Author: Crazy

The Chelsea Foundation is on the lookout for male and female students in Year 11, who have a keen interest in developing as football players and as potential coaches and teachers of the future.

Through our programmes run in conjunction with Merrist Wood College in Guildford and Matthew Arnold School in Staines, we are offering a BTEC Level 3 Diploma (and extended diploma) in Sport.

The academic programme is equivalent to three A Levels and runs alongside the practical football-based element adding specialised units, such as nutrition and anatomy, which can help students progress into the sport and leisure industries.

The football programme is timetabled around the academic commitments, with the aim being to develop all players technically and tactically, both in a practical and theory-based setting. This is complemented by appropriate fixtures and matches which are continually monitored throughout the programme.

Ian Woodroffe, international development manager for the Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘We are very proud of the programmes and facilities offered both at Merrist Wood College, which includes residential accommodation, and Matthew Arnold School, which includes a state of the art gym and 4G Astroturf.

‘Fundamental to these relationships is the synergy and dedication to maximise student achievement, an aspect all organisations work hard to support and are proud of. We have seen many students progress into careers in the sports industries, often as coaches, scholarships to the USA and even players progressing to the Chelsea Ladies first team in Drew Spence and Hannah Blundell.’

All coaching and matches are delivered by experienced Foundation coaches and all players will have access to train and play at Chelsea’s training ground, and receive full training kit as well as further opportunities to get involved with the club through special events and work experience.

Selected players are able to play in both regional college leagues, plus the English Colleges Football Association Leagues. The courses also include weekly sessions specifically based around strength and conditioning training, along with physiotherapist’s treatments, for those players injured while participating in the programme.

Head of learning and standards for sport and public services at Merrist Wood, Jo Rollinson, said: ‘We have been working in close association with the Chelsea Foundation for the last four years and the courses will help to develop students’ football ability and provide them with the knowledge and skills to work in the industry.’

To apply for the programme all students must register at the colleges for an interview before they can be accepted for trials for the academic course. For more information please visit:

• Merrist Wood College female course.

• Merrist Wood College male course.

• Matthew Arnold School.

For further information please contact international development officer Zak Wooster on 07515 221542 or via zak.wooster@chelseafc.com

Actor Danny John-Jules was a recent visitor to Stamford Bridge, filming for TV, and the man best known for his portrayal of ‘The Cat’ in BBC sci-fi series Red Dwarf sat down with the club’s official website to talk about his favourite Chelsea memories, the return of Jose Mourinho and plying his trade in the Caribbean.

For some, the football team they choose to support is based on family tradition, while for others, players, managers and even the colour of a kit can play a factor. For Danny John-Jules, however, it was simply a matter of geography.

Having been brought up not far from Stamford Bridge, there was little choice, and even less competition, for his affections, as he explains.

‘Growing up in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea it was pretty much written in the sand,’ he says. ‘Everybody supported Chelsea or QPR and I don’t know why, but I just gravitated towards Chelsea.

‘When I got to secondary school most of the kids there supported Chelsea. I went to school with Phil Daniels, who was a massive Chelsea fan. We also had [musician] Paul Hardcastle and Courtney Pine, the saxophonist, although I’m not too sure who he supported, but there were loads of Chelsea fans there.

‘We used to go to home games mainly, we were all still at school but we used to go together, we used to have a right laugh standing in the Shed.

‘I can’t really remember my first game, it was around 1973 and I just remember the noise. I couldn’t believe how loud it was, I thought it was crazy and you were stood there thinking the stand was going to fall down because in those days they were a bit shaky and you could feel them moving, it was an experience.’

Having followed the Blues for over 40 years, John-Jules has seen it all; the highs and the lows, from European triumphs to relegations. One game, though, stands out in his memory.

‘I remember watching the 1970 FA Cup final as if it was yesterday,’ he recalls. ‘Me and my brother were sitting there with a packet of crisps and a can of coke and we were just amazed at what a great game it was.

‘Leeds United were probably the best team in the world at that time and there weren’t too many people who thought Chelsea would win the game. It was a very physical match, as most were in the 1970s.

‘Peter Osgood’s diving header was just unbelievable, he was almost eating grass, he couldn’t have got any lower, he was practically sliding along the floor.

‘I don’t think there will ever be another football match which makes you sit up and take notice in the same way as that did. I was watching a bit of it this morning before I came out, just a few clips, and as soon as you see that game it all comes back. The match is legendary and, even if you’re not a Chelsea fan, you have to hold your hands up and say how well we did.’

When John-Jules recalls his favourite Chelsea players, there is a nostalgic feel about his selections, and he recently came into contact with a tough-tackling former Blue.

‘I used to love Charlie Cooke and Alan Hudson,’ he says. ‘It was a shame Hudson’s career at Chelsea ended so early because he was a great player. Mickey Droy was another player I really liked and now he has an electrical shop around the corner from my house in Kensal Rise (pictured below).

 

‘I used to go in there for bits and pieces and I had no idea it was his shop but he still serves behind the counter. He’s been there for years and they sponsor local kids’ football. His son gave me a 2014 diary a few weeks ago, which was nice. He was a big, powerful player and you couldn’t get past him.’

John-Jules made his name in Red Dwarf alongside the likes of Chris Barrie – another Chelsea fan – and Craig Charles. A varied career up to now has seen him appear in films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Blade II, while he can also lay claim to featuring in the video for a Wham single. At present, he is featuring in another BBC show, Death in Paradise.

Set in the Caribbean, the drama series focuses on a detective inspector who is assigned to investigate a murder on the paradise island of Saint-Marie, and John-Jules, who plays a policeman, spoke about the appeal of the show.

‘I’m quietly confident it will do well and there was a good reaction to the first episode of the new series,’ he says. ‘Whoever comes in has to pull out all the stops because TV fans are very loyal and they believe it’s their show.

‘It’s a great gig, you dream of gigs like that, it’s similar to waking up and realising you play for Chelsea I would imagine. I spend about five months of the year over there and I’ve been doing it for the last three summers. It’s filmed in Guadeloupe, in between Monserrat and Dominica, which is where I come from, so I speak the local language which is very handy.

‘The appeal is about wanting somebody to succeed against all the odds,’ says John-Jules. ‘It’s based on the former cricketer Bob Woolmer, who was found dead in Jamaica in 2007.

‘The guy who wrote it was sitting there watching the news when they said they were sending over a British policeman. He found it strange that they would still do that in this day and age so that’s how it came about. Robert Thorogood devised it and it took about four years to come to fruition but it’s going well.’

With thoughts returning to the Blues, and the current campaign in particular, John-Jules believes the squad are coming together at an important time and he has been impressed with the performances of the team of late.

‘I’m pleased, it’s nice to see the boys doing well recently and we deserve to be near the top of the table, I suppose you could say it’s the Mourinho effect,’ he explains.

‘I think we’ve needed a manager who could come in and inspire the players but it’s hard. When you’re in any profession and doing well, you can become lazy. I’ve been there; do you go to an extra dance class when you’re already in a West End show? Or do you just hang out and go straight to the theatre later? That’s what sets Mourinho apart, his ability to inspire.’

The players resumed training on Wednesday following Monday night’s win in Manchester and the Chelsea TV cameras greeted them out on the Cobham pitch.

The latest Blues News headlines (which can be viewed above subject to registration) feature the squad working and also begin to look forward to the Newcastle game.

Two of our outstanding performers in Monday’s win against Manchester City have been reflecting on the game.

There were impressive Chelsea displays all over the pitch as we completed the double over Manuel Pellegrini’s side, none more so than that of Nemanja Matic, who shone in the middle of the park.

The Serbian felt the manager’s preparations played a pivotal role in enabling us to become the first side to emerge from the Etihad Stadium this season having not tasted defeat in the Premier League. 

‘We prepared very well, the manager showed us some videos of Man City to show their quality and where we could capitalise on their mistakes,’ Matic explained. ‘He prepared us very well as you saw on the pitch. Every player knew what he had to do at every moment in order to get the result.

‘It was very important for us, we now have more confidence because it’s not easy to play against Manchester City. They are a strong team and they play very quickly.

‘We showed we can compete with any team, we scored one goal and I felt we could have scored more because we had some great opportunities, but sometimes one goal is enough to win.’

Matic’s midfield partner on the night, David Luiz, was delighted with the result, but emphasised the importance of building on the victory when we welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

‘It was a difficult game against a strong team. Both teams created a lot of opportunities, Man City have scored many goals in their last few games but we stopped them and it was good for us,’ he said.

‘We need to keep working hard and keep our feet on the floor. It was just one more game and three points. You have to improve every day if you want to win the title.

‘When you play against a strong team like Man City you can feel the importance, but in terms of the table it’s just another three points, that’s the truth.’

The Brazilian has now played a significant midfield role in big wins against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Regardless of where he’s asked to play, however, the player himself is simply pleased to be involved.

‘I love to play for Chelsea, I love to play football, it doesn’t matter if I play in midfield or defence,’ he said.

‘I’m just lucky to play for a big club and it’s nice when you can play with very good players like Matic.’

– A clip of Nemanja Matic talking to Chelsea TV after the game can be viewed above (subject to registration) with the full interview available now via the channel’s online access.

Gary Cahill felt our victory against Manchester City was the perfect response to last week’s draw against West Ham United.

Branislav Ivanovic scored the only goal of the game at the Etihad Stadium just after the half-hour mark, drilling a sweet left-footed strike beyond Joe Hart, and though City threatened in the second half, an outstanding collective defensive display ensured we headed back to the capital with three priceless points.

Cahill, along with the likes of John Terry, Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta, put his body on the line as the home side chased an equaliser, making a number of crucial blocks, and he was understandably delighted with the result.

‘It was a huge performance from us,’ said the Blues defender. ‘We worked hard, in the second half everyone put in a shift and that’s what you need to do when you go there.

‘Everybody’s aware of their home form this season but we put in a great performance and overall I felt we deserved to win the game.

‘Obviously they put pressure on us at times. They started the game really well, in the first 10-15 minutes we had to weather the storm but then we came into the game and our attacking players created a lot. We hit the woodwork three times, had a few flashed across the box and could have had more.’

Tactically, Jose Mourinho’s plan undoubtedly worked, with our attacking intent seemingly catching the hosts off guard, while the deployment of David Luiz and Nemanja Matic in midfield offered Cahill and Terry plenty of protection.

‘We worked on it in the last couple of days. The manager explained what he wanted from us and I thought we delivered it so I’m sure he’ll be pleased,’ Cahill said.

‘After we drew against West Ham it was important we got a win. It’s a really difficult place to go so we’re very happy.

‘We said in the team meeting that they hadn’t failed to score at home since 2010 so that was fun listening to that before we left, but records are there to be broken and we kept a clean sheet. We defended really well, Pete made some good saves and there were a few good blocks by us.’

We will be looking to get the better of City for the third time this season when we return to the Etihad a week on Saturday for an FA Cup fifth round clash, a game which is preceded by Premier League matches at home to Newcastle and away at West Bromwich Albion.

Cahill is hopeful we can carry the confidence acquired from the win against City into those two games.

‘We’ll go about our business as quietly as we have done up to now,’ he explained. ‘Of course, this was a huge game, especially after West Ham. If we’d lost it would have opened a gap between us but what it’s done now is close the gap, let’s hope it continues.’