What League?

One as it was, or Division Two, Division Three, Division Four or is it the Premiership, League One, League Two, League Three. Or is it the FA Cup, League Cup (in whatever disguise the League Cup is named)? Or is it the Fairs Cup (now UEFA Cup), Cup Winners Cup (now defunct) or the European Cup which once upon a time use to allow winners of European Leagues entry, but now allows any team to enter if they finish in the list of leagues top four. And without a fight and an arduous and unecessary qualifying campaign allow the holders of the trophy the right to defend their trophy. Get my drift?

What then is so special and significant about today - Friday 2nd September 2005? Read on and you will find out - or scroll down to the bottom of the page - if you can't be bothered to work it out, but from my point of view as a GENUINE 100% BLUE BLOODED Chelsea fan I know the answer, but the question you need to ask yourself IS do you? Of course I wouldn't expect any supporter from our rivals to know the answer as I wouldn't expect to be given half a chance on answering any questions that they may ask of me about their club.

If you are reading this as a Chelsea JCL (Johnny Come Lately) or a two to five year old pot hunter, or just an annoying little 16 year old kid that lives '200 miles from Highbury' then just click on your mouse and scroll down cos you ain't got no chance of knowing the answer, unless you have got a Chelsea history book sitting by your lap-top and you are furiously flicking through the pages trying to find the answer to today's little poser.

'Glorious Unpredictability' has been two keywords or an expression which define the passage and history of Chelsea Football Club. In 1955 those two words didn't apply and in 2004/05 season they MOST certainly didn't apply, but when you are a Chelsea supporter of long term status you still think of the 'flatter to deceive' scenario. 'Promise so much, deliver so little' etc etc etc.

Two league titles, Three FA Cups, Three Charity Shields, Three League Cups, Two Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup (yes that one that Liverpool beat CSKA Moscow 3-1 last week) and a couple of Old Division Two titles. Not a lot I know compared to some, but offer this list to most clubs and I bet they would be piranha's round fresh meat and strip you down in seconds, than say NO.

GIve it up to your Man Us, Liverpools, Arsenals and the like for all of their triumphs and trophy wins throughout their respective reigns, but I bet and guarantee you that their history (Ed. 'Of course their history only equates to trophy wins') for whatever reason does not warrant the attention of this article to Chelsea supporters, as this one does today.

Here we go then:

Chelsea Football Club was formed 14th March 1905 and on the 2nd September (which is today) 1905 (One Hundred Years ago), played their first game in Football League's Division Two away at Stockport County. It was a game that Stockport won 1-0 in front of a crowd of 7,000. Despite that opening day defeat Chelsea went on to finish third in the League behind champions Bristol City and runners-up Man United.

For the record, Chelsea's team that day 100 years ago was:

Foulke; Mackie, McEwan, Key, McRoberts, Miller, Moran, Robertson, Copeland, Windridge, Kirwan.