Posts Tagged ‘Chelsea’

Racist Chanting – Tiny Minority Give Chelsea Fans Bad Name

Club Statement on the alleged incident

Yesterday Alex Kay of the Daily Mail posted on his Twitter hearing racist chanting from Chelsea fans on the train during his journey back to London from Norwich.

I was not at the game yesterday or on the train where the alleged incident happened however I am not shocked by his claims as I have witnessed them myself.

What is more concerning is that there are reliable reports that the British Transport Police did nothing despite being within earshot of the incident reported to involve 8-10 fans.

It would be easy at this point to adopt a Liverpool style Suarez defence however we are Chelsea fans and don’t live in such a denial bubble.

This may not be a popular admittance but there are racist elements within our support, whilst this behaviour may have been chased out of the stadiums due to effective preventative enforcement.

For this reason you are unlikely to hear these chants on the TV or even within Stamford Bridge.

Instead it rears its ugly head in less visible locations such as bars, on the tube or on this occasion on the train locations.

It is normally just a very vocal handful of people but that does not make it any less of a problem and it should not be ignored.

I do not believe that Chelsea is a racist club or that we have a racist group of supporters, however like all groups of people there exceptions, which in this case sully the name of Chelsea Football Club.

Chelsea however are not the only club to have idiots amongst their support and whilst reported here this should serve as a reminder that work is still to be done across football and society in general.

Let us hope that this tiny minority does not incur any more damage on the name of our club.

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Chelsea Captain in Saucy Video

Don’t worry not John Terry but an advert from Chelsea ladies captain Casey Stoney

What to Buy A Chelsea Fan for Christmas – Part One

Ah, this year’s away kit is really kind of awesome.  Many of us have a closet full of blue shirts, and while blue is, indeed, the colour, it’s always nice to have a black shirt for more formal affairs.  Personally, I am asking Santa for this one with Didier “What Malaria?” Drogba on the back.  Please make sure you get one in an appropriate size.  While Nicolas “Six-Pack” Anelka may look amazing in a skin tight kit, you, more than likely, do not.

Chelsea Russian Hat – Navy

Product Code: 83595

Price: £14.99

It’s really a staple of the Chelsea Christmas list.  If you don’t have one yet, why they hell not?  At a reasonable 15 pounds, this hat is a must have for the Chelsea fan.  What better way to show your spirit, and keep your ears warm on those blustery January afternoons at Stamford Bridge?  You might not be able to feel your toes any more, but your pride will never be questioned.

Chelsea Bikini – Pink – Womens

 Product Code: 65516

Price: £14.99

In all honesty, I find this product just a tad offensive, but I felt it needed to be included (to keep the boys reading if for no other reason).  #1 It’s pink, and the last time I checked, Chelsea wore blue.  Just because a fan is a girl, does not mean we have to identify ourselves as such by wearing pink.  Besides, if you’re in a bikini, and someone questions your gender, this is a key sign that perhaps you should not be wearing a bikini.  #2 I am highly amused that the website labeled this as “womans”.  If you have to ask, don’t buy it.

Chelsea Toaster

Product Code: 48835

Price: £44.99

Ah, short of a Chelsea espresso maker, what more could you want first thing in the morning.  This one, sadly, is for UK customers only as try as I might, I can’t get the plug to fit into my US wall outlet.

Chelsea Gnome – Blue

Oh yes, the gnome is still available.  If you don’t have one yet, THIS IS THE YEAR.  Who doesn’t like a little cheerful gnome all kitted out for in Chelsea blue?    Better still, these little guys make the neighbors crazy, and who doesn’t like the idea of annoying the b*stard next door who mows his grass during EVERY CHELSEA MATCH.  Or is that just me?  You know you want one.  Buy it.

Here are the first ideas, more to follow in the next week, if you have the urge to buy any of these click here.

eChelseaFC’s Favourite Chelsea Shirt’s of All Time

Chelsea have had over a hundred different shirt designs in our history, but which one is your favourite? 

Could it be the iconic 97 away shirt ala, Zola and Vialli, the Commodore vintages of Wise, Peacock or even the Championship winning shirts of 1955, 2005 or 2006 or 2010?

The eChelseaFC favourite shirts both come from the same year 1997, with the club winning the FA Cup for the first time in 27 years they did it looking stylish in two of the most iconic Chelsea shirts in my time at the club.

Below is the 1997 home shirt, but which of the club’s shirts was your favourite?

Ray Wilkins CFC History & Tribute – Thanks For Your Loyalty and Service You Will be Missed

When I interviewed Ray Wilkins two years ago, I found him an interesting, intelligent and likeable individual. He, more than any other person I have talked with since starting out in the world of Journalism, has had the most profound influence on the way I work. His words of advice are still with me every time I write and report:

“Don’t worry about not being liked in this business. If you write with truth, you will make far more friends than enemies.”

Playing Career

Starting his Chelsea career in 1973, Wilkins was just too young to have played in Chelsea’s FA Cup winning side in 1970 and missed out on the Cup Winners’ Cup triumph the following year.

However, it didn’t stop him becoming a hero with supporters. After just two years in the first team he was given the captaincy, taking the armband from Ron Harris at the age of just 18.

But the 1970s were a time of austerity for the West London club. The building of the East Stand in 1974 (amongst other things) led to debts spiralling out of control and the need to sell off top assets. Wilkins was sold to Manchester United for £825,000 in 1979 following Chelsea’s relegation to the second division.

From there he went on to captain England on ten occasions, and his performances were so impressive at United that A.C Milan paid £1.5 million for his services in 1984. Three seasons in Italy didn’t bring the major silverware he craved, but cemented him as one of England’s great players.

Spells with various other clubs followed, including an ill fated time in France with Paris St. Germain, two years with Rangers in Scotland and time as player-manager of Queens Park Rangers.

Coaching Career

After managing Fulham for a year, Wilkins returned to Chelsea in 1998 as assistant to Gianluca Vialli. The two formed a superb bond on the sidelines, putting together a team which came close to winning the title and did win both domestic cup competitions, the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The pair eventually led Chelsea to the Champions League for the first time in their history.

He left the club with Vialli in 2000, following the Italian to Watford where they shared less success.

After several years working in the media and enjoying the odd glass of wine, ‘Butch’ was back in the Chelsea dugout, this time with Luis Felipe Scolari as manager. It was felt that Wilkins was the perfect person to help the Brazilian coach settle in London and get to grips with English football.

When Scolari left after just five months, many thought Wilkins would follow, but ‘interim coach’ Guus Hiddink decided to keep him on and for good reason. Chelsea went on a fine run of form, eventually missing out on the Champions League final by mere seconds, and going on to win the FA Cup for a then fifth time in their history.

Yet another boss came in, but Wilkins remained. This time it was Carlo Ancelotti and the result couldn’t have been sweeter. A league and cup double at the first time of asking took the club to new heights, even higher than during Jose Mourinho’s whirlwind time as coach.

Ancelotti attributed a huge amount of the team’s success to his assistant, who used his fluent Italian to guide Ancelotti through what could have been a difficult time in his first season managing outside of Italy.

This season, the club found themselves five points clear of their nearest challengers in the league, having qualified for the knockout phase in the Champions League with four wins out of four (the club’s best record in the competition since the 2004/5 season).

It seems, however, that the club’s hierarchy wants to take a new direction and a man who has been a Chelsea supporter his whole life was dismissed from his number two spot. A strange decision with the balance and atmosphere at the club seemingly perfect from the outside.

Mr. Wilkins is not one to start talking to the press about his sacking as he is unlikely to start a war. Well liked by the media and all those who come into contact with him, it is clear that he is the perfect gentleman.

And as the saying goes; ‘a gentleman never tells’.

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