The Pride of London’s 10,000th article: Chelsea fans’ origin stories
Michael DeVito (Contributor)
Why would a Boston man decide to become a staunch and somewhat rabid Chelsea fan, and later commentator thereof, when he had no pressing reason to do so other than the sheer enjoyment?It’s really not a difficult question to answer in this case.
First, as a former ice hockey goalie in high school and college—and also having done some hockey coaching, as well—there are some basic similarities. As a goaltender in ice hockey, you really have an opportunity to not only participate fully as the keeper does in football, but also to observe the entire rink, as the keeper does the full pitch. Both are excellent vantage points from which not only to view, but also to grasp the game from a unique viewing perspective. One might point to Cech’s stepping from his all-time great Blues goalkeeper’s boots into an ice hockey goaltender’s skates in the UK. There was somewhat of a grounding here in a kind of similar game in some respects.
That being said, a colleague in the government in Massachusetts was a rabid “soccer” fan. Let’s call him Patrick (a New England Revolution fan, no less). This is central to the discussion, also a fan of Fulham (a.k.a Fulhamerica). It was he and my friends at a coffee house on Beacon Hill in Boston that introduced me to “soccer” or “football” in the case of my friends at the coffee house who were Serie A fans. Another colleague had indicated that a watch of the Premier League (what was that?) on Saturday mornings was well-worth the take in.
One Saturday morning, on the treadmill, I switched channels to a Premier League game. No recollection of who played, but an impression was made. It was like nothing I had ever seen before and as a sports enthusiast, I loved it. Though this was not my thought at the time, now I can say, it was a beautiful game—that was the draw. The way they played in the Premier League, was like nothing I had ever seen before. There was the acknowledgment.
Why Chelsea though? Over any other club like Fulham of my friend or any other side nonetheless. Frankly, it came down to two clubs, both magnificent and both top sides in the Premier League. They were Chelsea, of course, and Manchester United. It was two world class players, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, that drove my decision. Both were favorites, but Drogba would win out. Though, it was a difficult choice for a novice, indeed.
Drogba’s ability to score in abundance from any angle, any way, any time was a marvel to behold. Chelsea was top of the table, as I recall, and that helped too. Though that makes me look like something of a front-runner, that’s hardly the case. Who doesn’t like to root for a great team populated by such terrific players as Drogba, the anchor, Terry and Super Frankie Lampard (who ironically I hadn’t even seen because he was out with an injury at the time).
That’s the story of how this writer came to be a Chelsea fan and has never looked back. Through the good times, bad times and back, a Blues fan through and through. Enjoying every minute from the transfers to the Cup games and the managerial sackings. The best part is, it’s a story a minute—there is never anything dull about Chelsea. For this humble American fan, Chelsea is my team, always.