History And Friendship Between Chelsea And Glasgow Rangers

[corbyloyal84 130]

Chelsea and Glasgow Rangers

Most of us wont be aware of this but Glasgow Rangers and Chelsea, the Blue Brothers, have a long and storied relationship that stretches back to the very foundation of the club. A good history lesson for those who want to learn about the club as told by a user on the Chelsea forums.

Blue Brothers: The History

As far back as I can remember I was bumping into Rangers fans who were down south supporting Chelsea, definitely in the 60s, but growing in the 70s. There were even some out in Athens in 1971 at the Cup Winners Cup Final and I met up with some of them again at the Rangers game in Barcelona the next year. Some trace the association of the 2 clubs back to the origins of the club and it first manager, who, with his Rangers background, got some old Rangers shirts as the clubs first kit. Others trace it to the same colours and similar badges. Others to some of the Chelsea players who had strong Rangers connections, examples being Charlie Cooke, who was an out and out Bear and, later, Jon Spencer who would never eat greens on a match day! Whilst there are some pure football reasons there is no doubt that there are other background factors.

In the sixties it became fashionable at English games to chant Rangers or Celtic during the half time interval on the terraces. Sounds crass, but true! 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 servicemen home near the ground. They receive a number of complimentary tickets even today and can be seen in attendance, resplendent in their red regalia.

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 the bulk of its support. The Guildford bombing and its fatalities in particular signaled an outcry against the IRA and anything associated with it. Many of us knew of someone injured or killed that night, myself included, with a friend whose only crime was to be in the TA and having a drink with some Army mates. Celtic fans were seen as sympathetic to the republican cause and the IRA. Overnight any Celtic chants disappeared.

There is however no doubt that the Chelsea fanbases bias towards anything Loyalist come Unionist was also to do with right wing links which grew and which became more evident and visible in the later 70s with the growth of the NF, with Chelsea being a known recruiting ground. Nothing to be proud of, but a fact and factor nonetheless.

Rangers Matchday programme taking a look at the Chelsea Rangers connection

Rangers Matchday programme taking a look at the Chelsea Rangers connection

The late 70s and 80s 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, who had served in Ulster. This strengthened the anti-IRA, anti-Celtic feelings even further. Many of the ex-servicemen had formed personal relationships with Ulster Loyalists and also Rangers supporters serving in various parts of the world at the time. Before it became fashionable (and when it still had dangers), there were groups of Chelsea fans who visited Belfast for the 12th July march. Chubby H also arranged a protest march to Westminster (Chelsea Fans Say NO) at the time of the Northern Ireland vote. Some 300 marched including some Rangers and Linfield fans.

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, admittedly, for less positive reasons (i.e. assists such as a trip to visit the Aberdeen Casuals in the late 80s). Again, nothing to be proud of there, but a fact nonetheless and a factor in the bonding that was taking place between many Chelsea fans and their Rangers counterparts at the time.

With the ban on English clubs playing in Europe in the 80s, many more Chelsea fans started traveling 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, and until the recent pub upgrade it still did. There were 50 or 60 Rangers fans there when Chelsea played Celtic in a pre-season friendly in August 2006. (Thats another story by the way!)

A number of milestones stick out in my memory. Firstly, the 2 friendlies in the early 1980s. The first at Stamford Bridge in aid of the Bradford Disaster, when it was party time on the Fulham Road before and after and when the Shed end cheered every Rangers goal and the Rangers fans every Chelsea goal! The second at Ibrox in what I think was the following year, (and the floodlights failed for a period!) and when it was almost impossible to buy a drink in the pubs due to the generosity of the Rangers fans.

There is no doubt that the Bradford Disaster game was a major stepping stone in what became known as the Blue Brothers concept and the attendance in greater numbers at each others games. Chelsea/Rangers hats and scarves became commonplace at Stamford Bridge and the Blues Brothers fanzine was born. At this time the Linfield connection joined into the Blues Brothers fraternity as reflected in the fanzine. The Rangers & Linfield connection was already there but the Chelsea Linfield one definitely grew from the Chelsea servicemen out there and the attendance at the 12th July marches. The fanzine completed the circle.

Another set of milestones in my memory were the sheer number of Rangers supporters that attended many northern based league games in the 1980s and early 1990s, before all ticket matches and lower away fan ticket allocations made it more difficult. A game at Liverpool in particular, (1985 I think, but may be wrong) when an estimated 2000 Rangers fans traveled to Anfield for a Saturday morning kick off. After the local police worked it out, we shared the visitors terracing together 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. Another would be at Everton when large numbers of Rangers turned up. But for many years there were hundreds of Rangers at Chelsea games when the Gers were not playing themselves that day. And still are! Sunderland, Blackburn, Everton (league cup) etc etc in the past few years.

There is still a stand outside Stamford Bridge (near the Methodist Church) that sells many joint Chelsea/Rangers and Chelsea/Rangers/Linfield merchandise and a whole range of Blues Brothers metal badges are on sale in several pubs. These were seen in abundance in Barcelona a few seasons back 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 Chelsea, Rangers and Linfield flag 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!).

The heyday of the Blues Brothers may be over and we may never see again the attendance in such large numbers at each others games, but the memories are something for many of us to treasure. It is easy to understand why younger supporters cannot understand the relationship (and why should they?) and why some particularly younger Rangers supporters will hold animosity towards Chelsea given their external funding and overpaid players.

The times are changing at the Bridge too. The new influx of prawn sandwich supporters know nothing of our fanbase history and few of the Blue Brothers connection. They are feasting purely on match results, but are poorer for it in my opinion. For those of us who lived through those great years we are richer for it and the bond is there forever.

[Siam69 26,872]

I've mentioned some of the above on a thread not so long ago.

Also, last time I was down at Stamford Bridge on match day, I was buying a fanzine outside, the guy selling it noticed my accent (I'm from Northern Ireland) and asked me was I just over for the game?

I said no, I live in London, was a Rangers fan, but liked Chelsea as well due to the connection between the Clubs.

He gave me my 2 quid back, and said 'Gawd bless the 6 Counties, mate'

[Band of Brothers 10,303]

Always remember the Chelsea lads in the East enclosure as a youngster especially when playing the sheep they seemed to like that meet and came mob handed.

[mrmojorisin 13,611]

Went to an Everton v Chelsea match at Goodison back in 85......had a brilliant day and the Chelsea fans were brilliant with us and clapped us out of the ground singing we all agree Rangers and Chelsea are magic and Chelsea Rangers chants

A fantastic day i will never forget

Chelsea/Rangers

Rule Britannia

[GWR1979 1,964]

Good read

Always liked Chelsea.

It's a shame the cost of tickets must be pricing the genuine fans out of going to games.

[KaiserJon 12,393]

I am a Rangers fan that lives in West London. I do not think most of the Chelsea fans I have sat among know of any link really, sure there are stands outside selling a link but 60 per cent have no idea. I go to Chelsea occasionally as it is 20 mins away but to be honest its better atmosphere in the pubs before and after-I know that is true everywhere!

[WadeWilson 4,670]

"Armed forces... IRA... NF... Hooligans..." Okeydokey.

Blues Brothers? Cringey as fuck. Get some half-n-half scarves and woolly hats made up. One club team only.

CFC (Oligarch Plaything): a club for cunts, supported by cunts, represented on the field by cunts, managed by cunts and owned by a cunt.

[andyhrfc 2,242]

Chelsea is a truly obnoxious football club, many of us will remember their half ***tic half Chelsea hats from the 80's.

[Dubaijim 44]

Also think any Rangers/Chelsea friendship was helped by the cooling of relations between Rangers & Arsenal. I was brought up believeing that Rangers 'partners' in London were Arsenal (and was made extremely welcome when visiting as a kid with my dad in the 60's) however when working down south in the 80's I visited Highbury and was disgusted at the number of Irish tricolours on show (despite IRA atrocities) and vowed never to cross their doorstep again (which I have never done). I suspect there might have been many like minded who at that time switched allegiance, perhaps to Chelsea.

[Briton 394]

Fuck Chelsea.

[RFC55 108,793]

Fuck that shite

Rangers only for me. Can't feel passionate or even care about another side. Been to a few ges where we haven't been playing and when sitting there I just think, fucking hell this is shite.

Some clubs I'll have a wee bit of respect for sheff wed for that night of the friendly, Ajax for having a bit of fun at our neighbours, arsenal due to past history and after that I don't give a shit.

International football is the same couldn't give a fuck about any side.

[ScottBF2 3,540]

Fuck that shite

Rangers only for me. Can't feel passionate or even care about another side. Been to a few ges where we haven't been playing and when sitting there I just think, fucking hell this is shite.

Some clubs I'll have a wee bit of respect for sheff wed for that night of the friendly, Ajax for having a bit of fun at our neighbours, arsenal due to past history and after that I don't give a shit.

International football is the same couldn't give a fuck about any side.

See this notion of folk having a 'second team', it's fucking stupid. Support your club through thick and thin, don't jump ship to support some other mob when it suits

[kris1984 1,259]

I honestly couldn't give a fuck about Chelsea or any other team. Doesn't bother me that other do but what does is when people go to Ibrox wearing kits from the likes of Chelsea, fucking hate that

[Johnny Dangerously 7,562]

Don't mind Chelsea, seen quite a few of their games early 80s.

[GOAT 30,449]

Don't mind Chelsea, seen quite a few of their games early 80s.

A wee team in London made a rich team by some Russian billionaire.

[Johnny Dangerously 7,562]

A wee team in London made a rich team by some Russian billionaire.

Don't bother me, I went to see them when they were pretty poor and skint

[eejay the dj 31,964]

"Armed forces... IRA... NF... Hooligans..." Okeydokey.

Blues Brothers? Cringey as fuck. Get some half-n-half scarves and woolly hats made up. One club team only.

CFC (Oligarch Plaything): a club for cunts, supported by cunts, represented on the field by cunts, managed by cunts and owned by a cunt.

Haha .Cmon the Chelskeeeee

[BlueBeard 241]

I can only remember one time when there was a lot of Chelsea fans at a European away game, Porto away (the old stadium ), think it was 1982/83, that was some trip!!

[Liam_RFC 238]

Chelsea are such a shitty wee club and a bunch of glory hunting fans

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,714]

Went to a charity shield game a few years back and the Chelsea boys in the boozer were to a man supportive of Rangers.

[Brian Fantana 28,894]

Rangers V Chelsea pre season friendly, 28 July 2007. Annie Millers beforehand, Novo and Seeeeboooo on the score sheet, pub crawl afterwards. Greatest day out i've ever had as a Rangers fan and the Chelsea fans were brand new.

[Johnny Dangerously 7,562]

Rangers V Chelsea pre season friendly, 28 July 2007. Annie Millers beforehand, Novo and Seeeeboooo on the score sheet, pub crawl afterwards. Greatest day out i've ever had as a Rangers fan and the Chelsea fans were brand new.

Annie Millers fine establishment. Many a session in there in the day

[centenarystand 2,227]

Jason Marriner wont like some comments on here.

[STEPPS BOY 73,886]

Carefree..

[KeyserSoze 14,530]

the poster "Briton" won't like this