The History of Chelsea Football Club & Stamford Bridge
Chelsea F.C., one of the most prominent English football clubs, has come a long way since it was first established in 1905. Throughout history, the club has encountered as many victories as it has losses.
As a matter of fact, there are a couple of times it seemed like the club was on the brink of extinction. On the other hand, there are times when it’s pulled off incredible wins that no one could have predicted. But how was this football club formed? The following is an overview of Chelsea’s history.
Origin of Chelsea FC and the Battle of the Bridge
A fascinating fact that many don’t know is that the football club was formed almost by accident. Back in 1896, football enthusiast Henry Augustus, or “Gus” Mears as he was popularly known, purchased the famous Stamford Bridge.
He was supported by his brother Joseph Mears. Their aim was to use the grounds to hold first-class football matches. However, they were forced to wait until 1904 to get a freehold as that is when the initial owner passed away.
Once they got full ownership, they approached Fulham Football Club, requesting them to use the grounds as their home. Sadly, the club turned down their offer. This made the Mears to consider selling Stamford Bridge to a railway company.
The Great Western Railway Company planned to utilize the grounds as a coal dumping yard. However, Fred Parker, a colleague and close friend of the Mears discouraged them from selling the land.
After considering the plan to sell for a while, the two brothers decided against the idea. Instead, they decided to form their own football club, which would hold its events at the stadium.
The Formation of Chelsea Football Club
By 1905, the Mears founded Chelsea Football Club in The Rising Sun pub on Fulham Road. However, the two brothers didn't arrive at this club’s name easily. Before deciding to name it Chelsea, the Mears had contemplated calling it London FC, Stamford Bridge FC, and Kensington FC. Ultimately, they settled on Chelsea FC, naming it after the district located right next to Fulham.
In the years that followed, the football club experienced a streak of success. They even won the Football League Championship in 1955.
However, it wasn’t always a bed of roses as the club experienced massive defeats as well. Their bleakest season was in the late 1970s and 80s. In fact, in 1982, they were pretty close to being relegated to the third division.
Luckily, they managed to finish at the 18th position out of 22. In the following year, the club improved their performance tremendously. They were able to win the second division; hence earned a promotion. These are just a few examples of the many successes and defeats that Chelsea F.C. has encountered throughout its lifetime.
Chelsea Football Club Now
Presently, this football club is famous the world over. In the past decade, it’s signed some pretty talented players and won numerous matches. Its estimated net worth is £12.9bn.
Conclusion
Nicknamed “the Blues”, Chelsea is among the most prominent and successful football clubs globally. Founded in 1905 by the Mears, this team has encountered mixed fortunes throughout its lifecycle. Chelsea plays all its home games at the 60-000 capacity Stamford Bridge stadium. While it’s not the biggest football stadium, it played a huge role in the football club’s formation.