On Monday, Chelsea Football Club will be 120 years old and marking this milestone in our history, a range of activities are to take place across the coming months to reflect on the incredible history of the Blues.
From the very first founding meeting at the Rising Sun pub, which was held on 10 March 1905 and brought about the inception of Chelsea Football & Athletic Club, through to the present day, Chelsea FC has 120 years of inspiring history to share with our fans and community.
From pioneering academy football through the Tudor Rose scheme developing players off the pitch as well as on it, to having the first overseas star in English football, to being one of the most successful teams in the Premier League and Women's Super League; Chelsea has innovated and pushed the boundaries throughout the decades.
Our roots proudly in south-west London, Chelsea has always called Stamford Bridge a home. With the King’s Road and its spirit of fashion, music and culture heavily influencing the club and our fans, the Blues’ creative energy is mirrored by our fan base with Blur’s Damon Albarn, Billy Idol, Cara Delevingne, Central Cee and many more supporting the side.
Marking 12 decades of the Blues
The 120th anniversary will give the Chelsea family an opportunity to celebrate the club’s rich history across a number of special events and activities through to the end of the 2024/25 season, starting with the Chelsea vs Leicester City matchday at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Legends of the club will be welcomed back to SW6 for the fixture, which will be followed by impactful stadium displays thanks to fan support from We Are The Shed and the Supporters Atmosphere Committee when the Blues play Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday 3 April.
Matchday celebrations will also take place at Chelsea FC Women’s home match against West Ham United on Sunday 30 March, with club legends and a bespoke matchday programme part of the activities.
This Game is What We Make It
Iconic London landmark the Saatchi Gallery will host a free 120th-anniversary exhibition, This Game is What We Make It, across the weekend of Saturday 22 – Monday 24 March, with its famed galleries offering a unique platform for the club to celebrate our pioneering past, present and future.
Rarely seen iconic shirts from the Blues’ archive tell the story of Chelsea’s most groundbreaking football moments in The Vault, with a spotlight on each, telling their stories through short films projected on one end of the gallery.
Made in Chelsea offers a visual celebration which encapsulates the culture that has shaped the club. Music and memorabilia from reggae, punk, rude boy, rave and Britpop sit alongside fan photography from photojournalist and lifelong Chelsea fan John Ingledew.
Winners of the Blue Creator Fund, a Chelsea Foundation programme in partnership with VERSUS to support the next generation of underrepresented creatives, will be displayed across two galleries. The five original creations bring Chelsea’s community and culture to life through fashion, film, photography, music and textiles, with creative director Nicholas Daley, club representatives, industry friends and collaborators in attendance.
120 specials
Running through to the end of the season, our media channels will celebrate the people who have made the club what it is today, featuring Fan Stories and classic matches from our decorated past, with supporters given a chance to get involved through quizzes and polls.
There will also be the launch a special merchandise range to coincide with the anniversary, with a range of 120-logo clothing and accessories including limited-edition lines featuring Nike Tech Woven Anthem Jackets. A unique collaboration with leading Chelsea-supporting London creatives from fashion and design will be launched in the Megastore and online later in the season.
Our fans have a chance to be part of the celebrations in the coming months by visiting the Saatchi Gallery and by attending special Stamford Bridge stadium tours hosted by club legends Carlo Cudicini and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with a special 120-edition tour held exclusively for 120 season ticket holders and members nominated by their fellow supporters.
In addition, all fans will be able to purchase tickets to Anniversary Tours for the remainder of the season, with each tour set to honour momentous occasions in the club's history.
Supporters can also mark the anniversary and end of another season by booking a place at the CFC Awards 2025 taking place on Saturday 4 May at the Grosvenor House in Park Lane with men’s, women’s and Academy players in attendance.
Celebration dates for your diary
Sunday 9 March - legends at Stamford Bridge’s Premier League game
Monday 10 March - Chelsea Football Club’s birthday
Monday 10 March - 120 Anniversary Collection merchandise range launches
Saturday 22 to Monday 24 March - This Game is What We Make It exhibition at Saatchi Gallery
Sunday 30 March - celebrations at Chelsea Women’s WSL match at Kingsmeadow
Thursday 3 April – Anniversary fan display at London derby versus Tottenham
Saturday 4 May - CFC Awards 2025