Time flies doesn’t it.
Lots has changed since Baku, a new manager, a fresh dose of enthusiasm and a genuine belief that some players from that record breaking academy team can ‘cross the path’ to the senior side.
There’s also been a bit of a cosmic shift in the media world. The Athletic UK launched its new subscription based company, filled with the UK’s top football journalists, including the Fancast’s very own Liam Twomey.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see how that pans out.
Nothing much has changed here, this column will still be full of my opinions on things going on at Stamford Bridge and hopefully as usual, you’ll be tweeting me why I’m wrong (even though I’m right)
I’ll also be making some appearances on the podcast, both on the Monday shows and on the LOVEsport radio on Friday night’s.
Sharing a mic with legends like Chidge, JK and the gang is quite literally a dream come true. I’ve listened to the fancast for years but it became kind of religious about two years ago now, which lead to this column and now my place on the podcast.
For me, Chidge is a bit of a hero and I’m not just writing this because he runs the site or because he’s paid me (although he did buy me a beer). I truly mean it.
He has a platform and a presence within the Chelsea community that I could only dream of, yet he only uses this to help benefit supporters and never for his own gain.
Chelsea supporters should be grateful for Chidge’s professionalism and service during his spell as chairman of the Supporters Trust.
I met Chidge for the first time last season ahead of the 2-2 draw with Burnley. Normally when I go Chelsea I’m with my dad usually having a meal, but seeing as he’d ditched me for a seat in hospitality I thought I’d take the opportunity to meet an idol.
I’m not great meeting people, I can get quite anxious about it, I hate the feeling that I talk too quietly and have to shout. I headed to the bar ordered a drink and heard the voice I normally hear on a Monday evening so ordered an extra Guinness.
When I introduced myself to Chidge, he bowed down to me! Can you believe it? He’s extremely grateful for the work that I and the others who regularly write for the website because there’s no money in it, we do it because we share a love for writing and a love for Chelsea.
Unfortunately I didn’t have a lot of time as my godson wanted to hit the megastore but I did have a great chat with Nick, someone I’ve known through twitter but never in the flesh.
It’s always strange meeting someone you think you know online in real life.
However the deed was done, I met and brought a pint for Chidge… mission complete. He said he should’ve brought me the pint but it was my pleasure.
Chidge and the fancast have brought me into a community and a friendship that has given me much joy and comfort every Monday night in the Mixlr chat room and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Because I’d met Chidge I’d now passed the litmus test of becoming a guest of the fancast, I hadn’t met Chidge for this reason, but appearing on the show is something I’d always dreamed of.
Normally after listening to the show I’d chat to myself pretending I was answering a question or raising a point. (I get this is making me sound like a complete loser but I assure you I’m not)
Now I’d be on a Skype call with Chidge, JK and Joe Tweedie talking about Chelsea and the Europa League final!
And then not just that, but Chidge invited me to the radio show on LOVEsport radio. I met Chidge at a pub just round the corner of the studio. This time we was able to have a nice chat about not just Chelsea but Chidge’s television career and his career change.
If you get a chance to meet him at a Chelsea game, make sure you do!
I went into that LOVEsport show with the same nervousness as a 15-year-old boy about to get sticky fingers for the first time. Chidge was ever the pro, wet wipes on hand, to ease me in and make me feel comfortable on the mic.
At times, I felt a bit like a bystander, observing two pro’s engaging in quality radio quality, unsure whether to pipe up with anything for fear of ruining the vibe through the airwaves.
I suppose it’ll take more experience behind the mic at the station to start getting my points of view across better and creating the kind of content that has lead the Fancast to become the leading Chelsea Podcast.
But it’s not just the content that makes the Fancast so special, it’s a community and a family that embraces every lister no matter who they are or where they come from.
I feel incredibly lucky to play just a small part in this and hope to become a bigger and bigger part of a show I’ve idolised for some time.
Speaking of idols, they say don’t meet your heroes. I say make sure you heroes aren’t dicks. Because mine are legends.
Keep it blue keep it carefree and keep it chels. Up the Chels!
