Roman Abramovich generosity revealed by former Chelsea player
Roman Abramovich has been on a quest to reconnect with former Chelsea players, sending them Christmas hampers, according to one ex-Blue.
Roman Abramovich’s arrival has been universally acknowledged as one of the best things to happen to Chelsea FC. However, the billionaire has also been building bridges with the club’s past. Tommy Docherty has revealed that the Blues have been sending him generous Christmas hampers over the last few years.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, the former player-manager stated that he had been on the receiving end of a £300 Harrods hamper for the last few years.
"Champagne, red and white wine, cheese, biscuits, smoked salmon. A nice hamper."
Furthermore, the paper reports that over 100 of these hampers were dispatched last year, to all former players over the age of 55. This brings Abramovich’s bill to over £30,000.
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In the grand scheme of things, such a sum is relatively little to the oligarch, but it is yet another representation of how much he cares about the club.
In modern football, rich owners are all over the game. They takeover established clubs with sights set on reaping commercial rewards. Or they purchase a smaller club with an intention to inject cash and steal market share.
While Abramovich is not unique in that sense, there is one thing he possesses that others appear to lack: a genuine passion for his club. Chelsea is not a business for the Russian, it is an interest.
Gestures such as this, reconnecting with those that made the club great throughout the years, is vital to fostering a welcoming environment. All of this increases the appeal of the club, not just to your average fan, but to prospective players and employees.
As has been seen last season, the performances by the eleven men on the pitch and the conduct of the manager is the largest contributing factor. However, the importance of looking after your club from top to bottom should not be overlooked.
Meanwhile, the timing of this revelation only adds to the uplifting vibes flowing around Stamford Bridge at the moment. With Antonio Conte’s men top of the Premier League, West London is certainly a happy place to be.