Born and bred in South Wales. My mother had to raise 3 young boys (me being the eldest) when our father walked out on us in 1968. I was 8 years old at the time, and starting my first interest in all things football.

 

At the time, I had an uncle (God rest his soul) who came from Streatham, lived and breathed Chelsea FC. Very often, we would be invited down to his place for weekends. It was him I looked up to, and it was him who would take me to the games on our visits if Chelsea were playing at home. From those early days I have supported this great club ever since, through its triumphs and troubles.

 

I still live in South Wales, and get to treat myself to see 5-6 games at SB, finances permitting. My son and I support our local village team but now and again get an odd comment pass our way from fellow 'Taffs' about supporting an English team. It's not just an English team. It's Chelsea FC. I picked it and it picked me, that's how I feel. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Edited May 13, 201511 yr by paraphil

SW London born and bred, parents originally lived off the North End Road. My dad was a Chelsea supporter and it just all felt natural and normal to be supporting them. I couldn't personally have any passion for a club that was miles away like Liverpool or Man U. I wouldn't be able to feel any connection with them or have anything in common with the fellow locals.

Live in Cumbria, dads family is from Fulham, I was either a Chelsea fan or adopted. Simple decision to make. Went to at least 6 or 7 home games a season as a kid, then 3 or 4, then 1 or 2, now not a chance. Used to go to pretty much every away game in the north, but now the better away days are all bloody relegated, the useless sods. Wigan, Blackburn, Boro etc were great days, could often get into the away end with ease.

Nevin played for Chelsea and was player of the year so a bit different to someone choosing a club on a whim.

Yep, realised that used to watch him play and often saw him at Inde music gigs in London at the time, nice guy always wiling to chat.

Wasn't knocking wee Pat, was more a question about Jocks in general having an English team. As others have said probably because they were in the TV more and most Scottish football is pretty pants.

I have never understood how most Scots I know have an English team as well as a Scots team. Great if anyone wants to support Chelsea, or any team really, but none of my English mates ' have' a Scottish team.. Just do not get it.

Come to scotland and watch a season of football here, you'll see exactly why people have two teams!

Interestingly I have the same teams as Pat! In all honesty Scottish football is dying a slow and lingering death, you'll find a lot of scots don't even have a Scottish team. Even myself, I'd say I look out for Hibs results more to see how they get on rather than being desperate for them to win.

To my shame, the night we won the CL, we played our local rivals in the Scottish cup final (we haven't won it in over 110 years) and I said I wouldn't mind getting battered as long as chelsea won that night, we ended up getting smashed 5-1 and then we went on to win the CL later on, I guess I got my wish!

All in all I think it's the club you feel affiliated to. I'd love to go to the Bridge every home game, but at 21 with my flat, car & how difficult it is to get a ticket, it's not that simple. I spend hundreds on merchandise from the official site mind you.

Edit: interesting or not dspending on your view, Hibs aren't even my local team as I live on the west side of Edinburgh which is predominantly Hearts territory, but I made the right decision on both clubs!

Edited May 13, 201511 yr by EdinburghBlue

Come to scotland and watch a season of football here, you'll see exactly why people have two teams!

I laughed....because it's true.

Our standard of football is truly woeful just now and the enjoyment comes from pretty much anything other than what's on the park.

The playoffs should keep the likes of you and me gripped for a few more weeks (maybe) but other than that meh.

I did actually say that in my post

I was referring more to the original post, sorry.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking Bobby? And when did you start supporting Chelsea?

I was referring more to the original post, sorry.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking Bobby? And when did you start supporting Chelsea?

I realised after George apologies.

I am 30 years old getting on now haha started supporting Chelsea around 94 but don't get hooked until around 96.

Sale her as well problem solved

be curious as to which gets a a higher offer :p

be curious as to which gets a a higher offer :p

The car obv, less mileage!

I realised after George apologies.

I am 30 years old getting on now haha started supporting Chelsea around 94 but don't get hooked until around 96.

Ok. In that case, I'm curious as to why you've never been to The Bridge? I'm not having a pop...just curious as you seem pretty passionate. You mentioned the money which of course is a lot if you live far away, but you've been a fan for nearly 20 years. Could you really not afford to go once? (Again, it sounds like I'm criticising but of course I know nothing about your financial situation or life. Just curious) Cheers.

Ok. In that case, I'm curious as to why you've never been to The Bridge? I'm not having a pop...just curious as you seem pretty passionate. You mentioned the money which of course is a lot if you live far away, but you've been a fan for nearly 20 years. Could you really not afford to go once? (Again, it sounds like I'm criticising but of course I know nothing about your financial situation or life. Just curious) Cheers.

Finances have never permitted unfortunately, growing up I had no one to take me. As an adult when I started my first job at 19 my Dad passed so I couldn't move out and had to contribute to the bills at home. Now I'm married the mortgage is the problem along with having a car, paying for Sky etc. I am planning a stadium tour at somepoint hopefully and luckily I've seen Chelsea play in Manchester twice. I'm sure I'll be able to go sometime soon but it's a case of getting tickets aswell which is why I think I'd be better off with a stadium tour.

Finances have never permitted unfortunately, growing up I had no one to take me. As an adult when I started my first job at 19 my Dad passed so I couldn't move out and had to contribute to the bills at home. Now I'm married the mortgage is the problem along with having a car, paying for Sky etc. I am planning a stadium tour at somepoint hopefully and luckily I've seen Chelsea play in Manchester twice. I'm sure I'll be able to go sometime soon but it's a case of getting tickets aswell which is why I think I'd be better off with a stadium tour.

We'll hopefully now you're settled you'll be able to get down. Good luck.

We'll hopefully now you're settled you'll be able to get down. Good luck.

Hopefully at somepoint mate if I do would love to catch up with a few from here aswell.

Hopefully at somepoint mate if I do would love to catch up with a few from here aswell.

No shame there mate! I've seen us play at Ibrox against rangers in a pre season friendly & that's it, I've done the stadium tour which is great, I even started buying the soap the players use in the changing room (yes I am that sad) I've stayed in the hotel that's part of the stadium and what a disappointment that was! I was meant to do the stadium tour again when I was down for an NFL game but I had to leave London in a rush for work unfortunately!

I laughed....because it's true.

Our standard of football is truly woeful just now and the enjoyment comes from pretty much anything other than what's on the park.

The playoffs should keep the likes of you and me gripped for a few more weeks (maybe) but other than that meh.

Tell me about it mate, eye bleeding most of the time, scary how far things have fallen in the last 10-20 years, the standards just fell through the floor, not that it was terrific to begin with mind you.

Whilst my family are from Finland originally, I was born in 1989 in West London and the first house I ever lived in was on Maxwell Road (SW6) which is about half a mile away from the ground. Growing up in the mid 90’s I was always drawn towards Chelsea for this reason, attending my first game against QPR in 1995 I think. Whilst we ultimately settled in Kingston (Surrey) as a family, my best mate til about 2001 was a 3^rd generation Chelsea fan with ST’s in the MHL. He and his family were a big factor in me becoming a Chelsea fan; I was lucky enough to be taken to Barcelona at home in 2000 and a few other games too. After this there was never any question who my team would be.

 

So, in relation to the above, I suppose Chelsea were my local team, originally at least. I’ve always lived in areas that have big Chelsea followings too. I wouldn’t say that I have anything against people that support a team from far away, but I have to say that it feels a little more authentic to me supporting a team that you live in the general vicinity to, or at least have a tangible connection to. I will never understand these gloryhunters that support teams from the other side of the country, it seems so fake and hollow.

 

I’m now 25 and still live in SW London and went to about 25 games this year. Virtually all Home League games, London Aways and Schalke and Paris away in Europe. If I was more sensible with my money I probably wouldn’t go to that many games but I don’t feel like there is much for me to save my money towards in the current economic climate.

No shame there mate! I've seen us play at Ibrox against rangers in a pre season friendly & that's it, I've done the stadium tour which is great, I even started buying the soap the players use in the changing room (yes I am that sad) I've stayed in the hotel that's part of the stadium and what a disappointment that was! I was meant to do the stadium tour again when I was down for an NFL game but I had to leave London in a rush for work unfortunately!

Haven't stayed in the hotel for years used to be great. Why was it a disappointment? I stayed in it a good few times when bates was the owner. Bates motel lol

Born and raised in Streathem. So could of been Palace!!! Moved to Beckenham quite young(still close to palace!!)

Family already Blues fans. Started going 1978 age 9. Had to laugh 90% of kids were Scousers!! No surprise as they were winning things. Few Palace and others. Use to get stick, as we got relegated just before my 11th Birthday with 22 points Happy Bithday!!! Brother always said tell your friends they only like Liverpool because they've never been.

Went to every home game league and cup 78/79 my first full season and saw 3 wins in the league all season!!! It didn't bother me, it was my team I saw live every other week and appreciate the good times now.

Born and raised in Streathem. So could of been Palace!!! Moved to Beckenham quite young(still close to palace!!)

Family already Blues fans. Started going 1978 age 9. Had to laugh 90% of kids were Scousers!! No surprise as they were winning things. Few Palace and others. Use to get stick, as we got relegated just before my 11th Birthday with 22 points Happy Bithday!!! Brother always said tell your friends they only like Liverpool because they've never been.

Went to every home game league and cup 78/79 my first full season and saw 3 wins in the league all season!!! It didn't bother me, it was my team I saw live every other week and appreciate the good times now.

That last comment really made me smile, I am so appreciative of where we are now. It's why I get annoyed when people say things like it's only the FA Cup or the League Cup etc. I love to see us win any trophy and winning games in general, I know I haven't supported through the really bad times but when I came in in the 90s we weren't winning things so when we won the FA Cup in 97 that was like watching us win the World Cup to me.

Where I live, people tend to support Premier League teams, because our local team is garbage. Kids in my city grow up supporting United, Arsenal, Liverpool and now Chelsea, when I was a kid, I was laughed at by other kids, for supporting Chelsea, because the other kids supported the big clubs, even Newcastle were failry popular in the 90's/early 00's. When I get called a glory hunter, I find it funny, because when I was a youngster, I was one of the only kids who didn't support a big club for the sake of it, so I always chuckle when Chelsea fans get called glory hunters, or plastics as the dippers like to say, because they were glory hunters before the term was even popularised. On my local team, I have been to see them many times, I saw them when they were on the brink of promotion, guess what? They were relegated the following season, it's a club that never evolves and never progresses, so it's no wonder that many people in my City aren't that bothered.

On the arm chair fan issue, as Bobby stated, it isn't cheap, some people can't afford it, I wouldn't listen to people who put you down, because you don't go to the games, or don't go very often. They don't know you or your financial position, or how far you may have to travel, compared to people who live nearby and you know yourself that you're a big fan, so stuff them. Personally, I've been to one game this season, I chose the Maribor game, which finished 6-0, what a great choice, I loved it, we slaughtered them and they even missed a penalty which made me laugh out loud because I couldn't believe how bad they were. I'm planning on going to two or three games next season and possibly the Community Shield game.

Haven't stayed in the hotel for years used to be great. Why was it a disappointment? I stayed in it a good few times when bates was the owner. Bates motel lol

Well to beging with we got shafted to the other hotel, not the one attached to the stadium which my dad was told it would be the other when booking, the room was absolutely tiny, room service was extortionate, just not a great experience IMO.

Well to beging with we got shafted to the other hotel, not the one attached to the stadium which my dad was told it would be the other when booking, the room was absolutely tiny, room service was extortionate, just not a great experience IMO.

That's a shame.

I am from North Bedfordshire and my support for Chelsea is simple. Luton was the nearest "major" club but Luton and North Beds are like different worlds and have nothing in common. I don't come from a family that was into sport at all, but when I was 6 in 1996 my best friend was a huge Chelsea fan (can't remember why) and it was pretty much the first club I ever knew anything about so it went from there really. Vialli is the first memory of Chelsea on the pitch that I have! My friend moved to America not long after and while I still supported Chelsea, there was a dip in any sporting interest around 1999-2001, not helped by having a family that had no interest, so I was barely a fan at that time to be honest and there were a lot of other things happening to my family at the time which distracted me.

 

Obviously as you enter your teenage years you develop your interests more and have a bit more money to engage in them so between 2003-2006 I got into football to a far greater degree. Unfortunately those early teenage years coincides with Roman buying the club so I look like a massive glory hunter but I have my pics of me in my Chelsea pj's from 1996/7 so there! ;)

Edited May 15, 201511 yr by Nichollz

Live in Cumbria, dads family is from Fulham, I was either a Chelsea fan or adopted. Simple decision to make. Went to at least 6 or 7 home games a season as a kid, then 3 or 4, then 1 or 2, now not a chance. Used to go to pretty much every away game in the north, but now the better away days are all bloody relegated, the useless sods. Wigan, Blackburn, Boro etc were great days, could often get into the away end with ease.

Also Cumbria, used to see us at Blackburn too. As we didn't sell our full allocated, I could get in the Chelsea end on the night. Shame they got relegated.