The Pride of London
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The Pride of London’s 10,000th article: Chelsea fans’ origin stories

By The Pride of London Staff

Chelsea's German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Belgian midfielder Leander Dendonckerduring the English Premier Lea gue football match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London on January 27, 2021. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Belgian midfielder Leander Dendonckerduring the English Premier Lea gue football match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London on January 27, 2021. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON – MAY 1: Eidur Gudjohnsen is congratulated by his Chelsea team mates after scoring the first goal as Southampton keeper Antti Niemi looks on during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on May 1, 2004 in London. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON – MAY 1: Eidur Gudjohnsen is congratulated by his Chelsea team mates after scoring the first goal as Southampton keeper Antti Niemi looks on during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on May 1, 2004 in London. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

Barrett Rouen (Contributor)

When my family first moved to London, it was a very busy time. Eventually though, as things slowed down and we started to grow into our life as Londoners, we finally had an off day on the weekend and my father asked if we should go to a football match. There were only a few clubs that we could walk to from our house at the time: Queens Park Rangers, Fulham Football Club and Chelsea Football Club.

The Blues were the home team and so we set out to walk to the match. I can’t describe the feeling of coming around every turn and corner in the little west London streets, seeing more and more blue shirts starting to appear. People were singing on the way and hugging friends who they had met up with. I remember walking past a pub and seeing people laughing and hugging as they met up with their mates before the ever famous walk through West Brompton cemetery where it all came together. It seemed peculiar that a walk through a cemetery should be as joyous as it was, but I remember falling in love with these people and this place very quickly.

The Blues played Southampton on that day. It’s why I have an affinity for the Saints, as well. We sat in the Upper West Stand and watched Chelsea get hammered 4-2. It was awful!

That explains why, for such a long time, I was convinced James Beattie was one of the best players in the Prem. I appreciated how hard Eidur Gudjohnsen worked to get us back in the match, though even if it proved not to mean much in that shocking loss. That said, I had already decided this was my home now and this was our club. Win, draw or lose, it was the club for where we were from and I was all the way in. I had started playing football for a club side and my school and been told I would be a centreback. Chelsea just so happened to have a young one I could model my game on in John Terry at the time. Then the rest built on itself. I walked to matches to meet my friends and family dozens of times following that fateful day and that really was that. Blue till I die and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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