RE VIE W 2018/ 1 9 SE ASON

Contents

Formed in 2010, the Chelsea Foundation brings

together the Football in the Community, Education
and international departments along with the club’s
other charitable and community activities, including
anti-discrimination projects and continued support
for past players.
As one of the world’s leading football social
responsibility programmes, the Chelsea Foundation
uses the power of football and sport to motivate,
educate and inspire. We believe the power of
football can be harnessed to support communities
and individuals both at home and abroad.
On top of our outstanding football development
programmes, the Chelsea Foundation works on a
broad range of initiatives focusing on employment,
education, social deprivation, crime reduction, youth
offending and much more.

04 Chairman’s foreword

06 Community

16 Educating through football

22 Foundation in numbers

24 Chelsea around the world

30 Working with charity

34 Promoting equality

38 Plan International

42 Past Players’ Trust

CFC | 03
BRUCE BUCK
Chairman of Chelsea FC and
the Chelsea Foundation

Using sport to educate,

motivate and inspire
Each year my fellow Trustees and I are amazed by the organisations. Similarly the women’s team visited
breadth and the depth of the Foundation’s work. There Israel to play the Israeli national team, promote the
is a real and genuine need for programmes linking women’s game and demonstrate how football can bring
social benefits to sport, now more than ever. people together.
There are few, if any, areas of society that football We were proud that the campaign was awarded
cannot help. It can educate, it can improve health, the Community Programme of the Year at the
cut crime, inspire entrepreneurs, promote equality London Football Awards and was honoured in the
and ultimately it can bring people and their French Senate, receiving the ‘Gold’ award from Ligue
communities together. Internationale Contre le Racisme et l’Antisémitisme
This is exactly what the Foundation has been doing (LICRA).
in more than 100 towns, cities and boroughs in the UK This and all our equality work will continue to expand
and in 21 countries internationally. We are engaging and although we cannot stop hatred and intolerance
more and more female players, leading the way for overnight, we hope that we can play an important role
disability provision and establishing new and exciting in creating a club and communities that are welcoming
initiatives dedicated to using sport as a force for good. to all.
Our players are also increasingly engaged with our Our partnership with Plan also continues to
work, promoting our programmes, visiting schools and provide opportunities for young people around the
hosting young people at our training ground in Cobham world promoting the rights of children and providing
and at games at Stamford Bridge. important education programmes on health, hygiene
We believe it is not just about the quantity it is also and gender equality. I was proud to visit one of their
about the quality. We maintain the high standards we programmes in Jordan at the Azrak refugee camp
have established over the last 10 years and continue seeing their important work at first hand and how they
to ensure a deep engagement and positive outcome to play a vital role in the community. It is a visit that was
our work. truly inspiring and one that I will never forget.
Our work tackling discrimination and promoting The Foundation was set up to educate, motivate and
equality continues to grow. Through our Building inspire and I am delighted that is exactly what we are
Bridges programme we are delivering workshops in doing, week in and week out, benefiting hundreds of
schools and engaging fans and the wider community thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. Our
in our work celebrating diversity. Our Say No To work will continue to grow and develop and I have no
Antisemitism campaign is now a global leader and a doubt we are creating a legacy that will be long lasting
blueprint in how sport can be used to tackle hatred and impactful and something that staff, fans and our
across the world. communities can be rightfully proud of.
We were delighted when our men’s team took part
in the ground-breaking Final Whistle on Hate game in
Boston when we took on the New England Revolution.
The match increased awareness of the dangers of
antisemitism and raised $4m for anti-discrimination

04 | CFC
 Bruce Buck

1. Participants in Vietnam receive some words of advice

from Foundation coaches

2. Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes and players

Deanna Cooper and Anita Asante take part in a Foundation
coaching session in Israel

3. Bruce Buck collects the Community Project of the Year

award at the London Football Awards
2 4. Girls take part in a robotics challenge during one of our
technology-focused education sessions

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COMMUNITY

277
hours of free
coaching per week

The Community arm of the Foundation is committed also offer mentoring and training opportunities
to developing sport, promoting equality, engaging for teachers, empowering them to engage with
communities, inspiring through Chelsea and providing young people with disabilities in a mainstream
opportunities for all. education environment.
Our Soccer Schools remain the perfect way for Activate Seniors aims to develop and enhance
your little ones to spend the school holidays, whether the experiences of older people, focusing on
they are the next Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fran Kirby or key areas including reducing social isolation,
have never kicked a ball before. For those budding improving health and wellbeing and bridging the
superstars, our Advanced Soccer Schools will provide generation gap, while our men’s and women’s
a new level of challenge. walking football sessions help hundreds of people
In term time we work with a number of schools improve their health and fitness while building
partners. The majority of these sessions take place social cohesion.
after school and specifically cater for the pupils Our female engagement programmes include
attending that school, while our post-16 college Football Development Centres, women’s walking
academy offerings continue to expand. football and the Premier League Women and Girls
The Chelsea Foundation are heavily involved in the project, creating a clear pathway for young women
nationwide Kicks programme alongside the Premier to play, coach and improve physical and emotional
League, working with 11 to 19-year-olds across four wellbeing through football based activities.
different London boroughs to improve community The Chelsea Foundation Futsal Club runs three
cohesion and social integration within disadvantaged senior futsal teams, allowing players to earn
areas and with at-risk individuals. academic and coaching qualifications while
The Foundation provides industry-leading competing at a national level, as well as successful
opportunities in pan-disability sport and Chelsea staff junior sides across several age groups.

06 | CFC
 Community
Developing sport
1,067 hours of coaching
per week

Former Blue Joe Cole hands out the trophies at a

Foundation Soccer School

Soccer Schools for girls and boys of all abilities continue to thrive in London,
Youngsters at one of our school sessions enjoy a Surrey, Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Middlesex and Berkshire
practical session with Foundation coaches

Players and staff pose for a squad pic at one of the colleges the Foundation support through our college academy relationships

CFC | 07
 Developing sport
26
different sports offered
by Foundation coaches

Chelsea Foundation Futsal has continued to thrive

this year with success for different age groups

Ruben Loftus-Cheek dishes

out the high fives at a
Foundation Super Camp
Kepa Arrizabalaga surprises pupils and dons the event at Cobham
gloves at one of our weekly school sessions

Participants pose for a picture during a joint basketball session with QPR

08 | CFC
 Community
Inspire through
Chelsea
The Foundation enjoy a unique relationship with St
Mary’s University, providing football-based academic
courses for students interested in a career in sport.
We have officially worked with St Mary’s since 2016
with the previous two-year foundation degree now
expanded to a three-year undergraduate degree,
titled Chelsea FC Foundation Coaching Degree.
Designed to help create the future coaches for the
Chelsea Foundation and other community sporting
organisations, this year’s cohort enjoyed a day to
remember when they began life at St Mary’s with
a visit to our training ground followed by a stadium
tour and networking opportunity. There were also
celebrations at the end of the academic year
as our second cohort of students graduated at
Westminster Cathedral.
The Peter Osgood Award has been presented to
a deserving and inspirational individual from the
Chelsea Foundation’s many projects since 2016,
with this year’s being handed to coach Harry Baker
by the legendary Blues striker’s widow Lynn Osgood,
in recognition of Harry’s voluntary work at Blenheim
High School.

“The Foundation is so much

bigger than any of us realised
prior to visiting the stadium,
there are so many people
involved and within one week I
can tell this course is the right
decision for me”
SHAUNA MUNNELLY
CFC | 09
 Spotlight on
Chelsea Champions
The Chelsea Champions initiative was launched
last year, seeing the Foundation place full-time
staff within secondary schools in order to increase
physical activity, support leadership qualities and
improve the emotional wellbeing and resilience
of pupils.
The full-time Foundation staff have been joined
regularly at schools by some of the younger players
from our Academy’s Under-18s team, talking to pupils
about living healthily, both mentally and physically.
Among the highlights of the past year was a
Christmas event at Stamford Bridge to tackle
loneliness and isolation in the modern world.
The students were joined on the day by Blues
duo Olivier Giroud and Rob Green, Dr Alex George,
of Love Island fame, and a host of the Academy

605
scholars who supported the programme all year.

young people involved

in the Chelsea
Champions scheme

“It was a great experience being

here. You have to live with social
media in this modern day and it
is important to discuss how this
can have both negative and
positive impacts. It was
interesting and important to
discuss with teenagers how they
can improve how they use it and
the impact it has on your life
day to day”
OLIVIER GIROUD
10 | CFC
 61
Community
Engaging
communities
offenders enrolled
on to the Introduction
to Coaching course

Our Breaking the Cycle initiative delivers football,

vocational qualifications and employability workshops for
Participants on our programme in association with prisoners. We also work with the prisoner case-workers,
Universal Language, who have recently moved to England, youth offending officers and families to build up a picture of
take part in a practical session with our coaches how the young person can be best helped when they are
released from prison

The Foundation have participated in the Premier League Kicks programme since
2006, using the power of football to regularly engage young people in activity with Deserving participants meet Gianfranco
the goal of inspiring them to develop their potential, enhance their wellbeing and Zola at the men’s FA Cup third round draw
positively impact their communities to be safer, stronger and more inclusive

CFC | 11
 Engaging
communities 128
reminiscence workshops
delivered for participants
experiencing memory loss

During the season we announced a new collaboration

with the Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy, with the The Chelsea Foundation has always been
aim of working together to provide new boxing and committed to supporting the club’s older fans and
physical activity programmes for young people and in August two of our most loyal supporters, and
older adults in Wandsworth and west London members of our Active Seniors, were rewarded with
a trip to the Royal Box for the Community Shield

Health and wellbeing remains a primary objective for the Community team
with among our work a collaboration with Headway West London and A Chelsea Foundation walking football team were crowned winners of
Charing Cross Physiotherapists to develop and deliver a programme for the 2019 Old Stars Walking Football Tournament, overcoming players
those with brain injuries, supporting them to create positive healthy habits representing Bruges, Schalke and PSV Eindhoven on route

12 | CFC
 Community
Disability sport
After its massively successful inauguration, the
Disability Showcase returned for a second year in
2019, again taking place at our Cobham training
ground and Stamford Bridge.
It remains the largest football disability showcase
event in the UK, with more than 800 participants
involved over the course of the weekend, including
five disability football tournaments involving 72 teams
from a host of different clubs.
The activities at Cobham included pan-disability
tournaments for under-8s, under 12s and under 16
players. The focus switched to adults the next day,
with three mini-tournaments taking place on the
Stamford Bridge pitch.
Andy Rose, senior disability officer for the
Foundation, said: ‘The event is all about creating an
opportunity for disabled people to play football.
‘It doesn’t matter what club you play for or support
or where you live, it is about having an opportunity
to play football at Cobham or Stamford Bridge and
it is vital we give children with disabilities the same
opportunities as non-disabled players.’
On top of this we currently host a range of disability
teams for adults and children as well as providing
training for mainstream teachers to incorporate
disabled players in their games and lessons. We
also host specialist disabled coaching sessions in
Cobham, London, Wiltshire, Sussex and Hants.

3,500+
disabled participants

CFC | 13
 Developing
Participants on our Chelsea Foundation
Academy in partnership with Blenheim
High School present Eden Hazard with his

female sport
Player of the Month award at Cobham

Women’s walking football is an up-and-coming sport with the

number of participants on our weekly sessions rising rapidly

Foundation coaches work with the Parliament

Women’s football team with weekly sessions,
7,500+ female participants
helping the players to develop their skills
attend our football
sessions in the UK

With the women’s game now in the mainstream, young

females attending our programmes now have role models like
Chelsea FC Women and England star Fran Kirby to look up to

14 | CFC
 Community
Asian Star
The ground breaking Asian Star initiative celebrated
its tenth anniversary at Stamford Bridge in 2019 as
200 youngsters took part in the annual event.
The first scheme of its kind undertaken by a
professional football club, Asian Star is designed to
give a much-needed boost to Asian participation at
all levels of the game, with girls invited to take part for
the second year.
The boys and girls in attendance compete in age
groups ranging from under-9 to under-12. They
were led by Chelsea Foundation coaches and
judged on a series of matches and tests, with the
winners invited to join the Foundation’s Football
Development Centres.
Under-11 winner Rayhan Islam discussed his
feelings after he was presented with a trophy:
‘I think I had the motivation and wanted it more than
others and I’m really looking forward to attending the
Football Development Centre because the Chelsea
coaches are really good.’

“I have been here a few times

and seeing the smiles on the
faces of the girls and boys
playing just makes me really
happy. The main thing is
about having fun but this
event is growing every year
and continuing to provide
opportunities for young
players. It is great the club is
doing this and you can see
what a success it is”
TORE ANDRE FLO
CFC | 15
EDUCATING THROUGH
13,834unique participants
attended our
FOOTBALL education sessions

Our Foundation education programmes encourage

lifelong learning for people of all ages, with an
emphasis on innovative programmes and teaching
methods to improve employment prospects, inspire
children and teach information technology skills for the
modern world.
Working in partnership with learning providers,
schools and businesses, we use the power of football
and Chelsea to excite and motivate more than 2,000
learners each season aged from seven to 65.
The 2018/19 season saw new ground broken via our
innovation and STEM (science, technology, engineering
and maths) initiatives with trips to the United States and
Holland taking place as our Digital Blue programme
went international.
Our employability programmes support job seekers
to find work, while we support learning in more
than 75 partner schools and colleges within our
community, with particular focus on literacy, numeracy,
employability, enterprise and technology.
Anti-discrimination, celebrating equality and diversity
are also key messages taught across our programmes.

16 | CFC
 Educating through football
Spotlight on
schools 2,000+
education sessions
The Foundation is committed to supporting delivered throughout
primary schools in our communities. the season
During the 2018/19 season a host of players
took time out to visit these schools as part of
the Premier League Primary Stars initiative,
which uses the appeal of football clubs to inspire
children to learn, be active and develop important
life skills in the classroom, the playground and on
the sports field.
Among those to make a visit was Cesar
Azpilicueta, who surprised pupils at Fulham
Primary School when he walked into their Premier
League Primary Stars PE lesson.
While there the Spanish international donated
a Premier League Primary Stars equipment pack,
including footballs, numbered and lettered floor
spots and giant dices, which teachers at the
primary school can use in lessons across the
curriculum to help inspire children to learn and
be active.
Azpilicueta said: ‘I really enjoy doing things
like this, the kids were Chelsea fans and they
love all the actions that the club does with the
Foundation for them.
‘It was very special and I enjoyed myself and I
think they had a good time too.
‘For myself, school was a big part in my football
career so I can spend time with the kids to
help them understand a bit more about being
a professional footballer and what it takes to
be one.
‘I think it’s important they know that they are
at that stage where they have to study in school
and enjoy playing football and I’m sure they will
fight to achieve their dreams.’

“I couldn’t believe that

Azpilicueta was with us
at my school and we
were able to play with
him. I’ve never had
anything like this before,
it’s been really good and
I was really shocked
when he came in”
MARCI (PUPIL)
CFC | 17
 Employability and
entrepreneurship
Employability and entrepreneurship is a fundamental
part of our education work with our unique Edge
of the Box Club now considered one of the most
important early start-up clubs in London.
Established in 2015 the monthly event hosts
innovation workshops to help new businesses. These
include guest speakers and provide opportunities
to build the right networks, attracting more than 150
start-up businesses each month at Stamford Bridge.
Among the highlights in the 2018/19 season was
the visit of Made in Chelsea star and co-founder of
Candy Kittens, Jamie Laing.
A life-long Chelsea supporter, Laing and managing
director of Candy Kittens Edward Williams were guest
speakers at Stamford Bridge where they delivered
an engaging talk about the highs and lows they’ve
experienced during the building of their brand.
Laing said: ‘You have a lot of risk, a lot of pressure
on yourself and so places like this bring a community
together that can give you advice on so many
different things and there are a lot of people out

4,000+
there who are able and willing to help you, and I think
that is the key thing.

start-ups have attended the

Edge of the Box Club

“These events that the club are

doing are incredible. The thing
that people think and fear is that
they have to do it all by
themselves and entrepreneurship
can be a lonely place”
JAMIE LAING, CO-FOUNDER
OF CANDY KITTENS
18 | CFC
 Educating through football
Girl powered
More than half of the attendees at our Edge of the
Box Club and Young People’s EOTB are female

Players from the Chelsea Women’s team meet

girls hoping to represent the Blues at the annual
Premier League Primary Stars tournament 58%
of participants attending
our education programmes
Club ambassador Katie Chapman joins are female
the participants from our girls’ only
robotics event at Stamford Bridge

Participants listen intently to a

guest speaker at our Female
Focus event; Be the Best You

CFC | 19
 Innovation,
enterprise and
technology
424students have taken
part in STEM focused
programmes

Chelsea FC Women defender Ali Riley takes

part in the first-ever Chelsea Foundation
The Chelsea Foundation joined forces with leading education Digital Blue live event, engaging with more
technology company EVERFI in New York to launch an than 300 students from three schools and
exciting new STEM programme, benefitting 25 schools in 10 classrooms located in America
Harlem and the surrounding areas

Our Digital Blue programme crosses

the continent with staff delivering the
programme to students attending the
Chelsea Foundation staff take our Digital Blue programme on the road to Feyenoord Foundation in Holland
support unique skateboarding festival, Innoskate, at the Olympic Park

20 | CFC
 Educating through football
Providing
inspiration
Our players are crucial in supporting our education
programmes with members of both the women’s and
men’s teams regularly taking time out to visit projects.
These included Anita Asante popping in to a local
school to support a Premier League Primary Stars
workshop and Eden Hazard and Antonio Rudiger
attending equality and diversity workshops at schools
in London.

“Events like these are very

important because with the way
the world is going everything is
multi-cultural so it’s very good
that young kids at this age are
starting to know and
understand the meaning of us
all being equal”
ANTONIO RUDIGER
CFC | 21
CHELSEA FOUNDATION
IN NUMBERS 247 141
Soccer Schools per season
people engaged on the
Activate Seniors programme

21%
of staff have previously
£8.2m invested by the
Foundation in our communities

65%
attended Foundation
programmes

£12,394
raised through Bucket Collections
of participants within our
More than 250 charities education programmes are
supported via donation of from Black, Asian and
signed memorabilia and tickets Minority Ethnic Groups
22 | CFC
149 232
Chelsea Foundation in numbers

144
people involved in
intergenerational sessions

82,836
adapted sports sessions
delivered including walking
football, curling, walking cricket

148 117
adult participants now in
full-time education
unique participants per season

young people involved in

health initiatives within schools

17
former players aged 55
and over received

273
Christmas hampers

Number of colleges we
work in regularly

participants undertaking
additional academic
qualifications

1,431
coaching hours per week Working in more than 500 schools
CFC | 23
CHELSEA AROUND
THE WORLD

29,248
unique participants took
part in international
programmes

In addition to our wide-ranging work in the UK, access soccer in a safe environment in 2013 and now,
we provide a community coaching network which with Chelsea coaches on the ground, has extended
operates across the globe, aiding the development of into local schools and organisations to offer coaching
grassroots football with tailored programmes to meet programmes in the community.
local needs. The Foundation also runs permanent programmes
That work includes our first community club located in Thailand and Singapore, as well as soccer
development partnership in the US with FC Harlem. schools in Hong Kong, Japan and Indonesia, with
The initiative began offering opportunities for young highlights including the Global Goals World Cup at NIST
people in New York with low economic means to International School, Bangkok.

24 | CFC
 Chelsea around the world
USA
The Foundation visited multiple locations in the USA
during the season allowing us to work with a host of
local schools and clubs in the country and make a
meaningful impact in the community.
That work includes our work with FC Harlem, our
first community club development partnership in
the US, where our Foundation coaches have been
putting on regular coaching sessions for kids in New
York since 2013.
Other cities visited included Philadelphia, San
Diego and Boston as part of the Final Whistle on
Hate game against New England Revolution (read
more on pages 36-37).
During the 2018/19 season the FC Harlem LIONS
(Leaders In Our Neighbourhood) played their first
major tournament when they competed in the Dallas
Cup with the support of the Foundation. They also
played New England Revolution Academy in Boston
as part of the Final Whistle on Hate charity match.
Focus is on grassroots coaching, coach education
and elite development throughout the cities we visit.
Highlights from the season included the launch of a
STEM programme across schools in New York, and
our first-ever affiliation with a state association in
Illinois, supporting the soccer for success coach
education and Olympic development programme.

900+
coaching sessions
delivered to participants
in the USA

CFC | 25
 Asia
The Foundation runs permanent programmes located
in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong as well as
development camps in Australia and New Zealand.  
Highlights include ‘The Global Goals World Cup’
which took place at NIST International School, home
of our Bangkok International Development Centre – a
place which had its own success story in Garfield,
Latte and Guy who all progressed on to the next
phase of their footballing journeys.
Garfield, full name Nittikarn Muangkul, in particular
attended our development centre in Bangkok as part
of a scholarship programme, and earned himself a
call-up to the national team!

“My scholarship at Chelsea FC

Foundation International
Development Centre has
given me the opportunity to
work with great coaches and
team-mates and to also play
regular matches at a good
competitive level”
NITTIKARN MUANGKUL
(AKA GARFIELD)

As well as the permanent bases the Foundation

11,326
children attended
coaches in Asia work to support local schools,
Foundation programmes
coaches and communities with visits and coaching
in Asia
sessions arranged on a regular basis.

26 | CFC
 Chelsea around the world
Chelsea on tour

High fives all round for

Ruben Loftus-Cheek
during a Foundation
workshop at a middle
Emerson greets a young supporter during a visit to a school in Boston
school in Boston as part of our post-season trip

A Foundation coach
shows off his skills for
young players during the
Former Blue Mark Schwarzer joined Foundation pre-season tour to Perth
coaches for a junior tournament Down Under

CFC | 27
 Supporting our
partners
A young supporter takes part in
a Foundation Yokohama Skills
Challenege in Austin, Texas

Our Africa XI, selected in collaboration with our partners Shield

from across Africa, made a trip to Cobham where they met
David Luiz, N’Golo Kante and Michael Essien

Young female participants

listening intently during
a coaching session with
principal partner Yokohama
8,642
participants engaged
through partner events

Participants enjoying one of the Foundation’s grassroots

football sessions with the support of Carabao

28 | CFC
 Global Community

7 12

WORKING IN
21 COUNTRIES
AROUND THE
WORLD
1. South Africa
2. Zambia
3. Zimbabwe
4. Nigeria
5. Ghana
6. Belarus
7. USA
8. Russia
9. Jordan
10. Qatar
11. Vietnam
12. Thailand
13. Spain
14. Greece
15. Italy
16. Ireland
17. Singapore
18. Japan
19. China
20. Holland
21. Australia
21
4 CFC | 29
 WORKING
WITH CHARITY

The Chelsea Foundation is fully aware of our role in

promoting and supporting other charities and good
causes. With the support of the club we are fully
committed to helping a number of charities raise
funds for their vital work, through providing signed
merchandise and offering matchday collections at
Stamford Bridge as well as using the power of our
players to spread key messages.

30 | CFC
 Working with charity
Spotlight on….
When Telamsile
met N’Golo Kanté
Throughout the season Community Days and
Matchday Wishes regularly happen with the Chelsea
Foundation linking up with a range of charities and
individuals to arrange visits for seriously or terminally
ill supporters and their carers.
In the 2018/19 season, one visit in particular stands
out, when Telamsile met N’Golo!
The visit was organised after a request from
the Willow Foundation - the only national charity
working with seriously ill young adults aged 16
to 40 to fulfil uplifting and unforgettable Special
Days – for 21-year-old Telamsile Dlamini to meet her
favourite player.
After counting down the days the life-long Blue
finally got to experience that moment and her day
was made even more special when the French
midfielder surprised her with a signed Chelsea shirt.
Telamsile and her family also met the rest of the
Chelsea squad on a day they will never forget.

70
families attended Cobham
community days or other
player-based visits

“It was very special because I

got to meet my favourite
football player, N’Golo Kante.
The moment I stepped foot on
that training section, I couldn’t
believe I was here, no, no, it’s
not me that is here, but
actually, it was me!”
TELAMSILE DIAMINI
CFC | 31
 Spreading joy to
those in need
Supporting our communities is key to both the club
and Foundation and this is particularly prevalent
during the Christmas period, with both our men’s and
women’s teams visiting local hospitals.
For the men it is Chelsea & Westminster Hospital,
while our women’s squad travelled to Kingston
Hospital to meet the children, many of whom will
spend the holidays away from home.
Throughout the year newborn babies at Chelsea
& Westminster Hospital, along with those at Queen
Charlotte’s and Chelsea continue to receive a
Chelsea FC teddy bear as part of our commitment to
the local community.

“It’s been a pleasure, I like to

see the players’ enthusiasm
they have shown today.
It’s been very good, very
touching and very important”
GIANFRANCO ZOLA

3,300
teddy bears donated
to newborns at
local hospitals

“It’s been an incredible

experience and hopefully it has
helped to take their minds off
things for a little while whilst
we have been here. It’s so
important to do these types of
visits as you can see how much
fun everyone is having and for
us it helps us feel that we are
giving back to the people who
give so much to us”
ALI RILEY
32 | CFC
 Working with charity
Supporting our
armed forces
The club and Foundation are committed to
supporting our armed forces and the Royal
British Legion.
Remembrance Day 2018 was particularly
poignant as it marked the 100th anniversary
of the end of the First World War with a host of
activities taking place to mark Armistice Day.
In the build up, we took part in the For
Club and Country campaign organised by
the Football Association, Premier League
and Football League in partnership with the

50
Woodland Trust and National Football Museum.
For that our club captain Gary Cahill and club
ambassador Katie Chapman planted seven
trees at our Cobham training ground to serve
as a living legacy to those who had played for
Chelsea and who served and died during World
War One – Robert Atherton, George Kennedy,
George Lake, Philip Smith, Robert Whiting, tickets for troops at
Arthur Wileman and Norman Wood. every home game
Ahead of the men’s game with Everton on
11 November, volunteers from the British Legion
were outside Stamford Bridge collecting
donations before watching the fixture as
our guests.
They were joined in the stands by serving
members of the Armed Forces, who greeted
the players on arrival at the stadium and
placed a Remembrance banner and a display
of the words ‘Chelsea Remembers’ on the pitch.
Both our men’s and women’s teams
also proudly wore special-edition shirts
embroidered with a poppy. All shirts were then
signed and donated to the Legion for auction
after the games.

“It’s important we honour

those who made the
ultimate sacrifice for us
during the war. The trees
are a perfect way to
commemorate the
Chelsea players who did
just that and a lasting
symbol of that sacrifice”
KATIE CHAPMAN
CFC | 33
SUPPORT CHELSEA,
SUPPORT EQUALITY

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive club which

is open to all, whatever their background or identity,
and it is through our Building Bridges campaign that
we promote equality, celebrate diversity and make
everyone feel valued throughout our club, stadium and
wider community.
We work with everyone from children and young
people in schools to community groups, anti-
discrimination organisations and our men’s, women’s
and Academy teams, to create a club where everyone
feels welcome.
That includes our work with the Chelsea Disabled
Supporters’ Association, a range of charities and
“I’m proud to play for a club
football authorities including Kick It Out, and our LGBT where everyone is welcome,
fans’ group, Chelsea Pride, which was established in
2016 to increase visibility and give LGBT people a
whoever they are, whatever their
representative voice at the club. background and wherever they
In celebration of our equality and diversity work, our
annual Game for Equality for 2018/19 took place when
come from. At Chelsea being
West Ham United were the visitors to Stamford Bridge. different is what makes us strong
The squad wore Game for Equality T-shirts during the
warm-up and proudly displayed the Building Bridges
and helps us to be successful on
logo on their kit. and off the pitch. The Game for
The club’s Say No To Antisemitism continued
throughout the season with highlights including the
Equality is a great opportunity
men’s first team travelling to Boston for the Final to celebrate that”
Whistle on Hate and women’s team visiting Israel to
promote the women’s game in the country. CESAR AZPILICUETA
34 | CFC
 Support Chelsea, support equality
Celebrating
diversity

Pupils at a Fulham school after taking part in one Players from our men’s first team
of our many equality and diversity workshops show their support for Chelsea Pride

Academy players help promote the Premier League’s

95
equality and diversity
themed sessions
The club remain committed to working with and
delivered in schools
No Room for Racism campaign supporting equality organisations like Kick It Out

CFC | 35
 Say No To
Antisemitism
With the leadership of club owner Roman
Abramovich, Chelsea Football Club has
been working alongside a number of key
partners to help create a programme to
tackle antisemitism that has a deep and
meaningful impact.
The Say No To Antisemitism project, which
was launched in January 2018, is now setting
the standard for combating discrimination, not
just at Stamford Bridge, but also in schools
and in our wider communities, as shown when
the campaign was honoured at the London
Football Awards 2019 and received the Gold
award from the International League Against
Racism and Antisemitism.
As part of the campaign, our men’s senior
squad visited America to join forces with
New England Revolution for the Final Whistle
On Hate match, spreading a message of
inclusion and delivering education workshops
in schools throughout our visit to Boston,
as well as raising more than $4 million for
organisations tackling antisemitism.
Ahead of that match, representatives
from Chelsea joined a delegation from New
England Revolution, and thousands of others
from around the world, at the annual March of
the Living at former Nazi concentration camps
in Poland.
Chelsea became the first Premier League
club to send a delegation in 2018 and
returned for a second year on the walk from
Auschwitz to Birkenau in 2019.
Thanks to the important work of the
Holocaust Educational Trust, the club was
also honoured when a number of Holocaust
survivors met Chelsea players and fans during
the 2017/18 season.
This continued last season when Susan
Pollock MBE shared her story with the
Women’s team.
All present were enthralled by the
88-year-old’s story which was both horrific
and inspiring.
Chelsea Women also joined the Foundation
in Israel for a friendly with the national team.
The trip was designed to celebrate women’s
football and support further development of
the sport in Israel.
While there the players and manager took
part in various Foundation activities and
raised awareness of the campaign.

36 | CFC
 Support Chelsea, support equality

Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck collects the

London Football Award for Best Community Project

Holocaust survivor Susan Pollock MBE and

Chelsea Women captain Karen Carney
share an emotional embrace

The Chelsea players in Boston for the

Final Whistle on Hate match against
New England Revolution visit the
Representatives from Chelsea joined a delegation from New England Revolution, along city’s Holocaust memorial
with thousands of others from around the world, at the annual ‘March of the Living’

CFC | 37
PLAN INTERNATIONAL
Global Charity Partner

300+
Syrian refugees enjoyed
training with Chelsea
Foundation coaches

We have been supporting global children’s charity The Foundation and Plan International have also
Plan International for four seasons, and each year we delivered the inaugural Female Focus - Being the
are building our support for the children most in need Best You conference and together we are sharing
through football, not only globally but also here in expertise to help support the lives of young people
the UK. the Chelsea Foundation are working with in our
Our work with Plan International has benefitted outreach programmes.
people at home and abroad with the 2018/19 The end of the season saw the return of the
season including multiple visits to the Azraq refugee Champions of Change Cup six-a-side tournament and
camp on the Jordan Syrian border, home to 36,000 the first Women’s Skills Training with Chelsea Foundation
Syrian refugees. coaches at Stamford Bridge. A perfect celebration to the
Closer to home Hannah Blundell, Jorginho and end of the season raising £50,000 to support children
Ruben Loftus-Cheek led our support for International around the world enjoy their childhood through football.
Women’s Day. With celebrations and support The Plan International name and logo also appears on
culminating at our match against Wolves on 10 March, the back of the men’s European match shirts and on the
raising valuable funds towards Plan International’s vital Chelsea Women’s kit throughout the season.
work helping children. For further information please visit www.plan-uk.org

38 | CFC
Spotlight on
Azraq Camp, Jordan
The war in Syria has been raging since 2011
with 5.5 million people, young and old, displaced
by the conflict and forced to make perilous
journeys to safety.
During the 2018/19 season we have supported
hundreds of children and young people living in the
Azraq refugee camp on the Jordan Syrian border,
home to 36,000 Syrian refugees, 60 per cent of
whom are children.
Club ambassador Katie Chapman joined the
Chelsea Foundation coaches running training
sessions with the young people living in the camp in
October and Chairman Bruce Buck returned to the
camp in April.

“As soon as these young kids

see a Chelsea shirt, all they
Chairman Bruce Buck meets children and
want to do is talk about the their parents at the Azraq refugee camp
players and play some football,
and hopefully through football
we can help them a bit. Our
Chelsea coaches have been
before and when the kids saw
them arrive again they were
delighted. I know that Chelsea
fans will share our pride in what
we are achieving with Plan
International here in Jordan and
throughout the world”
BRUCE BUCK
CFC | 39
 Hannah Blundell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek led the
club’s support for International Women’s Day in March

Plan’s logo appeared on the back of the Chelsea men’s kit

throughout our Europa League triumph

A team prepare to play their part in the Champions of Change Cup Young women enjoying the first Women’s Skills Training Session at the Bridge, the day
6-a-side tournament at Stamford Bridge included a surprise visit from former Blues captain Katie Chapman

40 | CFC
Girls Breaking Creating lasting
Barriers in the change for children
House of Lords through football
How can we ensure that girls are able to achieve their Plan International’s dedicated Premier League
potential in the UK and around the world? match against Wolves was a day of celebrating our
That’s the question 200 girls debated at the House partnership raising more than £40,000 towards
of Lords, as part of Plan International’s Girls Breaking Plan International’s vital work helping children most
Barriers event. in need.
In November 2018, girls and boys were invited to Tanya Barron, chief executive of Plan International
meet a range of inspiring women including Chelsea UK, said: ‘Everywhere I go in the world, people want
ambassador Katie Chapman who shared their own to talk about Chelsea, pretty much everywhere in the
experiences and expertise, in sessions aimed to help world you will find people who have benefitted from
inspire and empower girls to pursue their goals. Plan’s work so this is a great fit.

200+
‘Chelsea’s support on Plan’s match day was a
phenomenal success and the money raised will
make a crucial difference to the lives of some of the
poorest children in the world.’
students in the UK
took part in gender
equality workshops

“This event is all about

changing society. Men and
women need to come together,
it’s great to see boys here too
and being a part of the
conversation”
KATIE CHAPMAN
CFC | 41
PAST PLAYERS’
TRUST

£17,279
raised at Annual Lunch

Chelsea Football Club is fully committed to our

history and looking after the welfare of former players,
coaches and managers who have played a part in
making the club what it is today.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have now been
invested over the years to provide medical and welfare
assistance to former Blues who have given so much to
Chelsea during the course of their careers.

42 | CFC
 Past Players’ Trust
Spotlight on….
Legends Game
In June 2019, our annual Legends Match took place
at the Bernabeu with a host of former Chelsea stars
rolling back the years and putting the Blue shirt on
once more.
Playing against a team of former Madrid stars,
Andriy Shevchenko, Gus Poyet, William Gallas and
Florent Malouda all netted for the Blues on a night
where 60,000 fans attended to watch the two sides
battle it out.
Despite the fact the Spanish side went on to claim
a 5-4 victory, the night was a huge success with
thousands of pounds raised for charity.

“The match was a very nice

occasion, not only on the field,
but also to support the work of
both the Chelsea Foundation and
Real Madrid Foundation who
make the lives of thousands of
people around the world better”
TORE ANDRE FLO
CFC | 43
www.chelseafc.com/foundation
@CFCFoundation
CFC | 03