Chelsea In America Vol1 Issue3

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

JULY 2009

SUMMER TOUR APPROACHES! Notes from the Chairwoman IS EVERYONE READY FOR THE SUMMER TOUR!? Does it seems like you have been waiting forever? Does it seem that it will never get here? Well if so, call me - we have loads that still needs to be done! This is seriously going to be the best summer tour ever, and all thanks to the veritable BLUE ARMY we have enlisted from all the members! Bear with me while I mention all those that gave of their time and talents to help out. In no particular order... The TXBlues and PCB members that have blagged, begged, followed up on leads and sold so many extra tickets to help pay for the legends; Cary for a tireless, and at times frustrating, job getting us all room deals, flight deals, and transportation and pulling it all together like the pro he is; Chris and Huby, who have been my far left coast arm and done more than I can tell you; Mitch and Danny for pulling off what will be the most incredible supporters tournament in history, complete with a cup; Kelley and all those that have submitted, wrote, edited and double checked the website so that all the info is updated; Jeremy, John and Danny (again) for sending out the messages on the podcasts and are planning some very cool media stuff; our very sweet editor, Jamie who is tirelessly dragging info out of all of us for the newsletter; Tel (and his right hand “man”, Amy) for what I know will be the most interesting quiz ever; Teri, for keeping on top of all the merchandise projects from which we will all benefit, and you haven’t seen some of it yet! (don’t you love surprises?); Raciel, for her patience, her creativity, and her endless hours of computer work to design and produce some of the coolest graphics on the planet; to all of you that bought a ticket, reserved a hotel room, bought a shirt, a flag, a bus ticket, a tailgate ticket or whatever to help us raise the funds to bring 2 legends and

Neil to us this summer; and most of all to Andy and Paul, who have been there every day, while I drove them crazy with endless lists, checks, questions and utter chaos. You all have no idea how much time they have put in and what they have put up with. Without those two, honestly we fall apart and I adore them and respect them more than I can ever tell them. Please, if you see any of these fine folks on the tour, buy them a drink, pat them on the back, or simply tell them what a great time you are having.   If you haven’t been to the tour website pages, you are missing out. All the information is there and it is being updated literally daily. It should be the first and the last place you check to get ready for the tour. We have the greatest pubs chosen, fantastic lodging and unbelievable events. We were a small army two years ago, but we are indeed a much larger, and I know prouder and louder army now.   So on to our special guests... I am so excited about this! First, Stephen Rea, the author of Finn McCool’s Football Club, will be in LA and Dallas with his books and willing to sign copies for anyone that wants to buy one, and as I am nearly finished with my copy, I very much recommend it! Stephen is wonderful, funny and very Chelsea, and it is going to be a pleasure to welcome him. So please if you are going to either place, go introduce yourself and have a chat, and if you have the dosh, buy the book! If you are not on tour, you can find it on Amazon (ed. note: that's where I got my copy!), or at Borders or Barnes and Noble. You know I am very pleased that we have

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Notes From the Chairwoman Legends Profiles 5 Questions For... Neil Barnett Summer Tour City-by-City Info Finn McCool's Football Club Book Preview Tales from Summer Tours Past

Last month we said thank you to Guus.... now it's time to say: WELCOME CARLO!

PAGE 2 Notes from the Chairwoman, continued from Page 1

Tales from Summer Tours Past, continued from Page 12

been able to raise the funds to bring over three legends. Tommy Langley, commentator on Chelsea Radio and TV and also a celebrity podcast guest, played back in the day and did a fine job scoring goals for us! Tommy is not just a snappy dresser and very knowledgeable about the game, he is a laugh. One of the nicest people I know, and always has time to tell a story. Clive Walker was going to accompany Tommy, but at the last minute had an emergency and though he tried to make room to be here, it was not possible. He sends his deepest regrets and vows he will be here next summer tour, as he is gutted to not join us in a weeklong Chelsea-fest. Stepping into the breach as he has done in his Chelsea past, convincing his wife to let him have a pass on her cousin’s wedding, is the very tall Steve “Jock” Finnieston. Jock didn’t have a long career at Chelsea but signed on as a school boy, came up through the academy with that group of Tommy, Clive, Butch and the rest and went on to score 24 goals in the 76/77 season to make sure we were promoted from the second division to the first. Jock left the game early due to injury, but still manages to play for the Old Boys and stays involved with his old teammates and the club. He is really looking forward to this and can’t believe anyone over here will remember him. Now I know that is not true, so be sure to tell him that! He loves to tell a story as well and is a great guy! Then there is our third legend, Neil Barnett. I have known Neil for a few years now, and he has always had loads of time for me and for all of us supporters. He has a Chelsea memory better than anyone’s (well maybe except for Tel’s) and has more stories and knows more players (past and present) than anyone. He is a great friend to drink with, listen to, and have a laugh with. I am sure you will enjoy these boys' company and I hope you get to know them as well as I have over the last years. They are certainly thrilled to be coming. Tommy will have to miss Seattle, but they will be with us at every event and for every game, so don’t be shy and have a blast!

Postcript One – Coming out of the stadium, I bumped into a lad with a London accent who I would later become good friends with…Tuna.  Postscript Two – I have photos of that Chelsea section and have since examined them and been able to identify many people who, through subsequent trips, I have become friends with…Andy, Beth, Mike, Steve, Chopper to name but a few. On this trip, we didn’t really integrate with any people who I now class as my friends from “across the pond” but over the past four years, my extended Chelsea Family has grown incredibly. And it’s all down to my great aunt Julie. I often think of her and thank her for allowing my Chelsea World to take a leap into another dimension.  Postscript Three – In September 2004, I received an envelope containing three signed 8 by 10 signed John Terry photographs, the envelope addressed to me in his own hand. He had obviously remembered us from Pittsburgh and had sent them through for Roma, Vanessa and Jenny. What a gentleman.  Postscript Four – although we have “moved on”, I am still friendly with Roma…after Pittsburgh 2004, the girls have been on all subsequent US Tours and hope to meet up with us for at least one game this summer. 

CONTRIBUTORS: A big thanks to everyone who helps make the CIA Bluesletter possible. Editor: Jamie Edwards Chairwoman: Beth Wild Logo and Graphics: Raciel Diaz City Landscape Graphics: Kelley Babin Dates to Remember: Tel Stevens CIA Crest done in collaboration with Who Are Ya Designs www.whoareyadesigns.com Want to contribute or make a suggestion? Send Jamie an email at newsletter@ chelseainamerica.com!

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GETTING TO KNOW: STEVE FINNIESTON AND TOMMY LANGLEY by Josh Hampton

QUICK STATS: STEVE FINNIESTON POSITION Forward DATE OF BIRTH Tuesday, 30th November 1954 PLACE OF BIRTH Edinburgh, Scotland LEAGUE DEBUT Saturday, 1st February 1975 in a 1-1 draw at Leicester City (Aged: 20) CLUB CAREER 78 League apps (+2 as sub), 34 goals

Steve, or “Jock” as he’s affectionately known, joined Chelsea as an apprentice at only 12 years old, signing professional forms in 1971. He made his debut as a striker four years later against Leicester City, but it wasn’t until the 1976-77 that he became a first team regular. Jock burst on the scene with 24 goals in 39 league games, including a gamewinner against Nottingham Forest that was critical to Chelsea’s return to First Division football the following year.   Jock moved onto Sheffield United in 1978, scoring 4 goals in 23 games before retiring in 1980 at the age of 25 due to injury. He made a comeback a year later in non-league football with Addlestone and Hartley Wintney FC. In 1991 he played—and scored!—in a friendly for Camberley Town before retiring from competitive football for good.

Tommy Langley played as striker alongside Steve Finnieston and current Chelsea assistant coach (and then captain) Ray Wilkins on Eddie McCreadie's youthful team of the 1970’s. He made his Chelsea debut in 1975 at age 16 against Leicester City and quickly established himself as a force on the pitch. He became the club’s top scorer in 1977-78 with 13 goals, and again the next season with 16 goals, for which he was voted club player of the year.  In 1980, after scoring 43 goals in 152 games for the Blues, Tommy made the move from Chelsea to the Queens Park Rangers, followed by brief stints at Crystal Palace, AEK Athens, Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, South China, Aldershot and Exeter City. He ended his career as a player in the US with the American Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. Since hanging up his boots, Tommy has become a regular on Chelsea TV, with appearances including the Live from Stamford Bridge phone-in show and Match Night Live.

QUICK STATS: TOMMY LANGLEY POSITION Forward DATE OF BIRTH Saturday, 8th February 1958 PLACE OF BIRTH Lambeth, London LEAGUE DEBUT Saturday, 9th November 1974 in a 0-0 draw at home to Leicester City (Aged: 16) CLUB CAREER 129 League apps (+13 as sub), 40 goals

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5 QUESTIONS FOR... CHELSEA TV'S NEIL BARNETT Neil has done so much for us over the last few years, and honestly has become a very dear friend to me. He is a hoot and probably the most knowledgeable person on the game and Chelsea that I know; his mind is literally a steel trap. I have spent many an hour with him over a pint, talking Chelsea and football and have always walked away learning more than I could ever imagine. He has more stories than just about anyone, and everyone adores him - our first team players, our legends, just everyone. He is a consummate professional in his job, and has worked tirelessly for the club. And he truly loves the club, he is Chelsea through and through. And even though he knows so much, and knows just about everyone, he is one of the most affable, fun loving, and open people you could meet. He always seems to have time for folks and always has a moment for me. (Intro by Beth Wild.)

How did you become Chelsea, and when? 

halfway line and made them each shake hands with him. 

I’m not ‘blood’ Chelsea. My dad wanted me to be an Everton supporter (imagine how painful the Cup Final would have been!!) 

So he became my hero, and went on to play another 724 games, and lasted so frigging long Chelsea found it unnecessary to come looking for me to be their next goalkeeper. Now I speak on the phone and spend time regularly with Peter Bonetti. He remains Chelsea’s best ever player for me (your first hero should always remain the best). And I guess my parents became ‘blood’ supporters because they both got hooked on Chelsea. 

When he married in the 1940s he tried to persuade my mum to go to football just for the fun of it, and took her to Brentford who were then in the First Division (what’s now the Premier League). That’s where we play our reserve games now. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t wowed. End of football for the old man.  By the time I was six, he knew the chairman of Everton through work, and thought if he could persuade me to support them, we could go to football five or six times a year and sit in the directors’ boxes of London when Everton were the visitors.  The first game he took me to was in 1959, the 1959/60 season, and it was Chelsea-Everton. We sat in what was then the New Stand (although built in the 1930s) and later became the North Stand, the one built on stilts. When Jimmy Greaves took a corner under us, everyone shouted: “Chelsea!” and stamped their feet on the wooden floor three times and the whole contraption shook!  In those days the teams came out for kick-off when they were ready, not together. Chelsea came out first. I decided to support Chelsea. I remember the score was 1-0, I know from the record books that Greaves scored although I don’t remember, but I do recall two goals being disallowed for offside and not understanding.  It was okay, but I wasn’t hooked. The next three games the old man took me to were London games not involving

Chelsea, but where Everton were the visitors.  I thought I was a Chelsea supporter, but everyone at school was beginning to support Spurs who were the best team in the land. They were top of the League. I was a little bit torn between Chelsea and Spurs.  Sensibly, the old man gave up on Everton, and suggested going to White Hart Lane for Spurs v Chelsea. It was Easter Monday 1960. It was my fifth game.  On the way there, I can still remember him telling me that Chelsea had pulled away from the relegation zone ever since they’d put some young kid in goal with a foreign name which he couldn’t pronounce. Today would be his fifth game too.  Spurs attacked for 89 minutes, Chelsea broke away and scored (Greaves, of course, but again I have no recollection of it), and this kid goalkeeper performed heroics. I can remember him vividly. Chelsea won 1-0, Burnley overtook Spurs that day and won the title. In those days the tunnel at White Hart Lane was in the corner, I was sitting behind the goal at that end, and the kid goalkeeper had to walk the length of the pitch to get there. Spurs captain Danny Blanchflower lined his side up on the

My old man kept coming right up to his death in 2002, and then my son took over his season ticket and took his grandmother until she became too old to go. Until a couple of years ago they sat in the front row of the Shed Upper together.  My son thinks our best player ever is Kevin Hitchcock (his first hero), because I took him to the training ground one winter, snowy day, and as we were getting out of the car Hitchy hit me with a snowball from fully 50 yards away. Ah, the things which make footballers great!    What is your favourite (English spelling!) Chelsea memory?  Loads!  th 1966: FA Cup 4 round, Chelsea 1 Leeds 0. This was the beginning of us and them. Bobby Tambling scored early, putting in the rebound after George Graham hit the post. Then they attacked for 80 minutes and couldn’t break through and Bonetti was brilliant. Leeds have never beaten us in a knockout game, and we beat them in 1999 to qualify ahead of them for the Champions League, and we were their last game in

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PAGE 5 Neil Barnett, continued from Page 4 the Premier League (2003, Ranieri’s last game) when we beat them 1-0. Hopefully, they’ll get relegated to League 2 next season.  1970: FA Cup Final, FA Cup Final Replay. I bunked off school for the replay and the headmaster complained to my parents. But they’d bunked off work and we all went to Old Trafford together. Now, who did we beat? Oh yeah... Leeds!!!!!  1978 and 1997: FA Cup, Chelsea 4 Liverpool 2. The first, victory against the European Champions with Clive Walker massacring Joey Jones; the second, the greatest comeback ever from the most entertaining side ever – Zola, Petrescu, Hughes, Wise, Di Matteo etc. Bliss!  1997: Zola’s goal in the FA Cup semifinal against Wimbledon. The best goal I’ve ever seen. Mark Hughes said about how Franco turned Dean Blackwell: “He gave the lad twisted blood!”  1998: European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in Stockholm. Over 15,000 Chelsea fans there. And triumph. Brilliant! From a personal point of view, I’d had an operation to remove a tumour two weeks before and still don’t know how I managed to get out there and work.  2000, 2005, 2006, 2009: Games against Barcelona. 3-1, Zola and Flo; 4-2, the best game ever; 2-2 in the Nou Camp, Lampard and Drogba goals; 0-0 in the Nou Camp this year – do you know in the two games against Barça, despite all the defending we did, John Terry did not commit one foul? He is easily the best defender in the world at present.  2005: Bolton away and Charlton at home. Winning the League and then the celebration. Perfect. The night before the Charlton game was when the players broke into the studio and live on air covered me in eggs, cream, water and goodness knows what! I was literally battered!  2008: Moscow, everything up to the penalty shoot-out. Chelsea in the Champions League Final. It really got to me after all that time following them. 

Plus, of course, the personal highs of being in the dressing room after every triumph (and tragedy) since the late 1980s.    What other non-Chelsea interests do you have?  I opened and ran a bookshop for three years in the early 1980s and remain an avid reader – always fiction, then nonfiction alternatively – and the non-fiction tends to be political. Also, I am the cook at home.    If you could have any player from any other team play for Chelsea, who would it be?  Firstly, I’d re-invent Kerry Dixon so he could get the nine goals he needed to equal Bobby Tambling on 202. People always talk about Pelé and Maradona as the best two ever, but I’d put Zidane up there, so maybe we could re-invent him. Now, we need a young striker (Benzema?), a winger (Zirkhov?) and a fantasist (Kaká or Sessegnon or Radikic or Ribery or, failing all them, Gudjohnsen!).    Do you have any pregame rituals? If so what are they?  No, I’m working. I get to the home games three hours beforehand and away games two hours beforehand, and then eat too much in the press room!    What is your favourite (!) Chelsea song?  In 1968 we went out of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup at home to DWS Amsterdam. I went with my old man and a Dutch guy he worked with. We were in the West Stand. Five minutes from time the Shed burst into song, and the Dutch guy said how magnificent our supporters were when the team wasn’t winning. The song was: “When it’s spring again we’ll bring again tulips to Amsterdam...” but they sang “... bollocks to Amsterdam!”  In the 1998 League Cup Final, when Paul Gascoigne made his debut for Middlesbrough, my wife chanted her loudest ever, joining in with: “He’s fat, and he beats his wife...”  Then in 1999 when we played Man Utd in the FA Cup at Old Trafford, and our

coach Graham Rix was waiting to be sentenced for having had sex with a 15year-old, and Victoria Beckham was pregnant with Brooklyn, the game was boring and the Chelsea following sang: “Who’s the father, who’s the father. Who’s the father of your kid?...” at Beckham. There was no response, so then they sang: “Rixy is the father, Rixy is the father, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la...” and all the Man Utd fans laughed and applauded. Then they came back with: “She’s too old for Rixy, she’s too old for Rixy, la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la...” and all the Chelsea fans laughed and applauded.  After Ray Parlour lost his court case against his ex-wife and she won onethird of his future earnings, Chelsea played Middlesbrough at the Bridge and the whole ground was singing: “Spend all your money, she’s gonna spend all your money...” and: “One Mrs Parlour, there’s only one Mrs Parlour...” He had a nightmare!  Finally, in 2005, we played at Norwich where the famous cook Delia Smith is the chairwoman, and at half-time in the last game when they were struggling had emotionally appeared on the pitch and screamed into a microphone: “Let’s be ‘aving you!” Our fans quickly sang: “We’ve got Abramovich, you’ve got a drunken bitch...” to which their fans applauded, but then replied: “We’ve got a supercook, you’ve got a supercrook...” to which our fans applauded, and then replied: “Down with the soufflé, you’re going down with the soufflé...”    Is there one player you particularly enjoy interviewing?  Corny, I know, but literally everyone. For me, the whole Chelsea family has to be commemorated. Obviously there are the ones like John Terry and Frank Lampard I have known for years. For the ‘Legends’ series, it took me two years to find Paul Canoville, and now he’s so involved with Chelsea, and being found changed his life... he is now a teacher’s assistant rather than an ex-drug addict, excancer patient, down-and-out. But, of course, I’m still that six year old really, and nothing can beat a Peter Bonetti session.

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SEATTLE SOUNDERS VS. CHELSEA July 18th - Qwest Field

Events

SEATTLE PREVIEW from chelseafc.com

Official Chelsea Central Pub: Fado’s Irish Pub, 801 1st Ave.

Q&A Session Location: Fado’s Irish Pub Date: July 17th

Chelsea In America will be at Fado's throughout the afternoon and evening the day before the match. The pre-match and post match meet up will be at Fado's as well. See you there!

Time: 8:00 pm Join special guest Chelsea TV's Neil Barnett along with Chelsea Legend Steve Finnieston for a night of insight into Chelsea Past, Present, and Future. You won't want to miss it.

It is five years since we were last in the Emerald City, when José Mourinho embarked on his first pre-season tour with the Blues as we ran out 4-2 winners over Celtic.

Supporters Club: Shed End Seattle

Fado’s has offered to put on a great breakfast for us on Sunday, the day after the match. If you would like to take advantage of this, we would urge you to venture down there and have a “fry up” or something else from their menu. There is nothing better the morning after a full match day, then a little hair of the dog, over a good fry up, surround by fellow Blues. Ticket Pickup: CIA will be at Fado's throughout the day on the 17th and up to an hour prior to the match on the 18th. IMPORTANT: IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS THROUGH CHELSEA IN AMERICA, THEY WILL NOT BE AT THE STADIUM WILL CALL, THEY WILL BE AT FADO'S!

Chelsea FC Practice Session Location: TBA Time: TBA When we have details on when or if the practice session is we will let those that have purchased match tickets from CIA know. Please check www.chelseainamerica.com for information as it comes in!

In front of over 30,000 fans, we fielded two different teams in either half, as goals from Alexei Smertin, Eidur Gudjohnsen and two from Mateja Kezman sealed victory. Chelsea first toured Seattle in 1967, when we defeated a local amateur side 5-0 at the Memorial Stadium. Then, 10 years later in 1977, we lost 2-0 to the original North American Soccer League Sounders at the Kingdome. Once again we will play at Qwest Field stadium, which will be expanded to include the upper bowl for the fixture as tickets are expected to sell-out, with some 67,000 fans expected for the game. 'This will be unlike any international game ever played in the Pacific Northwest,' said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth, when the game was announced. 'Chelsea is one of the top clubs in the world, and they are playing the home team, our Sounders FC, backed by our loyal supporters. The atmosphere that afternoon will be incredible.'

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CHELSEA VS. INTER MILAN July 21st - Rose Bowl

Supporters Club: Pacific Coast Blues Official Chelsea Central Pub: Lucky Baldwin’s, 17 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Ticket Pickup: CIA will be at Lucky Baldwin's throughout the day on the 20th and up to an hour prior to the match on the 21st. IMPORTANT: IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS THROUGH CHELSEA IN AMERICA, THEY WILL NOT BE AT THE STADIUM WILL CALL, THEY WILL BE AT LUCKY BALDWINS!  

PASADENA PREVIEW from chelseafc.com

Events

After Seattle, we fly to Los Angeles and Pasadena for our second pre-season encounter - against Inter and José Mourinho.

Annual CIA International Football Tournament Location & Date TBA, stay tuned to www.chelseainamerica.com for info.

It will be the first time we have faced our former manager since his departure in September 2007, and it promises to be an entertaining clash against the Italian champions. It will also be the first time we have played at the stadium, but LA is no new experience for the Chelsea squad, its university campus used for pre-season preparations in both 2006 and 2007, with matches played at LA Galaxy's Home Depot Center. The first, on July 18, 2007 was a 1-0 win over the Samsung Bluewings, Didier Drogba bagging the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time, with two separate sides representing the Blues in either half. At that point Mourinho was still in charge, with another two months to go before he left. The return trip to the Center saw another 1-0 win against a Galaxy side that included David Beckham for the first time. Inter have crossed our path far less frequently although we did face each other as part of 2002's Birra Moretti preseason tournament in Bari, Italy. Chelsea, then managed by Claudio Ranieri, lost 3-0 to goals from Christian Vieri and two from Mohamed Kallon. Now they meet us as Serie A champions, guided by our very own Special One. Speaking to chelseafc.com in January, Mourinho foresaw that he would one day face us in competition.

Join your fellow Chelsea supporters on the pitch for an afternoon of football fun that will surely be a highlight of your summer tour experience. So lace up those boots, and we'll see you on the field. If you are interested in playing please log into the BB and let us know. This event is always a highlight of the summer tour, lots of fun and prizes will be awarded! Special thanks to Adidas and the US Megastore for sponsoring this event   Q&A Session Location: Lucky Baldwins Date: July 20th Time: 8:00 pm Join special guest Chelsea TV's Neil Barnett along with Chelsea Legends Tommy Langley and Steve Finnieston for a night of insight into Chelsea Past, Present, and Future. You won't want to miss it.   Fan Fest/Exhibition Match Location: Rose Bowl Date: July 21st Time: Fan Fest TBA / Exhibition Match KO 6:00 pm Watch Hollywood United (with Chelsea Legends Frank LeBouef and Vinnie Jones) take on the Brazil World Cup Old Boys Team.

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CHELSEA VS. AC MILAN July 24th - M&T Bank Stadium

Official Chelsea Central Pub: Pratt Street Ale House, 206 W. Pratt St. Pratt Street will have on Friday morning a special Breakfast Buffet for Chelsea fans and the entire time while we are in town the Brewmaster has brewed up a little something he is calling Chelsea Best!   Pre-Game Chelsea Pub: Pickles Pub, 520 Washington Blvd. Many thanks to the NY Blues for their help in Baltimore! Ticket Pickup - CIA will be at Pratt Street Ale House throughout the day on the 23rd. Tickets will also be avaliable for pickup at Pickle's Pub up to an hour prior to the match on the 24th. IMPORTANT: IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS THROUGH CHELSEA IN AMERICA, THEY WILL NOT BE AT THE STADIUM WILL CALL, THEY WILL BE AT PRATT STREET ALE HOUSE ON THE 23rd AND PICKLE'S PUB ON THE 24th!

Events

BALTIMORE PREVIEW from chelseafc.com

Q&A Session Location: Pratt Street Ale House Date: July 23rd

Stage three of our Stateside pre-season tour will be in Baltimore, where AC Milan are our familiar friendly opponents on July 24.

Time: 9:00 pm Join special guest Chelsea TV's Neil Barnett along with Chelsea Legends Tommy Langley and Steve Finnieston for a night of insight into Chelsea Past, Present, and Future. You won't want to miss it.   Camden Yards Tour Location: Camden Yards Date: July 24th Time: 11:00 am Tour the famous Camden Yards ballpark with Blues fans. Email [email protected] for more information or to take part! Chelsea FC Practice Session Location: TBA Time: TBA When we have details on when or if the practice session is we will let those that have purchased match tickets from CIA know. Please check www.chelseainamerica.com for information as it comes in!

New manager Carlo Ancelotti arrived directly from the San Siro and begins work with us today, while his assistant Ray Wilkins played in the Rossoneri midfield for three years in the 1980s. In addition, we have played them four times in warm-up games in recent years, including in last year's Russian Railways Cup, held in Moscow. On that day Nicolas Anelka helped himself to four goals in a 5-0 win, though it must be said we were a lot further along in our preparations than our opponents, whose Serie A campaign kicked off later than England's Premier League. In August 2004 we met in Philadelphia, losing out 3-2 in front of nearly 40,000 supporters. Didier Drogba netted during his first start in a Chelsea shirt while Eidur Gudjohnsen also found the target. Hernán Crespo (on loan from us) and Andriy Shevchenko both played for Milan on that occasion, Sheva scoring the winner with a free-kick. A year later we faced Milan twice, beating them 1-0 in Foxborough, Massachusetts thanks to an Arjen Robben strike before we shared a 1-1 draw in the Giants' Stadium in New Jersey, with Drogba again on the scoresheet. On each of those occasions Ancelotti was in the opposition's technical area but now he is on our side, and will be looking for a result against his former club.

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CHELSEA VS. CLUB AMERICA July 26th - Cowboy Stadium

Supporters Club: Texas Blues Official Chelsea Central Pub: The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics, 100 E. Midway Dr., Euless. Ticket Pickup: CIA will be at The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics on the evening of the 24th, the day on the 25th and up to an hour prior to the match on the 26th. IMPORTANT: IF YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS THROUGH CHELSEA IN AMERICA, THEY WILL NOT BE AT THE STADIUM WILL CALL, THEY WILL BE AT THE STORM CELLAR at ARENA ATHLETICS!

Events Chelsea FC v. AC Milan Watch Party Location: The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics Date: July 24th Time: 7:00 pm Come down and watch the Chelsea take on AC Milan in Baltimore. While you are there you can pick up your tickets for the game on Sunday.   Chelsea FC Practice Session Location: TBA Time: TBA When we have details on when the practice session is we will let those that have purchased match tickets from CIA know.   Chelsea Quiz Night Location: The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics Date: July 25th Time: Following Practice Session, about 8:00-9:00 pm

DALLAS PREVIEW from chelseafc.com The final stop on our US tour takes us south, from Baltimore on the east coast down to Dallas, Texas. It is in nearby Arlington that we play our fourth game of the trip, against Mexican side Club America, who we also faced in pre-season two years ago. Back in 2007, we opened our American tour with a 2-1 win in Stanford, California thanks to goals from debutant Florent Malouda and John Terry, who

Join a team of your fellow Blues as you try and answer questions from the Quiz Master. Play for your chance to win fantastic prizes!   Q&A Session Location: The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics Date: July 25th Time: Following the Chelsea Quiz Join special guest Chelsea TV's Neil Barnett along with Chelsea Legends Tommy Langley and Steve Finnieston for a night of insight into Chelsea Past, Present, and Future. You won't want to miss it.   Official Pre-Game Tailgate Texas Style! Location: The Storm Cellar at Arena Athletics Date: July 26th Time: Noon Join your fellow Blues for a Texas style tailgate party! There will be NO TICKETS on Match Day, only reservations. Just visit the Chelsea in America website to book your spot!

headed home the winner with seven minutes remaining.

the Cowboys do not even take their bow at the new stadium until August.

Manager Jose Mourinho opted to field a different line-up in either half that day, with other new signings Steve Sidwell and Tal Ben-Haim playing their first games. Youngster Jack Cork had the same accolade.

Among their ranks, Club America have a number of Mexican internationals, including midfielder captain Pavel Pardo, who will be 33 on the day of the game and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

This time we will be playing in the new Cowboys Stadium, home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. We will be among the first sporting teams to appear there on July 26, and

The clash will bring to an end our involvement in the World Football Challenge. Hopefully it will see us raise the first silverware under Ancelotti, before returning home to England for a friendly at Reading on August 1.

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FINN MCCOOL'S FOOTBALL CLUB A book by Chelsea supporter Stephen Rea My book Finn McCool's Football Club The Birth, Death and Resurrection of a Pub Soccer Team in the City of the Dead opens on Saturday August 27 2005 with a scene familiar to many of you: I am in the pub watching Chelsea beat Spurs. The pub is Finn McCool’s in the Mid-City area of New Orleans. Within 48 hours it was under water and our pub football team’s coach was battling for his life on the roof of a flooded house. One week later we had no way of knowing if more than half our squad was still alive. I am originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland and have been a Chelsea supporter since the mid-70s. I saw my first game at the Bridge in 1979 (Liverpool, 0-0), was at the FA Cup Finals in 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2002, was in Stockholm and Monaco in 1998 for the European victories and followed the team across Europe to places like Tromso and Riga. Five years ago I moved to New Orleans with my North Carolinian wife and soon I was watching games with ex-pats and locals at Finn’s, an Irish bar owned by three fellow Northern Irish emigrants. We formed a football team, trained for eight months, and were about to start playing competitively when Hurricane Katrina slammed our city and washed away our team, our pub and our lives. Holed up in a tiny remote apartment while evacuated to Houston for three months I started writing my book. It tells the story of what it is like to move to a foreign land and set up home, the difficulties you face when you have no friends or relatives to rely on, and what it is like to be a football fan in the gridiron-stronghold of South Louisiana. When I find Finn’s I make friends with a bunch of eclectic characters like Frank the Tank a pot-growing Dutchman, Benji

Haswell an opinionated South African, and Mancunian Dave the Rave the world’s oldest teenager. In a lighthearted way I look at why us “blow-ins” seek each other out and describe what life is like for an Ulsterman in America’s most unusual, intoxicating and occasionally frustrating city. Halfway through the book the tone changes when the most destructive storm ever to hit the USA whirls ashore and our lives are turned upside down. Some of the team ride out the hurricane - Frank the Tank for instance ends up having to swim out of the city past three bodies - and we are scattered around the world. I follow what happens to us as we filter back to our home and rebuild our lives. The book has received great reviews in the likes of FourFourTwo and 90 Minutes, and Chelsea in America members are my ideal demographic as there are many Chelsea-related stories in the book. I write about my hunt for a place to watch games both in Louisiana and Texas, and I follow Chelsea on their US tours in 2004, 2005 and 2006. And I make fun of Spurs. So I am working with CIA and I hope to be at some of the events at the games in both California and Texas. Obviously I would be delighted if you buy the book from me either for yourselves or to send to people back home, so they can appreciate what it’s like to be a supporter of the world’s greatest team in the Land of the Free. If you would like to read more then please check out my website www.stephen-rea.com or email me at [email protected], and I hope to see you in Pasadena and Dallas.

JULY DATES TO REMEMBER 7/5/1966 - Gianfranco Zola's birthday 7/7/1954 - Mickey Thomas's birthday 7/9/1964 - Gianluca Vialli's birthday 7/24/1961 - Kerry Dixon's birthday; hope everyone in Baltimore will be celebrating! 7/24/1988 - John Harris, who made 364 appearances for the Blues from 1945-56, died in Yorkshire

COMINGS AND GOINGS We sign Tony Dorigo from Aston Villa for 475,000 gbp in 1987 Marcel 'The Rock' Desailly signs for Chelsea From AC Milan for a sum of 4.5 million gbp in 1998 Petr Cech signs in July 2004 for 7 million gbp Kerry Dixon left for Southampton for 575,000 gbp in July 1992 just 9 goals short of tying it up with Bobby Tambling

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TALES FROM SUMMER TOURS PAST by Chris Axon This story really begins back in October 1989.  When I was twenty-four, I spent ten months in North America ( four months with my college mate Ian ), travelling all over. The most memorable segment of this wonderful extended holiday was a three week spell spent cycling from Richmond in Virginia to Sanford in Florida. Towards the end of this cycle ride in, early October 1989, we stayed a few days in St. Augustine on Florida’s coast. In two memorable days, Ian met Stacey and I met Roma, two local girls. Despite moving on from Florida – a real wrench – both of us stayed in touch with the girls and, after visiting the rest of the continent, we both called in to see them before we headed back to England.  Over the years, Roma and I stayed in contact. She became a mother to two wonderful girls and moved up to the mountains of North Carolina in around 1995.  After a few years of declining contact, Roma phoned me out of the blue. We had both split up from our respective partners and so we agreed to meet up in New York in the summer of 2001. We had a great time and, for a couple of years, I wrestled with the idea of leaving England, my friends, family and – yes – Chelsea, to attempt a new life in America. In March 2002, Roma and her two girls, Vanessa and Jenny, visited me in England and on the first evening, we were in The Shed Upper watching the first Chelsea vs. Fulham game in sixteen years. They all loved the experience and – for me – looking back, it was a perfect evening. We toured London and then hit a few places in the West Country. I think that Roma said that her highlight was definitely the evening spent at Chelsea!  I visited them in North Carolina in the autumn of 2002 and then back in Florida in 2003. They were great times.  Then in November 2003 – another phone call out of the blue which haunts me to this day. Roma had been diagnosed with cancer and my world caved in. I felt so helpless. This was the

million miles away from her home. I was so pleased for her, but was pretty sad that I would not be there. Definite mixed emotions. Where’s that unhappy face emoticon? 

worst month of my life, but my friends rallied around me, just as Roma’s family and friends rallied around her. In late November, Roma underwent an operation and it was with an immense overflowing of emotion that I heard from her mother Mary that, thank God, it had been a total success.   I spent a week with Roma in January 2004 and it was an amazing time – to see her so well, with her daughters, getting better. It put everything into proportion really – we sometimes make silly comments about how important football, or any other distraction, is to us… but my view on life sobered up in this period. I have to say my close mates at Chelsea, though, were a great source of support.  In around March 2004, on the way home from work, I received a text from Daryl which briefly outlined plans of a Chelsea tour to the US that summer. Initially, I was excited at the thought of going to see us play in America – who wouldn’t? I guess I had already been to the US seven times, but the thought of seeing Chelsea in the US was mind-blowing. Then I reached home, did some sums and realised that I would be highly unlikely to be able to afford even the most basic of trips.   I heard that one of the games would be against – yes, you have guessed it… Roma.   I phoned Roma that evening and she was so elated to hear that our Chelsea would be playing Roma, in Pittsburgh…not a

However, the story took another twist in April when I was to hear that my aunt Julie, who had passed away earlier in 2004, had left me an amount of money in her will. There is no doubt that within a nano-second of hearing this news, I called Roma to tell her to make plans for Pittsburgh! The next day, on the way into work, I phoned my boss to book a week’s holiday in July and by lunchtime, I was booked onto a flight for Atlanta.   Over the next couple of months, I made plans for my week in America. I planned everything to the nth degree. I love the planning of a foreign holiday – I poured over maps and city guides, daydreaming like a fool. I got special tour T-shirts printed for the seven of us who would be attending. I wrote letters to JT, Eidur, Carlo and Frank ( my four favourites ) to explain that I would be in Pittsburgh, but also to mention the incredible recovery of Roma during the past six months. I wondered if it might be possible for us to meet the team for five minutes while in Pittsburgh. Alas, no replies were forthcoming. Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri made way for Jose Mourinho at the helm and all was set.   Season 2004-2005, heading into our centenary, began with a trip to Oxford United…a friendly, Mourinho’s first game in the July sun. I went with Frank, Glenn and Gary. It was great to be back on the treadmill for another season, but it did feel rather surreal to think that the next time I would see the team would be in a fortnight in Pittsburgh!  I touched down in a blisteringly hot th Atlanta on Saturday July 24 and drove my hired people-carrier the three hours up through Georgia until I reached Roma’s home in Maggie Valley. The next few days were spent chilling with some good friends.   On the Tuesday, we departed for Pittsburgh – as we headed north, “Blue Is

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PAGE 12 Tales from Summer Tours Past, continued from Page 11 The Colour” blared out on the CD player. We were on our way! Accompanying Roma and myself were Vanessa ( 13 ), Jenny ( 9 ), Jenny’s friend Brittany ( 9 ), her sister Mandy ( 15 ) and the girls’ football-mad friend Robbie ( 12 ). I am used to trips of around two hundred miles for football, but on this occasion, the journey would be over five-hundred miles. This was easily the longest single drive in my life. I called it “The Ultimate Away Trip.” What fun it all was. I remember climbing up and over the Appalachians, then into the backwoods of West Virginia, before eventually hitting Pittsburgh at around 9pm. We had no hotel planned, but I knew that the view of the downtown area at night would be fantastic, so aimed straight for it. Through a tunnel and then, like a vision, the night lights of Pittsburgh dazzled us as we were spewed out over the river on one of the city’s many bridges. It was a jaw-dropping moment. Within seconds, we were speeding past PNC Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates were in the middle of a game…the floodlights lighting the sky…then, to our left, Heinz Field, the very stadium where I would see my very first Chelsea game outside Europe. We were all a-buzz. Great memories. Eventually we found a cheap motel out in the western suburbs and I fell asleep very tired but very contented.  On the Wednesday, we did a walking tour of Pittsburgh and I was very surprised by it. A very decent city. We really enjoyed the funicular railway which afforded great views of the area. I had heard that Chelsea had advertised a tour for fans for all three US games and that the hotel in Pittsburgh was the William Penn. I hoped that the team would be there, too. During the afternoon, we called by – only to be met by a Londoner whose accent made the girls laugh. He told us that Roma were staying in the hotel, while Chelsea were based at The Hilton.  “OK – cheers mate.”  The girls giggled at me now.  That Londoner, it transpired a year or so

later, was Mark Coden.  Off we set for The Hilton and we bumped into a sports reporter from The Times – Tom Dart – who confirmed that Chelsea were in The Hilton. I spotted Neil Barnett outside…my pulse was racing. We were all dressed in our “North Carolina Blues On Tour” T-Shirts and I did wonder if we would be thrown out of the foyer. I told the kids to behave themselves. Within a few seconds of being inside the hotel, none other than John Terry, dressed in club trackies and

the practice an hour earlier. It was manic – no goals, just us keeping possession, doing tricks, laughing, loving the instant friendships. Brilliant. A perfect metaphor for this game of ours.  On the Thursday, we had a busy day. At lunchtime, I bought tickets for the seven of us to attend the Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta baseball game. We made our way to the top of the stands, under the roof and out of the fierce sun. We were all supporting the Braves and they came back from 2-1 down to win 3-2. We yelled our support of Atlanta and wound up the locals. This aided our vocal chords in preparation for the Chelsea vs. Roma game that evening. Between the two parts of our wonderful sporting double-header, we visited the William Penn Hotel again, just as the Roma players were meeting up. I have a priceless photo of Roma and Jenny with Franceso Totti. The girls all fell in love with their new French defender Phillipe Mexes – pig tails and all. Roma nicknamed him “Baby Spice.” I had a photo taken with ex-Chelsea defender Christian Panucci and the girls got around ten Roma players to sign their shirts. 

listening to his I-Pod, arrived.   He posed for photos with us – what a gentleman - and I spoke of Roma’s recovery from cancer. He said he hadn’t received the letter, but was very pleased to hear that Roma was so well. We were then ushered outside as the rest of the team came down to catch a coach for the practice session. Yet more photos of the girls – and Robbie – with Frank, Petr, Didier, Mateja, Joe, Damian and Paolo. I was buzzing like never before, feeding off the excitement of seeing everyone so thrilled. Everyone else got the players to sign their shirts. Twenty minutes later, we regrouped by our car, disbelieving of what had just happened. The practice session was a bit of a blur – we watched in the hot evening sun as first Chelsea and then Roma went through their paces. Midway through, Roma changed into a Roma T-Shirt, bless her!   Back at the motel, we had an impromptu game of football in the car park with a few Americans…we played for about 45 minutes and I thought that this was beautiful…strangers joined by a love for the game, miles away from our homes, drawn to Pittsburgh for football. The two or three lads, from West Virginia, were at

We then walked back past PNC Park to Heinz Field for the main event. As we entered the stadium, I heard an English voice and it was none other than exEngland ‘keeper Ray Clemence. Another photo! We had seats behind the north goal and so I pinned my “VINCI PER NOI” banner up at the front. I noted that the main Chelsea section in the crowd was along the side to our left, where we had watched the practice session.   Chelsea – in black and silver – took to the field and I had to gulp…here I was, watching my team in America.  Only one word for it – “Awesome.”  We won three-nil of course, but our new flying Dutchman Arjen Robben was badly injured by Olivier Dacourt soon into the game. I put on a bit of a show for my America friends, chatting away and yelling like a fool…but felt distant from the main body of Chelsea to my left. However, I had a fantastic time in Pittsburgh. One of the best Chelsea trips ever.  Wonderful. 

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