Date: 5th September 2018 at 5:29pm
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In his latest article for the Fancast, Simon Phillips shares the experience of a young Chelsea supporter who has recently attended his first game at Stamford Bridge. 

Football has a certain magic about it, that cannot be found anywhere else. It connects people from all different backgrounds and from all over the world. It gives people a base for conversations that can last hours with someone you have never met before. But the best of all, it connects, bonds and creates memories for families and children.

Chelsea beat Bournemouth on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, a joyful day for Chelsea supporters who witnessed new Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri get his fourth victory on the trot. But for one 6-year old boy from Kent, it became one of the most magical and memorable days that he will ever experience in his life.

Young Charlie (pictured below) was celebrating his birthday, and as a treat, his Chelsea supporting father Jay took him to his very first match at Stamford Bridge. Just 23 years after Jay’s father took him to his first match at Stamford Bridge.

For Jay, like so many others, Chelsea FC is a way of life, ever since he was born. His father was a Chelsea supporter from a young age since Jay’s Nan turned him onto them having grown up around London. Chelsea is very much pumping blue blood through the veins of this family. And Saturday captured all the magic and the feelings of this, through the eyes of an excited 6-year old boy.

I caught up with Jay after the match, and he and Charlie were obviously very happy souls –

“Charlie has always been into his football – he attends football camps and recently won a pair of boots for being top scorer! When I first told him I was taking him to watch Chelsea, he thought I was on a wind-up. We have a close and humorous relationship, but when it sunk in he wouldn’t stop talking about it – day and night solid for two weeks. His favourite players are Eden Hazard, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – all he kept asking was, will I get to meet them, bless him”.

Charlie has been initiated into the Chelsea way of life; we can safely say that his love for the club, has now become an obsession, like the rest of us. This 6-year old is now what we consider to be ‘proper Chels’.

Jay describes the moment he walked into the stadium on Saturday –

“He was taken back by how big it was. As you could imagine for a 6-year-old. He loves the liquidator, so I had to film him. He makes me play it on repeat in the car! He was buzzing and on edge for the first half and went through the emotions as we all do. When Pedro scored the first, he nearly flew out the shed! When Hazard scored, same again. Straight after he asked to go again as he loves Chelsea and couldn’t wait to tell his mates at football camp”.

These are the feelings known all so well by Jay, who recalls the moments of his first memories supporting Chelsea and attending his first match, just like Charlie did on Saturday –

“My father took me to my first match in 1995 against Leeds United, which we won 4-1! I believe Mark Hughes scored a hat-trick. That was my first Chelsea shirt purchase – the orange and grey away strip”.

“I was nine years old, from that day I was Chelsea mad. The nostalgia and excitement were immense. I remember the travel back, and all I could think of was when can we go again and telling my mates at football camp/school that id been to a Chelsea game”.

So will there be an opportunity for all three generations of Grandfather, father, and son going to watch a Chelsea match at Stamford Bridge anytime soon? –

“Yes! Me And my brother treat my old man every birthday to a game. I’m lucky enough to have a couple of good mates with prime seats in each end, shed and MHU, so we do manage to take him up. He still loves it to this day, that feeling will never change!”

Chelsea even sorted Charlie out with a ‘Bridge Kids’ Happy Birthday card, which was a special touch from a club who promote a family atmosphere and a magical experience for kids.

To me, this is what football is all about. With all the money in the game these days, negativity from some media outlets, and fan warfare on social media – it’s refreshing to step back and read a story like this, remind ourselves of why we do this and the experiences, emotions and journeys this game evokes.

And can we all just take a moment to imagine young Charlie, going back to school this week, constantly annoying his Manchester United and Liverpool supporting friends by singing the Liquidator loud and proud, directly to their faces. Proper Chels!

What are your thoughts? Let us know!

 

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