Mag 152

CHELSEA FC T H E

O F F I C I A L

C H E L S E A

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Thibaut Courtois on his journey to the top

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CONTENTS ISSUE 152 // APRIL 2017

Drawing on

EXPERIENCE

PART OF THE FAMILY Words | Richard Godden

A loyal servant for the Blues, KEVIN HITCHCOCK saw many changes during his 13 years at Stamford Bridge, and the former goalkeeper now looks back on his career and the special bond he enjoyed with his team-mates

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ou’ve been working under your old pal Gianfranco Zola at Birmingham City. Is this the third time you’ve worked with him?

Yes. I only went to West Ham to help him for a couple of months, but it’s now two full contracts. The first was Al-Arabi and we were out there for one year. It was different – very, very different – but educational.

They know their football out there, everyone knew about what Gianfranco had done with Chelsea.

off really well with my wife, Fiona. They’re still good friends today.

The million dollar question: who wins on the golf course?

He does. It hurts me to have to say that. I taught him how to play golf and now he’s beating me – and in an expensive way!

Taking part in a golf pro-am event in Qatar

You’ve been good friends since he arrived here almost 21 years ago...

People often ask me about our friendship and how it developed. It’s hard to describe, because he didn’t speak a word of English when he came over, but within about six months he was one of my closest friends.

When Ruud Gullit signed him, he said: “All the English boys play golf. If you want to mix with them, you’re going to have to take it up too.” And he went away and learned how to play. He had loads of lessons, but he wouldn’t join the rest of us on the golf course until he was good enough to compete, and we began to play quite often when we had days off. Then our families would get together, which was great. The children were the same age and Franca, his wife, spoke really good English and she hit it

DOMESTIC HONOURS Football League/ Premier League champions 1955, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015

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Division Two champions 1984, 1989 FA Cup winners 1970, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012

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PIC OF THE MONTH

25 February

PURE DELIGHT It’s a sight Blues fans have become pleasingly accustomed to over the course of the 2016/17 campaign, although it’s only those in the East Stand upper who regularly get to see Antonio Conte celebrating goals at Stamford Bridge from this angle. That was until club photographer Darren Walsh took his shots from a different vantage point during our 3-1 victory over Swansea. The end result: the perfect example of what a Chelsea goal means to our head coach, shortly after Pedro had put us 2-1 ahead.

Football League Cup winners 1965, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2015 FA Charity/ Community Shield winners 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009

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Full Members’ Cup winners 1986, 1990

EUROPEAN HONOURS UEFA Champions League winners 2012

07 Blues News 12 Thibaut Courtois 20 Month Ahead 22 Photo Album 30 The Month That Was 32 Drawing On Experience: Kevin Hitchcock 40 Super Frankie Lampard 46 Eddie Newton 48 Match Action 52 Pic of the Month 54 Month In Numbers 57 Academy 62 Ladies 67 Chelsea Foundation 70 Tom Chilton 74 We Were There 80 Message Board 81 Trophy Trivia 82 King’s Road Boutique

UEFA Europa League winners 2013

WE WERE THERE!

Each month we look at Chelsea’s history from a fan perspective.

In this issue, we relive our first European final, when we took on and beat Real Madrid...

European Cup Winners’ Cup winners 1971, 1998

REAL DRAMA IN ATHENS

UEFA Super Cup winners 1998

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HERE TO HELP

The following telephone numbers and email addresses are here to assist supporters.

General enquiries enquiries@chelseafc.com 0371 811 1955 International +44(0) 20 7386 9373 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-6pm) 03 numbers are charged at the same rate as local and national rate calls

It had been a wonderful year for Chelsea supporters. In 1970, we had finally won the FA Cup and the great side of the Sixties, many of whom had come through the club’s youth system, celebrated in style with the fans during a memorable bus parade in west London.

Yet 1971 proved to be a very good sequel as we reached our first-ever European final thanks to a memorable Cup Winners’ Cup run, including a satisfying victory in an allEnglish semi-final against Manchester City.

The final was to be played against that most glamorous of opponents, Real Madrid, who already had six European trophies to

I was one of those who went to both games in Athens and it was due to my good wife, Sheila. You see, I used to go to Butlins for my holidays and when we got married we went upmarket…to Pontins! However, when Chelsea got to the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, I had no thoughts about missing it. I’d been going to Chelsea since 1944, so I just couldn’t miss that game.

It was the first time I had gone abroad, though, and I was planning to go just for the day, but my wife insisted we go for a package holiday for a few days. We stayed in a hotel on the beach in a place

their name when the two sides met in Athens in May 1971.

Nevertheless, Peter Osgood’s goal looked to have secured victory for Chelsea as the officials began setting up the trophy presentation stand in the final moments of the match, only for Zoco to nip in and equalise, sending the final to a replay two days later. Cue panic for those who did not foresee such a possibility and had jobs and schools to go back to in the meantime!

We spoke to a fortunate few who were there in Athens for the final, including some who managed to remain in the Greek capital for the victorious replay, and one man who was overjoyed to get on the scoresheet...

KARAISKAKIS STADIUM, ATHENS, GREECE

called Loutraki and it was so hot you couldn’t even walk on the pebbles.

When we went to the match at the stadium in Piraeus we sat on these big, high stone steps – and we had a good view. Chelsea were 1-0 up in the last minute and the guard of honour were marching round in readiness to give us the cup, but then Real Madrid equalised and everybody was down.

Quite a few Chelsea fans came over just for the day and a lot of them had to go home, but fortunately for us we went back to our seaside hotel, which was about a two-hour trip. Then, on the Friday, we went back again for the replay and, of course, we won.

The thing that sticks in my mind is when we left the game in the coach, the streets were all lined with local fans cheering. We were like celebs! It was a tremendous atmosphere to go back to the hotel as winners of the cup.

But if it wasn’t for Sheila, who has sadly since passed away, we wouldn’t have gone. She even wrote a letter (below) to the programme to say we would never have gone abroad if it hadn’t have been for Chelsea going to Athens. It changed our habits and I’ve since been to Moscow, Munich, Stockholm – all manner of away trips – to watch Chelsea.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper is put under pressure as the ball is crossed into the box

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Chelsea Magazine produced by Editorial 020 7958 2168 Subscriptions 0845 241 6210 Email cfc.magazine@trinitymirror.com MAGAZINE EDITOR David Antill FEATURES EDITOR Dominic Bliss DEPUTY EDITOR Richard Godden STAFF WRITER James Sugrue SUB-EDITOR Harri Aston DESIGNERS Glen Hind and Ben Renshaw STATISTICIAN Paul Dutton PHOTOGRAPHY Darren Walsh, Getty Images, Hugh Hastings, Chelsea FC Archive, Mirrorpix, PA Images and Mark Sandom PRINTED BY William Gibbons DISTRIBUTED BY Comag THANKS TO Emma Wilkinson, John Barrett, Andy Jones, Ryan Brown and Daniel Wittenberg © Trinity Mirror Sport Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the Copyright owners. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. In the interest of independence and impartiality, many features in this publication have been written by third-party experts. It should be noted that any opinions expressed therein are the views of the writers themselves and not necessarily those of Chelsea FC. Terms and conditions for all competitions appearing in this magazine are available on request.

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"When I was really young, I enjoyed diving around and making saves at that age. So when the manager asked me if I wanted to play in goal, I said 'yes'" Read our Thibaut Courtois interview on page 12

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Moses delighted to sign new Chelsea deal Victor Moses has signed a new contract with the Blues.

The 26-year-old has established himself as a regular in the side this season, playing an integral role in our pursuit of silverware under Antonio Conte.

Upon signing the two-year extension to his deal, which will now run until 2021, Moses said: “I feel very excited.

I’m delighted to be here for another few years now and to sign a new deal. Now it’s time to concentrate on the team and keep working hard to make sure we win games and try to win the Premier League this season.

“We’re having a great season, I’m enjoying my football and we have a good manager here that has given every single one of us confidence. I just want to keep on enjoying it and working hard for the team.”

Moses arrived at Chelsea in 2012 from Wigan Athletic and enjoyed a solid first

season at the club, helping us lift the Europa League trophy.

After spending time out on loan, the Nigerian international caught Conte’s eye during pre-season due to his technique, physical strength and high energy levels.

Victor Moses has signed a two-year contract extension with the Blues

UPDATE ON STADIUM PLANNING APPLICATION On 11 January, Hammersmith & Fulham Council resolved to grant planning permission for a new stadium at Stamford Bridge subject to receiving mayoral approval. Following a review by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, we are delighted he has chosen to support the council’s decision.

This is the latest significant step toward redevelopment of the stadium and the delivery of the extensive local community programme.

NEWS IN

BRIEF

Technical director Michael Emenalo added: “This new contract is testament to Victor’s hard work and dedication to succeed at Chelsea, and we believe he will be a big part of our future success.”

Further steps lie ahead, both during and after the planning process, before construction work can commence.

We continue to collaborate with all stakeholders and will keep you informed of progress made.

We would like to acknowledge all residents, businesses and other parties locally who are engaging with us during the process.

Willian and Pedro became the latest players to meet fans at a signing session in the Stamford Bridge Megastore, adding their autographs to items of Blues merchandise and posing for photos with supporters.

SEVEN’S THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR HOTEL PRIZE HotelTonight, our new official hotel booking partner, has launched an exciting new prize offer for Chelsea fans.

For our remaining Premier League home games of the season, should the Blues score in the final seven minutes of either half, HotelTonight will give away hotel stays worth up to £700 to seven supporters, as well as a home shirt printed with the name and number of the goalscorer.

To be in with a chance of winning, download the HotelTonight app for Android or iOS and insert the promo code “CHELSEAFC”.

The Chelsea Foundation’s annual review for the 2015/16 season, detailing all the good work conducted by the club’s own charity, is available to download now from www.chelseafc.com/foundation.

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A LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP THAT WORKS. Together since 1978 and still going strong. Delta is more committed than ever to the UK, now offering up to 40 flights* daily to the USA.

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*Schedule as at summer 2017. Some flights are operated by our partner, Virgin Atlantic. © 2017 Delta Air Lines, Inc.

BLUES NEWS

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Conte and Kanté scoop capital’s top prizes Antonio Conte and N’Golo Kanté were named Manager and Player of the Year at the 2017 London Football Awards.

The pair are each enjoying incredible debut seasons with Chelsea, Kanté having arrived as a Premier League champion from Leicester City and Conte after joining us from his position with the Italian national team.

The Italian has taken us to the top of the Premier League, as well as guiding us into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

A huge part of that success has been the performances of Frenchman Kanté in central midfield. His non-stop running and ability to efficiently recycle possession have seen him become a key figure in Conte’s preferred XI and earned him huge admiration throughout the football world.

There was also recognition for former Blue Frank Lampard. Our record goalscorer received the Outstanding Contribution to London Football award, having clocked up 211 goals for the Blues as well as winning every available major club honour.

Lampard, 38, began his career across the capital with West Ham United before joining Chelsea in 2001. Turn to page 40 for

N’Golo Kanté and Antonio Conte are pictured with their awards, while Frank Lampard was joined by ex-England manager Roy Hodgson as he accepted his Outstanding Contribution honour, and Eden Hazard is seen scoring his stunner against Arsenal

more on Lampard following his retirement from football.

The trio were honoured at the third London Football Awards, run in support of the Willow Foundation. They were joined at the Battersea Park venue by Conte’s management team and club officials.

They aren’t the only Blues to have won awards recently, though, as Eden Hazard’s wonderful solo effort against Arsenal was named the Premier League Goal of the Month for February.

Hazard slalomed through the Gunners defence after picking the ball up just inside his own half, going past Francis Coquelin and Laurent Koscielny, the latter twice, before lofting the ball past Petr Cech to record his 10th goal of the season and help us on our way to a 3-1 London-derby win.

Our Belgian winger’s goal was chosen as the best from the Premier League in February, ahead of the seven other nominees, by a panel of experts as well as in an online public vote.

It is the second time a Blues player has collected the honour this season – Pedro the November winner for his strike against Tottenham.

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BLUES NEWS

Conte opens up to fans on “great passion” Supporters gathered at Stamford Bridge for their chance to put questions to first-team head coach Antonio Conte at a Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) fundraiser.

The evening also saw the CPO board present Conte with an honorary framed share as a gift after the question and answer session, which was hosted by former Blues winger Pat Nevin.

One of the main subjects fans wanted to ask Conte about was the passion he shows on the touchline, with the Italian admitting he can sometimes get embarrassed when seeing himself on television, but there is little chance of him changing his ways.

“I am sometimes a bit ashamed, but for me it is life, I can’t stop it,” said Conte. “I

Antonio Conte on stage with Pat Nevin

live the moment with great passion and I want to share it with the players, the fans, the staff.”

Other questions saw him discussing the best managers he played under and how much he is enjoying living and working in London, before praising the way his players have adapted to a new system since the switch to a back three earlier this season.

“It is not easy to understand very quickly this type of situation” he added. “To change players’ roles could be a risk, but I am very pleased because I found players with great commitment, and also great belief, to change.”

There was also a raffle and an auction to raise funds for the organisation.

CHALOBAH’S MESSAGE ON EQUALITY LEAVES MARK ON PUPILS Nathaniel Chalobah joined the Chelsea Foundation and Kick It Out to talk to pupils at a local school.

The Blues midfielder is a Kick It Out Next 20 ambassador and sat down with the youngsters in their classroom for a question and answer session after the children at Sulivan Primary School in Fulham had

THRESA’S 40 YEARS OF CHELSEA SERVICE Chelsea press and accreditation officer Thresa Conneely was recognised before our home match against Arsenal after completing 40 years’ service with the club.

Having been a fixture at Stamford Bridge since 12 February 1977, she received a bouquet from Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck in the press room, as well as heartfelt applause from the gathered Chelsea staff, journalists and one of the 27 managers and caretaker managers she has worked with here, Gianluca Vialli.

Thresa (pictured) was also presented with a silver salver during a celebration at Stamford Bridge for the anniversary.

NEWS IN

BRIEF 10

received an educational workshop from former Charlton and Aston Villa midfielder Paul Mortimer.

“It’s been fun,” said Chalobah. “I’ve done a few of these with Kick It Out before and it’s always good to come in and speak to the kids. They were really engaged and I think they learned a lot today.”

Nathaniel Chalobah spoke to children at Sulivan Primary School in Fulham

Gianfranco Zola on stage

The Chelsea Supporters Group (right) handed cheques worth £400 each to the Chelsea Foundation and the charity Regenerate UK before our home win over Swansea, donating the funds raised by the annual supporters’ football tournament at Cobham.

The Make a Wish Come True competition will see the Chelsea Foundation send one deserving junior fan and their family to the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, and you can nominate the person you think deserves the holiday at www.chelseafc.com/foundation.

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Blues stars spread the word on reading benefits A special event celebrating the 20th World Book Day saw The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson join Nemanja Matic, Asmir Begovic, Katie Chapman, and more than 600 children at Stamford Bridge.

They enjoyed a performance of The Gruffalo and other stories featuring Donaldson and illustrator Lydia Monks, before first-team duo Matic and Begovic, plus Chelsea Ladies captain Chapman, arrived to discuss the books they enjoy with their own children and answer the youngsters’ questions.

“Reading is an important part of childhood and when you get older, too, it is nice to grab a book and get lost in it, so reading is a great thing all round,” said Begovic.

Chapman added: “It was really nice to see lots of children here, enjoying the performances and the books. It is important kids enjoy books and that comes from parents who encourage them to read and it does help with their school work, their English and their literacy.”

As part of World Book Day, every child in the UK is entitled to a voucher which can be traded in for a World Book Day title, and many of the children left Stamford Bridge with new books for home and school.

Katie Chapman and Asmir Begovic with The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, illustrator Lydia Monks and some of the children who attended the event

CHELSEA’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS ONLINE The official Chelsea Football Clkub website celebrated its 20th birthday last month.

The website launched on 22 February 1997 to coincide with our home fixture against Manchester United that day, which ended in a 1-1 draw after goals from Gianfranco Zola and David Beckham.

Chelseafc.com was one of the first official websites for a major football club, the Blues becoming trailblazers in the field as the club attempted to reach even the most far-flung of our supporters.

Some areas of the site were limited by today’s standards, with only the 10 bestselling merchandise items available to purchase via the internet and online ticket sales still a promise for the future.

There was also the short-lived official radio station Radio Chelsea and the chat page created for the website is still present on the modern-day version.

YOUNG TALENTS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN GIRLS’ TRIALS The Chelsea Foundation’s Girls’ Regional Talent Centre is now accepting applications for trials for the 2017/18 season.

Trials will be held for the Under-10s to Under-16s age groups at our Cobham training ground in June, with the best players selected to take part when the Regional Talent Centre season begins in August.

Unsuccessful trialists will be invited to join the Girls’ Development Centre’s weekly sessions to continue their development.

You can find more details and a registration form, which must be submitted before 1 May, at www.chelseafc.com/foundation.

The original homepage of our official website

Versatile defender Deanna Cooper (right) became Chelsea Ladies’ latest signing ahead of the start of the 2017 season, as the 23-year-old joined the Blues from London Bees following a successful trial.

Chelsea Ladies goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl (right) and new signing Ramona Bachmann have both been nominated for inclusion in the FIFPro Women’s World XI.

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FEET ON THE

GROUND Words | Dominic Bliss Pictures | Darren Walsh

A title winner in three different countries, THIBAUT COURTOIS has enjoyed a remarkable run of success. As the Belgium international tells us about his journey from promising young leftback to Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, he reveals why he is taking nothing for granted in the Blues’ pursuit of another Premier League crown

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Thibaut Courtois

Safely gathering the ball during our home win against Arsenal

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t every level there are goalkeepers who make dramatic saves and enjoy the occasional inspired 90 minutes when it seems nothing will get past them.

However, at the very top of the game there is a less heralded quality which fills us with confidence in the man between the posts.

The very best goalkeepers, the ones you never need worry about, are those who reassure you with their presence alone: physically imposing, confident and upright, plucking crosses nonchalantly off the heads of strikers and, when the situation demands it, flinging themselves to one side to turn away a shot that looked destined for the net.

They are the ones who make the old-fashioned word ‘custodian’ feel so appropriate, who keep goal with a sense the penalty area is their own personal space – unflappable in every possible sense.

Thibaut Courtois is among that assured few. Still only 24, his career achievements already dwarf those of some of the game’s most celebrated players, but when you hear him describe his journey to this point, it is no surprise he seems so comfortable in his role.

From a young age he has had a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve next and, with the constant support of his parents – both of whom were accomplished volleyball players – he has forged a path to the top. In 14

MY PARENTS TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE STAYED HUMBLE, BUT SAID IF WE WORKED HARD WE COULD ACHIEVE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE AND IN SPORT. THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US, TO HELP US WITH EVERYTHING AND TRYING TO MAKE US BETTER AT WHAT WE DID

retrospect, it’s as though everything he has done in his life was preparing him to play in goal at the highest level.

“From when I was four I was playing for my local team in Bilzen,” Courtois tells us of his early years growing up in Belgium.

“I think, because my parents are supportive and I obviously saw them play volleyball, I wanted to do sport as well.

They didn’t want me to be a professional sportsman or anything, but they pushed me to do a sport. It could have been football, volleyball, basketball, anything I wanted, but they just wanted me to do something because I think it’s important for children to do sport and move around.

“We spend so much more time now inside and we could be doing sports outside. So that was always important in my family, and after that, if you are talented, it grows more.”

It didn’t take long for Courtois to realise he was, indeed, a talented footballer, but he was also a particularly competitive boy. He had a successful trial for top-flight Genk’s Academy when he was seven and immediately set his sights on reaching the first team.

Whatever he did, he was never satisfied unless he achieved what he set out to do.

The idea that the best athletes won’t settle for second place is not just a cliché.

“I think this competitive thing was always inside me, even during stupid ping-pong games with my father. In the beginning I could never win, and then when I could

Pulling off a stunning save away at Sunderland in December

win one set, it was already great. So it was always as if it was the final of an important game.

“My parents influenced me a lot. They were always critics. After games, if it was a good game, my father would point out the little things I could do better. He is very perfectionist, so he always wanted me, my sister and my brother to do things well.

“They tried to make sure we stayed humble, but said if we worked hard we could achieve good things in life and in sport. They were always there for us, to help us with everything and trying to make us better at what we did.”

That grounding helped to shape the ambitious streak of the young Courtois and his siblings – his sister Valerie is a volleyball player for the Belgium national team while his brother Gaetan also showed talent as a footballer. For Thibaut, it wasn’t until his Genk youth side went to a tournament without a goalkeeper that he actually switched to his current position. Time has hazed the memory of precisely how old he was, but it was some time between the ages of eight and 10. Up to that point, and on occasions afterwards, he had shown promise as a left-back.

“I was good as an outfield player,” he says. “At the ages of seven, eight, nine and 10, there were two groups – an A group and a B group – and I was always in the A group, so I had quality to play. But we needed a goalkeeper for this tournament and, because

I played volleyball when I was really young, I liked to dive a lot. I enjoyed diving around and making saves at that age. So when the manager asked me if I wanted to play in goal I said ‘yes’ because I knew I would play every game then.

“I think if you feel you’re good at something and people see something in you, they push you to search your limits, which is important. So that’s why they pushed me more in this direction.”

It was clearly the right decision – either that or we have been robbed of one of the greatest left-backs the game has ever seen. In fact, after just five years as a goalkeeper, Courtois was called upon to make his first-team debut in a 2-2 draw against his club’s near namesakes Gent.

Sixteen is a young age for any player to make the step up, but for a goalkeeper it shows particular precocity. Yet, even at that point, he was involved in an internal rivalry with another prodigious young talent, Koen Casteels, to be viewed as Genks’ next No1.

“We were both in the second team together, which is the Under-21s over there,” Courtois explains. “They would have three goalkeepers in the first team and two in the second team, but if one of the goalkeepers was out I would sometimes train with them.

“In January, two goalkeepers left on the first day, so me and the other guy moved up and they brought another, more experienced, guy in as well. Then, in April, the first choice got a red card and the second goalkeeper got 15

Thibaut Courtois

IT’S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A MANAGER WHO KEEPS THE PLAYERS AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO HAVE, WHO KEEPS OUR FOCUS AND DOESN’T ALLOW US TO DROP OUR GUARD. THAT’S A GOOD THING, THAT’S HOW YOU CAN WIN THE LEAGUE

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Shaking hands with former Blues team-mate Petr Cech

injured, so it was between me and the other young guy, and they chose me.”

It was another year before Courtois was picked to play for the first team again, in which time he endured his only real period of uncertainty as he looked to make his way in the professional game. He remained patient, however, and maintained his self-belief by reminding himself time was on his side.

“I had a season where I was third or fourth goalkeeper and I felt maybe they were pushing the other young goalkeeper more than me, but I never thought, ‘I cannot make it at this level’ because I had played a game already and I had played well,” he reveals. “I knew I could play.”

Courtois’ patience was rewarded. He was first choice the following season – 2010/11 – as Genk won the Belgian league title. In his first full campaign in senior football he was a champion, at the age of 18, and that summer things got even better when he was signed by Chelsea. It was a dream move, but he also knew there was work to be done before he could think about pulling on the Chelsea goalkeeper’s jersey on a regular basis. A loan deal to a high-level European side was the logical next step.

“To make the step from youth football to senior football – the best level there is – is a big journey, but I had good steps. I know what decisions I had to make for myself,

IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A GREAT SAVE, IT ALWAYS GIVES YOU MORE PLEASURE BECAUSE YOU’RE HAPPY YOU COULD KEEP THAT FOCUS AND AWARENESS

and going on loan to Atletico Madrid at that time was the best decision I could make,” he declares.

“I was just relaxed there because I was feeling good, I played well, I was in a great team – we won the league. I knew if Chelsea wanted me back they would call me, and they knew I was playing well there so they didn’t need to call me back here to sit on the bench.”

It proved to be a hugely successful loan spell – one that ended up lasting three seasons, in which time he won four major titles and reached the Champions League final.

“When you’re on loan, you have to prove yourself to be at the level to play for Chelsea and that’s what I was able to do after my second and third years with Atletico,” he says.

“I was playing Champions League, I was playing to win the league in Spain, so they knew then I had the quality to be here.”

In the summer of 2014, Courtois was recalled by Chelsea to compete with Petr Cech for a place in the team. All his life he had to balance patience and his natural competitive spirit and now he had to find the right attitude to succeed in a delicate situation with a man he had looked up to when he was a kid.

He greatly admired Cech – he still does – and saw his more experienced colleague as 17

Thibaut Courtois

Celebrating a victory with Antonio Conte

COURTOIS’ DREAM SPORTING WEEKEND

an example to learn from during their time together at Chelsea.

Yet he also wanted to show he was ready to be the first-choice goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge, and the combination of competitiveness and humility his parents had instilled in him as a boy came to the fore at that point.

“For me it was quite clear: I don’t think they would have called me back to sit on the bench. But you need to step up and you need to play well. It’s not like I came back and I knew I would play – you have to prove you have the quality to play, and to play well. I think I did that. But that year, I was able to learn a lot from Petr – it was a good relationship.”

Courtois ended his first season at Chelsea as a Premier League champion, ensuring he had a title-winner’s medal for all three of the countries in which he has played.

He has become accustomed to turning out for trophy-hunting teams and he has also had to get used to playing in sides which concede very few chances to their opponents, and that’s where the focus he has been demonstrating since he was a little boy comes into its own.

On several occasions this season alone, Courtois has been called upon to make

key saves after long periods of inactivity, at times rescuing the points for his team.

“I think that’s one of my biggest qualities,” he nods when asked about the need to keep his head in the game, even when the action is taking place at the other end of the pitch.

“It’s important to keep your focus for the whole game and that’s what I try to do. If, in the end, you have to make a great save, it always gives you more pleasure because you’re happy you could keep that focus and awareness to make that big save.”

He also has a head coach, in Antonio Conte, who not only demands full concentration from his team in every moment of every game but also matches his players for sheer competitive spirit. Courtois believes that, together, they have built a healthy attitude towards their shared aim of winning... and then winning again.

“I think a lot of players have the will to win, but sometimes if winning becomes a habit the hunger might drop and you will lose some games,” he points out.

“So I always try to have that hunger every day in training, to become better and to win, and it’s always nice to have a manager who keeps the players at the level they need to have, who keeps our focus and doesn’t allow us to drop our guard. That’s a good thing, that’s how you can win the league.”

Thibaut Courtois has retained his interest in other sports since dabbling in a bit of volleyball and basketball as a boy. Last month, he lived out many sports fans’ dream weekend when he was spotted at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks’ NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, having flown over immediately after our victory against Arsenal that same day.

Then he turned up in Houston, Texas, the next evening to witness the New England Patriots’ sensational comeback to snatch the Super Bowl trophy from the Atlanta Falcons. Despite spending his time on the pitch trying to keep the score down to nil, he was quite happy to take in games that ended 111-104 and 34-28 respectively.

“I love to watch the NBA, so I try to go there if I can,” he tells us. “If I have some free days I like to go and watch, as long as it’s controlled and I know I can have a good trip, without fatigue or anything. I played basketball when I was very young, like five or six, and I know some of the players in the NBA from when I was in Spain and they used to play there as well. Another player, Larry Nance Jnr, is a Chelsea fan who I met through a friend and we’ve stayed in contact.

“Then the Super Bowl was just a golden occasion, a great event that always coincides with our season. But this time we played on Saturday, we got three days off and the Super Bowl was on Sunday – so it fitted perfectly into my schedule.”

New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl 19

MONTH AHEAD FIXTURES & RESULTS 2016/17

ON THE PITCH

August Mon 15 West Ham United

H 2-1

Sat 20 Watford

A 2-1

Tue 23 Bristol Rovers (EFLC second round)

H 3-2

Sat 27 Burnley

H 3-0

13

Sun 11 Swansea City

A 2-2

MARCH

Fri 16

H 1-2

September Liverpool

Tue 20 Leicester City (EFLC third round)

A 4-2*

Sat 24 Arsenal

A 0-3

October Sat 1

Hull City

Sat 15 Leicester City Sun 23 Manchester United

A 2-0 H 4-0 A

Sun 30 Southampton

A 2-0

1-2

November Everton

H

5-0

Sun 20 Middlesbrough

A 1-0

Sat 26 Tottenham Hotspur

H 2-1

December Sat 3

Manchester City

A 3-1

Sun 11 West Bromwich Albion

H 1-0

Wed 14 Sunderland

A 1-0

Sat 17 Crystal Palace

A 1-0

Mon 26 Bournemouth

H 3-0

Sat 31 Stoke City

H

Wed 4 Tottenham Hotspur

A 0-2

Sun 8

H 4-1

Sat 14 Leicester City

A 3-0

Sun 22 Hull City

H 2-0

Sat 28 Brentford (FAC fourth round)

H 4-0

Tue 31 Liverpool

A 1-1

February Sat 4

Arsenal

Sun 12 Burnley

18 MARCH

H 3-1

STOKE CITY (A) – PREMIER LEAGUE In eight Premier League visits to the Bet365 Stadium we have won four and drawn two, with our biggest victory coming in 2013 when we defeated the Potters 4-0.

As with all our first-team fixtures, a full re-run of the Potters match will be available to Chelsea TV subscribers, with a variety of highlights packages online for Fan Club members.

4-2

January Peterborough United (FAC third round)

Pre-Match At The Bridge starts at 6.45pm for this mouthwatering match against Man United. We’ll have exclusive interviews and will give you the teams as soon as they are announced, as well as full reaction in Post-Match At The Bridge.

H 3-0

Wed 26 West Ham United (EFLC4)

Sat 5

MANCHESTER UNITED (H) – FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL The Blues won our last FA Cup meeting with the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge in 2013 after Demba Ba netted a spectacular acrobatic volley to settle a sixth-round replay.

1 APRIL

CRYSTAL PALACE (H) – PREMIER LEAGUE Of the 49 matches we have played against Crystal Palace, the Eagles have emerged victorious on only 10 occasions. Their 2-1 win last term was their first at the Bridge since 1981/82.

Join Jason Cundy and Ben Andrews, who will be reporting live from the gantry from 2pm in Pre-Match At The Bridge. We will also have exclusive interviews with Antonio Conte and the players after the game.

A 1-1

Sat 18 Wolves (FAC fifth round)

A 2-0

Sat 25 Swansea City

H 3-1

March Mon 6 West Ham United

A 2-1

Mon 13 Manchester United (FAC quarter-final)

H -

Sat 18 Stoke City

A

-

5 APRIL

MANCHESTER CITY (H) – PREMIER LEAGUE Pep Guardiola’s only victory as a manager against Chelsea came in the 2013 European Super Cup, which Bayern won on penalties. His record against the Blues, in normal time, includes four draws and two defeats.

April Sat 1

Crystal Palace

H

-

Wed 5 Manchester City (8pm) BT

H

-

Sat 8

A

-

Sun 16 Manchester United (4pm) Sky

Bournemouth (5.30pm) BT

A

-

Sun 23 Southampton (2.15pm) Sky

H

-

22/23

N -

FAC semi-final

Sun 30 Everton (2.05pm) Sky

A

-

May Sat 6

H

-

Sat 13 West Bromwich Albion

Middlesbrough

A

-

Sun 21 Sunderland

H

-

Sat 27 FAC final

N

-

TBC

H

-

Watford

Fixtures correct at time of going to press and are subject to change. All games kick off at 3pm unless stated.

N - Wembley Stadium. EFLC - English Football League Cup. FAC - FA Cup. *After extra-time.

20

In the days leading up to the match, we’ll look back on some classic encounters against the Citizens. Then, tune in from 7pm on the night of the game itself.

After full build-up, we’ll have live commentary and reaction following the match.

8 APRIL

BOURNEMOUTH (A) – PREMIER LEAGUE Last season’s trip to the Vitality Stadium was our first in the top flight – and it was an occasion to remember as the Blues ran out 4-1 winners.

Wherever They May Be begins at 4.30pm and our reporters will be at the Vitality Stadium, bringing you all the latest news from within the Blues camp as we look to secure another important three points.

chelseafc.com

@chelseafc

OFF THE PITCH 9 APRIL – RON HARRIS LEGENDS TOUR For the ultimate stadium tour experience, who better to show you around Stamford Bridge than the man who appeared in more games for Chelsea than any other player? Join Ron Harris as he takes you through two decades of unforgettable memories from the Kings of the King’s Road era and there will be plenty of opportunities for photographs and autographs as well as a Q&A session. Tickets cost £80 per person and can be booked on chelseafc.com.

12 APRIL – EASTER EGG HUNT Join Stamford and Bridget as they embark on a quest to find Easter Eggs around Stamford Bridge. You can head behind the scenes to the dressing rooms, the tunnel, the dugout and more as you solve the clues and find the treasures, plus there will be unique photo opportunities along the way and a special Chelsea gift for every child. Prices are £19 for adults and £19 for children.

Spaces are limited, so book online at chelseafc.com/tours, call 0371 811 1955 or email tours@chelseafc.com.

Few groups have shaken up the UK reggae scene quite like Aswad, who will be bringing along some special guests on Saturday 18 March for an unforgettable night at Under The Bridge. Early hits such as Warrior Charge and Three Babylon established the band a massive following, culminating in a UK number one hit with Don’t Turn Around in 1988, and they have released no fewer than 21 albums.

John Lee Hooker Jr is the son of arguably the greatest blues music icon of all time – and the twice Grammy nominated artist joins us at UTB on Friday 24 March for a performance which also includes a set from The Animals and Friends. The British blues band have a whole host of iconic hits to their name over the years, including We Gotta Get Out Of This Place and the multi-million selling anthem House Of The Rising Sun.

Mick Harvey’s name is synonymous with the legendary Nick Cave, having formed the Bad Seeds with his fellow Australian. His solo career began in 1995 with the release of The Intoxicated Man and he has since released a series of wonderful albums.

This concert on Saturday 25 March is an increasingly rare chance to catch this enigmatic musician live in London so don’t miss out.

Visit www.underthebridge.co.uk for more information about all of our upcoming gigs and to book your tickets now.

BLUES BIRTHDAYS

N’GOLO KANTE 29.03.91 (26)

ALSO ON Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro became the latest Blues players to appear on Friday Night Live earlier this month and the Spanish duo proved to be highly entertaining guests.

They joined Jason Cundy and Gigi Salmon in the home dressing room for a light-hearted chat, which began with them discussing Antonio Conte’s touchline antics during matches.

“He’s a very passionate guy and this is good,” said Pedro before Azpilicueta recalled Spain’s match with Italy during last summer’s European Championship, adding: “I had experience of this when I was with the national team in the Euros, so I could feel already what he is like on the touchline. When he came, I knew what he was doing here, he did before.”

The evening also contained plenty of fun and games with a competitive edge, as Azpilicueta maintained his reputation

Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta chatting to Gigi Salmon and Jason Cundy on Friday Night Live

as one of Cobham’s table tennis wizards by beating his compatriot, while both men had to answer a series of either/or questions.

If you missed the show, or any of the this season’s instalments of Friday Night Live, you can catch them all on Chelsea TV online with a Fan Club membership.

Chelsea TV is available on chelseafc.com with a Fan Club membership. Go to chelseafc.com/join16 for more information on how you can watch Chelsea TV online. You can also watch on television. To join via Sky, call 08442 410 201 or visit www.sky.com/chelseatv.

21

PHOTO ALBUM

22

All geared up After the Chelsea players’ appearance on motoring show The Grand Tour, we look through the archives at images of the Blues involving four wheels and a few other forms of transportation...

GRAND OCCASION AS TV STARS PAY A VISIT Gary Cahill shares a laugh with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond as the presenters of The Grand Tour visit Cobham to canvass our players’ opinions on Clarkson’s attempt at building his own SUV.

23

PHOTO ALBUM

DEALS ON WHEELS

24

Blues defender Micky Droy shows off his car dealership business in north London in 1983.

ON YOUR BIKE

JOURNEY DOWN MEMORY LANE

An 18-year-old Ray Wilkins enjoys a different kind of pre-season exercise at Chelsea’s Morden training ground in 1975, riding a Raleigh Chopper bike around the pitch.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves poses with his car outside Stamford Bridge in 1965, during a visit to the club where he started his senior career eight years earlier.

STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS

Michael Essien poses in front of a miniature train during a 2007 charity trip to his native Ghana.

25

PHOTO ALBUM

WINNING FORMULA

RUUD BOY ON SHOW 26

Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Nasr meets goalscorer Willian, Filipe Luis, Diego Costa and Ramires in the Stamford Bridge changing room after our 1-0 win over Everton in February 2015. Nasr drove with a Chelsea crest on his car with Sauber (inset), due to a link-up between the Blues and the Swiss team.

Frank Leboeuf unveils the “Ruud Boy”, a specially customised limited edition motorcycle from Harley-Davidson named after Blues player-manager Ruud Gullit, at Stamford Bridge in October 1997.

STEERING A NEW PATH

Former Chelsea and England forward Vivian Woodward transports urns of milk in 1925, having become a farmer in Essex after retiring from football.

HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Graham Roberts, Kevin Wilson, Peter Nicholas and Kevin McAllister celebrate promotion to the top flight in front of supporters’ cars parked around the Stamford Bridge pitch, after a 1-0 win over Leeds in April 1989.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Ray Wilkins joins motor racing legends Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham in a showroom car to toast the opening of the Jack Brabham Garage in Chessington, Surrey, in 1979.

27

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MEGA MOMENT

Ruud Gullit, Dennis Wise, Gianfranco Zola and Celestine Babayaro pose with a Blues-themed scooter and the FA Cup at the launch of the Chelsea Megastore at Stamford Bridge in July 1997.

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APRIL

9 APRIL

Didier Drogba may have surpassed Peter Sillett as the scorer of the most Peter Sillett scored the decisive important spotpenalty against Wolves kick in Chelsea’s history, but without the latter’s effort against Wolverhampton Wanderers we may have been waiting 100 years for our first top-flight championship instead of only 50. In what was effectively a title decider at the Bridge between the two leading contenders in 1954/55, the great Billy Wright punched a shot off his own goal-line and the referee pointed to the spot. It was the same result as always when the lethal right-back stepped up to take a penalty: Sillett bang!

16 APRIL

Chelsea had it all to do in the second leg of this Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final against Vicenza after going into the game 1-0 down and then conceding first on the night. That meant three goals were required if we were to make it to our first European final for 27 years. Gus Poyet got the ball rolling and Gianfranco Zola headed in a second, but the crucial third came from substitute Mark Hughes, who ran on to his own flick-on to smash home a half-volley. Stamford Bridge erupted at this stunning conclusion to one of the great European nights in west London.

Mark Hughes after scoring his crucial goal

11 APRIL

Chelsea went on to win our first FA Cup later in April 1970 after a replay against Leeds United, but first the sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on a bog of a Wembley pitch after the Horse of the Year show had been held there. The Blues twice had to come from behind to hold Don Revie’s side as first Peter Houseman and then Ian Hutchinson found the back of the net. After the first FA Cup final draw since 1912, the two sides embarked on a lap of honour; a fortnight later they were kicking lumps out of each other!

Players from both teams went on a lap of honour after drawing at Wembley

30

24 APRIL

There was little to celebrate in Chelsea’s first FA Cup final, which took place against Sheffield United at Old Trafford. Europe had been at war since the previous summer and this The captains shake hands before match became known as the the 1915 FA Cup final Khaki Cup final as the crowd of 50,000 was full of soldiers on leave from the front and still dressed in their uniforms. They witnessed a 3-0 drubbing for the Blues and, after handing out the medals, Lord Derby told the crowd: “It is now the duty of everyone to join with each other and play a sterner game for England.”

24 APRIL

With half-time approaching in the second leg of our Champions League tie against Barcelona, the situation looked bleak: 2-1 down on aggregate and reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of John Terry. Then, Ramires’ deft chip put us back in front on the away goals rule and arguably the best defensive effort in the club’s history saw us hold on to that advantage until stoppage time, when Fernando Torres (pictured) was put through on goal and rounded Victor Valdes. Chelsea, against all odds, were in the Champions League final again...

30 APRIL

“Have you ever seen Chelsea win the league?” Yes, we have! The Blues became Premier League champions for the first time thanks to a brace from Frank Lampard, celebrating the occasion as well you might after 50 years without a championship. Even after the initial celebrations on the pitch had died down and the players returned to the dressing room, they were back on the Reebok Stadium pitch again to cherish the occasion with the disbelieving supporters. What a day!

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Roman Abramovich celebrate after we clinch the league title

29 APRIL

Almost a year to the day after we clinched our first Premier League title, the Blues were champions once again after recording a resounding 3-0 victory over Manchester United, our nearest challengers.

After William Gallas put us in front, Joe Cole (pictured) scored a contender for Goal of the Season when he tricked his way past two United defenders before firing high into the net and celebrating with the supporters. The icing on the cake was delivered by Ricardo Carvalho on a day when goalscoring defenders came to the fore.

31

32

Drawing on

EXPERIENCE

PART OF THE FAMILY Words | Richard Godden

A loyal servant for the Blues, KEVIN HITCHCOCK saw many changes during his 13 years at Stamford Bridge, and the former goalkeeper now looks back on his career and the special bond he enjoyed with his team-mates

Y

ou’ve been working under your old pal Gianfranco Zola at Birmingham City. Is this the third time you’ve worked with him?

Yes. I only went to West Ham to help him for a couple of months, but it’s now two full contracts. The first was Al-Arabi and we were out there for one year. It was different – very, very different – but educational.

They know their football out there, everyone knew about what Gianfranco had done with Chelsea.

off really well with my wife, Fiona. They’re still good friends today.

The million dollar question: who wins on the golf course?

He does. It hurts me to have to say that. I taught him how to play golf and now he’s beating me – and in an expensive way!

Taking part in a golf pro-am event in Qatar

You’ve been good friends since he arrived here almost 21 years ago...

People often ask me about our friendship and how it developed. It’s hard to describe, because he didn’t speak a word of English when he came over, but within about six months he was one of my closest friends.

When Ruud Gullit signed him, he said: “All the English boys play golf. If you want to mix with them, you’re going to have to take it up too.” And he went away and learned how to play. He had loads of lessons, but he wouldn’t join the rest of us on the golf course until he was good enough to compete, and we began to play quite often when we had days off. Then our families would get together, which was great. The children were the same age and Franca, his wife, spoke really good English and she hit it 33

Drawing on EXPERIENCE Punching the air in delight after our FA Cup fourth-round win over QPR in 1996

Moving on to matters Chelsea, you spent 13 years here between 1988 and 2001, but it could have been even longer if the club hadn’t rejected you as a youngster...

I was told I was too small and I would never be big enough to be a goalkeeper.

To be honest, it wasn’t until I left school that I really began to grow and fill out, and I was turned down by Chelsea before that. Then I got a job as an apprentice electrician and I played non-league football for two years, which was the best thing I ever did. I learned football by playing it. That sounds very strange, so I hope you know what I mean! I had to grow up very quickly, because the lower you go, the harder it gets. Especially for goalkeepers – we had to look after ourselves a lot more in those days. I had two years at Barking, near West Ham, and I was picked up by a top manager: Brian Clough.

He wasn’t a bad judge of player, was he?

He was fantastic with me and I can remember the first reserve-team game I played for Nottingham Forest, which was up at Bolton and it was quite frosty. It was 0-0 at half-time and as I was about 34

I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEVER BE BIG ENOUGH TO BE A KEEPER to run out for the second half, he pulled me to one side and punched me on the arm.

“Young man, you’re in this team because you’re good enough. Now go out there and show me what you can do.” I felt 10 foot tall. It was brilliant.

Unfortunately, it didn’t really work out for me with Forest and I ended up at Mansfield Town, which is just up the road from Nottingham. I had a manager there called Ian Greaves, who was probably the biggest influence on my career. He was fantastic; a man’s man, he looked after me, gave me my chance and I think I repaid his kindness and belief in me. I had four fantastic years there and then I ended up at Chelsea.

The club you joined in 1988 bore little resemblance to the one you departed in 2001.

I truly believe that Glenn Hoddle should take so much of the credit for the club Chelsea has become. He changed it, he made it professional. It was all in the details. He turned a terrible training ground into an average one. He made the difference with the players he brought in, he changed our diet, the philosophy of the football – everything. I couldn’t give him enough credit for what he did for this football club and I was very sad when he left.

Kevin Hitchcock

Pulling off a save against Blackpool in the League Cup in 1996

FACTFILE KEVIN HITCHCOCK BORN CANNING TOWN, LONDON DATE OF BIRTH 05.10.62 CHELSEA CAREER 1988-2001 CHELSEA APPS, GOALS 135 APPS, 32 GOALS POSITION GOALKEEPER

Now I can see why all the players used to joke that Hoddle was your dad!

In Premier League action in 1992

Yeah, they did! It goes back to before he became our manager, I think it was around 1990/91. I’d just done my cruciate and I was out for a long time, and Glenn had come back to England from Monaco and he was rehabbing at Chelsea. We’d be working together at the training ground and then in the afternoon we’d go over to Stamford Bridge and we’d do rehab there. That was for at least two or three months. He was a legendary player and after he got fit, he went to Swindon to become their playermanager for a couple of years. During that time, David Webb came in as our manager and he sent me on loan to West Ham. I thought that was my Chelsea career finished, 35

Kevin Hitchcock

MY MATE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND HE MADE ME DRESS UP but Glenn came back as manager – and everything changed.

You played some of your best football under him, too. Do any moments in particular stand out?

Dressed as a matador ahead of a match against Real Zaragoza in 1995

It’s so hard to pick just one. I always seemed to do well against Manchester City and I had a couple of great games at Maine Road. I think one match that really sticks out is going away to Brugge in the Cup Winners’ Cup. I played really well and in those days we used to get the same flight as the supporters; we got on the plane and they gave me a standing ovation. That was unbelievable, it’s something that always sticks in my mind. We beat them in a great game back at the Bridge and then went on to play Zaragoza in the semi-final. As good as they were, we were bad. But we signed Gus Poyet a couple of years later off the back of those games.

We’ve got a picture of you from before the game in Spain and you’re dressed as a matador.

That was my mate who took that! He was a photographer and he made me dress up like that. It even made it onto a Question of Sport, so it was well worth it. I’ve still got the picture somewhere.

A lot of your time at Chelsea was spent as a back-up. Describe that role.

It was frustrating, because you just want to play. I worked with Dmitri Kharine, Dave Beasant, Ed de Goey and many more, and if I wasn’t playing, I’d give those other keepers every ounce of my knowledge to help them prepare for the game at the weekend. I was desperate for them to do well. I’d give my all in every session to push them on. Whenever I speak with my young goalkeepers now ahead of a small-sided game in training, I tell them: “Make sure you’re better than the guy up the other end.” I pushed Bes and Dmitri, but not so much Ed – that was towards the end of my career – and I made sure they had to be on their toes. They knew if they didn’t perform, I was there. I’d like to think when I 37

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Kevin Hitchcock Chelsea’s goalkeeping contingent – Carlo Cudicini, Kevin Hitchcock, Ed de Goey and coach Eddie Niedzwiecki – celebrate our FA Cup success in 2000

level. And I love him to death. He’s done a great job – probably better than Wisey, but just don’t tell him that! Make sure you put that I took good care of him. And I still do.

did come in and play for the club, I never let anyone down.

Did you have a good relationship with the other keepers?

Yeah, fantastic. Me and Bes were really close and it was tough when he had his problems with Ian Porterfield because I felt he was really, really hard done by. But we stuck together and I was one of the first to speak to him after that Norwich game, when the manager said he’d never play for the club again. Our friendship never wavered regardless of what happened on the pitch.

I’ve never had an issue with another goalkeeper at Chelsea, we were always close and I was never jealous of anyone – if they played, I always wanted them to do well.

Maybe that was one of my strengths.

The bond seemed to spread through the camp – it was a very tight-knit group.

I tell you who should get a lot of credit for that: Dennis Wise, Steve Clarke and myself.

We were the senior players of the group and everyone who came in was told: “This is how we do it here. It’s our club.” And they all bought into it. We had people coming in after so much success in their career, but

Did you know he was going to make it to the very top from a young age?

Enjoying our Division Two title triumph with the other members of the Chelsea squad in 1989

they all did it our way. Everybody was part of the family and that includes all of the people behind the scenes. When I go back to the club, there are still people here who were there when I started in 1988. It’s a fantastic club and they’ll never lose that.

You managed to survive around three different eras at the club, which took some doing.

I left in 2001 so I just missed the next era under Claudio Ranieri, which was when the older players started to go. But the best thing was that someone was there to carry it on: JT. He kept going with what we built, which is amazing really, and he took it to another

It’s easy saying it now, but I used to say to him: “You’re going to be as good as Tony Adams and Bobby Moore rolled into one.” He just laughed! Every day I would terrorise him and his mate Nicho (Paul Nicholls), who was a young goalkeeper at the club. We had a lot of fun and they were really good boys who I wanted to look after. And John deserves everything he has got out of the game because he has worked so hard. It’s almost 20 years since his first-team debut and he’s still going. Unbelievable.

And we’re not far off the 30th anniversary of your debut for the club.

I count myself very lucky to have played here. My career could have been better, but I did my best and I always enjoyed it.

All these friendships I’ve made, all these memories.

39

Addressing Chelsea fans on the Stamford Bridge pitch at half-time during our match against Swansea City

40

Words | Dominic Bliss Pictures | Darren Walsh

SUPER

FRANKIE

LAMPARD After calling time on his incredible career, Blues legend Frank Lampard was a guest of honour at last month’s win over Swansea City, and we caught up with the club’s all-time record goalscorer to talk about his favourite Chelsea moments and what the future now holds

The buzz was tangible at half-time during our win over Swansea late last month.

Word had got around that Frank Lampard was going to be on the pitch at the interval to address the supporters and do a lap of appreciation. Very few seats were empty, food and drinks were put on hold, and it was clear that plenty of people had made sure they would be there to acclaim one of the greatest players in the club’s history and Chelsea’s all-time highest goalscorer.

The supporters’ banner for Lampard – first unfurled in the Matthew Harding Stand when he attended December’s game against West Brom – was displayed in the centre of the pitch as he made his way out of the tunnel to a rapturous reception. Then, after the strains of ‘Super Frankie Lampard’ had

swept around the ground a few times over, he was handed a microphone to address the crowd.

“I’ll be quick because I know the boys are going to be coming out soon,” he said, showing the kind of on-pitch awareness that made him such a good team-mate for all those years.

“I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye properly, for whatever reason, and I always regretted that. I want to thank the club for giving me the chance to do that, and most importantly I want to thank all of you, everybody.”

Players as popular as Lampard don’t come along very often and it’s easy to see why. Over the course of 13 years and 648 appearances, his commitment never

41

SUPER FRANKIE LAMPARD

Saluting our fans after breaking Bobby Tambling’s Chelsea goalscoring record against Aston Villa in 2013

wavered, and his club-record 211 goals in that time only tell part of the story of his centrality to our side during the most successful period in Chelsea’s history. He is also one of only three players to have more than 100 goals and assists since the league was rebranded in 1992.

Sat down in the Directors’ Box before the game, Lampard explained why he could never have predicted the goal and trophyladen years that lay ahead when he arrived from West Ham as a 23-year-old in the summer of 2001.

“I certainly had no idea where it would lead to and I don’t think we did as a club, because we didn’t know we would have the Roman Abramovich era,” he said. “That changed everything. When I came we were probably intending to be a top-six team and I thought, ‘Can I make a bit of a mark here?’

42

A banner pays tribute to the Chelsea legend

“I remember looking at the goalscorer list and seeing Wisey (Dennis Wise scored 76 goals for Chelsea) and thinking, ‘I’d love to get near that.’ Those were my standards; that’s where I wanted to get to, so obviously I’m very proud of what I’ve done but I’m also very fortunate that everything that happened around the club itself made it possible for me – Roman Abramovich particularly.”

At his peak, Lampard scored 20 goals or more in five consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2010, and it was towards the end of that spell he realised he might be able to reach Bobby Tambling’s then club-record 202 Chelsea goals.

“I remember the moment very well, it was against Aston Villa here at home and I got to 150,” he says, referring to the 7-1 victory in March 2010, in which he scored four. “150 was Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley’s number.

That’s when I started looking up to Bobby (Tambling) and Kerry (Dixon) – I gauged how old I was, how many years I had left and I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ve got a chance!’”

That game was one of several highscoring wins recorded on the way to our first-ever League and Cup Double in 2009/10. In total, Lampard won 13 major domestic and European honours with Chelsea – three league titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Community Shields, the Champions League and the Europa League. Yet he doesn’t even hesitate when asked to pick out the greatest moment of his Chelsea career.

“It has to be Munich,” he says unequivocally, recalling our Champions League triumph in 2012. “Probably the best time of my career was the hour on the pitch after we won it in Munich, with the fans there. It gives me goosebumps talking about this.

“I was watching Jamie Carragher on TV talking about Liverpool’s road to when they won it and it made me think and start reminiscing about the road we made, and how special it was, what a mad ride it was. I’d go back to Bolton as well and the first time we won the Premier League in our era, but Munich was the pinnacle for me.”

The European trophies were the last two pieces of silverware Lampard won.

His last season with Chelsea ended without a trophy and he played on for two more years with Manchester City and New York City before announcing his retirement at the beginning of February this year. Asked if that was a particularly painful decision to make, however, he was philosophical.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was comfortable,” he said. “I think I could have played on for another year or so but, having played at this level – fighting to win leagues and Champions Leagues and so on – the options I had were not that, and I wondered whether, at 38, it was worth it.

“In my head I was kind of ready for that. I loved being a football player, I was absolutely privileged to be one, but I’ve got other interests and I’ve actually enjoyed a bit of free time.”

It seems he is enjoying this new phase of his life.

“It’s nice. It’s been good and I love coming back and watching the game. I don’t pine for it, I just come and enjoy watching it, and I’ve got lovely memories.

“I’m going to do a few TV bits and I’m starting my badges at Cobham, so I’m doing those at the minute, which is a bit of a process but I’m really into it.

Football’s my life, I’m never going to be

Kissing the Champions League trophy after our historic victory against Bayern Munich in 2012

PROBABLY THE BEST TIME OF MY CAREER WAS THE HOUR ON THE PITCH AFTER WE WON IN MUNICH, WITH THE FANS THERE. IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS TALKING ABOUT THIS out of it completely, whether it’s TV or whether it’s being a manager.”

On the pitch at half-time, Lampard was less pragmatic as he spoke to the supporters who have continued to sing his name since his departure in 2014, and he was regaled in person once again as he embarked on a lap of the pitch. Fittingly, he did so during a game against Swansea City, the club for whom he made his first senior appearances as a 17-year-old on loan from West Ham in 1995, meaning the applause rippled through the away end as well.

It was the ovation he deserved and, after it seemed as though he had said what he had come out to say, he lifted the microphone again to sign off with an emotional message to the fans.

“All my special memories of this place, and I feel them right now, are all our memories, all together, and we could not have done it without you. Thank you very much, I really appreciate everything. I love you all.”

Showing his appreciation to the supporters

43

44

SUPER FRANKIE LAMPARD

JT’S MESSAGE TO LAMPS...

Among the tributes to Frank Lampard on the day when he made his return to he Stamford Bridge pitch were heartfelt words of praise from his close friend and long-time team-mate, John Terry, who hailed the man who played in front of him for 13 years in his programme notes.

“FOR ME HE IS THE BEST EVER TO PLAY FOR THIS CLUB AND GETTING TO SEE FIRST-HAND THE WORK HE PUT IN DAY IN, DAY OUT, AT THE TRAINING GROUND AND ON THE PITCH, WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR NEXT STEPS IN LIFE AND FOOTBALL. A PROPER CHELSEA LEGEND. LOVE YA, LAMPS”

45

CLUB AMBASSADOR EDDIE NEWTON

It was great to catch up with my old boss and look back on a wonderful period in our history

Ruud Gullit chats to Eddie Newton, John Terry and Jon Harley during his visit to Cobham

The training ground was buzzing when we received a visit from my old team-mate and manager, Ruud Gullit, last month.

He was doing a piece for Dutch television with Nathan Ake, who came under the loan department’s umbrella earlier this season before returning to the club to be part of the first-team squad. After that, Ruud popped up to the canteen for a bit of a chat and a bite to eat.

It started off with just me and him having a catch-up – I think we last saw each other in Milan a few years ago, so there was plenty to discuss – but you don’t get a legend like Rudi to yourself for very long!

Suddenly, JT and Thibaut Courtois had come over, as well as Jon Harley, who was a youngster at the club back when Ruud was manager, who popped over from the Academy building to say hello.

It was so nice to reminisce with him about the great days we spent together at the club. I can still remember what it was like when he signed for us back in 1995 and came in for his first day of pre-season training.

46

When I was growing up I was a big fan of John Barnes and he was one of my boyhood heroes, but Rudi was right up there as well. When he walked into Harlington for the first time, I was just standing there staring at him, my eyes growing wider and my jaw dropping to the ground. Dennis Wise was laughing his head off when he saw my reaction!

I’d watched this guy from when I was a bubby and he became one of my heroes.

He helped the Netherlands win their first major tournament and he was a big star of the great AC Milan side of the late Eighties. I could not believe I was going to be playing alongside him.

At the time, you just knew Chelsea were going in a new direction and you could see the confidence spread through the camp. More and more top players came in and it was a completely different place to be around.

When Ruud stepped into the manager’s job, the club won its first FA Cup for 27 years. We were starting to talk and think like a big club and

everything was centred towards excellence, not just survival.

This year is the 20th anniversary of that FA Cup win and the club is currently putting a book together about the boys who won that trophy. I shouldn’t need to remind you I scored in the final against Middlesbrough!

I spent a couple of hours reminiscing about the good old days when I was interviewed for the book and I know Ruud and the other guys have done the same.

As much as I’m someone who is always looking forward to the next challenge and, hopefully, the next success, sometimes it’s nice to look back at what you’ve achieved – especially when you did it playing for a legend like Rudi.

IN THE HIGH PRESSURE MOMENTS SURE WON’T LET YOU DOWN

MATCH ACTION WEST HAM UNITED Lanzini 90+2

1-2

CHELSEA Hazard 25, Diego Costa 50

LONDON STADIUM

06.03.17, 8PM

MANAGER

FIRST-TEAM HEAD COACH

WEST HAM UNITED

CHELSEA

Slaven Bilic

Antonio Conte

1 Darren Randolph

13 Thibaut Courtois

8 Cheikhou Kouyate

28 Cesar Azpilicueta

23 Jose Fonte

30 David Luiz

2 Winston Reid

24 Gary Cahill (c)

3 Aaron Cresswell

15 Victor Moses

16 Mark Noble (c)

4 Cesc Fàbregas

14 Pedro Obiang

7 N'Golo Kanté

7 Sofiane Feghouli

3 Marcos Alonso

10 Manuel Lanzini

11 Pedro

11 Robert Snodgrass

10 Eden Hazard

9 Andy Carroll

19 Diego Costa

20 Andre Ayew

64

21 Nemanja Matic

64

22 Sam Byram

64

22 Willian

74

31 Edimilson Fernandes

76

5 Kurt Zouma

76

UNUSED SUBS Adrian, James Collins, Arthur Masuaku, Jonathan Calleri

(4-2-3-1)

1 8

7

23

2

16

14 10

11

9

4852C 52

48

POSSESSION %

3

48

Goals either side of half-time from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa secured our 21st Premier League victory of the season to maintain our advantage at the top of the table.

The Blues went in front midway through the opening half with a stunning effort on the counter-attack. There looked to be little threat to the Hammers’ back-line when N’Golo Kanté won possession deep in his own territory, but within three passes – the last of which was played by Pedro – Hazard was in on goal and slotting the ball past Darren Randolph for a brilliant opener.

Our advantage was almost doubled shortly before the break when both Victor Moses and Pedro threatened a second, but we didn’t have to wait long after the interval to take an unassailable lead.

The home side failed to deal with an inswinging corner from Cesc Fàbregas and Diego Costa was left completely unmarked at the back post to turn the ball in with his thigh from just a couple of yards out.

The only blot on our copybook came deep into stoppage time when Manuel Lanzini slotted home, but it proved to be little more than a consolation goal.

Referee: Andre Marriner

Attendance: 56,984

2 6 1 6 8

SHOTS ON TARGET SHOTS OFF TARGET OFFSIDES CORNERS FOULS

4 3 1 4 8

UNUSED SUBS Asmir Begovic, John Terry, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Michy Batshuayi

(3-4-2-1)

13 30

28 4

15

24 7

11

3 10

19

7723C 6

HEADED CLEARANCES

20

chelseafc.com

3-1

CHELSEA Fàbregas 19, Pedro 72, Diego Costa 84

@chelseafc

SWANSEA CITY Llorente 45+2

STAMFORD BRIDGE

25.02.17, 3PM

FIRST-TEAM HEAD COACH

HEAD COACH

CHELSEA

SWANSEA CITY

Antonio Conte

Paul Clement

13 Thibaut Courtois

1 Lukasz Fabianski

28 Cesar Azpilicueta

26 Kyle Naughton

30 David Luiz

33 Federico Fernandez

24 Gary Cahill (c)

6 Alfie Mawson

15 Victor Moses

16 Martin Olsson

4 Cesc Fàbregas

8 Leroy Fer

7 N'Golo Kanté

24 Jack Cork (c)

3 Marcos Alonso

42 Tom Carroll

11 Pedro

15 Wayne Routledge

10 Eden Hazard

9 Fernando Llorente

19 Diego Costa

23 Gylfi Sigurdsson

21 Nemanja Matic

75

3 Jordan Ayew

75

5 Kurt Zouma

84

28 Luciano Narsingh

80

22 Willian

85

UNUSED SUBS

UNUSED SUBS Asmir Begovic, John Terry, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Michy Batshuayi

(3-4-2-1)

13 30

28 4

15

24 7

11

3 10

19

3466C

Cesc Fàbregas marked his 300th Premier League game with a goal which, with the addition of late strikes from Pedro and Diego Costa, helped the Blues to a 10th top-flight home win on the bounce.

Chelsea’s No4 was named in the starting XI and he took less than 20 minutes to mark the milestone appearance in style as he applied the finishing touch to a brilliant team move to give us a lead our early dominance merited. Our front three were all involved in the build-up, which culminated in Pedro teeing up Fàbregas to prod the ball into the far corner.

Swansea levelled against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Fernando Llorente headed home a free-kick, but we started strongly after the break and our pressure eventually told when Pedro netted for the third game in a row, although his strike from 25 yards perhaps should have been kept out by Lukasz Fabianski. The third goal arrived soon after when Eden Hazard brilliantly teed up Diego Costa for his customary strike against the Swans, making it eight in five appearances against the side from South Wales.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

5 6 1 8 11

34

66

Goal

POSSESSION %

Own goal

Booked

Straight red card

Attendance: 41,612

Sent-off for two bookings

First sub

SHOTS ON TARGET SHOTS OFF TARGET

2 1

FOULS

Second sub

Third sub

(4-3-3)

1 33

26 8

6

16

24

42

15

23 9

1288C 2

CHANCES CREATED

OFFSIDES CORNERS

Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Jordi Amat, Angel Rangel, Leon Britton, Borja

1 14

14

49

MATCH ACTION WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

0-2

CHELSEA Pedro 65, Diego Costa 89

FIFTH ROUND

MOLINEUX, 18.02.17, 5.30PM

HEAD COACH

FIRST-TEAM HEAD COACH

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

CHELSEA

Paul Lambert

Antonio Conte

1 Carl Ikeme

1 Asmir Begovic

16 Conor Coady

5 Kurt Zouma

6 Danny Batth (c)

26 John Terry (c)

30 Kortney Hause

6 Nathan Ake

2 Matt Doherty

15 Victor Moses

4 David Edwards

4 Cesc Fàbregas

19 Jack Price

29 Nathaniel Chalobah

8 George Saville

11 Pedro

17 Wander Helder Costa

22 Willian

22 Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

10 Eden Hazard

63 Andreas Weimann

19 Diego Costa

34 Donavan Wilson

75

28 Cesar Azpilicueta

73

27 Romain Saiss

83

7 N'Golo Kanté

80

43 Connor Ronan

83

14 Ruben Loftus-Cheek

85

UNUSED SUBS

UNUSED SUBS

Harry Burgoyne, Richard Stearman, Lee Evans, Bright Enobakhare

Eduardo, Gary Cahill, Kenedy, Michy Batshuayi

(4-3-3)

1 6

16 4

30 19

2 8

17

63 22

6535C 35

POSSESSION %

50

65

Second-half goals from Pedro and Diego Costa helped the Blues to a hard-fought victory over Wolves to book our place in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. The Championship side provided a stern test for the Premier League leaders and they were unfortunate not to take an early lead through George Saville when the former Chelsea Academy player struck the woodwork inside the opening five minutes.

That proved to be the home side’s best opportunity of the match as the Blues took control in the second half and grabbed a deserved lead through Pedro. The Spaniard started the move on the left-hand corner of our penalty box before surging up the field to powerfully head home a Willian cross for his 10th goal of the season.

Although a couple of opportunities were passed up as we looked to kill off the tie, a second goal was eventually forthcoming as the game entered its final few minutes. Diego Costa, who had worked doggedly throughout, was rewarded for his persistence as he struck a low effort into the far corner to seal our progress.

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Attendance: 30,193

2 5

SHOTS ON TARGET SHOTS OFF TARGET OFFSIDES

5 10

CORNERS FOULS

4 6 2 8 8

(3-4-2-1)

1 26

5 4

15

6 29

22

11 10

19

5842C 98

COMPLETED PASSES IN ATTACKING THIRD

133

chelseafc.com

1-1

BURNLEY Brady 24

@chelseafc

CHELSEA Pedro 7

TURF MOOR

12.02.17, 1.30PM

MANAGER

FIRST-TEAM HEAD COACH

BURNLEY

CHELSEA

Sean Dyche

Antonio Conte

1 Tom Heaton (c)

13 Thibaut Courtois

2 Matthew Lowton

28 Cesar Azpilicueta

5 Michael Keane

30 David Luiz

6 Ben Mee

24 Gary Cahill (c)

23 Stephen Ward

15 Victor Moses

21 George Boyd

7 N'Golo Kanté

18 Ashley Westwood

21 Nemanja Matic

19 Joey Barton

3 Marcos Alonso

12 Robbie Brady

11 Pedro

10 Ashley Barnes

10 Eden Hazard

7 Andre Gray

19 Diego Costa

37 Scott Arfield

64

4 Cesc Fàbregas

66

9 Sam Vokes

81

22 Willian

72

23 Michy Batshuayi

86

UNUSED SUBS Paul Robinson, Jon Flanagan, James Tarkowski, Tendayi Darikwa, Johann Berg Gudmundsson

(4-4-1-1)

1 2 21

5

6

18

19

23 12

10 7

7228C

Although Pedro gave us the perfect start at Turf Moor, the Blues were pegged back by a spectacular Robbie Brady freekick as we were held to a draw by the side with the thirdbest home record in the Premier League.

A strong start by Antonio Conte’s men saw Eden Hazard almost open the scoring after being sent through on goal – but we only had to wait another minute to break the deadlock.

Victor Moses was heavily involved, evading one challenge down the right-hand side before squaring for Pedro to direct a precise shot beyond the reach of Tom Heaton.

However, the home side were back on level terms midway through the half when Brady curled a set-piece into the top corner, the first goal we had conceded from a direct free-kick in the Premier League since March 2013.

Despite enjoying more than two-thirds of possession, we were unable to breach the Clarets’ well-drilled defence, but the result still secured an eight-point advantage at the top of the table.

Referee: Kevin Friend

4 1 3 1 12

28

POSSESSION %

72

Goal

Own goal

Booked

Straight red card

Attendance: 21,744

Sent-off for two bookings

First sub

SHOTS ON TARGET SHOTS OFF TARGET

2 5

FOULS

Second sub

Third sub

(3-4-2-1)

13 30

28 7

15

24 21

11

3 10

19

7723C 182

COMPLETED PASSES

OFFSIDES CORNERS

UNUSED SUBS Asmir Begovic, Kurt Zouma, Nathan Ake, Nathaniel Chalobah

1 11

615

51

PIC OF THE MONTH

25 February

PURE DELIGHT It’s a sight Blues fans have become pleasingly accustomed to over the course of the 2016/17 campaign, although it’s only those in the East Stand upper who regularly get to see Antonio Conte celebrating goals at Stamford Bridge from this angle. That was until club photographer Darren Walsh took his shots from a different vantage point during our 3-1 victory over Swansea. The end result: the perfect example of what a Chelsea goal means to our head coach, shortly after Pedro had put us 2-1 ahead.

52

53

MONTH NUMB3RS IN

PRESENTED BY

Looking through the stats at play

The 3-1 win over Swansea saw the Blues equal our club record of 12 successive home wins in all competitions, previously set twice before in 2008/09 (1) + 2009/10 (11) and again in 2014/15.

Victor Moses made his 50th start for the Blues in our victory against Swansea.

38+28+34I

CHELSEA AND ARSENAL COMPLETED 50 PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES IN FEBRUARY.

50

GAMES

Cesc FÃ bregas became the first Spanish player to reach 300 Premier League appearances when he started our match against the Swans. He also made his 100th Chelsea start in all competitions in our FA Cup win over Wolves.

Pld W D

L

68

F A

Pts

Chelsea 7 5 0 2 10 9 15 Arsenal 5 3 1 1 12 5 10 Tottenham 5 3 1 1 8 5 10 West Ham 6 2 0 4 9 12 6 Crystal Palace 5 0 0 5 0 8 0

54

DRAWN 14 LOST 19

GOALS FOR/AGAINST

Premier London League 2016/17 Team

WON 17

64

The Blues have scored the opening goal more times than any other Premier League team this season and, prior to our game at Stoke, we were yet to lose any of those matches (18 wins, three draws).

21+25+54I

THE SWANSEA GAME WAS OUR 950TH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.

950 GAMES

At the time of going to press, we had won 15 of our 16 league and cup matches at Stamford Bridge this season, losing only to Liverpool in September.

WON 506 DRAWN 241 LOST 203

At Burnley, Gary Cahill made his 150th Premier League appearance while Eden Hazard made his 150th Premier League start, as well as his 200th start in all competitions.

At West Ham, Cesar Azpilicueta made his 200th start in all competitions since he joined the club in 2012.

Pedro made his 50th Chelsea start in the victory over the Clarets.

Our Under-18s’ 13-0 win against Brighton is the highest score by any of the club’s youth sides since we beat Watford 16-0 in 1959 and equals our first team’s record win, against Jeunesse Hautcharage in 1971.

Nemanja Matic made his 100th Premier League start in the win at Turf Moor.

* Stats correct up to 08.03.17

Chelsea have reached a record-equalling eight consecutive FA Youth Cup semi-finals, previously achieved

by Manchester United between 1953 and 1960.

55

CHELSEAMEGASTORE.COM THE OFFICIAL MEGASTORE FOR UK, EUROPE AND AFRICA

WWW.CHELSEAMEGASTORE.COM +44(0)333 0144 539* *Calls to this number cost 10p per minute, plus network extras.

Ike Ugbo celebrates his FA Youth Cup goal against Leicester City

Words | Dominic Bliss

YOUNG BLUES ON TARGET

League winners for the third year in a row and through to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, a trophy we are attempting to secure for the fourth successive season, our Under-18s have also been racking up the goals during another impressive campaign It’s been a remarkable start to 2017 for the Chelsea youth team, who have won the south section of the Under-18 Premier League for a third year running and progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup for the eighth consecutive season during the course of a 22-match unbeaten run (as of the beginning of March) that stretches back to September.

Taking the six games played in the league and cup during February alone, Jody Morris’ side racked up a 26-0 aggregate scoreline as they won every match. Half of those goals were scored in one game – a 13-0 victory over Brighton when the south section title was already wrapped up.

While that result was not a record win – our youth team beat Watford 16-0 in 1959,

when Barry Bridges scored five times – it did showcase the lethal attacking potential within this season’s Under-18s group, so much so that Morris revealed afterwards he had asked them to be more clinical at the interval.

“For a good few weeks we have been coming in at half-time having played some excellent football and looking 57

ACADEMY

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD Date Opposition Res AUGUST Sun 14 Sunderland A 1-1 Mon 22 Liverpool H2 4-1 Sun 28 Manchester United A 1-1 SEPTEMBER Fri 9 Tottenham Hotspur H3 3-1 Tue 13 Swindon Town (EFLT Group C South) A 1-2 Mon 19 Reading A 1-2 Fri 23 Arsenal H3 1-2 OCTOBER Fri 14 Leicester City H2 0-0 Tue 18 Exeter City (EFLT Group C South) A 2-3 Mon 24 Derby County H2 2-2 Mon 31 Everton A 1-1 NOVEMBER Tue 8 Oxford United (EFLT Group C South) H3 1-1# Mon 21 Southampton H1 3-2 Sat 26 Manchester City A 2-2 Tue 29 Feyenoord (PLIC Group D) H2 2-1 DECEMBER Fri 9 Manchester United H2 3-1 Fri 16 Dinamo Zagreb (PLIC Group D) H2 0-1 Thu 22 Swansea City (PLIC Group D) H2 1-2 JANUARY Fri 6 Tottenham Hotspur A 2-2 Fri 13 Leicester City A 4-0 FEBRUARY Sun 5 Reading H2 2-0 Sat 18 Manchester City H2 3-4 Fri 24 Arsenal A 1-4 MARCH Mon 6 Southampton A 0-0 Mon 13 Liverpool A APRIL Fri 7 Sunderland H2 Fri 21 Everton H2 MAY Fri 5 Derby County A All games kick off at 7.05pm unless stated.

H1 - Cobham Training Ground. H2 - Aldershot Town FC. H3 - Stamford Bridge. EFLT - English Football League Trophy.

PLIC - Premier League International Cup. #Won 13-12 on penalties after 90 minutes.

APPEARANCES 2016/17 T Chalobah 22, Mount 20+4, Ugbo 20+4, Collins 19, Sterling 18+4, J Dasilva 16, Tomori 15, Scott 14+1, Quintero 13+4, Colley 12+3, Dabo 12, Sammut 11+2, Wakefield 8+4, Ali 7+3, Christie-Davies 6+5, Solanke 6, Van Ginkel 6, Maddox 4+10, Zouma 4, Muheim 3+4, Aina 3, Clarke-Salter 3, Kane 3, C Musonda 3, Colkett 2+1, Baxter 2, Nartey 2, St Clair 1+3, Grant 1+2, Batshuayi 1, Beeney 1, Eduardo 1, Fàbregas 1, James 1, Terry 1, Thompson 1, Taylor-Crossdale 0+3, Uwakwe 0+1

GOALS 2016/17 Ugbo 8, Quintero 5, Mount 4, Sterling 4, Ali 3 (1 pen), own goals 3, Batshuayi 2, J Dasilva 2 (2 pens), Solanke 2, Tomori 2, Christie-Davies 1, Maddox 1, C Musonda 1, Scott 1, Van Ginkel 1, Wakefield 1

Mason Mount

PREMIER LEAGUE 2 - DIVISION 1 Team 1 Everton 2 Man City

3 Liverpool

4 Arsenal

5 Chelsea

6 Sunderland

7 Man Utd

8 Tottenham

9 Southampton

10 Derby 11 Reading

12 Leicester Stats correct up to and including 08.03.17

58

Pld W D L GD Pts 18 13 2 3 +24 41 18 11 5 2 +17 38 17 9 3 5 +14 30 18 9 1 8 +6 28 18 6 8 4 +8 26 18 5 6 7 -7 21 18 5 5 8 -10 20 18 5 4 9 -8 19 18 5 4 9 -9 19 18 4 6 8 -9 18 18 5 3 10 -14 18 17 4 5 8 -12 17

Martell Taylor-Crossdale nets one of his hat-trick goals against Brighton

dominant,” he said. “A few times I had said to the boys to make sure they didn’t drop their levels in the second half and to see if we could make a bit of a statement, but we hadn’t done that previously.

“Against Brighton, we were 5-0 up at halftime but it could have been nine or 10, so I did feel like a bit of a broken record when I told them they weren’t clinical enough in the final third. That might sound silly, but I told the lads to make sure they tried to remain at the same level and to be relentless. I wanted them to get something out of the game, even though it was already won.

“The boys went out there and did that, and yet I still feel we could have been more clinical. We missed a hatful of chances and gave up some silly offsides when we could have stayed on, but you can’t really complain when you win 13-0!”

There was, of course, a serious reason for Morris’ cajoling. The development of our young players depends as much on their ability to transfer what they learn on the training pitch and during analysis sessions to the pitch on matchday.

“We weren’t judging ourselves on how many goals we could score in that game,

I TOLD THE LADS TO MAKE SURE THEY TRIED TO REMAIN AT THE SAME LEVEL AND TO BE RELENTLESS. I WANTED THEM TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE GAME, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALREADY WON

Jody Morris

chelseafc.com

we were trying to improve on things we have been working on day in, day out, and I was so pleased with the players’ mentality,” Morris explained.

“Even at 10 or 11-0, they were still working hard to win the ball back as if we were 1-0 down. They could have easily started showing off, or been selfish, but they remained fully focused and the scoreline reflected that. I was proud of them after the game.”

The team had actually wrapped up the south section in their previous league game, against Leicester City, who the young Blues took on in back-to-back games, first in the Under-18 Premier League and then in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.

Following a 3-0 win in the league fixture, Morris described his team’s first-half performance as “electric”, adding that they remained in total control during the second 45 minutes to secure their place at the top of the regional table. They now progress to the elite group to compete for the national title with the top sides from the north and south sections.

The Youth Cup game against Leicester was much closer. Only three players who began the league victory at the Foxes’ Academy

were in the starting line-up for the cup tie at the King Power Stadium, demonstrating the strength in depth in this Chelsea youth team.

However, the home side made it much more difficult this time around.

“They set up to frustrate us from minute one,” Morris said afterwards. “Every time the ball went out of play you could hear the bench telling them to slow it down and interrupt our rhythm, and we fell into that trap a little bit.

“We got a bit anxious and tried to force a few passes, while our quality on the ball wasn’t quite as good as it has been of late.

We were a little bit sloppy in possession but we still dominated both halves and were camped in their territory for much of the game.”

Chelsea eventually made the breakthrough when striker Ike Ugbo scored with a powerful header to ensure a 1-0 victory and a semi-final appearance against Tottenham, who we defeated at the same stage in 2014/15.

With that two-legged tie to anticipate and the elite section of the Under-18 Premier League set to begin on the weekend of March 11, it would be fair to say the ‘business end’ of the season is upon us.

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UNDER-18s Date Opposition Res AUGUST Sat 13 Fulham H1 3-2 Sat 20 Southampton A 2-3 Fri 26 Swansea City H1 5-0 SEPTEMBER Sat 10 Norwich City A 4-5 Sat 17 Arsenal H1 4-2 Sat 24 Aston Villa A 1-1 OCTOBER Sat 1 West Ham United H1 1-0 Sat 15 Reading H1 2-0 Sat 22 Tottenham Hotspur A 1-1 Sat 29 Leicester City H1 2-0 NOVEMBER Fri 4 Brighton & Hove Albion A 3-1 Sat 19 Southampton H1 4-1 Sat 26 Fulham A 2-0 DECEMBER Sat 3 Arsenal A 2-2 Sat 10 Norwich City H1 3-1 Tue 13 Cardiff City (FA Youth Cup 3) H2 5-0 JANUARY Thu 5 Swansea City A 5-0 Sat 14 Aston Villa H1 0-0 Wed 18 Birmingham City (FA Youth Cup 4) A 5-0 Sat 28 Tottenham Hotspur H1 3-2 FEBRUARY Wed 1 Sheffield Wednesday (FA Youth Cup 5) H2 4-0 Sat 4 Reading A 2-0 Sat 11 Leicester City A 3-0 Wed 15 Leicester City (FA Youth Cup QF) A 1-0 Sat 18 Brighton & Hove Albion H1 13-0 Sat 25 West Ham United A 3-0 MARCH Fri 10 West Ham United (Merit Group A, 12noon) A Tue 14 Tottenham Hotspur (FA Youth Cup SF 1, 7.15pm) A Sat 18 Tottenham Hotspur (FA Youth Cup SF 2, 5.15pm) H3 APRIL Sat 1 Manchester United (Merit Group A) H1 Sat 8 Manchester City (Merit Group A) A Sat 22 Blackburn Rovers (Merit Group A) H1 Sat 29 Liverpool (Merit Group A) A MAY Fri 12 Reading (Merit Group A, 7.05pm) H1 TBC Arsenal (Merit Group A) H1 All home games kick-off at 11.05am and away games 11am unless stated.

H1 - Cobham Training Ground. H2 - Aldershot Town FC. H3 – Stamford Bridge.

APPEARANCES 2016/17 McCormick 21+1, Taylor-Crossdale 19+6, C Dasilva 19+2, Grant 19, James 18+7, Guehi 18+1, G McEachran 15+5, Gallagher 14+8, St Clair 14+5, Uwakwe 14+5, Hudson-Odoi 14+3, Cumming 14, Maddox 14, Nartey 13+1, Castillo 9+9, Colley 8, Thompson 8, Mount 6, Sterling 6, Ugbo 6, C Brown 5+13, T Chalobah 5, Bulka 3, Panzo 2+4, Medley 1+1, Baxter 1, Jameson 0+3

GOALS 2016/17 Taylor-Crossdale 19 (3 pens), C Brown 10, McCormick 7 (4 pens), St Clair 7, Uwakwe 7, Ugbo 6 (1 pen), G McEachran 5, Mount 5, Hudson-Odoi 4, C Dasilva 3, Gallagher 2, James 2, own goals 2, T Chalobah 1, Guehi 1, Maddox 1, Nartey 1

Charlie Brown

Luke McCormick scores from the spot against the Seagulls

Team 1 Chelsea 2 Arsenal 3 Reading 4 West Ham 5 Fulham 6 Aston Villa 7 Tottenham 8 Norwich 9 Southampton 10 Brighton 11 Swansea 12 Leicester

Pld W D L GD Pts 22 16 4 2 +47 52 22 12 5 5 +20 41 22 12 3 7 +11 39 22 10 4 8 +6 34 22 9 6 7 +7 33 22 9 6 7 -8 33 22 9 4 9 +12 31 22 9 4 9 +8 31 22 7 5 10 -13 26 22 5 8 9 -23 23 22 2 6 14 -37 12 22 2 5 15 -30 11

Fixtures correct at time of going to press.

Main photos: Mark Sandom

U18 PREMIER LEAGUE - SOUTH

Stats correct up to and including 08.03.17

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ACADEMY INTERVIEW

MARC GUEHI

D.O.B. 13.07.00 BIRTHPLACE Abidjan, Ivory Coast POSITION Defender The first-year scholar on stepping up an age group, his footballing idols, having a winning mentality and why he feels part of a family

How is your first season in the Under-18s team going?

It has been a different season for me, moving up to Under-18s football from Under-16s.

It’s a big step up, but I think I’ve settled well, the lads have helped me and the coach has as well. It’s been a good experience for me getting into the Youth Cup squad. It’s helped my confidence to be playing in the league and cup teams regularly at such a young age and hopefully I can keep going from here.

We’ve achieved some big wins this season, so as a defender do you have a slightly different role in a side that often controls games?

I think, even when you have a team that is dominating so much in the league and playing so well, it is not too difficult for me to make sure I’m concentrated because anything can happen at any time. So I make sure I stay switched on and do my job at the back.

When did you first start playing football?

I started off playing Sunday League around Lewisham, near Grove Park, for a team called Cray Wanderers. My coach was a scout for Chelsea so he brought me into the system and I went to the club’s Kidbrooke development centre. Then the club signed me from there and I’ve been here since I was seven.

was amazing and you look up to people like that.

Then, in my position, at this club the obvious one is John Terry: a leader, captain and a legend here. Just looking up to someone like him, the way he conducts himself, the appearances he has made, from a young age as well, after pushing through the ranks. It shows that if you keep working hard you can get into the first team.

Does it make you more optimistic when you see the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ola Aina involved in the first-team squad this season?

Yes. I think seeing a lot of those lads push up gives you inspiration and encourages you to work even harder, because if you carry on working you will get your chance, like they have. Then you can prove yourself on the bigger stage.

Which players did you look up to when you were very young?

You mentioned you were born in the Ivory Coast but you have clearly been a Londoner for a long time – your accent tells us that!

He doesn’t play in my position, but I looked up to Didier Drogba because, being from the Ivory Coast as well, he has been an inspiration and at this club he is a legend with the amount of goals he scored. The way he conducted himself

I moved here at the age of one, so pretty much this is my country. I grew up in Lewisham, then I moved and lived around Effingham. I’ve represented England at Under17s level as well and that is special. Playing for your country is amazing.

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In Youth Cup action against Leicester City

More and more players in the youth team have been here from a very young age.

Does that help the team spirit?

Sure. I’ve known loads of these lads for a long time – 11 years now, probably – so when you go out on the pitch it just feels like family. Everyone here knows each other, everyone gets along, so it’s really good.

Does it help you get into the winning habit in the Chelsea Academy when you see so many age groups enjoying success?

I think that winning mentality is ingrained in the club from a young age. It prepares you for bigger stuff in your Chelsea future as well, if you move into the first team or go out on loan. You have that winning habit from continuously playing in an environment where you don’t want to lose.

What is the atmosphere like around the Academy, from day to day?

It’s professional, especially out on the pitch where you have to make sure you’re doing everything the right way, but there is loads of banter around here as well, in the changing rooms and among the coaches.

Everyone gets along well, but we’re always making sure we are professional at the right times and do the right things. It’s a place where you look forward to coming to work.

You effectively represent two teams because a lot of the development squad players come into the FA Youth Cup side.

How do you adapt to that?

WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO BETTER OURSELVES, ALWAYS TRYING TO WIN, ALWAYS TRYING TO EXCEED OUR EXPECTATIONS

The youth team have just secured the southern section of the Under-18 Premier League again. How determined are you to go on and win the elite group section against the country’s other top clubs this season?

I think that’s a big target. We are always trying to better what we did last season and we have got the first bit out of the way by winning the southern section of the league.

Now competing for the elite league is a massive thing for us and we will make sure we try to do everything we can.

Those players coming back down to the youth team helps us a lot, because of their experience of playing with the Under-23s.

We all know each other really well and after a few days of training together everything just clicks for the Youth Cup games.

Jody Morris makes sure he always keeps us on our toes by making sure that if you are playing well on a Saturday in the league, you will get a chance to play in cup games as well.

He seems to be keeping you on your toes generally. He recently wrote in his programme notes that he spoke to the team about being more clinical after a 13-0 win!

I know it sounds silly after a 13-0 win, but he does expect a lot from us and we expect a lot of ourselves as well. We missed a lot of chances in that game and we could have put more away. We expect that from ourselves as well and it is just the environment we’re in – we are always trying to better ourselves, always trying to win, always trying to exceed our expectations.

Interview | Dominic Bliss 61

LADIES INTERVIEW

FRAN KIRBY

D.O.B. 29.06.93 BIRTHPLACE Reading POSITION Forward Fran Kirby averages just shy of a goal per game since joining Chelsea Ladies in the summer of 2015. However, a serious knee injury kept the England forward out of action for much of the second half of last season and she cannot wait to get going when the new campaign kicks off this month

You recently paid a visit to a young supporter who is one of your biggest fans.

How did it come about?

A young girl put a video on Instagram of her taking a penalty at Stamford Bridge during the half-time break of the Peterborough game and she was wearing a Chelsea shirt with Kirby 14 on the back. So, a few weeks later, I went to her house to pay her a visit!

Her name is Isla and I took a few presents along for her and her sister. It was really nice – they are two adorable little girls. It’s moments like these that make me realise how lucky I am to do this job. It was very humbling for me and I hope I can continue to inspire young people like them.

How good does it feel when you see someone with your name on the back of their shirt?

It’s quite surreal. It’s not something I’ve got used to, really – I still have to pinch myself.

It makes me value the job I do so much.

You’ve helped to inspire this person and them seeing you do what you love will hopefully make them want to follow their dreams.

For women’s football, the fans are huge.

They’re the reason we love doing our job so much. They’re so loyal, really into your career and into you as a person. It makes you enjoy it more. For me to have the opportunity to see a young girl who I have hopefully inspired a little bit makes me very happy.

It’s so important and it helps the growth of women’s football in the UK and across the world. They’re really important and if we can inspire one person out of five, that’s great.

Last season was frustrating for you after you missed virtually the entire second half through injury. How are you feeling now?

Posing for a photo with young fan Isla, who was given a signed England shirt from the Chelsea Ladies star 62

Pre-season has been going really well. It was disappointing when I came back to play at the end of last season and I had a little bit of a setback. I’ve been training and hopefully I’ll be getting some minutes for the development team before coming back with

the first team. Last time, having a setback wasn’t good, but now I feel fit and I feel strong. The aim is to be available for the first game of the season, but with injuries you never know. We have to manage it properly and be careful with it.

What’s it like to be out injured for so long?

It’s horrible. You’re working so hard to get yourself back on the pitch and you see all the girls going out to train every day, and you’re just sitting there watching. I have to be distracted in some way when I’m out of the team and luckily the girls were really great with me. They were so supportive and always looking after me.

There were some low moments, particularly when I came back and thought I was fine but then I had another breakdown.

It’s mentally tough and very draining, but the willingness to get yourself back on the pitch pushes you through that. If I didn’t have the chance to play football, I don’t know what I’d do. I love it so much and as horrible as the past nine months have been, it’ll all be worth it when I can step on that pitch again.

It’s going to be a big year for you, isn’t it?

There’s a lot to look forward to, but the main goal for me is to make sure I’m back out on the pitch. For the moment, that’s what

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Battling team-mate Gemma Davison for the ball during a training session at Stamford Bridge

as they can in training, step up their game and work as hard as ever. It’s exciting and really intense competition, but you’ve got to expect that at a club of this size.

I’m heading towards, but it’s hard not to get excited about the season ahead and the Euros in the summer.

The fans are certainly excited by the new signings we’ve made during the off-season.

What have you made of the changes?

We were disappointed with last season – obviously coming second and getting into the Champions League is great, but we’ve got a group full of winners and we want to be lifting trophies. With the new girls coming in, it’s freshened up the team and they are all really good characters. They are people who haven’t just come to England to see what it’s like, they want to make a difference and to win everything they can.

The competition for places, particularly in attack, will be intense...

That’s always the case when you play for a club like Chelsea – you’ve got to be aware they will sign world-class players. It’s healthy competition and we’ve got to keep pushing each other. If you’re not picked, you have to make sure you’re giving your all to inspire those who have been selected, and then when your chance comes you’ve got to take it. We’ve signed some top-quality players so everyone is going to need to push as hard

Can we expect a lot of goals at Wheatsheaf Park this season?

WE’VE SIGNED SOME TOP-QUALITY PLAYERS SO EVERYONE IS GOING TO NEED TO PUSH AS HARD AS THEY CAN IN TRAINING, STEP UP THEIR GAME AND WORK AS HARD AS EVER

Definitely, and we’ve shown that in preseason by scoring goals for fun. At the same time, we’ve got to work hard on the defensive side of things to make sure we’re not conceding at the other end. The front line we’ve got is absolutely terrifying, but our midfield has got a goal or two in them and I’m just really excited to see the quality, the pace and the technical ability we’ve got in attack. Even if I’m not playing I think I’ll enjoy watching them!

What are our targets for the season?

Like I said before, we’re all winners, so this Spring Series isn’t just a kickabout for us – we want to win it. We also want to make up for the disappointment of losing the FA Cup final last season by getting back to Wembley again and winning it. I was absolutely devastated when we lost to Arsenal. When you’re in a group of world-class players who have won a lot of trophies in their career, the only option is to win.

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LADIES INTERVIEW

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@chelseaLFC LADIES

As well as looking ahead to the new campaign, Fran also gave us the lowdown on each of the additions to the squad during the off-season

CRYSTAL DUNN She is full of energy and so positive with everything she does, which is something that seems to be in the American DNA. When we’re training and doing our running, she’ll be pushing everyone and trying to get them over the line. Crystal is always working so hard, I’ve never seen someone run as much as she does. She’s a great character, always smiling and wanting to have a good time with everyone, and she’s so confident. I’m excited to see what she can do in the WSL1.

MAREN MJELDE Maren’s a little sweetheart off the pitch, but as soon as she crosses that line she’ll just go and smash you! It’s so hard for the girls who have joined, they’ve had to leave behind their families and loved ones, but it’s nice to see them settle quickly. She’s solid on the pitch; she’s not afraid to put a tackle in, she cuts out everything and breaks up the play.

Her positioning is second to none.

DEANNA COOPER I’ve known Deanna for quite a while as I

RAMONA BACHMANN She’s quality. Her technical ability with the ball at her feet is just ridiculous. She’s so fast it’s actually a joke! Off the pitch, she’s such a nice person, so down to earth, but she’s quite quiet and I think she’ll come up with a bit more banter when she comes out of her shell. She’s also come from a very successful team and she’s been used to winning trophies throughout her career, so she’s here to continue that.

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was in the England youth set-up with her and I always knew she was a quality player – she’s very strong and very physical. When we played London Bees, she showed those qualities. You can see how much she invests in her game. Knowing her for so long, it’s been really nice to see her make this step as I know how hard she’s worked and how much she has wanted it. Now she’s taking it all in and enjoying it.

ERIN CUTHBERT Just a typical, crazy Scottish girl! But she’s lovely. I’m sure it’s been tough for her to come into this environment, to train every day with world-class players. It’s difficult to come into that, but she’s really held her own and she’s found her feet quickly. Everyone loves her already – she’s always smiling.

Interview | Richard Godden

LADIES

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@chelseaLFC LADIES

WE HEAD INTO THE NEW SEASON IN GOOD SHAPE Chelsea Ladies will head into the FA WSL Spring Series in confident mood after impressing in each of our pre-season fixtures ahead of the new campaign.

Our opposition was largely made up of Women’s Champions League sides, but we opened with a match against South Korean side Hyundai Steel Red Angels. A first Chelsea goal for Maren Mjelde was followed up by an effort from Millie Bright, but it was the manner of the performance that was most pleasing to the manager.

“We were on the front foot and our pressing game was the highlight as it set the tone and we gave them no time on the ball,” said Emma Hayes. “They are a very Hannah Blundell in action against Fortuna Hjorring

good side, technically outstanding, which is what you expect from an Asian team.

They’d be among the top 12 clubs in Europe, so coping against that style bodes well for us.”

Next up was a game against one of Sweden’s top sides, Rosengard. Karen Carney was on target with a well-taken volley and Katie Chapman also fired home from outside the box, but we settled for a 2-2 draw ahead of a week of warm-weather training in Portugal which culminated in a 2-0 victory over Danish side Fortuna Hjorring, who face Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

“Again, our pressing was excellent, allowing Crystal Dunn to score her first goal and also providing Eniola Aluko with a chance to get back on the scoresheet after her Golden Boot-winning form last year,” added Hayes.

The biggest victory was secured against LSK Kvinner from Norway, a side who hit the headlines in this season’s Champions League by defeating 2015 finalists Paris SaintGermain in the first leg of their tie in the last 32 before eventually bowing out.

They had no answer to the Blues’ attacking brilliance, however, and all three goals came in a devastating five-minute spell ahead of the half-hour mark – two for Ramona Bachmann and one for fellow new signing Erin Cuthbert.

The results and form of the players throughout pre-season bodes well for the new campaign, which starts on Sunday March 19 with an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Doncaster Rovers Belles at Wheatsheaf Park.

“I feel we’re going into the new season in good shape, having made some astute additions to the squad and worked incredibly hard during pre-season,” said Hayes.

“That has been reflected in some of our results and performances, which have been very good. All our opponents have been top sides and we have shown we have the ability to unsettle any team when they are in possession and we also have the quality to make them pay in the attacking third.”

In other news, the Blues brought in another new player last month as Deanna Cooper joined us from London Bees. The versatile defender scored in the Continental Cup match between the sides last season and has signed a contract until the end of the Spring Series.

“We weren’t looking to make any more signings, but we brought her in on trial from London Bees and she took the opportunity with both hands,” said Hayes.

“She is an excellent one-v-one defender and can play all the way across the back line, which adds depth to our squad.”

Goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl and Bachmann were both shortlisted for the FIFPro Women’s World XI, with the final selection due to be revealed as this magazine went to print.

More than 3,000 female players from 47 countries voted.

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01153

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SERIES CHELSEA LADIES SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW ADULTS £15 CONCESSIONS £7.50 Call now 0371 811 1905 or visit chelseafc.com/ladiestickets Spring Series 2017 Season Tickets include entry to all Chelsea Ladies Spring Series home league games plus any potential FA Women’s Cup home 5th / 6th round games

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FOUNDATION NEWS

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@chelseafc FOUNDATION

Girls have a ball as their heroes visit soccer school Aspiring female footballers enjoyed a day to remember at Chelsea FC Soccer School Bangkok to celebrate the success of the first year of our girls-only programme in the city.

The exclusive event at NIST International School, the venue for the soccer school, saw local youngsters enjoy a 90-minute training session with Chelsea Foundation coaches and meet their heroes from the Thailand women’s national team.

More than 100 female footballers participated in the session, including youngsters from local school Sai Nam Peung.

As a gesture of appreciation from the Chelsea coaches, both the Thai national team and NIST International School were presented with a signed Chelsea Ladies shirt, thanking them for their support.

“This event provided the opportunity for young female players at NIST, as well as students from a local Thai school, to train and interact with the best international players in the country and demonstrates the passion the Chelsea Foundation has for promoting female participation and equality in football,” said James Hagerty, Chelsea Foundation head coach in Bangkok.

“Over the past year, we have championed and worked to develop a girls-only football programme which offers young players the opportunity to train every week, with the goal of starting our own girls’ teams and a development league in the near future.”

More than 100 young female footballers took part in the coaching session at Chelsea FC Soccer School Bangkok

Monopoly game helps pupils get down to business The Chelsea Foundation launched a new education initiative as more than 100 youngsters from Fulham Cross Girls’ School gathered at Stamford Bridge to take part in the business and finance focused programme.

Using the classic board game Monopoly, but with a Chelsea twist, the aim of the day was for the Year Nine girls in attendance to hustle, negotiate, buy and sell, strategise and problem-solve their way to the crown of Chelsea Foundation Monopoly Champions 2017.

The programme is a collaboration with accountancy firm Mazars, which shares the Foundation’s values of supporting local people with the business and financial skills to succeed in the future, as well as contributing to Empower Day, which forms part of the curriculum at the school each half-term.

“The students were full of excitement about the venue, the tasks and the support

and challenge provided by the professionals from Mazars,” said Fulham Cross assistant head teacher Elaine Detain.

“The structure and challenge of the day fully fits with our aim of empowering tomorrow’s women as it gave them an opportunity to plan strategic solutions to the challenges presented, supporting

the development of team work and communication skills, whilst also having a lot of fun.”

The event proved a great success and the Foundation plans to replicate this across other schools and build an annual competition to see who can be crowned the Chelsea Foundation Monopoly champions.

The board game helped educate the children about business and finance

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ONCE A BLUE, ALWAYS A BLUE

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ONE OF US TOM CHILTON

WE WERE THERE! WE WERE THERE!

MESSAGE BOARD

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KING’S ROAD BOUTIQUE

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TOM CHILTON The racing driver and godson of Matthew Harding talks to us about how he fell in love with the Blues, being the odd one out among his friends, living in the moment and an unforgettable visit to Stamford Bridge

away about two years later, it grew stronger out of respect for him and I’ve been a Chelsea fan from then on.

How did your support for Chelsea begin?

I would love to say I was a Chelsea fan from the day I was born, but I think everyone usually follows the team their father supports at first, which was actually Tottenham Hotspur in my case.

I went along to a Tottenham game with my dad, but the second game I ever went to was at Stamford Bridge with him and my godfather Matthew Harding, to watch Chelsea versus Tottenham. Matthew was vice-chairman of Chelsea at the time. I was about seven years old and I absolutely loved the football ground here and the crowd.

I know you’re not supposed to switch football teams, but I felt it happen very quickly and realised I preferred the Blues to Spurs. Also, when Matthew passed

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Derby matches must be interesting with you supporting Chelsea and your dad Tottenham...

Matthew Harding showing his support for the Blues

It’s quite fun when your dad supports the other one, especially at the moment with Chelsea and Tottenham both around the top of the table. Actually, all of my best friends bar one are Spurs fans too, and I quite like being the odd one out. At the moment I’m smiling a lot and I’m very happy. They’re pretending they don’t care we’re top of the league and just keep pointing out how they stopped us getting the record for consecutive Premier League wins earlier this season. They’re still using that against me.

ONE OF US Willian celebrates his goal during our victory against Stoke City

I COULD HEAR THE ROAR, ALL THE SONGS AND THE BANTER COMING OUT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, IT WAS AMAZING WHEN WE SCORED

them! I love them to bits, though, and my eldest son is getting to the age where he’s starting to kick a ball around, so football is quite a fun way for us to bond. He’s also got a little go-kart he drives around, so he’s been introduced to my two passions already.

You’re taking part in two championships in 2017. Does your racing schedule get in the way of the football?

I’m racing in the British and World Touring Car Championship. I think I’m the busiest racing driver in the history of motorsport!

I’ve got a guaranteed 50 races this year so far and there could be potential for more.

There are Chelsea supporters all over the world, but it can be hard to find the games on TV in some of the places I race, especially with commentary in English, but the internet saves me. Every hotel you go to has wifi these days and you can always find the game somewhere online.

Even during the winter when I’m not racing, I don’t get to spend too many of my weekends sat down watching the football now I have two children. I’m always having to do colouring in with

You were lucky enough to be a guest at Stamford Bridge for our win over Stoke City on New Year’s Eve, though...

Tom Chilton racing in the World Touring Car Championship

I don’t race between December and March, that’s when we’re testing the new chassis for the year ahead. I absolutely love the fact that Yokohama sponsor Chelsea, as they are the tyres I run in the World Touring Cars. Yokohama kindly invited me to watch the game from the Millennium Suites at Stamford Bridge, which are absolutely gorgeous. It’s a

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ONE OF US beautiful place to watch the match from.

I was on the side closest to the Matthew Harding Stand and the atmosphere was incredible. I could hear the roar, all the songs and the banter coming out. I absolutely loved it, it was amazing when we scored. I really enjoyed myself and even the friends I had with me, who aren’t Chelsea supporters, had just as great a day as I did. They had smiles on their faces when we left, telling me what a fantastic club this is.

Is there a particular period from your time following Chelsea that stands out as your favourite?

I really enjoyed the Champions League and Europa League wins in 2012 and 2013, but I like living for the now – and right now things are really good. We’re playing about as well as I can remember,

John Terry between the sticks at Reading in 2006

so I think I’ve got to go with the current team. We equalled the record for the most league wins in a row this season, which is ridiculous. I think we should all just be enjoying the moment. Antonio Conte had some pretty big shoes to fill, as there have been so many brilliant managers who have had a lot of success here over the years, but he’s done a really good job.

Having said that, another moment that stands out for me was back in 2006. It’s a bit of a weird one and a little bit morbid, but I’ll never forget the game (against Reading) when Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini both suffered head injuries and John Terry had to put a goalkeeper shirt on and cover for them in the last few minutes. We still won 1-0 too. Strange moments like that don’t happen too often and it always sticks out in my mind.

my

CHELSEA FIVE-A-SIDE TEAM

MANAGER

TOM CHILTON I’ll start with the one that’s given me the most trouble. I’ve been struggling between three people for my defender, do I go for Frank Leboeuf, Marcel Desailly or John Terry? With Terry there’s also the fact he played for England working in his favour, but I’m going to make the decision a bit easier by saying my team is only for former players. I think you

Petr Cech; Frank Leboeuf, Frank Lampard; Gianfranco Zola; Didier Drogba

should always stick to people from the past when you do things like this.

I might have to put Terry in there when he retires, but for now I will go with Frank Leboeuf.

In contrast, the goalkeeper is a bit of a no-brainer for me. Petr Cech is definitely the person I would want in goal. There have been a lot of great midfielders at Chelsea over

the years, but I’m going for Frank Lampard as his longevity was amazing. He was so good here for so long. I’ll put Gianfranco Zola alongside Lampard, that would give me plenty of creativity, and then I think Didier Drogba has to be the centre-forward. That’s my dream team, I think it’s good, solid and unbeatable!

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WE WERE THERE! WE WERE THERE! Each month we look at Chelsea’s history from a fan perspective.

In this issue, we relive our first European final, when we took on and beat Real Madrid...

REAL DRAMA IN ATHENS It had been a wonderful year for Chelsea supporters. In 1970, we had finally won the FA Cup and the great side of the Sixties, many of whom had come through the club’s youth system, celebrated in style with the fans during a memorable bus parade in west London.

Yet 1971 proved to be a very good sequel as we reached our first-ever European final thanks to a memorable Cup Winners’ Cup run, including a satisfying victory in an allEnglish semi-final against Manchester City.

The final was to be played against that most glamorous of opponents, Real Madrid, who already had six European trophies to

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their name when the two sides met in Athens in May 1971.

Nevertheless, Peter Osgood’s goal looked to have secured victory for Chelsea as the officials began setting up the trophy presentation stand in the final moments of the match, only for Zoco to nip in and equalise, sending the final to a replay two days later. Cue panic for those who did not foresee such a possibility and had jobs and schools to go back to in the meantime!

We spoke to a fortunate few who were there in Athens for the final, including some who managed to remain in the Greek capital for the victorious replay, and one man who was overjoyed to get on the scoresheet...

DAVE HADLEY

I was one of those who went to both games in Athens and it was due to my good wife, Sheila. You see, I used to go to Butlins for my holidays and when we got married we went upmarket…to Pontins! However, when Chelsea got to the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, I had no thoughts about missing it. I’d been going to Chelsea since 1944, so I just couldn’t miss that game.

It was the first time I had gone abroad, though, and I was planning to go just for the day, but my wife insisted we go for a package holiday for a few days. We stayed in a hotel on the beach in a place

KARAISKAKIS STADIUM, ATHENS, GREECE

called Loutraki and it was so hot you couldn’t even walk on the pebbles.

When we went to the match at the stadium in Piraeus we sat on these big, high stone steps – and we had a good view. Chelsea were 1-0 up in the last minute and the guard of honour were marching round in readiness to give us the cup, but then Real Madrid equalised and everybody was down.

Quite a few Chelsea fans came over just for the day and a lot of them had to go home, but fortunately for us we went back to our seaside hotel, which was about a two-hour trip. Then, on the Friday, we went back again for the replay and, of course, we won.

The thing that sticks in my mind is when we left the game in the coach, the streets were all lined with local fans cheering. We were like celebs! It was a tremendous atmosphere to go back to the hotel as winners of the cup.

But if it wasn’t for Sheila, who has sadly since passed away, we wouldn’t have gone. She even wrote a letter (below) to the programme to say we would never have gone abroad if it hadn’t have been for Chelsea going to Athens. It changed our habits and I’ve since been to Moscow, Munich, Stockholm – all manner of away trips – to watch Chelsea.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper is put under pressure as the ball is crossed into the box

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WE WERE THERE! WE WERE THERE!

PERRY RIDLEY

I had gone to the away game in Bruges in the quarter-finals and to the semi-final away at Manchester City, so I was determined to go to the final. I was almost 13 and, to his credit, my late father cleared out all our savings to take us to the game. The trip with flight, hotel, and match ticket was £36 each. I can recall the flight out from Gatwick, as they did a repair while we were on the plane. The pilot also announced himself as Captain Cook – cue the jibes from the plane full of Chelsea fans.

When we arrived in Athens the heat was ferocious, like I had never experienced before. We were convoyed to our hotel in the centre of the city by coach, and then the traffic going to the game was dreadful. We worried about missing the kick-off, but we made it on time and our seats were high up in the side of the stadium.

My recollection of the game was that it was very one-sided in favour of Real Madrid, but when Ossie scored in the second half we thought we could hang on for the win. In the end they were battering us, though, and they scored the last-minute equaliser. We were gutted and feared the worst, as Chelsea looked dead on their feet, but we hung on through extra time and got the replay.

My dad tried every way possible for us to stay another two days for the replay, but unfortunately we could not. We went to the Acropolis and Parthenon the

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of the final trophy on show ahead The Cup Winners’ Cup following day for a sightseeing trip, but we both looked very miserable in the souvenir photo, taken before we went to the airport to fly home.

I can recall other fans at the airport advising us to stay, talking about sleeping on the beach, but we had to come home.

As everyone knows, we won the replay 2-1 and the following day we all went over to Fulham Road to see the open-top bus parade. I held my programme high up in the crowd so the players would notice it, and I still have it, along with my match ticket, flight ticket and some other bits. Thanks for the trip, Dad!

Chelsea fans line the streets during the open-top bus parade

ALFIE LAY I was about 17 at the time and travelling to Europe was completely different to how it is now. It all seems like a bit of a dream. I went with my cousin and another mate of mine, Tony, on what was supposed to be a 36-hour return trip.

When we arrived in Athens we went to where we were staying, which was just a Mickey Mouse hotel off Omonia Square in downtown Athens. It was quite a cool place at the time with a load of cafes and bars, but it’s all changed now. So we had a few beers there and then we got the train out to the stadium, which is out in the port, in Piraeus.

There were 45,000 people at the first game, and I think there were 5,000 Chelsea and about 1,000 Real Madrid fans. It was a funny old time because money was tight, although when you were out there it was cheap as chips!

I remember going to this little taverna before we went to the stadium and they were serving ouzo and beers, and the beers were only a few pence each. After that, off we went to the game and, even though it was a draw, Omonia Square was fantastic that night. All the Greek boys were showing us about and we were driving around on their scooters!

The next morning, we got up and our plane wasn’t leaving until the afternoon, so we got a cab out to the beach. There was a bloke washing his speedboat and that was a big deal to us – we were only kids really. We started talking to him and he took us for a ride around the bay in his speedboat! It was brilliant and we had a fantastic time. We came back, were lying on the beach and I just thought, “You know what? I don’t want to go back.” By that time my two pals were half akip on the beach and I was lying there watching the planes take off.

In the end we went back to the hotel and our three bags were sitting by the

Chelsea’s players do a lap of honour after

reception – that was our lot. Our plane had gone, we hardly had any dough and we were thinking, “What are we going to do now?”

We knew we were going to stay for the replay the next day so we went back to where the stadium was, but there was no-one there. So we went to this little taverna again and spoke to the bloke who runs the gaff. He said, “Oh yes, last night – Chelsea!” Next thing you know, we’re having a few drinks and he put the three of us up in the back of his taverna, in some old storage room.

In the morning, we went into the stadium, which wasn’t locked up, and there was a geezer watering the pitch.

Well, we hadn’t had a shower, so he hosed us down and that was it! We had a shower on the pitch that Chelsea were going to be playing on later against Real Madrid.

You didn’t need a ticket for the replay – you just went in – and there weren’t as many people. I think there were only about 500 Chelsea left behind, and the rest of them were just locals, although it was still a good crowd.

The game was fantastic and, of course, we won. I had this flag that my aunt had made with six Union Jacks all sewn together and ‘The Chelsea Shed’ on it. At

winning the replay

the final whistle, me and my pal headed off for the pitch to celebrate. We got over the top of the railing and realised it wasn’t the end of the match – they’d stopped for a free-kick in the last minute!

So we ended up going down the running track beside the pitch and just as we got behind the goal the final whistle went, so we ran on the pitch as the players started celebrating.

My brother was watching the game on the telly, in the pub down the World’s End, and all of a sudden he saw my face come up bang, smack on the screen with the flag! My photo was in the Evening Standard the next day as well.

After a couple of days of wondering what to do, still staying in this taverna, we finally went to the embassy and they took our passports away from us, issued us with a document to travel and gave us a train ticket. We had to get the train from Athens to Victoria and then go to the embassy in London to pay for the ticket so we could get our passports back.

When we eventually got back to London, it was over a week since the match and we were there at 9am at Victoria station all dressed up in our Chelsea gear and still buzzing from the trip. It was like being on a different planet.

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WE WERE THERE! WE WERE THERE!

JOHN DEMPSEY

It was a massive thing for Chelsea to be in their first European final and playing against a team like Real Madrid, who were the great side from the 1950s and 1960s, but Dave Sexton instilled in us that we were a good team and, whoever we played against, we could always come out on top.

He drilled into us the importance of playing as a team and not individuals, even though we had outstanding players in our team like Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke and Alan Hudson, who could turn a game. At the end of the day, 11 players go out there to play and you work as a team and win as a team.

We were very close to winning the first game with Ossie’s goal, but a cross came in right at the end which came off my foot and played about three of them onside! There was nothing I could do about it, I was just unfortunate it set them up for an equaliser when the red carpet was already out and we were hanging on, thinking we were going to win.

The game ended 1-1 after extra time, so we had to have a replay and there were two days then in which a lot of supporters had to go back home. They

NEXT MONTH

y Dempsey with the troph Peter Osgood and John

never expected a replay, so we met them in their hotels and they were still in good spirits, just a bit down that we hadn’t held on after being that close to winning.

We really wanted to win the replay for them.

We played very well in the replay, controlled the game and were the better team throughout. Charlie Cooke played very well and I think we deserved to win.

I still watch my goal – our first that night – occasionally. I saw it on Chelsea TV with Kenneth Wolstenholme’s

commentary and it was a decent goal.

Ninety-nine times out of 100 it could have gone anywhere but fortunately on that occasion it ended up in the roof of the net. It was a decent volley. I just remember the ball dropping perfectly and thinking I had to hit it on the volley, then it just rose into the top corner!

I was so pleased. When you’re young and you score a goal in the park you say, “Goal by Dempsey in the final,” but you never think one day that you might be able to score a goal in such a crucial game for a top club.

Dempsey’s strike (top) and Osgood’ s goal (bottom)

Next month we’ll be remembering the time Dennis Wise scored a very good goal in the San Siro, with 10 minutes to go. If you were in Milan that night in October 1999 email dominic.bliss@trinitymirror.com and let us know.

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MESSAGE BOARD

Where fans show the Chelsea colours, wherever they may be

ALAN DARTNELL Happy birthday to a true Blue with love from all the family. Alan Dartnell will be 70 years old on 16 March. He is a big Chelsea fan and a season ticket holder in the Matthew Harding Stand upper.

CHRISTOPHER KOUZIOS

LUCA-MATTEO GRUNWALD

Three-year-old Christopher Kouzios lives in Sydney, Australia, and is a massive Chelsea supporter, as he follows in the footsteps of his big brother Nicholas and dad Spiro.

Christopher’s favourite player is Eden Hazard, whose speed and skill he hopes to one day emulate. He can’t wait to visit Stamford Bridge when he gets older.

Little Luca-Matteo Grünwald is two years old and a big fan of Chelsea, just like his dad Jochen. They both follow the Blues from afar, in the German capital of Berlin, and are hoping to see their beloved club win the Premier League title this season to give LucaMatteo even more reason to show off his kit.

MARTIN & TOBY GODDARD Two generations of Blues supporters were keen to show their colours during recent trips abroad. Martin Goddard and his son Toby are both lifelong fans who attend as many matches as possible, but as these photos prove, their support goes much further than Stamford Bridge. Martin can be seen in his retro shirt outside the Sydney Opera House in Australia, while Toby is sporting his modern kit at Yosemite National Park in the USA.

WANT TO APPEAR ON THE MESSAGE BOARD? 80

BARRY EDNIE Barry Ednie is seen in this picture showing his passion for Chelsea at the highest point in England, Scafell Pike in the Lake District, by wearing his Blues hat to protect his head from the cold wind. Barry is 64 years old and, in his own words, “a lifelong supporter of the best team in the world”.

CALLIE MARTIN This photo shows 16-month-old Callie Martin, from Christchurch in Dorset, learning to kick her new football while wearing her Chelsea kit, and she wanted to say a big thank you to her granddad!

Send your details and a picture to: Message Board, Chelsea Football Club, Matchday Programme, Third Floor, Stamford Bridge, London, SW6 1HS

@

Or email them to: cfc.programme@trinitymirror.com

Chelsea paraded the FA Cup trophy around Stamford Bridge ahead of our Charity Shield meeting with Everton in 1970. How much do you know about the players?

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TEST YOUR CHELSEA KNOWLEDGE...

1 Peter Osgood remains the last player to have scored in every round of the FA Cup. Can you name the six sides he netted against in 1970?

5 John Hollins was the club’s designated penalty taker in the 1971/72 season. How many goals did he net that term?

2 Peter Bonetti appeared in his final Chelsea game in May 1979. In which year did he play his first?

6 Marvin Hinton was said to be

3 Derek Smethurst scored in the semi-final of the 1971 Cup Winners’ Cup. Which English side were our opponents?

4 Can you name this winger who joined Chelsea after we’d won the FA Cup and went on to finish as our top scorer in his only season at the club?

0-3 EXTRA TRAINING SESSION REQUIRED!

9 Peter Houseman scored in the 2-2 draw with Leeds in the 1970 FA Cup final. Can you name the three other English players who have netted for Chelsea in an FA Cup final at Wembley?

the first English sweeper when he was deployed there during our run to the Fairs Cup semi-final in 1965/66. Which side eventually eliminated us?

7 Can you name all seven managers who Ron Harris appeared under during his time as a Chelsea player?

8 Which current Premier League manager idolised Ian Hutchinson when he was growing up?

4-6 STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

7-9 EXCELLENT CHELSEA KNOWLEDGE

1. Birmingham, Burnley, Crystal Palace, QPR, Watford, Leeds 2. 1960 (3-0 v Man City) 3. Manchester City 4. Keith Weller 5.18 6. Barcelona 7. Tommy Docherty, Ron Suart, Dave Sexton, Eddie McCreadie, Ken Shellito, Danny Blanchflower, Geoff Hurst 8. Mark Hughes 9. Ian Hutchinson, Eddie Newton, Frank Lampard 81

’S KING D

ROAique Bout

Football’s – n finest fashio ux pas d fa and the od

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Where to begin with this photograph from a club Christmas lunch in the early Noughties?

Despite the visual evidence to the contrary, it was not a fancy dress party, but some of these players have certainly decided to stand out from the crowd. Whether it is Frank Lampard’s Forties-style suit, so retro that it seemingly comes out in sepia in photographs, Mario Melchiot borrowing The Joker’s purple outfit or Jody Morris doing his best John Travolta in a leather jacket straight out of Grease, there is plenty to enjoy. Then there’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, whose inspiration may well have been the Liverpool Spice Boys’ suits at the 1996 FA Cup final. At least William Gallas had the good sense to try to hide behind Melchiot in his Second World War bomber jacket, while Eidur Gudjohnsen was forced to just close his eyes.

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