Author: Paul Hay

by @ChelseaChadder Long before foreign owners came to buy up English football clubs, teams would rely on local talent including the use of their own academy and youth systems. The FA Youth Cup was set up in 1952 and Chelsea were winners in both 1960 and 1961. They boasted future stars and legends such as […]

Paul Waterhouse of Bygone Chelsea 1905-99 recounts some of our famous encounters over the years with our next league opponents, Tottenham Hotspur. Although the rivalry between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur is one of the most intense in English Football, certainly as far as supporters of both clubs are concerned, it is only a fairly recent […]

As Chelsea sit relatively comfortably placed after the first-leg against Tottenham, Tim Rolls takes a chance to look back on an epic League Cup semi-final between the bitter rivals, from 50 years ago. In December 1971, the League Cup was Chelsea’s best chance of European qualification that season. Humiliatingly knocked out of the Cup-Winner’s Cup […]

Tim Rolls recounts some infamous encounters with Leeds United. There are few footballing rivalries that merit their own Wikipedia page. The hostility between Leeds United and Chelsea is one of these. Popular supposition is often that the Chelsea and Leeds rivalry emanates from the 1970 FA Cup Final and, particularly, the replay. Not quite true. […]

Tim Rolls reflects on past encounters with Manchester United. In the late 1960s, the most glamorous side in English football was undoubtedly Manchester United. League winners and European Champions. They filled grounds wherever they went. Irregular home fans were attracted to watch them, United took plenty of supporters with them wherever they went and there […]

Chad is a 5th generation Blues fan, proud father and fortunate husband. His children are 6th generation with his youngest son having Stamford as a middle name. Chad is a season ticket holder in the Matthew Harding Stand and has been attending regularly since his dad took him to his 1st game back in 1990. […]

Phil Carter of Bygone Chelsea 1905-1999 explains how a missing piece of Chelsea’s history was discovered On the afternoon of 23rd August 2021, history was made at Chelsea Football Club. However, you didn’t read about it in the newspapers, and it derived from those unknown, unseen supporters who delve away in long lost archives.  Bygone […]

In April 1973 Chelsea welcomed Manchester United to Stamford Bridge. The match was surrounded by the furore around Bobby Charlton making his final appearance for the Reds before retiring. His decorated career included winning the World Cup with England as well as many domestic honours. The game was more of a spectacle where Charlton would […]