Chelsea in America
Bluesletter
MAY 2009
In this issue:
• Notes from the
Chairwoman
• Summer Tour News
• 5 Questions For...
• Tales from Heaven,
an Anfield Match
Report
• Tales from East
London
• Back from the Brink,
Thanks to Hiddink
CHELSEA RETURN TO AMERICA FOR SUMMER 2009
Chelsea in America is excited to
welcome the Blues back to the States as
part of their pre-season tour.
“We are delighted to be in the United
States again for pre-season,” said Peter
Kenyon. “This is our fifth pre-season out
of six that we have toured here and it is
always a pleasure to see our fans and
train and play in excellent facilities in
great cities.  Chelsea, of course, will
bring a full-strength first team squad
and with the quality of the opposition,
and the backing of our partners, this
series of matches will be the best
preparation and the most high profile we
have played in America.”
A BLUESLETTER WELCOME
The end of the 2008/09 Premier League
season is almost upon us. It may seem
an inopportune moment to start up a
Chelsea newsletter, but fortunately we
have a lot to look forward to in the
summer! The boys in blue will be back
on our side of the pond to showcase
their skills, and I for one cannot wait.
Having missed the preseason tours
before, I am quite excited to see Chelsea
play on our "home" turf, if I may call it
that.
But there will be plenty of information
about that, in this newsletter and in
future. If you haven't already, please be
sure to join the Chelsea in America
forum to be kept up-to-date on all the
important info.
Welcome to the first issue of the Chelsea
in America newsletter. We wanted to put
this together to give the members of our
supporters' club a place to get and share
info about the club on a monthly basis. I
want to encourage anyone and everyone
to participate. We would love to hear
about your trips to the Bridge or your
trips to the pub early in the morning (on
the weekends no less!) to watch Chelsea
Chelsea's schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, July 21 - Chelsea vs. Inter at
the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
Friday, July 24 -AC Milan vs. Chelsea
at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, Md.)
Sunday, July 26 - Chelsea vs. Club
America at Cowboy Stadium
(Arlington, Texas)
Chelsea will kick off their tour of
America with a match against MLS
fledglings Seattle Sounders on July
18th.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
play, if you read one of the many
Chelsea-related books and had an
opinion, anything involving Chelsea or
what our supporters are doing would be
a welcome addition. I'm looking forward
to compiling a massive August addition
of the newsletter full of stories about the
summer tour and the upcoming season!
Don't be shy!
There will also be a feature each month
with a focus on a Chelsea in America
member called "5 Questions For..." Our
glorious leader, Beth, will also be
making a monthly column appearance to
fill you in on what is going on with the
group. I am open to any ideas or
suggestions of what else you would like
to see. This is the first issue so it is still
very much a work-in-progress. It won't
work without the help of our fantastic
members, so please - get stuck in!
Jamie Edwards is a member of the
Southeast Blues currently living in
Virginia and helping out with
Communications for Chelsea in
America She can be reached at
newsletter@chelseainamerica.com
Tickets are on sale for each match
already, but CIA has a special allocation
of tickets for the crowd who wants to sit
together and sing and engage in plenty
of Chelsea spirit. Seats for members are
available in the "singing and chanting" or
"family" sections, and you can even sit
with your specific regional supporters'
group! Sign up for the mailing list or
keep an eye on the message board for
CIA ticket information!
In addition, stay tuned for details about
group get-togethers and fun stuff with
Chelsea in America - it is going to be a
fantastic summer!
 DEEP FROM THE HEART
NOTES FROM THE CHAIRWOMAN, BETH WILD
Hope everyone is as excited and busy as
I am! And thanks to Jamie we have a new
newsletter to bring you all the news of
Chelsea and CIA. Jamie has a lot planned
and I know it will be a great addition,
but please if you like to write, have an
idea, or would like to help, let her know!
A good result in the quarterfinals and
with a bit of luck and more playing like
that from our boys, well I would hate to
jinx it, but . . .
 
Of course many of you are already
making plans and counting down the
days to the summer tour. It should be a
fantastic event. And I would like to tell
everyone how much I am overwhelmed
with the groundswell of support and
volunteerism in the group from coast to
coast! With all these folks on deck we
are surely to have the best summer tour
ever! But if you haven’t raised your hand,
WE WILL STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS, so
please don’t be shy! If you are going and
can spare an hour or more at any of the
games, remember the hour you donate
means that someone doesn’t work more
than their fair share. The tour is for
everyone to have a great time and
sharing the load means that all of us
have an opportunity to have a great
time.
But before some news on that, we have
some important stuff going on RIGHT
NOW! Third in the league in the tightest
race to the end I remember in a long
while, so fingers crossed. An FA Cup
Final in the offering and fingers crossed.
And still in the middle of a battle in the
Champions League so all looks good.
Closer to home we have a lot going on.
We just finished taking the orders for the
Members Shirts from Chelsea. As soon
as they get a date for when they will be
delivered, all those that have ordered
shirts will be alerted when to start
looking for them.
We also had our Club Travel Chairs on
sale as well, and I know I am looking
forward to them! I can’t wait for lazy
summer days sitting by the pool in my
lovely blue Chelsea chair! We have an
ever growing number of Celebrity
Podcasts. If you haven’t had a listen,
well, you are really missing a treat -
some of our Chelsea legends in
conversation and what a great listen!
http://www.chelseainamerica.com/
Chelsea Dates to
Remember:
5/2 /2009 - CIA Spring Tour hits the
Podcast.htm And yes, there is a link to Bridge vs. Fulham
the weekly CIA Podcast as well, and if
you haven’t had a listen to one of those
lately you are really missing out. Thanks 5/13/1998 Chelsea win the ECWC 
to Jeremy and Danny for their again this time beating Vfb Stuttgart 1-0
persistence and care in making that in Stockholm with a superbly taken goal
available to everyone. by Zola
 
Membership for next season is just
around the corner, and we are working 5/18/1978 - Ricardo Carvalho's
on expanding the benefits for CIA birthday
members, thanks to the tireless efforts
of our Chris and Kevin! Thanks guys for 5/19/2007 - Chelsea beat a team from
making our membership the best value
Stretford 1-0 to win the first FA Cup
around!
  Final at the “new Wembley”
Behind the scenes our Design Divas have
been working tirelessly on all kinds of 5/20/1982 - Petr Cech's birthday
things, and the unveiling of the new CIA
crest and Chelsea Chick identity is
coming soon. so stay tuned. Terri and
Raciel have a lot on their plate but are
doing the most incredible job pulling all
of our design issues together to make
things more uniform and identifiable.
And yes, that includes a new version of
the Chelsea Chicks merchandise, and
NEW CIA SHIRTS FOR THE SUMMER
TOUR! You might want to give up a beer
or two to be sure to have one of those t-
shirts as I have had a sneak peek and
they are WONDERFUL.
We have loads of plans in the works for
the summer tour, thanks to folks all over
the country for organizing for Seattle, 5/20/2000 - Chelsea thrash Aston Villa
LA, Baltimore and Dallas. There will be 1-0 to win the last FA Cup Final at the
great events, great get-togethers, and "old Wembley"
loads of fellow Blues to share it with.
And our tech team is hard at work
updating websites and making sure that 5/21/2009 - Annual Awards Dinner
all of you get all the latest updates to
things as they happen. So be sure to 5/30/2009 - FA Cup Final vs. Everton
check www.chelseainamerica.com OFTEN
as the tour approaches to stay up on
* compiled with help from Tel Stevens
each venue and all that is going on, YOU
WON’T WANT TO MISS A THING! And of
course the bulletin board is the best and
fastest way of keeping up on plans, so if
you haven’t logged in, check it out. Want to contribute an
 
I am sure this is again too long, so I
article or photo to the
hope you all enjoyed a pint while Bluesletter? You could
reading it. Stay tuned for more info. make my day. I'd love to
  hear from you! Send
AND KEEP THAT BLUE FLAG FLYING
HIGH! Jamie an email at
Newsletter@ChelseainAme
- Beth rica.com.
May Matches to Remember:
- compiled by Tel Stevens -
May 21, 1963
Chelsea 7 Vs  Portsmouth 0
Goalscorers: Kevan,Tambling
4,Blunstone,Venables(pen)
Att  54,558
A new era in CFC history, we simply had
to win this game to return to the
promised land of Division 1. Tommy
Docherty’s “Ducklings” did us proud with
a good ole thrashing.
May 22, 1971
Chelsea 2 Vs Real Madrid 1
Goalscorers: Dempsey, Osgood.
Att 41,000
Our second trophy in as many seasons
bringing us our first European trophy,
the newspapers read in England that
Chelsea were the “Kings of Europe”.
May 12, 1984
Grimsby 0 Vs Chelsea 1
Goalscorer: Dixon
Att 13,995
What a difference a year makes. One
season after nearly falling into the old
3rd Division we clinched promotion to
Division 1 with a magnificent header by
Kerry Dixon. Even a missed Speedie
penalty couldn’t dampen the estimated
9000 Chelsea fans' spirits as we
celebrated amongst the police and their
horses and dogs.  followed his example.  To be fair
5 QUESTIONS FOR....
My name is Andy, and I live in Oxford, Michigan with my wife and 14 year old son.  I
originally started the Midwest Blues back in 2005 after meeting Beth in Seattle, and
then again with Beth started Chelsea in America when we realised there was a whole
continent of Chelsea supporters out there who didn’t realise they were Chelsea yet and
needed saving from the evil red dark side.  My current official role is treasurer of CIA
but I also help Beth liaise with Chelsea, and along with some of the other techies
amongst us I also help guide our technical direction.
always will.
What is your most cherished piece of
Chelsea “stuff”?
Perhaps I’ll say the 12” vinyl original
“Blue is the Colour” that was passed on
to me by my aunt when my cousin
passed away recently.  However, in
search for an interesting anecdote I will
tell you about a school trip I made to the
old Wembley Stadium as a young school
boy.  They had been trimming the field
How did you become Chelsea, and and there was a barrow with the
when? trimmings sitting right there as I walked
past, so I shoved a divot in my pocket. 
I have always been Chelsea, thanks to When I got home I planted and nursed it
my 17-years-older-than-me brother, lovingly in a corner of the garden and
John.  My father grew up in East Ham only to one day discover my mum had
and is a Spurs supporter, but growing up unwittingly dug it up as a weed.  I was
in the Kingston area my brother had gutted (you have to remember what
gone to school with the son of the then Wembley meant to a school boy back
Chelsea captain, so balked the paternal then) but I guess I got over it, and Beth
line and went Chelsea blue, and I bought me some seeds from the new
Wembley which I plan on planting *and
though, my dad did take me to many, protecting* this summer!
many Chelsea games when I was little
(but sadly I was too young to remember If you could have any player from any
my first, and he doesn’t remember other team play for Chelsea, who
either). My brother moved to Manchester would it be?
in his later years and always delighted in
wearing his Blue at Old Trafford, but Another tough one, but I would have to
unfortunately succumbed to cancer in say Lionel Messi because to me he still
2000.  My last Chelsea memory with him embodies what an old fashioned winger
was in hospice listening to Man City vs. is all about.  I am a defender by trade
Chelsea on the radio, the game that with a little bit if midfield, but I can
broke our horrible almost season long appreciate a player of his style, in much
streak of not winning an away game.  He the same vein as Damien Duff when he
was buried with his son’s Chelsea scarf, was with us perhaps, and as he’s still
and I owe my allegiance to him. young I think he would be my choice.

What is your favorite Chelsea Do you have any pregame rituals? If

memory? so what are they?

Oh boy, this is a tough one.  I have
different memories that mean different
things to me. I think the most emotive
for me was the 0-2 win over Bolton to
win the Premiership the first time.  Like I
am sure I share with so many people
reading this, I cried out all those years of
Southeast Blues member Erik shows off
frustration and “almost’s” as Frank ran in
his CPO share! "I am a big Chelsea fan
that second goal.  In terms of pure, raw
and this is a great way to show one's
emotion, that moment still causes me to
support at the office while owning part
well up when I think about it, and I know
of the club (more like pitch)."
Not at all.  I am mildly superstitious, but
not the point of rituals.  I think the
closest I get is the bizarre idea that if I
have not been watching a game (on TV)
and turn on to see the team I prefer
winning, I have this notion that if I start
watching their fortunes will change.  Of
course this only applies to casual sports
watching like my local sports teams – I
would never not turn on the tellie to
watch Chelsea or England!
TALES FROM.... HEAVEN!
Season ticket holder Chris Axon shares his story and photos
from the Champions League Quarterfinal match at Anfield!
Cilla Black, Ken Dodd, Lily Savage,
Arthur Askey, Bobby Grant, Jimmy
Tarbuck, Ringo Starr, Alexei Sayle,
Margi Clarke, Phil Redmond, Derek
Hatton, John Conteh, Dickie Mint –
We gave your boys one hell of a
beating.
And I thought last season’s game
was good!
My colleague Paul was
unfortunately made redundant last
week and so I have been working
solo this week. I am based at my
client’s premises and so I did
originally think that I may not be
able to go to the game as I might be
needed to cover the latter part of the
afternoon. However, with a bit of trickery
and polite conversations with the client,
I was cleared for take-off at 2.30pm. I
had been in early at 7am anyway – and
work is quiet at the moment. I was
sorted.
I don’t need to bore you all to death with
details of my drive up the country to
Liverpool – God, it’s a familiar one of
late. I think I have overdosed on Scouse
these past four years. Haven’t we all? I
went to the knock-out semis in 2005,
2007 and 2008 but didn’t go to the
boring group phase game in the autumn
of 2005.
In all the visits to Anfield with Chelsea, I
have seen us win there just once – that
memorable game in 1992, when I got in
free and watched, silently, on The Kop.
But that’s another story.
I made good time until Birmingham, but
from there on in, the traffic was horrific.
There were lots of road works, lots of
delays, lots of stopping and starting.
Andy had downloaded some of the
recent CIA Podcasts for me and from
Bromsgrove to Knutsford, I listened to
the Ken Shellito and Paul Canoville
interviews. I really enjoyed them. Lots of
great stories. It occurred to me that the
history of Chelsea – thousands of
players, millions of fans, characters,
cups and disasters – were all behind us
and that the game at Anfield would be
the next instalment in this story…and I
took a great deal of pride and
satisfaction in the knowledge that I
would be part of it. At the cutting edge
of this club as it grinds its way into the
future.
We all live for the present to a certain
extent, but this notion really got to me. I
was being part of it. I thought of the –
let’s say – millions of people who would
be watching on TV around the World and
I would be there at the game, within the
cramped claustrophobic stands of
Anfield. I briefly pondered that my
decision to attend was through my
fanaticism but also because my finances
and health allowed it.
I was very grateful.
The cloudy skies gave way to blue skies
over Liverpool as I began the approach
into the city at around 6.15pm. It had
already taken me much longer than I had
hoped. Thankfully, I wasn’t too tired. I
texted my mate Alan that I would be in
the ground at 7.30pm. Too rushed for
my liking. Believe it or not, until I got to
within about five miles of Anfield, I had
only seen one Chelsea car and two
Liverpool cars en route…and the way I
identified them? Air fresheners! As I
turned onto Queens Drive, I took my
Chelsea and Juve air fresheners down –
just in case the locals took exception.
I was parked up at 7pm – I thankfully
found a space – and the 200 miles had
taken me four and a half hours. Up the
hill of Utting Avenue, past a busy pub
and a few “chippies” and “offies.” There
is something hypnotic about joining
hundreds of football-goers on the final
approach to a game…it’s a clear link to
the past. How many millions have
walked these same streets. I marched
towards the ground. I didn’t want to be
late. I was walking in front of a Scouse
couple who were having a discussion
about the year in which the two clubs
first met in the CL. I found it hard to
believe that they were unsure. I
turned around and said to the
woman – “It was 2005, love.”
I thought that they were the ones
who knew all about history. I tutted
to myself as they overtook me.
Chatted to a couple of lads from
The Goose – Alan and Nish. There
was Lovejoy, as ever, in the middle
of it all. Then the two Neils, Sophie,
then Alan, Ed and Whitey.
“Alright boys?”
Sam Allardyce walked past – funny,
he had been mentioned by Ken Shellito
on the podcast, the Bolton game of 1978
et al.
I got inside Anfield at 7.38pm. Just in
time. As I walked up the steps, more
familiar faces. “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
was in full flow as the pitch appeared
before me. The usual riot of colour, but
with a fair smattering of blue in our
section. More scarves than normal. I
noted a new Liverpool flag – as we all
know, Scousers see themselves as a
pretty political bunch – they are red in
more than one dimension. The flag said
“Scouse Solidarnosc” – after the Polish
Solidarity party of around 1981. Quite
clever I thought – if you like that sort of
thing. I add this, not to make a
statement, just to add colour.
I was three or four rows from the rear,
just inside the penalty box. A good seat.
I stood the entire game.
A terrible start, eh? For the first fifteen
minutes or so, our defence were pulled
out of shape and a few key errors took
place. The midfield were giving the
advancing Liverpool players far too
much room. I was not alone in my
desperate shouts to “close them down!”
Ballack – as always – the main culprit.
The goal from Torres…horrible. I tried
not to watch the home sections leap to
their feet, but I couldn’t avoid it. There is
some macabre fascination watching
other fans go wild at our detriment.
Hateful. Before the game – if I was to be
pressed – I feared a 0-2 or even 0-3
loss.
“Come on Chels – step up.”
Continued next page...
Anfield match report players in the goalmouth. I heard Frank
strike the ball and I saw players move. I Heading down Utting Avenue, past the
continued... snapped, then saw the ball thunder into Chelsea coaches, I pulled up my coat
the net, on a trajectory aiming straight collars. I gave the thumbs up to some
towards me. Reina was beaten. Chelsea fans in one coach, then looked
towards the back of the coach as a few
We were 2-1 up. Unbelievable. Un – lads were banging the window. There
SWEAR WORD – believable. Our fans was Gary and Ed giving me the big one. I
went crazy and – I don’t know how I do punched the air and smiled the widest of
this – I remained steady enough to take smiles.
a couple of shots of what I call the
aftermath…players hugging on the far The traffic was slowly edging past me
touchline, with fans’ arms thrusting in and within a few moments, as I headed
the foreground. towards my car, the night fell silent. It
was eerily quiet, save for my phone
This was unbelievable. What a game. Our jumping to life every minute with
And, guess what? We did.
movement was brilliant. Even Ballack incoming texts from England and
was doing well. Gerrard was quiet…I various parts of America. I got back to
From the sixth minute, our possession
have to admit, I wasn’t aware Esien was my car at 10.15pm and my mate Glenn
increased and we knocked the ball
shackling him man to man. Sometimes phoned me. He is always concerned for
around purposefully and I was amazed
aspects of the game pass me by. We my safety in Liverpool. Yet more
with the movement of people like
were dominating. Then a dream move to horrendous traffic leaving Liverpool, but
Malouda. For once, chances were being
my right. We stood on tip-toes as I didn’t care.
created at both ends and it was a
Malouda played the ball in and
gripping encounter – so unlike other CL
witnessed Drogba arrive to sweep the I headed out onto Queens Drive.
games at Anfield. A Cech save down low
ball I with a clinical finish. Depeche Mode were on my CD.
in front of us, then two Drogba gilt-
edged chances in front of the red wall of
Too much. “Enjoy The Silence.”
The Kop. When the second one was
blazed over, we gulped in
I turned around and looked the two guys It was tough going on the way home. I
astonishment…not that he had missed,
behind me in the eyes. We were both had to buy two Red Bulls to fend of the
but that we had almost scored!
screaming, mouths wide open, like an tiredness enveloping me…they worked. I
incarnation of Munch’s “The Scream.” We was euphoric, but well aware that I
“We can do this – COME ON!”
kept our gaze going for a few seconds. probably felt just as happy after the Riise
game last year. Thoughts were of
Chances were exchanged. I was getting
My name is Chris and I am an addict. I Barcelona and Rome. What a life.
carried away, but the bloke next to me
am a goal addict.
was trying to reign in my wild
I eventually got home at 3am, knackered
enthusiasm. When Liverpool attacked,
Oh man – isn’t that why we go to but happy
we did look a bit suspect. A great game.
football? That moment when we are just
transplanted to another place, when our Liverpool?
Then, a corner – into the near post and a
heads just explode.
blue player headed home…I thought it
We murdered ‘em.
was JT to be fair, but who cares? Wild
Chills just thinking about.
celebrations – an away goal! Behind me,
a bloke I had sat next to at Watford – we
In the last quarter, we could have scored
hugged and yelled wildly. Next to him, I
more. Liverpool were devoid of a plan
noted a West Country accent – a chap
and on many occasions they lost
from Swindon.
possession…and there was Frank,
running the game from midfield,
At half time, word got out that Ivanovic
probing away. I have never seen Florent
had scored. And Barca were 4-0 up.
Malouda play better. Big Pete was as
Gulp.If the first-half was good, the
good as any.
second-half was even better. It was all a
bit of a blur really – I hadn’t been
“We’re Going To Rome – We’re Going to
drinking, but I was getting carried along
Rome…F Your History, We’re Going To Chris is a gentleman, a passionate
on a wave of pure adrenalin. I was
Rome.” Chelsea supporter, and a great friend
getting hot in my warm coat so I took it
to Chelsea supporters here in the US.
off and stood in my shirt sleeves. After
Still more chances, but then – shame! – Not just for all his comments and
the equaliser, the home support wilted.
the final whistle. The home support interaction on the board, but his never
Whereas in 2005, when 75% of the
drifted away and we were kept in for a ending hospitality at the Bridge for so
Scousers stood, only The Kop did so this
few minutes. By the time I left – I was many of us that have had the pleasure
time.
one of the last few hundred to leave – of spending time with him at home or
the home stands were empty, completely away. He is our very special
I took a few photos of a few attacks.
devoid of life. We sauntered out into the welcoming committee at Stamford
Then another corner down below me…I
night and I hugged a few Chelsea Bridge. Chris posts all of his match
pointed the camera at the melee of
acquaintances, names unknown. reports on the CIA forums!
TALES FROM EAST LONDON
Hi, my name is Bob Clark.  I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and am Pacific Coast
Blues “founding member” #29.   I first became interested in Chelsea because my wife’s
cousin who lives in Singapore is a Chelsea supporter.  My first match was in July 2007
when Chelsea visited the US and played Club America at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto,
CA.  I’ve been fortunate to have travelled several times since then to attend several
more matches, including the Carling Cup Final in February 2008, and the Champions
League group stage away match vs. AS Roma in November, 2008.  

This was my 3rd trip this season from
San Francisco over to see Chelsea, this
time for West Ham away. I also
combined it with attending the pub-style
quiz event “A Question of Chelsea”, held
at the Bridge. More on that later.
I arrived in London on Thursday
afternoon, April 23. I was able to get a
good rate at the Holiday Inn Express on
the North End Road, which for those of
you who read Chris’ reports, is just
about spitting distance from the Goose
pub. I walked down to the Bridge to pick
up my West Ham ticket. On the way I
noticed that a Travelodge will be
opening soon, providing some additional
lodging options in the area.
I had a choice for this trip of attending
either West Ham away or Fulham at
home. I was up for another away match
given that the atmosphere is different,
one gets to go to new pubs, and
Chelsea’s away support is more
concentrated on a smaller number of
true fans that have been going to
matches since the earth cooled (and
some look like it). That, combined with
the fact that West Ham and Chelsea have
some, er, ‘history’, that Frank came to
us from there, and that the pre-match
‘meet’ would be in Barking (where JT is
from), sealed the deal for me.
Thursday night was the “Question of
Chelsea” pub-style quiz that I had seen
on the club website. I had purchased a
ticket, which Beth had arranged with
the coordinator to be held for me at
the door. As I relatively new to this
Chelsea stuff, I figured I would hurt
rather than help the teams, so I
opted to go as a spectator of which
there were a few as it turned out.
They put on a buffet dinner, and
also had a cash bar available (one
drink was included in the ticket
along with the meal).
There were about 9 teams of 8-10
people. Each team had an ex-
Chelsea player assigned to them.
Present that I can remember were
Kerry Dixon, John Hollins, Clive
Walker, Graham Wilkins, Ken
Monkou, Bobby Tambling, Colin Pates,
Tommy Langley. Jason Cundy was the
master of ceremonies. There were
several rounds of questions on different
topics, and scores were summarized
after each round and announced. It was
a fun evening, lots of jokes being thrown
about, and people making snide
comments each time a question was
read. There was also a raffle (I didn’t win
anything).
The winning team was the group from
the fanzine cfcuk, led by Dave
Johnstone. If you’ve been to a Chelsea
match, you’ve probably seen him selling
copies. The Chelsea players on that team
were Graham Wilkins and Clive Walker.
Coming in second place was Kerry
Dixon’s team, which included our mate
Vic who works at Chelsea in the tours
department.
Friday was mostly spent completing the
assigned shopping list I was given by my
wife, to get things we can’t readily get at
home – orange flavored Kitkat, Ribena
black currant juice, a certain type of
chocolate covered biscuits from M&S,
and a trip down to the Borough Market
to get brownies from a specific stall.
On the way back I stopped at the Stone
Island shop near Covent Garden. This is
supposed to be their ‘flagship’ store, but
I think the one on Beak St. in Soho is
larger and it also sells CP Company gear.
My first introduction to Stone Island was
in February last year for the Carling Cup
Final match, one of our crew was
questioned by the police at Marylebone
Station under the ‘Section 60’
regulations. He was wearing a Stone
Island jumper.
Of course I knew nothing of what all this
was about at the time, but have since
spent the last year educating myself on
the Casual subculture. I’m sure I’ve just
scratched the surface, but suggest
books like Hoolifan by Martin King, and
Casuals: Football, Fighting and Fashion,
by Phil Thornton if you want to get a
taste.
Stone Island wear is incredibly
expensive, even when it’s on sale, which
it wasn’t that day. These stores are
unique (or perhaps similar to something
like Tiffany’s) in that they seem to have
more security guards than customers.
This day, I passed through quickly and
let my wallet live to see the rest of the
trip.
Saturday morning, I set off for our meet
in Barking on the District Line, leaving
from Earl’s Court Station. I was a bit
ahead of Chris who had texted me that
he expected to be in Barking by around
noon. He had his mate Parky with him,
whom I’ve had the pleasure of
socializing with a couple of times in the
past. Parky is a real character, a loveable
guy who has a way with words,
especially when he is making up his
own songs. He has some great
stories from the old days. He was to
be sat just two rows behind me for
the match.
The location for the pre-match was
the “Spotted Dog” pub adjacent to
Barking Station. It is right next to
another pub called the “Barking
Dog”. It is impossible to confuse the
two, given that the latter is a
Wetherspoon’s pub and caters to an
entirely different segment of the
local population.
Continued next page...
BACK FROM THE BRINK, THANKS TO HIDDINK
By Josh Hampton  
Okay, I’ll admit it. If you’d have told me
in January that Chelsea would lose only
once in the next 14 games, secure a
spot in the FA Cup final, and make the
last four of the Champion’s League—by
defeating Liverpool 7-5 on aggregate,
no less!—I’d have said you were crazier
than Djibril Cisse’s hair. Now, don’t get
me wrong. I never doubted the lads
would pull it together and make a
respectable run for some silverware. But
to do it with such emphatic style! That
seemed liked a wish as elusive as luring
Mourinho back for another go as
manager.   They’re confident, energized, and
We all know what has changed since
those heartbreaking drubbings by Man U
and the Scousers at the turn of the year.
Guus Hiddink, that’s what. He’s turned
out to be everything we hoped he’d be
(and wanted Scolari to be). But what
exactly is it the Golden Guus has done to
save a Chelsea team that just ten short
weeks ago had us all worried would end
up trophyless and possibly in fifth place
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come that final match at the Stadium of
Light? Yes, he’s a brilliant tactician. Sure,
he’s stepped up training that was
rumored to be lax under Big Phil. But
there’s something more Guus has
brought with him—belief. 
He believes in our boys. They believe in
him. And according to the transitive
property of equality (one of the few
th
things I remember from 8 grade
math), that means they believe in
themselves again, too. And it shows.
fearless, ready to take it to anyone,
anywhere. And, ladies and gentlemen,
they have been.  
Lest we forget, we looked unstoppable
at the beginning of the season, too. But
fresh legs and pure adrenaline only got
us so far. When it came time to turn to
the manager for all those things a good
boss provides, Scolari just couldn’t fill
the bill. Perhaps it was the language
barrier. (I mean, how’re you going to
give your team a pep talk at half-time if
no one understands what the hell you’re
saying?). Or maybe it was his
increasingly erratic and outwardly
uncaring behavior. Sometimes it just
seemed like he was at Chelsea to pass
the time—like in the bigger scheme of
things, none of it really mattered to him.
Tales from East London
continued
I was the first to arrive and was soon
joined by Alan. After finishing my first
pint, I excused myself to go get some
something to eat. Alan had gotten word
that Daryl and Gary were on their way.
When I returned from eating they were
there in the pub. There were both
Chelsea and West Ham in the pub, but
everyone coexisted peacefully. Chris and
Parky arrived a bit afterwards. Chris had
some great photos from his trip to Turin
for the Juventus match. I showed the one
Vic had taken of Kerry Dixon and me at
the quiz night. Beth and Jenni arrived
later. The time flew by as we discussed
many topics, and it was soon time to
leave for Upton Park, two stops back
down the District Line. There is also a
stop called West Ham, but it is nowhere
near the ground.
The West Ham support was very quiet
during the match, but the Chelsea did a
Well, you know what? It does matter. A
lot. To the players. To the fans. To me. 
After six months at the helm, it was
clear that Scolari was most certainly not
the manager we thought him to be.
Though certainly a nice enough guy, he
wasn’t the steadfast and wise leader we
needed to take us to glory. Enter Guus
Hiddink. Clever, cunning, and then
some. Even after the initial boost in
confidence a new boss often brings, he’s
guided our boys to the dizzying heights
we’ve come to expect from the Blues.
He’s given them a reason to believe
again. And, boy, do they believe. Look
no further than the seven Champion’s
League goals against Liverpool as proof.
And because they believe again, so do
we. And that’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade
for all the Brazilian strikers in the world
—especially now that Drogba’s back on
form. 
Josh Hampton is a member of the
Midwest Blues and Associate Creative
Director at Quantum Communications
in Louisville, Kentucky
(www.qtheagency.com). He lives in
Lanesville, Indiana, with his wife and
two little Blues fans. Email or
facebook to
wordnerd1975@yahoo.com 
respectable job, especially Parky. Others
have reported on the match itself, but it
was a good result. Frank strutting over
towards the away support at the end of
the game was priceless.
Chris and I got the tube back into town
and waited for Parky, Andy and Ashley at
Earl’s Court Station. We then walked to
Salvo’s to enjoy one of his great pizzas.
When the meal was complete, we walked
back along the Old Brompton Road
towards where Chris had parked. Along
the way, we ran into a few young Stoke
fans. Stoke had lost to Fulham that day.
They engaged in some friendly banter
(Chris’ Potteries dialect from his Uni
days was good!) as we walked along
together for a few minutes before they
went down a side street.
We said our goodbyes near the Goose.
Hopefully we will meet up again sooner
rather than later. All roads lead to Rome.
Aya duck.