Rangers-Chelsea - ett möte mellan vänner
Chelsea har inte många vänner i fotbollsvärlden. Men bland klubbars fans finns undantag. Ett är lördagens motståndare Glasgow Rangers. Med anledning av träningsmatchen på Ibrox återpublicerar CSS-redaktionen en text från mötet mellan lagen sommaren 2007.
Lazios fans gillar Chelsea. Även med Feyenoord finns band. Det sägs också att bland andra Hellas Verona, Levski Sofia, Den Haag och Dinamo Zagreb hyser varma känslor för Chelsea. Men några egentliga vänklubbar är de inte. Ofta handlar det om ett dunkelt band där Chelseas huliganförflutna inspirerat.
Även i fallet med Rangers fanns ursprungligen starka dimensioner av huliganism och även sekterism. Tillsammans med nordirländska Linfield fanns exempelvis en löst sammanhållen supporterallians baserad på protenstantism och mot IRA. Men intresset ebbade ut. Banden till Rangers har dock bestått. Även om det vore att dra det för långt att kalla det en vänklubb (det finns även Celticfans i Chelseas supporterskara och de allra flesta bryr sig överhuvudtaget inte om något av lagen), så är det det närmaste man kommer i Chelseas fall.
Förhållandet är sällan skildrat, men på en Rangers-sajt hittade undertecknad följande läsvärda sammanfattning i ett inlägg från en Chelseasupporter.
Blues Brothers - a potted history
I note with interest some of the earlier posts over the connection between Chelsea and Rangers. Having lived through the development of the relationship (yes I really am that old!) I hope that my perspective helps to throw some light on it.
1. In the sixties it became fashionable at english games to chant Rangers or Celtic, particularly in the half time intervals. At Chelsea this was heavily steered towards Rangers even then. I think it was to do with the disproportionate amount of serving and ex servicemen (and their patriotic leanings) who frequented Chelsea. Remembering also that the old nickname was the 'Pensioners' referring to the proximity of the Old servicemans home near the ground. They still receive a number of complimentary tickets even today and they can be seen in attendance resplendent in their red regalia. There is however no doubt that the 'bias' towards anything 'Unionist' was also to do with right wing links which became more evident and visible in the 70's with the growth of the NF, with Chelsea being a known recruiting ground. Nothing to be proud of, but a fact and factor nonetheless.
2. The seventies saw a dramatic shift towards the Rangers allegiance. This was definitely due to the IRA bombing campaign in London and north Surrey, from where Chelsea drew its support. The Guildford bombing and its fatalities in particular signalled an outcry against the IRA and anything associated with it. Celtic were seen as sympathetic the the republican cause. Overnight any Celtic chants disappeared.
3. The seventies (and early eighties) were described as the dark days of Chelsea FC when the hooligan element dominated the headlines. At least 2 of the Chelsea 'firms' at the time had their 'leadership' drawn from ex-servicemen, most of whom had served in Ulster. This strengthened the anti IRA, anti Celtic feelings even further. Many had formed personal relationships with Ulster orangemen and also with Rangers supporters serving in various parts of the world at the time. Some of these Chelsea veterans also formed links with protestent paramilitary groups in Ulster as well after leaving the forces.
Meanwhile these 'friendships' between Chelsea and Rangers ex-servicemen developed into them (and ever expanding groups of mates) attending Chelsea and Rangers games together, sometimes for 'positive' reasons (have a beer, a sing song and a laugh) and sometimes for 'less positive' reasons (i.e. 'assists' such as a trip to visit the Aberdeen Casuals). Again, nothing to be proud of here, but a fact nonetheless and a factor in the 'bonding' that was taking place between many Chelsea fans and the their Rangers counterparts
4. With the ban on English clubs playing in Europe in the 80's, many more Chelsea fans started travelling with Rangers in Europe, some admittedly for the wrong reasons but the majority for the camaraderie that was now growing between the fan groups. The fanbase at the Jolly Malster pub, just off the Fulham Road would arrange trips to Europe and sometimes to Rangers home games. The pub became a meeting place for Chelsea and Rangers fans. It still does. There were 50 or 60 Rangers fans there last year when Chelsea played Celtic in its pre-season "friendly". (Thats another story by the way!)
5. A couple of milestones stick out in my memory. Firstly the Chelsea away game in Liverpool in late 70's (78 or 79 I think) when an estimated 2000 Rangers fans travelled to Anfield for a Saturday morning kick off. After the local police worked it out, they shared the visitors terracing with Chelsea for a memorable morning of singing and chanting together. Having kept us all back in the ground for an hour afterwards, the roads were cleared and some of us shared a few beers together in the pubs on the route back to the Rangers buses.
Secondly the 2 friendlies in the mid 80's. The first at Stamford Bridge in aid of the Bradford disaster, when it was party time in the Fulham Road before and after and when the Shed end cheered every Rangers goal and the Rangers fans the Chelsea goals!. The second at Ibrox in what I think was the following year, when it ws impossible to buy a drink due to the generosity of the Rangers fans.
6. Since those days there has been a growth of joint Chelsea/Rangers items on sale outside Stamford Bridge and in the local pubs - scarfs, T-shirts and in particular metal badges. These were also in abundance in Barcelona 2 seasons ago when loads of Chelsea and Rangers fans met up in Barcelona on the day before the respective Euro matches in Spain. The massive 'Blues Brothers' flag with Union Jack, Chelsea, Rangers & Linfield badges was hoisted in the centre of the main road in Barcelona! A great time was had by all before heading off to our respective matches (and defeats!)
7. I think the point is that there is something quite special in this relationship despite its rather shady origins in some respects. It certainly feels stronger from our point of view than the Liverpool connection. We have seen loads of Liverpool/Celtic scarfs in evidence when we play Liverpool and the Irish tricolour. Liverpool fans tried to attack the Chelsea/Rangers stand outside Stamford Bridge 2 years ago. And as a previous posting has said they seem to welcome Celtic when they play them, which is a far cry to what happened at Stamford Bridge at the start of last season.
So in summary (and this was meant to be a short note!) I think that the less savoury aspects of the early relationship is behind us leaving a feeling of great friendship and camaraderie. I think those that have not experienced a Rangers/Chelsea game before then you will find that it will be one to be enjoyed as the special relationship between many of the older supporters has a chance to 'live it for real' again.
Here's looking forward to a quite special weekend, many beers with you and many hours of singalongs!
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Fotnot: Texten ovan publicerades av CSS-redaktionen inför vänskapsmatchen mellan Rangers och Chelsea sommaren 2007. En handfull CSS:are var på plats på den gången. En reseskildring finns att läsa här.
Under åren som har gått sedan träningsmatchen 2007 har banden mellan Chelseas och Rangers supportrar vuxit allt starkare. Lördagens match lär bli lika succéartad som den för fyra år sedan och förhoppningsvis kommer vänskapen med Rangersfansen fortsätta att gro. WE ALL AGREE - CHELSEA AND RANGERS ARE MAGIC!
