Chelsea FC

[King-Osgood-1690]

FIRST FANS FORUM OF THE SEASON REPORT


Before the Spurs match the first fans forum meeting of the season took place, a lot was covered but nothing close to ground breaking emerged in a very tame meeting.

The key points were

- Ossie statue to be ready in 12-18 months, will be situated outside the West Stand
- 16-21’s will be looked into
- Entry problems on matchdays
- Progression on environmental issues


Note – these meeting notes are not in sequential order, but grouped by category.

The meeting kicked off at 11.30, present from the club were

Ron Gourlay (Chelsea F.C. Chief Operating Officer)
Simon Greenberg (Chelsea F.C. Communications Director)
David Newby (Chelsea F.C. Marketing Manager)
Graham Smith (Chelsea F.C. Head of Ticketing)

Peter Kenyon was unable to attend the match let alone the forum, as he was at a wedding.

Stadium

The crowd surge for Porto was worse then anticipated, some people said that there was an unnecessary amount of stewards for the game, but the club said that they operate with as few stewards as they need to, complaints about a leaky Shed End roof were also mentioned, to be looked into whether there is any holes or if it was just the direction the rain travelled.

Against Hull there were only 19k in at 12.30 – fifteen minutes before Kick Off, the club have looked at other clubs capacities and number of turnstyles they have, and believe we have more then more then most, and definitely more then enough for SB.

Skidata technology can reload instantly, but the design is so that once the turnstile has rotated once the card reader then allows the next person to touch in.

The club mentioned that there are some habits that won’t go away, the entry to East has improved significantly, but as it got to the point where being there ten minutes before kick off would guarantee entry on time, now people get in five minutes before KO.

RG said he personally wants to stay at SB, as does the board and everyone at Chelsea – club not looking away and never have done, they exhausted all possibilities last time they looked into expansion, and have put off looking again for two years. Likewise, if we were to move away it would be within five miles of SB, but there is no site within this area that has been identified as being available. It was again brought up (yet omitted in the FF Minutes) that there could be a walkway built that runs parallel with the railway line to West Brompton, it was urged by fans that this is extensively looked into.

The club said the capacity has gone down slightly as they do not include severely restricted view seats and the segregation gap next to the away fans.

Banners

‘Over zealous’ stewarding in the Shed End and Matthew Harding Lower, unfortunately as it was a matchday, Ed Ashwell (head of security) was unable to attend and answer any queries. It was mentioned that one of the banners in the Shed Upper was hanging further then the sponsor boards, and instead of just adjusting this banner, the stewards removed other banners from the stand.

Ron Gourlay is keen for Supporters Clubs to have their banners advertised in the stadium, and is happy for them to be fixed across middle tier, if supporters clubs would like to send their banners in, he will arrange for them to be permanently fixed in position. There will be more communication on this though, with measurements and other specifications.

Miscellaneous

The East Stand hygiene was raised, with a STH there mentioning that the lift is normally dirty and smelly on matchday, and the same bird muck has been there for two years, the club said that the lifts are cleaned at least once a week and before and after any matchday. Greenberg said that perhaps the bird muck brought good luck.

Thanks to the club for both allowing and also helping to organise the football tournament at Cobham, the club see no reason why it can’t go ahead next year, hopefully it can be an annual event.


A collection for Vic Flaherty, who sadly passed away recently, was held on the match day train last week to Stoke. It was very gratefully received by his family who asked for it to go to the cancer charity that Woody from Madness is involved with.

Light hearted moments

When Ron Gourlay introduced himself he said ‘I assume you now know who I am’, Simon Greenberg introduced himself as PR and Communications director, before looking at Ron and saying ‘For the time being anyway’.

In AOB it was questioned whether it was grammatically correct to be the Fans Forum and not Fans’ Forum, the club agreed it should be the latter.

Ron Gourlay said he is a Rangers fan first and Chelsea second, Simon Greenberg said although he was Tottenham he isn’t anymore and wanted Chelsea to win on Sunday.

Much later in the meeting when it was all forgotten about, and hospitality with Ginola was being discussed, it asked whether the club were surprised it hadn’t sold out and who would buy a ticket, Dave ‘Hurry Up’ Johnstone quickly came out with accusing Greenberg of being the only one who bought one.

FIRST FANS FORUM OF THE SEASON REPORT | CFCnet - unofficial Chelsea FC

*Only a few excerpts, full report via the link.

[chrislouieII]

Great to hear they'll have a statue for Ossie.

[King-Osgood-1690]

Indeed, very befitting for a man of his stature.

[chels1905]

Good to hear about the statue, I also donated to Flaherty .

King Osgood, really random, but you live in NZ?

[King-Osgood-1690]

Originally Posted by chels1905

Good to hear about the statue, I also donated to Flaherty .

King Osgood, really random, but you live in NZ?

Yeah mate, been over here for about 7 years.

[wellzsauce]

Is Anelka going to play this weekend I picked him up on my fantasy squad. Are you guys keeping him as Drogba's strike partner this season?

[kyro7]

Originally Posted by wellzsauce

Is Anelka going to play this weekend I picked him up on my fantasy squad. Are you guys keeping him as Drogba's strike partner this season?

Judging from the start of the season, Anelka and Drogba are both starters.

[King-Osgood-1690]

"Our country is on a high with the way the lads are playing - it's great. I'd like to get back but that's all in good time.

"For me it's just a case of taking it day by day and keep working hard. When England comes along I'll take that challenge.

"I don't want to get into talking about England. It would be stupid to say I'm back and I want to behere, there and everywhere.

"I just want to get stronger every day and take what I can out of training. I can't rush it.

"Chelsea are playing well and England are playing well - it's fantastic.

"All I can do is get to the best quality I can and I'm confident when I get there, I'll get an awful lot of games this year.

"I was in the middle and it suits me down to the ground.

"It helped me a lot playing in that system because you can play the game at your own pace.

"Things come naturally to me there rather than playing as a winger and being expected to run past people.

"To captain Chelsea is just unbelievable. I was a ball boy here and I am a fan.

"It was good for my mum, dad, two sisters and girlfriend. They have all been through it with me, and it was great for everyone."

*Joe Cole.

"It was a great night and a great experience in front of Stamford Bridge, so it was really good. It couldn't have gone much better. I thought I did alright; we picked up a clean sheet and are through to the next round, which is the most important thing for the club.

"I just went out and played my own game. I was confident and didn't really have any nerves. Hopefully I proved to most people what I can do on the pitch.

"It was fine because Branny [Branislav Ivanovic] does understand a lot of English and is an experienced player, and he can also speak to Yury [Zhirkov], so they all helped me out and I tried to help people out by speaking a lot.

"That is my game, and I won't change that. It doesn't bother me to speak to people and it helps me concentrate even more. It's the person I am. I have a big mouth so I use it!

"Anyone who comes through the Academy here, and is English in particular, is a bit special for the fans. Obviously JT is a world-class defender but I am still trying to make my trade. Obviously you can take bits from JT because he is so good, as is Riccy Carvalho and Ivanovic as well, and every bit of experience I get around them will help me and I can take a lot from everyone.

"I do feel a part of the squad now but I want more games under my belt. I never feel out of place; I am comfortable training with the first team players. They do have an aura within the club but I treat them no differently and nobody acts differently. Everyone treats me with respect and that's good."

*Sam Hutchinson

[cbcruz]

I miss seeing Joe Cole playing

[King-Osgood-1690]

Tracing Roots Of The ‘Great Dane’

Chelsea fans have long taken players from overseas to their hearts. Even with the current strong English spine to the side, it is hard to imagine any team in Chelsea blue without foreign stars adding their skills and characteristics to the entertainment at Stamford Bridge.

Ninety-years ago the affection was the same although it was directed towards just one man. Nils Middelboe, the 'Great Dane' as 6ft 2in footballer was nicknamed, was the trailblazer for overseas stars at Chelsea and indeed was one of the first foreign players in English football.

He was also very famous in his homeland of Denmark which meant his story was well known to current Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen.

However Arnesen was unaware of Middelboe's Chelsea past so when he heard relatives of Middelboe had been traced by club historian Rick Glanvill, he organised a visit to discover more.

That is how three generations of Middelboes came to spend time with Arnesen at Cobham before a visit to Stamford Bridge and the Museum there that features their famous relative.

This branch of the family was naturalised in England around the time of the Second World War but didn't initially realise how well-regarded Nils was within these shores.

'One day I took a taxi but didn't have enough money,' recounts great nephew Ulrich Middelboe, now 80-years-old.

'So I gave him my name and he said are you anything to do with Nils and when I said yes, he refused to be paid.'

'The name does mean things to people and someone came into my work and asked if I had a really famous relation who once played for Chelsea,' adds Lucy Middelboe who kept her maiden name after marriage.

'The next time he came for a meeting he brought photocopies of old team sheets.'

The family naturally became firm Chelsea fans Lucy's son Edward standing out among all the Man United fans at his Bristol school but with a good story to tell.

During the meeting, Arnesen was able to read and translate passages from Nils Middelboe's autography for the family and recalled his own father discussing the player.

Middelboe spent 10 years at Chelsea but interruption by the First World War and an arrangement whereby he could select the away games he travelled to meant he played 46 games between 1913 and 1922.

His position, as it was known then, was half-back and he remained an amateur throughout his playing days, a career as a banker too lucrative to give up.

It was because of his 'day job' that the Dane decided to move to England and he was set to sign for Newcastle until persuaded to head for London by then Chelsea manager Vivian Woodward.

On his debut, the other players decided he should be made captain.
Before coming to Chelsea, the international superstar had become the first to score a goal in an Olympic football tournament, that goal also the first by a Danish national side. After retiring, he was a manager and important administrator back in Denmark and was involved in Chelsea touring there in the 1950s. He died in 1976 aged 88.

TRACING ROOTS OF THE ?GREAT DANE? | Latest Chelsea News | Team & Transfer News | Chelsea FC | Chelsea

[Holminho]

Hutch has the perfect physique to play at the top level. I don't know if he will have the true quality to really sort himself at the club in the long term however he definitely has a big future in the game but I don't think it's with us(though that's what people were saying about JT when he was an average midfielder in his teens and now he's England captain!)

The thing i like about Hutch over our other young defenders though is that he is very reliable and Ancelotti clearly has a high degree of trust in him and didn't hesitate him to throw him into the Carling Cup game with Ivanovic. The most important thing for players his age is that the manager can trust them so maybe i'm writing him off too early? Bruma was the standout defender in the reserves and was more highly rated by the fans but Hutch seems to have jumped infront of him which is great from his point of view

[chels1905]

Originally Posted by King-Osgood-1690

Yeah mate, been over here for about 7 years.

I remember your username having a NZ at the end.I heard people can learn to drive at 16 there?

[V2_Chelsea]

Joe Cole came back to get an assist in the QPR game, and its nice to see Fabio Borini play. He has such composure, skills on the ball, and deadly pace. Hope helps us a lot this season.

[V2_Chelsea]

JOEY’S RETURN COULD CHANGE TACTICS


Chelsea travel to Wigan for Ancelotti’s latest test,

In the league Ancelotti has been known to change formation away from home, and with Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov back in the fold, perhaps he has another change up his sleeve? Drogba has been confirmed as being back, leaving a good chance of two up front. Michael Ballack, turning 33 tomorrow, has more......

Read more here: JOEY'S RETURN COULD CHANGE TACTICS V LATICS | CFCnet - unofficial Chelsea FC

[King-Osgood-1690]

Originally Posted by chels1905

I remember your username having a NZ at the end.I heard people can learn to drive at 16 there?

Yeah they get them young over here.

I've had mine for a few years, had to get a heavy vehicle license for my work.

[chels1905]

Originally Posted by King-Osgood-1690

Yeah they get them young over here.

I've had mine for a few years, had to get a heavy vehicle license for my work.

I'll be ordering my provisional soon! To keep on track, up the chels!!

[We-R-Chelsea]

easy 3 points today i think..

[Holminho]

Originally Posted by King-Osgood-1690

Yeah they get them young over here.

I've had mine for a few years, had to get a heavy vehicle license for my work.

Lol my kiwi mate told me a while back that kids can get their learners license at 13 or 14 that's unreal!

[trenty21]

BRAMBLE

[Mode560]

DIDER DROGBA! 100 GOALS! A CENTUARY! WHAT A LANDMARK

[trenty21]

Looks like Wigan have lost their chance now. poor Bramble

EDIT: maybe not, red card and penalty for wigan

[cbcruz]

Penalty Wigan, Cech red card.

[trenty21]

Originally Posted by Mode560

DIDER DROGBA! 100 GOALS! A CENTUARY! WHAT A LANDMARK

shame it will mean nothing now

2-1

[WallerWalla]

lalalala.... how much longers left guys?

[trenty21]

Originally Posted by WallerWalla

lalalala.... how much longers left guys?

3 o'clock kick off so about 30mins left