (the Matthew Harding Stand) was then constructed at that end.
It is named after former Chelsea director Matthew Harding, whose investment helped transform the club in the early 1990s before his death in a helicopter accident on October 22, 1996.
His investment in the club enabled construction of the stand which was completed in time for the 1996–97 season.
It has two tiers and accommodates most season-ticket holders, giving it an enthusiastic atmosphere, especially in the lower tier. Any proposal to enlarge the facility would necessitate demolition of the adjacent ‘Chelsea World of Sport’ museum.
For some Champions League matches, this stand operates at reduced capacity, some entrances being obstructed by the presence of TV outside-broadcast vehicles.
The stand features in the cover for Robbie Williams’ album Sing When You’re Winning.
Get FamousCFC.com on your KINDLE
Follow Us On FACEBOOK
Subscribe via RSS
Categories: A Brief History of Chelsea Tags:
Remember Matthew Harding 1953 – 1996
Some fans may only know the name Matthew Harding as one of the stands at Stamford Bridge, however to those following the club in the 1990′s he was the symbol of the kind of chairman/owner every fan would want for their club.
He was a Chelsea fan first and a businessmen second and Vice President of Chelsea Football Club investing millions into the club and was at one point seen likely to buy the club as a result of frequent run ins with then owner Ken Bates.
Today is the anniversary of his death on the way back from a Chelsea fixture, it is important that we remember a charismatic and diehard Chelsea fan and key figure in our history.
RIP Matthew. 26/12/53 – 22/10/96
Other Tributes
Categories: A Brief History of Chelsea Tags:
