Chelsea fans have been there before, and lifelong fan and photojournalist John Ingledew has followed every kick along the way.



His 25 year photographic record of Chelsea captures the spirit of the club in the days before the Abramovich Billions helped propel the club to the very summit of the game.
Although not all plain sailing in those early days, big name players and managers were already bringing Stamford Bridge to its feet, and the arrival of Roman, super yachts and all, triggered a full on assault on every piece of silverware available.

“The Roman years have of course been absolutely brilliant for every Chelsea fan,” says John Ingledew.
“One thing though, that all fans know: it is the fans that make every club unique. Players and managers come and go.
“And so do owners too.”


The Famous CFC | John Ingledew
A photo documentary by John Ingledew on Chelsea FC fans from 1980 – 2004.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 29 black and white archival photographs across 28 pages.
For 25 years and beyond, Ingledew has focused on those fans as the club’s roller coaster existence saw them plummet out of the top tier, down into mid table obscurity and all the way back up again.

His pictures bring it all back to life, but also provide more than a hint that Chelsea were all ready well on their way long before Abramovich took the financial helm.

“One thing though, that all fans know: it is the fans that make every club unique. Players and managers come and go. And so do owners too.”
John Ingledew

Gianfranco Zola was banging in the goals, Frank Leboeuf was sweeping up at the back, and young fans wore their names face painted on their faces in tribute, captured for posterity by Ingledew.

The money was already being spent to assemble a squad more than capable of challenging for trophies, £15m for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink banked by Atletico Madrid proof of Chelsea’s commitment to challenging at the top.



Chelsea’s trophy haul since then, and in the period Abramovich has been involved, has been staggering.
As Ingledew says: “WWIA! is the sign-off to many a text between Blues fans.
We’ve Won It All”.
“It used to be traditional that successful businessmen owned their local football club’ he said, “but like many traditions greed and a total lack of any sensible regulation brought things to an end.


“Dodgy regimes, porn barons and the opaquely mega-wealthy were all waved-through to buy our English football clubs. All fans were powerless in this.

“One thing though –that all fans know – it’s the fans that make every club unique, you are a fan of your club for life. Players and managers come and go – and so do club owners too.
Photographer John Ingledew is a lifelong Chelsea FC fan, he is the author of two books of photographs about the club, AND NOW ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE US and A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.

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“It’s the fans that make every club unique, you are a fan of your club for life.”
John Ingledew



A selection of John’s photographs are available as high quality prints through Lower Block.