6 Chelsea FC Nicknames That You Didn’t Know
Chelsea Football Club, arguably one of the biggest and most successful football clubs on the planet, were established in 1905. They have a remarkable track record, having won 2 Champions League trophies and 6 First Division/Premier League titles. While they are commonly known as “Chelsea” across the globe, it may surprise you to learn that they have six nicknames.
This Elastico article will delve into the origin of Chelsea FC’s nicknames.
Table of Contents
Why Is Chelsea FC Called ‘Chelsea’?
Gus Mears founded Chelsea FC all the way back in 1905. Back then, it was common to name a football club after the borough it belonged to in London. The problem for Mears was that there was already a football club in the nearby borough of Fulham. Because of this, Mears selected the neighbouring borough of Chelsea for his club’s name.
Mears initially purchased Stamford Bridge in 1904 with the intention of transforming it into a football stadium. He had first hoped that the local club Fulham would lease the ground from him. When they turned down his proposal, he decided to establish his own football club, which lead to the creation of Chelsea FC.
How Many Nicknames Does Chelsea FC Have?
Chelsea FC has six different nicknames – the Blues, the Pensioners, the Blue Lions, the Pride of London, the Blue Army and the West Londoners.
The Blues
Throughout its history, Chelsea has consistently worn a variation of blue as its home football kit colour. Because of this, it became increasingly common for fans of the club to refer to Chelsea as “The Blues” by the mid-1960s.
The Pensioners
Another Chelsea FC nickname is “The Pensioners”. Chelsea have this nickname because their original club crest had the image of a Chelsea pensioner on it. A Chelsea pensioner is a retired army veteran who resides in the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, a hospital located close to Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC’s football stadium).
In 1952, the decision was made to modernise the club and this included the creation of a new club badge. Under the leadership of Ted Drake, the image of a Chelsea pensioner was removed from the crest, and was replaced by the white letters “CFC” on a blue background.
The Blue Lions
Chelsea FC are also often referred to by their fans as “The Blue Lions”. This Chelsea nickname is simply in reference to the blue lion that has been regularly used as part of their club badge design.
Ever since 1953, there has been a lion present on the Chelsea FC crest, and although it hasn’t always been blue, it has been for the majority of the time:
- Blue lion on the crest – 1953-1986, 1999-2003, 2005-2006 and 2006-present
- Red lion on the crest – 1986-1995
- Yellow lion on the crest – 1995-1997 and 1997-1999
A lion also features in the Borough Council’s emblem, which originated from Lord Cadogan’s coat of arms. Lord Cadogan was the President of Chelsea football club. He also held the title of Viscount Chelsea and was once the Lord of the Manor.
The Pride of London
“The Pride of London” is another one of Chelsea FC’s nicknames. This nickname was given to the club by its fans due to its coveted history, which makes them one of the biggest and most successful clubs in London.
This Chelsea nickname won’t go down too well with fans of other London-based clubs, such as Arsenal and Tottenham, as they’ll want to be the most successful club in London.
Chelsea Fans Nickname
As well as the nicknames for Chelsea football club, there are also some nicknames for Chelsea fans that are worth mentioning.
The Blue Army
The main Chelsea fans nickname is “The Blue Army” and similarly to the nickname “The Blues” is a direct reference to the fact that Chelsea FC’s home kit is the colour blue.
During the era that John Terry was playing for the club, Chelsea fans liked to use the nickname “John Terry’s Blue Army”. This demonstrated the effect that club captain Terry had had on the Chelsea fan base.
The West Londoners
Another nickname for Chelsea fans is “The West Londoners” and this simply refers to the fact that they’re based in West London. Of course there are other football clubs located in this area, such as Fulham, however Chelsea fans have adopted this nickname for themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chelsea Fans Called?
Chelsea’s fans are often referred to as either “The Blue Army” or “The West Londoners”.
Who Is Chelsea’s Biggest Rival?
Although you’d expect Fulham to be Chelsea’s biggest rival based on location, the majority of Chelsea fans actually consider Arsenal to be their biggest rival.
