Chelsea In America Vol1 Issue5

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

SEPT 2009

DEEP FROM THE HEART Notes from the Chairwoman

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Deep From the Heart Tel's Season in Question 5 Questions For... Stamford the Lion in Munny Form! September Dates to Remember 1984 Revisited Podcast Q&A

Beth keeps the blue CIA flag flying high in Texas!

The Bluesletter isn't possible without your help! If you have an opinion, idea or something interesting regarding Chelsea or football to share, we'd love to include it! Just send an email to [email protected]!

As I sit down to write this, it is the last day of August. The first month of the league has ended, and we are top of the league! One of three undefeated teams in the EPL, but our goal di!erential is keeping us in front. What a crazy first few weeks. Though we do always like to see the teams in red falter, but what has happened is really amazing. I knocked on wood before I typed this, but we look by far the best in the league. And honestly I don’t know when I have seen the team play better and with so much spirit. We have had outstanding performances by so many players, I have a feeling it is going to be a di"cult job at the end of the season to pick a POTY - oh, what a nice kind of problem. It seems that Carlo is working out. Though the first game might not have been a 4-0 thrashing like last season, I was reminded by a comment by Spy that when we have had a big victory for the first match it never ended well, and in the two years we won the league we did so starting the season with a small victory. So could this be a harbinger of a great year. I sure hope so. # We got a decent draw in the Champions League. My only regret is that the away game in Cyprus is first and not last, but that is only a selfish regret. But Porto, Athletico Madrid and Apoel look like interesting teams, and hopefully it will be a good group seeing us top at the end of the group phase. It could have been a lot worse, and I hope our friends at the Bridge enjoy the southern flavor of our away games - much better than to the furthest north and east like some other groups. # And we have a London derby for the first round of the League Cup. Not bad, though honestly I don’t have the fondest memories of a long ago trip to QPR, but here’s to hoping the boys take it to them and we get that out of the way and on to the next round.

# The transfer window is just about to shut until January, and though there might be a few that rue that we didn’t bring a “big” name to the club, I for one am happy we got the coverage at the back and some “young guns” in attack. I am anxious to see young Daniel show his courage and be the player we need for club and country. Yuri is just about ready to come back, and I know we all would love to see him play again like we did in Baltimore. Then there is this “new” guy, one Joe Cole, I hear he is fantastic and I am most anxious for him to get fit. All kidding aside, I have missed Joey more than anything and will be so thrilled to see him tearing up and down the sidelines bringing his flair and skills to our team. We have missed him, and I have a feeling he will be arriving like the gunslinger of old, both guns at the ready and firing in for the shot on target. HE’S HERE, HE’S THERE, I really shouldn’t swear, JOEY COLE! And today at the close of the transfer season I wake to news that JT has penned a 5-year contract to confirm that he is not going anywhere... DID YOU HEAR THAT SPARKY? # What will the season bring? Well, I wish I had a crystal ball to find out how it all ends, and I know my hopes are high and my confidence is in place. We have a chance - a great chance - and I guess not knowing makes it that much more exciting, frustrating and nail-biting, but that is one of the many things I love about following Chelsea. What I do know is it will have twists and turns, celebrations and heartbreaks (though I hope only minor ones), but through it all we will keep that Blue Flag flying high. # So now that the season is well stuck in, are you? Are you taking full advantage of what CIA brings to you? Have you been

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PAGE 2 Deep from the Heart, continued from Page 1 on the board, www.chelseainamerica.com/bb? Have you signed on for Twitter, CFCinAmerica? I know there are twitters for local and regional clubs as well. Have you been listening to the podcasts? You can download them from our website, but have you called in? Have you been reading the newsletters? Well I guess if you answer that question, I know the answer! Are you thinking about attending one of the regional meet ups? A big one is planned for the Midwest soon. Have you been able to get down to the pub and stand and sing with your club members and enjoy the matches with friends? Have you gotten your CIA membership? Just go to www.chelseainamerica.com and click on the banner at the top of the home page. We are working hard to bring more and more benefits to membership, and there are a number of things in the works, so be sure to do so, or you could miss out. And have you decided to become a True Blue? If you have, have you let us know? I want to clarify Chelsea does not attach True Blue members to supporters clubs; it is up to the member to make their club aware of their True Blue status. If you sign up for True Blue membership and are a member of CIA, then you get

access to tickets BEFORE they go on sale to members. It assures you a ticket in time to book flights and all of that. It is so much easier with none of the hassle of trying to get in on the membership window before all the tickets are sold out. So if you have signed up for True Blue membership and did not inform us of the number, please let us know. If you come to us looking for tickets and your membership is not attached to our club, we are not allowed to help you getting tickets. # OK, that is it! There are still so many things going on - for instance, do you have photos from the summer tour, specifically those of our Legends and Spy? We are working on a “thank you" gift for them, and we need your photos. So if you have photos that you would like to have included in the gift, just send them to [email protected]. You can include a short note or message with your photos if you like, and we will get that in there as well. Remember we need high-res jpeg files, which is why we can’t download them from Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, etc. They might look great on your screen but when you go to print them out, they print horribly pixilated and not very nice. So please don’t be shy, we do want your smiling face with a Legend! # So that’s it for now. CAREFREE! # Beth

CONTRIBUTORS: A big thanks to everyone who helps make the CIA Bluesletter possible! Editor: Jamie Edwards Chairwoman: Beth Wild Logo and Graphics: Raciel Diaz Dates to Remember: Tel Stevens

Our Kent Blues, Gill and Graeme, have been representing the CIA at each match this season, including at Wembley and the Community Shield! They have some great photos up on flickr and regularly update us on each match through the CIA message board. They tagged along on the Summer Tour and enjoyed a great time with our group, and we appreciate them flying the CIA flag on our behalf!

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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TEL'S SEASON IN QUESTION: 1996-97 This month I have decided to go with the season in which I think Chelsea's future had started to change (for the better). The season is 1996-97. With a Dutch master in charge (Ruud Gullit), things were looking kinda rosy around the Bridge. Nobody thought we would win the League, but with some of the players we brought in surely we could do well in the#Cup games. We started the season away, on the South coast at Southampton. It didn't go quite to plan as we sneaked away with a 0-0 draw. Our next game was#a night match#at home to Middlesbrough. This game will always be remembered for the goal celebration of Di Matteo in front of the old West Stand. Our last game in August was against a team we always had problems with - Coventry. Thankfully, with goals from Leboeuf and Vialli we got a 2-0 win. Our first game in September was away at the Library and after completely outplaying L'Arse and a very late Dennis Wise goal, we got away with a point in a 6 goal thriller. Our next game was again away, this time at table topping She"eld Wednesday (how times have changed!) with a very full Leppings Lane. Chelsea took all three points with goals from Burley and a rampaging Andy Myers, who by the way didn't know how to celebrate scoring. The game wasn't without its low points though, as we lost Kharine with a knee injury which kept him out for the rest of the season. Hitchy replaced him and got a standing ovation as he ran towards us in the Leppings Lane Stand. Our next game was at home against Aston Villa and, after going 1 down to a Savo Milosevic goal (yes, he did score in the prem guys), we dominated the game with Leboeuf getting a deserved equalizer. Next up was a di"cult away game at Blackpool in the League Cup. In those days the first and second rounds were played over two legs. After going 1-0 down at a very windy Bloomfield Road, we ran riot and scored 4. Next leg at the Bridge should be a breeze right? Wrong... Chelsea, being Chelsea, did what in them days you would expect us to do; we tried to let Blackpool win the game. Blackpool played really well, scoring 3 to our 1. Thankfully we went

through 5-4 on aggregate. Only 11,732 turned up at the Bridge that night. In between those two games we went up to Merseyside and lost 1-5 ......Enough said on that one. Our last league game in September was against Nottingham Forest. This was an infuriating game as we played them completely of the pitch only for Forest to score with probably the last kick of the game, so we dropped two points at home to lowly opposition... sound familiar? Our first two games in October were again versus lower opposition. We grabbed a 3-1 win away at Leicester, again after going 1 down. We then lost at home to a very "physical" (Leboeuf's words, not mine) Wimbledon, 2-4. The following game was again in the League cup, away at Bolton. We lost 2-1 but it is what happened after the game that will always be remembered. This was the night that Matthew Harding was killed in a helicopter crash coming back from the game. I'm sure anyone who is reading this can remember the memorial set up outside the Bridge. As you can imagine, the next game would be a very emotional a!air; it just happened to be against Spurs. There was a weird atmosphere around the Bridge that Saturday. I think everyone went to look at the memorial and that every team in the League had a flag or scarf there. One thing I will always remember is the guy walking from the West Stand with a pint of Guinness and putting it on the Center Circle - that was Matthew Harding's favorite tipple. Before the game, there was a minute's silence which was observed by both sets of fans. The only thing I heard was a helicopter in the distance... ironic! Once the game got underway, again we let the first goal in from Chris Armstrong, but then we decided to turn up, and things started with a penalty in front of the newly named Matthew Harding Stand. Up stepped David Lee who brutally smashed the ball in. Further goals from Ruud & Robbie saw Chelsea get the result they so dearly wanted after a wretched week. The following week we were into November and it started o! with a 2-1 win at the House of Horrors... sorry, Theater of Dreams, with goals from

Doobs & Vialli. Our other two games were both at home and we drew them both, but the last one against Newcastle had some guy from Italy make his debut. He put in the cross which went straight in and didn't touch Vialli's head - I'm talking, of course, about Gianfranco Zola. December started badly. We didn't win any of our first three games, but thankfully as Christmas came and went we did beat the pikeys 3-1 at home and thrashed Villa 2-0 at their place, both goals coming from the Little Italian. January 1st, I always want a win as it starts the New Year on a good notem plus it's my birthday so it's always a nice present to get. Chelsea didn't disappoint as we got a 1-0 home win against Liverpool. If anyone else remembers this game, it was freezing cold and there was people selling bits of carpet to sit on#in the West Stand benches. Three days lated started an FA Cup run of epic proportions. First we had a relatively easy game against WBA. We got this one out the way with goals from Wisey, Zola and Burley. Our next two League games were in the East Midlands; one at Forest one at Derby. We lost at Forest and won at Derby's baseball mud pit 3-1. Our next game was a 4th round FA Cup game at home to Liverpool. I'm not going to say anything about this game, as everything as probably already been said. No, I will say something - bloody amazing! There were moments only 27,950 can say they were there for. If you haven't seen the whole match, please watch it. The best bit was when Collymore fouled Super Dan down by the West Stand benches. Dan got up and counted 4 on one hand and two on the other and stuck them in Collymore's face.. classic moment. February started with# a win at 3 Point Lane... well, did you expect anything di!erent? Then we played out a 1-1 with Manure Nited. In between those two games we played Leicester in the Cup at their place, and thanks to an Eddie Newton own goal we had a replay at the

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5 QUESTIONS FOR.... PACIFIC COAST BLUE JULIE CARLSON How did you become Chelsea, and when? I don’t really remember exactly when Chelsea first caught my eye.# Sometime during the 04-05 season, I noticed that the Premiership was being broadcast on FSC. I recognized a lot of players I had seen in World Cup competitions, so I decided to keep watching. I hadn’t heard of most of the teams (including Chelsea), so I held o! choosing a team until I knew more about all of them. Obviously, Chelsea did well that year, and I definitely was leaning towards them as my team, but I wasn’t quite ready to commit. I didn’t want to be one of those plastics that chose a team because they happened to win a title.# The turning point was a trip to England in May/June 2005. I went on a cruise of the British Isles with a tourist group, and we had some time in London before & after the cruise. The season had just ended, so there was no chance of me going to a match. The closest I got was that our bus passed by Stamford Bridge on the way to the airport to fly home, and the tour guide on the bus pointed it out to us. Okay, so maybe it’s a little silly, but I decided that must be a sign!# I’ve been Blue ever since!# I have to say I was probably more of a casual fan until recently, as I was totally on my own. None of my friends were even football fans, and never would have heard of Chelsea if not for me.# I never really thought to seek out other fans, maybe because I thought I might not be “fan enough” for them. (I know, it sounds ridiculous to me now, too!)# So I guess the day I became True Blue would be March 24, 2009.# I was visiting my brother’s family in England, and couldn’t get tickets to a match, so we settled for a tour of Stamford Bridge.# (Definitely worth the £15 admission, BTW, but that’s a whole other story!) At one point during the tour, we struck up a conversation with our tour guide, Vic, and told him my sad story of not being able to get tickets to a match. I had mentioned I was from Southern California, and he told me about this group called OC Hooligans that I should look up. He said he did a tour for some of them before, and they were good people.#

because of his stunning good looks!# (Yeah, I’m such a girl!)# But I was also touched by his emotional tribute to his mother after scoring in the Champions League semi against Liverpool, and his goal celebration in the FA Cup final in tribute to his father. The more I watch him, the more I am impressed by his ability to control the midfield and score goals, and the man is just class!# What is your most cherished piece of Chelsea “stu!”?

So after returning home & recovering from the jet lag, I got over my timidity and looked them up, and then found out about CIA & PCB, and got stuck in.# I think it’s fair to say that it’s changed my life!# Everyone was so friendly & welcoming that it felt like coming home!# My love for Chelsea has grown into an obsession, and I’ve met so many great people!# Now I know I’m Chelsea ‘til I die!# What is your favorite Chelsea memory? I’m#gonna have to go with the match vs. Inter this summer.# I bought my ticket in the CIA section as soon as they were made available, but I was a little worried about not knowing who I’d be sitting (I mean, STANDING) with. (Again, it sounds ridiculous to me now, too!)# I had met a few people down at The Olde Ship, but not that many yet.# I was amazed at the camaraderie of this group.# If you were Chelsea, you belonged, end of story.# I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone & putting faces to the names I see all the time on the boards. The pre-game singing in the tents, the “parade” into the stadium, and of course, the singing all during the match was just a blast!# My non-Chelsea friends think I’m completely nuts to get up before dawn and drive an hour to the pub to watch a match, but they have no idea what they’re missing! # Who is your favorite first team player? That would be Frank Lampard.# I could try to convince you all that it’s only because of his skill, but I have to be honest… I was first drawn to him

Well, I don’t have much stu! yet, but my favorite is actually my Lampard ProStar.# I got him just before the FA Cup Final on a whim when ordering some other Chelsea stu! online.# Now Frankie sits on top of my computer monitor at work & helps me pass the time. He’s been with me to watch every match since, and we’re undefeated so far!# I’ve never been one for superstitions, but he’s become my good luck charm for matches.# (Yes, I secretly kiss the Frankie for good luck!# Again… such a girl!)# He was firmly in my grasp during the penalty phase of the Community Shield, so maybe that’s why we finally won on penalties! (Ha ha!)# What is your favorite Chelsea song? Well, I actually put songs in two categories, the songs we sing at matches (or at the pub) and songs I have on my iPod.# As far as match songs go, you probably won’t be surprised that my favorite is “Super Frank”. I even taught it to my 2-yr-old nephew when I stayed with my brother during the summer tour. (Of course his version is just him strumming his little guitar & shouting “Super Frank, Super Frank” over & over, but it’s still adorable!)# But invariably, the one that gets stuck in my head is the Kalou song.# Don’t know why.# Must just be a catchy tune! My favorite Chelsea song on my iPod is the John Terry song from the Up the Chels! CD by Billy Bluebeat. It’s a little quirky, but that’s why I like it! A close second would be a song that’s not technically Chelsea, but I read somewhere that Bryan Adams is a Chelsea fan & dedicated his song “We’re Gonna Win” to the club.# I always start my drive down to the pub by listening to that one. It helps to wake me up & get me pumped up for the game!

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CIA MEMBERS GET CREATIVE Allison Loxton creates her own Stamford the Lion!

SEPTEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER 9/1/1989 - Daniel Sturridge's birthday 9/5/1976 - Nils Middelboe died in Copenhagen; he was 89 years old. He was probably Chelsea's first overseas player and played a total of 46 games for us between 1913 & 1922.

It was a mixture of my love for Chelsea and sheer boredom which brought this miniature mascot to fruition. Stamford the Lion started out like many other Munny dolls; four inches tall and completely blank. The idea to make him came about one day while I was talking to my friend and fellow Chelsea supporter, Tom McCarthy. We had been discussing our excitement for the start of the season and he immediately suggested I turn a Munny doll into a Chelsea player. Unfortunately, I lacked faith in myself to execute a proper rendition of JT or Frankie so I opted to make the symbolic representative of the Blues instead. I had made three comic book related Munnies in the past, so I figured I could pull it o!.# It took about ten hours of sculpting clay, painting on details and cutting yarn to finally complete Stamford the Lion. After a little bit of determination and imagination... there he stood! I was so giddy with how he turned out that I decided to give the little guy as a gift. I was even more ecstatic when Stamford made his debut on the Chelsea in America message boards and was met with a warm welcome... And I would be honored to put a couple on EBAY if there is enough interest from those who wish

9/6/1973 - Happy birthday to our former great goalie Carlo Cudicini, who turns 36. 9/14/1999 - This day saw Chelsea start their first ever Champions League group game at home to AC Milan. It was a 0-0 draw.

to have him as a part of their Chelsea family! But for now, the original Stamford the Lion Munny is at home on a shelf in Tom’s room, snug in the middle of the Chelsea squad. Although every time I see little football fella sitting there I become increasingly jealous and hope to complete my own soon!#

9/16/1989 - The start of our great unbeaten run against Spurs, thrashing them 1-4 at what was to become known as Three Point Lane. Goals from K Wilson (2), Dixon & Clarke sealed the victory. 9/26/1976 - Michael Ballack's birthday

Feedback can be directed to Allison on the message board - her name there is chejersey!

9/27/1941 - Happy birthday to our top appearance maker Peter "The Cat" Bonetti. After#playing 729 times, he deserves to celebrate his 68th birthday!

Stamford takes his rightful place amongst the Blues players!

John Boyle, who spent 11 years at the Bridge making well over 250 appearances, left for Brighton for 2,000 gbp in Sept 1973.

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1984 REVISITED Chris wrote the following piece for Mark Worrall's new book, Chelsea Here Chelsea There, all about Chelsea's match at Highbury in 1984, and was kind enough to share it with the Bluesletter as well. The book was released on August 29th and is available at Mark's website, overlandandsea.net. Looking back, season 1983-84 was a truly magical time for me. Following Chelsea really took on a new meaning as I got a lot more involved. Looking back, this turned out to be what is termed these days a “gap year.” Some gap year! I re-took my A Levels in the November, but was on the dole for the entire nine months of the campaign. However, I still managed to attend eleven games from my home in Somerset. And what a season! So many amazing memories. From the depths of despair in the latter games of 1982-83 to complete football nirvana a year later. What a journey. # Along the way, I met a few mates at games who are my best of friends to this day. It was a real “rights of passage” season for me. Until the December, I was oblivious to the casual movement, but after a few games into 1984, I was keen to learn more as I became fascinated by the labels and styles on show at The Bridge. I got into music a bit more too that season, specifically the Cocteau Twins and The Smiths – bands I admire to this day. Add to this the scintillating – and totally surprising – football we played, it was a perfect season. # That Chelsea team was so special, but my hero was the wee man, Pat Nevin. When I read his favourable review of the Cocteau Twins’ single “Pearly dewdrops’ drops” in the first edition of Bridge News in May 1984, it seemed that all of my favourite passions were perfectly aligned. # That summer, with thoughts of three years at college ahead of me, I got a temporary job in a dairy, packing Ski yogurt for hours on end. I always remember that for every day worked, I received £15, which equated to a day out at football in those days. And how I daydreamed about those special memories from the previous season – the annihilation of Derby on opening

by Chris Axon

day, Pat Nevin’s end-to-end run against the Geordies, the massive game against She"eld Wednesday, away trips to Newcastle and Cardi! and of course the crowning glory – Kerry getting three on that stunning Saturday in April against Leeds United, with me in my Pringle pullover cheering wildly from the back row of The Benches. # Heaven. Blue heaven. # But I also daydreamed of potential away games at Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham over the next season. What an amazing time for me – all that anticipation, all that enthusiasm, just priceless. Over the summer, I bought a few more items of casual gear – a pair of pale blue Levi jeans, a pink Lacoste polo, some Nike Wimbledon Supremes. I was getting totally wrapped-up in football and loving every minute. I bumped into my mate Glenn midway through the summer and he told me that the league fixtures had just been released and that the first game of the new season would be at Highbury. Arsenal, in my eyes, were a bit of a non-entity at the time… our main rivals were Leeds and Spurs, Arsenal were a boring team, boring club and were o! the radar. I was much more excited about Spurs! But – Arsenal away it was to be…thousands of away fans in the Clock End, my first away game in London, my first away game in the First Division. I couldn’t wait. # A few weeks before the game at Highbury, myself and two mates from Frome saw the pre-season friendly at Ashton Gate. We lost 1-0, but us West Country blues were set upon by some Bristol City lads on the way out of the ground. I took a few punches, but the worse thing was that my brand new Benetton rugby top was taxed. I was devastated. I did wonder if my forays to foreign fields in the new season might be more dangerous than originally thought. I contemplated my options, but decided that nothing would get in the way of Chelsea. # All of this is background to the main event – Arsenal away, Saturday 25th August 1984. My fortieth Chelsea game. # The kick-o! was 11.30am and so I had to ask my father for a lift to Bath train

station. I can even remember what I was wearing – pride of place was my pink Lacoste, but I was a bit wary of running into trouble, so this was hidden by a plain light blue pullover. Who should be on the platform but a gaggle of Chelsea from Trowbridge who had been at the Bristol City game. I remember there was a bit of Mickey-taking regarding my Benetton shirt. I was a bit hurt by their banter, but I guess it was to be expected. # Anyway, I can vividly remember the train trip up to Paddington – a few of these lads were wearing gear too and Andy ( who I still see at games ) requested that I hoist up my pullover to show him the green crocodile on my shirt, just to prove it was pukka. All of this was great – acknowledgement that I was “in” on the new dress code. I seem to remember Andy saying that he had been chatting to some lads from London in the summer and that the trend of bright sportswear would change in the coming season to pullovers, darker jeans and canvas, rather than pristine white, trainers. He was to be proved right. In someone’s paper, Kerry was appealing to the Chelsea fans to behave ourselves – clearly our reputation was preceding us. To be truthful, I was a bit wary. # I remember changing trains at a central London tube – maybe Kings Cross – and ascending an elevator to the sound of “Chelsea” being bellowed by a hundred or so fans. It was reassuring to be amongst my own. I was in safe hands, things would be fine. # Up through the rabbit warren of Arsenal tube and then out into the bright morning sun. A hubbub of noise and

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PAGE 7 1984 Revisited, continued from Page 6 activity outside the station. Someone reckoned they spotted Stan Flashman. I wasted no time and headed towards the away fans entrance on Avenell Road, past the wonderful art deco East stand. I was in my element. So – this was Highbury. # I was a little unsure if the game would be all-ticket – hard to believe that I had travelled up not knowing. I was concerned I would have to buy a ticket first, but this – of course – wasn’t the case. I don’t think we had too long to wait to get inside the ground. Again the memories are vivid – that big long tunnel underneath the terrace. I bought a burger and then entered the terrace via that central access point right behind the goal. I moved towards my right and chose my spot…as I remember it, I was a third of the way back, just past the six yard box. A position that I would later be very thankful for. # It was strange to finally be inside a stadium I had seen on TV hundreds of time. The two side stands looked immaculate. My mate Glenn had managed to persuade his parents that – unlike Ashton Gate – there would be no trouble at the game and would be sitting with an uncle in the West upper. I looked up and wondered if he was in the ground yet. # Funny the things you remember – but perhaps not. This was a massive game – our biggest in years – and I guess these memories have been etched in my mind for that reason. This was important. This was real. Chelsea was my life and here I was – a kid from Somerset, not listening on the radio at home, not waiting for

highlights on TV…here I was, having paid my train fare, my tube fare, my admission money…here I was – at the game. It feels, looking back, that I was making a statement to myself. # Of course, the simplicity of it is so beautiful. # A Chelsea game? I’ll be there. # Every time I hear Stevie Wonder’s “I just called to say I love you” and George Michael’s “Careless whisper” I am immediately – and without any delay – transported back to that sunny Saturday in North London. These songs were featured in the pre-game show at the stadium. Music does this, eh? # More and more Chelsea fans entered the away terrace but I had a great vantage point. As kick-o! approached, we were pushed closer together. I guess my pullover was around my waist by this time. There were so many articles of Lacoste clothing on show, it would’ve made a brilliant advertisement. # Our team contained a couple of surprises – Dale Jasper in for Johnny B and new signing Doug Rougvie. I think Paul Canoville played, too, in for Mickey Thomas. Charlie Nicholas was missing for Arsenal. # The game? I think we acquitted ourselves pretty well and Rougvie made an instant impression. I remember the Arsenal goal – a deep cross and Paul Mariner rising to head home in front of the North Bank. Ah – the North Bank. It didn’t appear to be too packed. I remember a little pocket of Chelsea in the north-west corner. # However, our moment of fame soon came. And what a memory – every time I

see it on TV I get goose-pimples. # A Doug Rougvie free-kick towards Kerry Dixon. A shot and a save by Pat Jennings. The TV footage is amazing. The entire Chelsea end jumps up as one with the initial shot. Then the ball comes out to Kerry and he lashes it high into the net. I didn’t see the ball go in. Pandemonium. The TV coverage shows the Chelsea fans go up a second time, but this time it’s sustained. Arms flailing everywhere. It is one of my favourite pieces of Chelsea action. I have never seen so many fans, so tightly packed on that Clock End terrace, celebrate so wildly. It is what friends would later call “soup.” Chelsea Soup” – like a big pot, bubbling and boiling away on a stove. # We were back. That goal meant the world to us all. The iconic image of Kerry jumping, arms raised, delirious with pleasure is one of my most cherished memories of that day. And it all took place a few yards away from me. # A few fire-crackers were let o! to my left and there were a few crowd surges. # I think we had played well in that first period. It was a buoyant mood at halftime no doubt. I think that the secondhalf wasn’t so great. Doug Rougvie made a few crunching tackles and it appeared that we had signed a great defender. # The second period is memorable in my mind for the constant abuse that we heaped on Tony Woodcock who had just been punished for drink-driving. We were relentless. # “Woodcock’s got a bus pass, Woodcock’s got a bus pass – tra la la la, tra la la la.” # “Walking home, walking home, walking home.” # “You’ve come all this way – on the bus, on the bus.” # “Dee-dar, dee-dar, dee-dar, dee-dar, dee-dar.” # Much laughter from us and, to be fair, Woodcock was laughing a fair bit too. # The other abiding memory for me was

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GET INVOLVED IN THE PODCAST Podcast Gurus Danny and Jeremy dish out more info about the CIA Podcast. How long has the podcast been around and how did it come into being? Jeremy:# The podcast's first go was somewhere back in 2005 and there were around 4 or 5 episodes recorded.# It didn't really take o!, so it just kind of ended.# I threw my name in the#hat because I thought it was a great idea and something that needed to be done, and there you have it!# All it#took was someone to take the initiative and#there is no doubt we have those kinds of people in#CIA. # Can anyone join the podcast and what do you talk about? Danny:##Unfortunately we only allow cool people to join the podcast.# I make that decision based on your voice...# OF COURSE anyone#can join!# That is what we encourage.# The weekly podcast is#a#pub over the phone.# Grab#your favorite beer (or soda for#our younger guys and gals), sit back, relax and talk Chelsea.# We'll go over results, transfers and how much you hate Tottenham. # Is there anything you want listeners to take away from either podcast? Jeremy & Danny:# Apart from falling in love with our incredibly soothing voices (Beth's included) we would just like you to take away a part of the supporter experience.# For example, where we watched the weekend match, what new song was sang at the pub.# While we do get into tactics,#we aren't here to spend

30 minutes analyzing how many touches on the ball Bosingwa got in the second half.# We will however get#into debates about hairstyles.# The Chelsea chicks are#a powerful force.# Believe us. # The legend podcasts are definitely there to educate the newer fans about our great#club#and to allow the veteran supporters to take trips down memory lane.# That, and just to be in awe of the stories and insight from some our very own legends.# There is a lot to take away from those interviews, and the best way to find that out is to#download them and listen.# # Where did the idea for the Legends podcast come from? Danny:##I believe the legend podcasts#were born from that Burbidge/ Wild monster that we all know and love.# They mentioned it along the way to me months ago and like#many other projects (including this wicked newsletter!) it just took a tiny spark to get it rolling.# I#chiseled#my name#into internet stone#and said I would be honored to be a part of it.# It has been a great success. # Any plans for future Legends podcasts? Danny:##In short.# Yes.##Our list#of potential interviewees is#plentiful.# The summer tour of course meant that#a break was in order, and our lives are all so busy but trust me, keep your eyes open on the board for any legend podcast announcements in the future.##

Congrats JT on his European Club Defender of the Year trophy! And check out Joey Cole, back in training!

JT COMMITS TO CHELSEA from espn.com John Terry has signed a new contract with Chelsea, which will tie him to the Premier League club until the summer of 2014. The skipper had been tipped to join Manchester City over the course of the summer, with Mark Hughes' side having two bids rejected. He eventually committed his future to the club. Newspaper reports have suggested the new deal will put the England international on £160,000-a-week, making him one of the highest paid players in the English game. A club statement read: "Chelsea are delighted to confirm that John Terry has signed a new five-year contract that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season. "This reaffirms both John's and Chelsea's long-stated desire for him to be at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his playing career.'' Terry's contract was due to expire in the summer of 2011, and this new deal will take him to the age of 33. He has made 276 appearances in 12 seasons at Stamford Bridge and has won 54 England caps since 2003.

PAGE 9 1984 Revisited, continued from Page 7 when I looked over towards a few lads standing in the enclosure in front of the seats of the East Stand. They seemed to be frustrated with Arsenal’s performance, whereas we had played well and were gaining a creditable away point. They were dressed in the fashions of the time – not many replica kits back in 1984 – and there was nothing to suggest that they were actually Arsenal fans. Like the many Chelsea fans, they were all clobbered up in pastels, light jeans and trainers. Up until then, my one experience of football had been with the Chelsea fraternity and I only saw the world through our eyes. For a few moments, I pondered on what these lads were thinking. Were their experiences as Arsenal fans di!erent to ours? What were their match day routines? Why did they chose the trim stands of Highbury rather than the sprawling terraces of Stamford Bridge? What did they think of us? Why were there 30,000 Arsenal fans here? How did they become Arsenal fans? These thoughts bewitched me for a while. How di!erent my footballing life would have been had I not chosen Chelsea…if I had chosen Arsenal. I lost myself in thought and pondered the

Season in Question, continued from Page 3 Bridge four days after the Manc game. This game was a feisty a!air with Leboeuf winning a disputed penalty late into extra time, but saying that we did have the majority of play throughout the night. In March we started our league fixtures o! with a 2-3 loss to Derby, a 1-1 at home to Blackburn, and a 2-3 loss at the Pikeys. Against Sunderland on March 16th we recorded our biggest league win of the season, crushing them 6-2. Three days later we took another 3 points, this time against Southampton. March also saw us take another FA Cup#trip to a very foggy Pompey. With the fog getting worse and the game in the throes of being abandoned, we got to the final whistle with a 4-1 victory. WOW - we were in an FA Cup Semi final! Our opponents would be either Boro,

enormity of it all. # I believe that the capacity of Highbury in 1984 was still a massive 60,000 and we had all expected the gate to be around the 50,000 to 54,000 mark. There were massive moans of discontent when the PA announced the gate to be only 45,000. A chant quickly lit up the away end. # “Arsenal – where are ya? Arsenal – where are ya?” # I think it is safe to say that Arsenal had stayed away, probably intimidated by our reputation. Certainly the North Bank was no way as full as the packed away terrace. I am not sure, but I guess we had around 15,000 to 17,000 in the Clock End, plus a few pockets in the seats, specifically the West stand to my left. # The game ended 1-1. I was very content with our showing both on and o! the pitch. As we slowly made our way past the main stand, we looked up to see a few Chelsea players giving us the “thumbs up” through the windows of the dressing room. A few moments later and there was the sound of bottles smashing on the road ahead and some fans were rushing towards me. After Bristol, I was

taking no chances and sheltered behind a small hedge outside a house opposite the stadium. The risk of trouble soon passed and I remember one indignant fan bellowing out: # “Come on, we’re Chelsea.” # I felt reassured and made my way out onto the main roads to join the slowmoving line at the tube station. # Before I had time to catch a breath, I was back at Paddington and on the train home. A few of the lads I had travelled up with were on the same train and, as we flew through places like Reading and Didcot, it seemed as though the day was over too soon. If anything, there was an air of anti-climax. # I had waited five long years – and had taken bucket loads of stick from mates – for a Chelsea game in the top flight. And now, with the game behind me, the next game would be just another game. We football fans are never happy are we?

Chesterfield or Wimbledon.

celebrations started. Then Vialli coming on, something he wanted so bad. And then the final whistle. It was a weird feeling; I can remember as a kid winning in 1970, but like I had said to anyone who would listen I want to win the FA Cup as an adult. Now it had happened, and all I felt was total relief. There were grown men crying, kissing and basically just partying like only Chelsea fans know how to. Then Wise went up to lift the FA Cup, and I was there. I managed to get a touch of the Cup when the players came behind our goal. It seemed like we were still in the ground ages after the whistle had gone, so once we were told to leave it was all back to the Green Man on Honeypot Lane. # Season Stats: Most Apps: R Di Matteo 44 Most Goals: M Hughes 14 Highest"Home Att: Newcastle 28,418 Lowest Home Att: Blackpool 11,732 Biggest Home Win: Sunderland 6-2 Biggest Away Loss: Liverpool 1-5 Player of the Year: M Hughes

April in the league was a no-go; we didn't pick up anything. L'Arse gave us a 3-0 beating at the Bridge, but I think Ruudy had one eye on the FA Cup semi final against Wimbledon. This was played at Highbury in front of a pathetic 32,674 crowd, most of which were Chelsea. It was a hot sunny day and Zola was on fire. He scored a great goal and set up Hughesy with another. We ended up winning easily 3-1, and we were o! to our second FA Cup Final in 3 years. Surely we wouldn't get the same result as 1994? The league by now had become a second thought. We were going to end up 6th so at the very least we would have a UEFA Cup place. May 17th, 1997 was a Blue Day: driving round Edgware/Stanmore with our flags hanging out the car, the 3 stops on the tube to Wembley, Bobbie's goal before half of us had even sat down, Eddie giving us the insurance of a second with 15 minutes or so left... That's when the

ATTN Boston CIA members! Ben aka NUhusky13 is looking for a pub showing football and fellow fans to watch matches! Send him a PM on the CIA board to get in touch!