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, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with team mates and the trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015 in London, England. Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with team mates and the trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015 in London, England. Chelsea were crowned Premier League champions. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Gabe Henderson (Site Expert)

I have always been a sports fan. One of my earliest memories included me firing off stats and random sports trivia to my best friend’s dad, he responded by promising to one day take me to Las Vegas to win him some money. My family has always had a rich connection with football though. My grandfather invested a lot to bring his beloved English football to America as an owner of the Cleveland Force. My father, who also grew up in London, played football for a lot of his life, even sporting the shirt of his college in the U.S. Despite these ties, it was American Football I fancied as a youngster.

The 2010 World Cup peaked my interest as I watched with curiosity from my bedroom. However, once the tournament was over, it was back to admiring American sports. Fast forward to 2014, I took my first trip overseas during that summer. I was able to watch three World Cup teams on television from the country they were from. I saw the USA play from my home, I joined dozens of England fans in watching the Three Lions from a Teddington pub and I watched France advance in the tournament from a small cafe in Paris. It was on this trip that I got my first two football jerseys: a United States three-stripe kit (the last of its kind from Harrods) and a Brentford home kit. My family has ties to both the Blues and the Bees. Nevertheless, I still couldn’t quite get into club football.

One day, it finally clicked. I had seen my father watch Chelsea from time to time, but it was on a day where I was away from him, ironically enough, that my Blues fandom was born. I was looking for something to watch while at my friend’s house and I stumbled upon the Chelsea match. Drogba, Jose Mourinho and Co. secured the title with a win against Sunderland. Watching “The King” celebrate his final trophy as a Blues player had me instantly hooked.

I haven’t missed a match in six years since. I have woken up earlier than any individual should, stayed up late and tried to not miss a moment of my beloved Blues. I’ve watched preseason friendlies against Perth Glory from the car on road trips, Premier League clashes from class and even Champions League games from the doctor’s office. The only part of a contest I’ve completely missed was the first half  of the Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2015/16 season; I was taking an English test and there was simply no way I could get out of it. Rest assured, I caught the entirety of the second half.

As a student and life-long fan of Louisiana State University and the Houston Astros, I’ve been lucky to have enjoyed my fair share of championships. However, celebrating the 2016/17 Premier League title from the floor of my bedroom after school, as Michy Batshuayi’s goal found the back of the net, was special. There is a noteworthy place in my heart for Conte and crew, but as a club, Chelsea has become something much bigger for me.

I wrote the occasional piece on the Blues as a part of FanSided’s main site (which I joined in 2017 while in high school), but it wasn’t until the following year that I joined The Pride of London. I contributed as often as I could between school and work. Truth be told, I was close to giving up on sports writing at the beginning of 2020, until one day, I received the offer of a lifetime from George Perry and Travis Tyler. Knowing full well my intention to major in mass communications, George reached out to be about the soon-to-be vacant Co-Site Expert position at The Pride of London and the rest is history. One year into my tenure, here we are, contributing to this landmark piece.

The Pride of London will always be Khaled’s baby and a site George, Ajitesh and Travis elevated to new heights, but it’s now something I can attach my name too, as well. That’s an unbelievable feeling. That being said, we couldn’t have reached 10,000 articles without the assistance of our wonderful contributors across the world and our amazing readers. A big thank you to y’all (I’m a native Texan, sue me) and congratulations to The Pride of London team—past and present—on this amazing achievement.

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