Irish Chelsea fans

[brokencrossbar1]

Its a little known and unreported fact that Chelsea have never signed an Irishman.*


* - this isn't actually correct

Lies,lies,lies they signed Tony Cornetto,oh...

[Norf Tyrone]

Can we add up Rangers, Linfields and our league titles then?

Chelsea FC- The most successful Club in Great Britain. I like the sound of that!

[Bingo]

Can we add up Rangers, Linfields and our league titles then?

Chelsea FC- The most successful Club in Great Britain. I like the sound of that!

The Blues Brothers, surprised the opening poster hadn't mentioned this little alliance.

[Norf Tyrone]

Can we add up Rangers, Linfields and our league titles then?

Chelsea FC- The most successful Club in Great Britain. I like the sound of that!

The Blues Brothers, surprised the opening poster hadn't mentioned this little alliance.

What annoys me about that comment is the word alliance. Can you not have used union? Much more applicable there.

[deiseach]

Linfield are letting the allianc . . er, union down by not having a lion in their crest.

[Shamrock Shore]

Didnt Paddy Mulligan play for Chelsea in the 70s?

Can't get more Irish than him.

[nrico2006]

I always just wondered who the majority of Chelsea/Man City fans here supported before they jumped on the Chelsea bandwagon.

[Bingo]

Can we add up Rangers, Linfields and our league titles then?

Chelsea FC- The most successful Club in Great Britain. I like the sound of that!

The Blues Brothers, surprised the opening poster hadn't mentioned this little alliance.

What annoys me about that comment is the word alliance. Can you not have used union? Much more applicable there.

I apologise for my oversight. The Blues Brothers is indeed a Union, a very loyal Union.

[Bingo]

I always just wondered who the majority of Chelsea/Man City fans here supported before they jumped on the Chelsea bandwagon.

United.

[snoopdog]

The Irish people who support them are pieces of shit? That's a bit harsh

What about United fans who love Ferguson? He played for Rangers and spat on Celtic fans - are they pieces of shit as well?



Summary : you are probably an idiot - and drunk 

Its Sir Alex Ferguson to you. Best manager ever. didnt see him spitting on any Celtic fans when he was the man picked to give the eulogy at Sean Fallons funeral the other day.
some bitter people on here posting lies.

[Declan]

Pat Fenlon played for Chelsea as did John Demspey Irish Centre Half from the early 70's. Andy Townsend as well and sure didn't Bobby Tambling play for Cork

[ApresMatch]

Didnt Paddy Mulligan play for Chelsea in the 70s?

Can't get more Irish than him.

Patrick Sarsfield Mulligan, the Man From Mullingar??

[Norf Tyrone]

John Coady, Duffer.

Actually here's an article I wrote when Chelsea played Omagh.

High above the Matthew Harding stand at Stamford Bridge flutters the flags of many nations. These flags are from the nations of players currently on Chelsea's books.  Inevitably at a club such as Chelsea these flags are like the front of UN headquarters.  There is the Uruguayan flag for midfield legend Gustavo Poyet, Celestine Babyaro is represented by the Nigerian flag.  Some of the flags are obvious; the six Italians (Vialli, Di Matteo, Zola, Casiraghi, Percassi and Dalla Bona) have the Italian Tricolour, the Romanian flag flutters for Dan Petrescu and the French quartet have the famous Red, White and Blue.  However, one flag you may not expect to see perched up there overlooking the famous venue is the Green, White and Gold of Ireland, but indeed it is there, keeping up not a so famous tradition of Chelsea's Irish Blues.

So who is the Irish man playing for Gianluca's boys?  True blues may have heard of him, other may have not. Take a bow Joe Sheerin. Born in Hammersmith, the 20 year old may not have had the most distinguished of Chelsea careers so far; indeed his solitary first team appearance was coming off the bench in a league game against Wimbledon.  The bustling striker has though, maintained a long Chelsea tradition. 

Admittedly Chelsea's Irish history may not be as famous as say Manchester United's or the Blues' North London rivals, Arsenal, but the list is longer than you think.
James Ferris, John Priestly, and Samuel Irving were among the first Irish men to play for Chelsea.  Ferris was a big hit at Chelsea when he signed in 1920 from Belfast city, finding the net 15 times in his first year.  Priestly was one of the more curious characters to play for the blues.  Signed from Coleraine he insisted on wearing Ruby style skullcap while playing.  Also he retired with one of the strangest injuries.  What happened.... He got mud in his eye! 

In the mid- 1930's Cecil Allen and the famous Joe Bambrick both came to Stamford Bridge.  When Allen left London he went and played for Cliftonville. Bambrick, signed from Linfield, endeared himself to the faithful when during a 7-1 rout of Leeds United; he found the net four times.  Seamus D'Arcy and Bill Dickson also played in the Irish league before playing at Chelsea.  D'Arcy made his name at Ballymena United, joining the club via Charlton Athletic. Dickson came across the water from Mourneview Park outfit Glenavon, eventually going to Notts County.
Dick Whittaker's 8 year Stamford Bridge career was as more of a squad man.  Joining Peterborough United in 1960.  However, it must be remembered that it was during his time that the club, under the management of Ted Drake, lifted their one and only league title in 1955.  Whittaker can boast having made several appearances that season, as the blues were crowned champions.

Errol McNally was one of the first of the Irish in the early 60's to try his luck at Chelsea.  The Lurgan man's sojourn on the Fulham Road however was a short one as he only played 9 games in his 3-year stint at the club. McNally returned to the north, playing for rivals Glenavon and Portadown also in his career.

The late 60s and early 70s was unarguably the greatest time, until now, to be a follower of Chelsea.  The blues defeated Leeds United to capture the 1970 FA Cup and 12 months later defeated Real Madrid, after a replay in Athens, to lift the European Cup Winners Cup.  Indeed it was in that famous reply that John Dempsey wrote his name into Chelsea history when he volleyed the blues into the lead with an unstoppable drive, the blues eventually winning 2-1.  Dempsey joined Chelsea in 1969 from neighbours Fulham and went on the make 200 appearances for the Londoners before a knee injury sustained in 75/76 season saw Dempsey lose his place that he would never regain.  The centre-half gained a total of 19 Ireland Caps before going to America in 1978 to join the Philadelphia Furies. 

At the same time as John Dempsey was making himself a fixture in Chelsea's defence, Paddy Mulligan was making sporadic appearances alongside him in the blues' back four.  Mulligan joined Chelsea from Shamrock Rovers in October 1969, and played 78 games accumulating 51 caps for the Republic of Ireland before joining Crystal Palace and later WBA. 

The 1970s also saw the only ever Irishman to be manager of the club.  Danny Blanchflower, legend at Spurs, was Chelsea boss for only 10 months.  Blanchflower was an idealist and was a student of " the beautiful game".  However, this wasn't his era and football had changed, at the end of the 78-79 season Chelsea were relegated.

One name that might be familiar to local fans is that of John Coady.  JC, as he is known, was part of the Derry City side in the early parts of this decade; indeed the Dublin postman is still plying his trade in the League of Ireland. Coady joined the Stamford Bridge club in 1986, making 10 appearances and finding the net on 3 occasions before returning back to these shores in 1988. Jerry Murphy was another player who broke into the Chelsea side around this time. Murphy scored 3 times for Chelsea during 39 appearances. His Irish parentage saw him selected for the Ireland squad, where again. As was the case during his Chelsea career, injuries caw his caps limited to just three.

In 1989 Chelsea stormed to the old second division title, to regain their place in the top flight. This was the era of the legendary Dixon and Durie, with Graham Roberts at the back. Indeed Roberts was Chelsea's joint top appearance maker that year, with Northern Ireland international Kevin Wilson. Wilson, signed by John Hollins in June 1987, was one of Chelsea's unsung heroes that year weighing in with 13 strikes. The industrious front man went on to score 55 goals in a blue shirt from an impressive 191 games, before joining Notts County on transfer deadline day 1992 to make way for Clive Allen.

Probably the most famous player to appear in both the green of Ireland and the royal blue of Chelsea has been Andy Townsend. The midfield man was a hugely popular figure on the Stamford Bridge terraces during his 138 game Chelsea career, captaining the club on may occasions. His bursts from midfield saw him find the net on 19 occasions, including one in front of the Old Trafford cameras where Chelsea recorded yet another victory by 3 goals to 2. Townsend ended his Chelsea career, however, in disappointing terms, by informing the club that he wanted to move to a club where his winning ambitions may be met, ensuring subsequent visits back to the Bridge are greeted by the boo boys. In July 1993 Andy Townsend joined Aston Villa for £2.1 million, winning the League cup. Chelsea have since gone on to lift the FA Cup, European Cup Winners Cup, Coca-Cola Cup and the European Super Cup.

The early 90s also saw two of this island's most famous players sign for Chelsea. Tony Cascarino and Mal Donaghy's stays at the capitals trendiest club may have been short (45 and 78 appearances respectively) but they were at a dramatic time for the club. Cascarino had made fits and bursts in the Blues' side, but was included from the start of their Wembley semi-final against Luton Town in 1994. Indeed the big man set up Gavin Peacock's two strikes as Chelsea secured their first FA Cup final appearance since 1970.

Nicky Colgan, born in Drogheda, is another Irishman to have worn the Green in goals for Chelsea. The likable Louth man was restricted to just one start, a 3-2 defeat by West Ham however, and was released at the beginning of last year to join Bournemouth. Another keeper, whose stay in the number one jersey was ever shorter, was Gerry Peyton. The midlander made just one sub appearance while on loan in 1993, before heading back to Everton.

Glenn Hoddle signed lightening quick fullback Terry Phelan in November 1995. Hoddle had hoped that the fullback would be the answer to his problems of having an attacking defender in his back five, in the controversial "diamond system". Indeed, at times Phelan looked suited in this formation, but niggling injuries meant he didn't get the run in the team that was required. This was infamously proven in the semi-final of the 1995 FA Cup. Chelsea led 1-0 to Manchester United thanks to a Rudd Gullit header, when just after half-time Phelan pulled with a thigh strain. After declaring his ability to run it off, Phelan came off 5 minutes later, but by now a David Beckham inspired Man United led 2-1 and the blue dream was over.

Above was mentioned just some of the Irishmen from both sides of the border who have graced the famous club that Chelsea is. This is by no means a definitive list, but just some of the ones that made a difference, or just simply that you may know. Admittedly the Blues have never had a George Best or a Liam Brady, but since 1905 to 1999 and Joe Sheerin, we all know that The Fulham Road's foreign legion is very much alive and well, and this island has played its part.

[ApresMatch]

Damien Duff prob most recent Irish player at Chelsea.

[Norf Tyrone]

Conor Clifford is a Dub on the books at the minute, but has never made the first team.