Walking to Stamford Bridge for the Women’s Champions League semi-final, I first notice small groups of fans here and there, popping out of train stations or meeting on the street. The closer I get, the more fans appear, and the initial trickle turns into a tidal wave. The area around the famous ground is filled with Chelsea and Barcelona colours, with queues at the turnstiles and outside the club shop.
This game will go down in history – the first time Chelsea have sold out Stamford Bridge for a women’s match, with a 39,398 attendance figure. Everywhere you look in the packed-out stadium, there are Chelsea shirts, scarves and flags. There are plenty of Barcelona fans too but make no mistake: the crowd aren’t here for a fun day out or because they’re fans of women’s football in general. No, this is tribal – they’re passionate supporters of their teams.
Half an hour before kick-off, most seats are filled and the pre-match DJ works the crowd. Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis booms out as thousands of blue flags wave along. Barcelona fans occupy a corner of the stadium, but are also peppered around the ground. A young girl and her older brother in “Lucy Bronze” Barcelona shirts clutch a homemade sign proclaiming “Lucy Bronze is gold”. When Bronze walks out for the warm-up, they run down to the side of the pitch screaming her name.
Today is potentially Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’s last Champions League appearance. She is leaving to coach the US women’s national team, having transformed the Blues into a powerhouse of the women’s game since joining in 2012.
Several months after her arrival, Stamford Bridge hosted the Women’s Champions League final between Wolfsburg and Lyon – the last time the Bridge had staged a knockout match in this competition. I was among the 19,278 crowd that May day in 2013, all in the lower tier of the stadium, for what was my first-ever women’s football match. At the time I was so impressed by the attendance, given there was no English team involved.
Of course, today’s support is on another level. Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Aitana Bonmatí scores first to make it 1-1 on aggregate, but as the chances pile up for Chelsea with multiple near-misses, the atmosphere becomes even more electric. The crowd jump to their feet whenever the home side get near the opposition penalty box.
The rain is absolutely pouring down, the dark skies above south London only adding to the sense of fervour… or should it be impending doom? Chelsea have a player sent off and Barcelona are awarded – and score – a penalty. Hayes’s team continue to press.
Even in added time, people are turning to their fellow fans, pumping their arms and encouraging them to cheer louder.
At the final whistle, though, the defending champions can celebrate wildly, Barça’s players rushing over to the corner where most of their supporters are congregated. The Chelsea players are dejected at the 0-2 scoreline but clearly feel the magnitude of the moment. Amid the deluge, they stay out on the pitch, taking selfies and giving autographs.
Emma Hayes stays out too, in blue club blazer, taking it all in. She walks slowly around the pitch, applauding the fans, many of whom have stuck around to say their goodbyes. Although Barcelona are headed to the final, the Blues manager deserves this lap of honour. The Champions League title is the one that has eluded her throughout her 12 years at Chelsea, but today the supporters just want to pay tribute.
In the post-match press conference she returns the favour. “The crowd were fantastic, they really were,” she says. “I could feel their energy and they were really pushing us.”
She’s not wrong. They may not have got the desired result, but it shouldn’t be long before the Blues are back vying for the title. Long after full time, there are still plenty of fans waiting outside to meet their heroes – or, in the case of the visitors, to wish Jonatan Giráldez’s side luck for the final. And for Chelsea, there is always next year.
Walking to Stamford Bridge for the Women’s Champions League semi-final, I first notice small groups of fans here and there, popping out of train stations or meeting on the street. The closer I get, the more fans appear, and the initial trickle turns into a tidal wave. The area around the famous ground is filled with Chelsea and Barcelona colours, with queues at the turnstiles and outside the club shop.
This game will go down in history – the first time Chelsea have sold out Stamford Bridge for a women’s match, with a 39,398 attendance figure. Everywhere you look in the packed-out stadium, there are Chelsea shirts, scarves and flags. There are plenty of Barcelona fans too but make no mistake: the crowd aren’t here for a fun day out or because they’re fans of women’s football in general. No, this is tribal – they’re passionate supporters of their teams.
Half an hour before kick-off, most seats are filled and the pre-match DJ works the crowd. Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis booms out as thousands of blue flags wave along. Barcelona fans occupy a corner of the stadium, but are also peppered around the ground. A young girl and her older brother in “Lucy Bronze” Barcelona shirts clutch a homemade sign proclaiming “Lucy Bronze is gold”. When Bronze walks out for the warm-up, they run down to the side of the pitch screaming her name.
Today is potentially Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’s last Champions League appearance. She is leaving to coach the US women’s national team, having transformed the Blues into a powerhouse of the women’s game since joining in 2012.
Several months after her arrival, Stamford Bridge hosted the Women’s Champions League final between Wolfsburg and Lyon – the last time the Bridge had staged a knockout match in this competition. I was among the 19,278 crowd that May day in 2013, all in the lower tier of the stadium, for what was my first-ever women’s football match. At the time I was so impressed by the attendance, given there was no English team involved.
Of course, today’s support is on another level. Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Aitana Bonmatí scores first to make it 1-1 on aggregate, but as the chances pile up for Chelsea with multiple near-misses, the atmosphere becomes even more electric. The crowd jump to their feet whenever the home side get near the opposition penalty box.
The rain is absolutely pouring down, the dark skies above south London only adding to the sense of fervour… or should it be impending doom? Chelsea have a player sent off and Barcelona are awarded – and score – a penalty. Hayes’s team continue to press.
Even in added time, people are turning to their fellow fans, pumping their arms and encouraging them to cheer louder.
At the final whistle, though, the defending champions can celebrate wildly, Barça’s players rushing over to the corner where most of their supporters are congregated. The Chelsea players are dejected at the 0-2 scoreline but clearly feel the magnitude of the moment. Amid the deluge, they stay out on the pitch, taking selfies and giving autographs.
Emma Hayes stays out too, in blue club blazer, taking it all in. She walks slowly around the pitch, applauding the fans, many of whom have stuck around to say their goodbyes. Although Barcelona are headed to the final, the Blues manager deserves this lap of honour. The Champions League title is the one that has eluded her throughout her 12 years at Chelsea, but today the supporters just want to pay tribute.
In the post-match press conference she returns the favour. “The crowd were fantastic, they really were,” she says. “I could feel their energy and they were really pushing us.”
She’s not wrong. They may not have got the desired result, but it shouldn’t be long before the Blues are back vying for the title. Long after full time, there are still plenty of fans waiting outside to meet their heroes – or, in the case of the visitors, to wish Jonatan Giráldez’s side luck for the final. And for Chelsea, there is always next year.
Walking to Stamford Bridge for the Women’s Champions League semi-final, I first notice small groups of fans here and there, popping out of train stations or meeting on the street. The closer I get, the more fans appear, and the initial trickle turns into a tidal wave. The area around the famous ground is filled with Chelsea and Barcelona colours, with queues at the turnstiles and outside the club shop.
This game will go down in history – the first time Chelsea have sold out Stamford Bridge for a women’s match, with a 39,398 attendance figure. Everywhere you look in the packed-out stadium, there are Chelsea shirts, scarves and flags. There are plenty of Barcelona fans too but make no mistake: the crowd aren’t here for a fun day out or because they’re fans of women’s football in general. No, this is tribal – they’re passionate supporters of their teams.
Half an hour before kick-off, most seats are filled and the pre-match DJ works the crowd. Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis booms out as thousands of blue flags wave along. Barcelona fans occupy a corner of the stadium, but are also peppered around the ground. A young girl and her older brother in “Lucy Bronze” Barcelona shirts clutch a homemade sign proclaiming “Lucy Bronze is gold”. When Bronze walks out for the warm-up, they run down to the side of the pitch screaming her name.
Today is potentially Chelsea manager Emma Hayes’s last Champions League appearance. She is leaving to coach the US women’s national team, having transformed the Blues into a powerhouse of the women’s game since joining in 2012.
Several months after her arrival, Stamford Bridge hosted the Women’s Champions League final between Wolfsburg and Lyon – the last time the Bridge had staged a knockout match in this competition. I was among the 19,278 crowd that May day in 2013, all in the lower tier of the stadium, for what was my first-ever women’s football match. At the time I was so impressed by the attendance, given there was no English team involved.
Of course, today’s support is on another level. Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Last season’s average attendance in this competition reached five figures for the first time; meanwhile, this season’s quarter-final at Ajax (35,997) and semi-final at Lyon (38,466) both attracted club-record crowds, as has Chelsea’s game here today. And yet the many remarkable statistics about the women’s football phenomenon remain numbers on a page until you experience for yourself the intensity of these occasions.
“Blue Army” rings out from the home support as the rain starts to fall a few minutes into the semi-final second leg; the wet weather cannot dampen the mood. The Barcelona fans trade chants with the Blues supporters around them.
Aitana Bonmatí scores first to make it 1-1 on aggregate, but as the chances pile up for Chelsea with multiple near-misses, the atmosphere becomes even more electric. The crowd jump to their feet whenever the home side get near the opposition penalty box.
The rain is absolutely pouring down, the dark skies above south London only adding to the sense of fervour… or should it be impending doom? Chelsea have a player sent off and Barcelona are awarded – and score – a penalty. Hayes’s team continue to press.
Even in added time, people are turning to their fellow fans, pumping their arms and encouraging them to cheer louder.
At the final whistle, though, the defending champions can celebrate wildly, Barça’s players rushing over to the corner where most of their supporters are congregated. The Chelsea players are dejected at the 0-2 scoreline but clearly feel the magnitude of the moment. Amid the deluge, they stay out on the pitch, taking selfies and giving autographs.
Emma Hayes stays out too, in blue club blazer, taking it all in. She walks slowly around the pitch, applauding the fans, many of whom have stuck around to say their goodbyes. Although Barcelona are headed to the final, the Blues manager deserves this lap of honour. The Champions League title is the one that has eluded her throughout her 12 years at Chelsea, but today the supporters just want to pay tribute.
In the post-match press conference she returns the favour. “The crowd were fantastic, they really were,” she says. “I could feel their energy and they were really pushing us.”
She’s not wrong. They may not have got the desired result, but it shouldn’t be long before the Blues are back vying for the title. Long after full time, there are still plenty of fans waiting outside to meet their heroes – or, in the case of the visitors, to wish Jonatan Giráldez’s side luck for the final. And for Chelsea, there is always next year.
