Supporters and rivalries
Chelsea have the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football[56] and regularly attract over 40,000 fans to Stamford Bridge; they were the fifth best-supported Premier Leagueteam in the 2009–10 season, with an average gate of 41,472.[7] Chelsea's traditional fanbase comes from all over the Greater London area including working-class parts such as Hammersmithand Battersea, wealthier areas like Chelsea and Kensington, and from the home counties. There are also numerous official supporters clubs in the United Kingdom and all over the world.[57]
At matches Chelsea fans sing chants such as "Carefree" (to the tune of Lord of the Dance, whose lyrics were probably written by supporter Mick Greenaway[58][59]), "Ten Men Went to Mow", "We All Follow the Chelsea" (to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory), "Zigga Zagga", and the celebratory "Celery", with the latter often resulting in fans ritually throwing celery. The vegetable was banned inside Stamford Bridge after an incident involving Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas at the 2007 League Cup Final.[60]
Chelsea do not have a traditional rivalry on the scale of the Merseyside derby or the North London derby, and their West London derby withFulham or Queens Park Rangers has not been as prominent over the years with due to the clubs often spending time in separate divisions. A 2004 survey by Planetfootball.com found that Chelsea fans consider their main rivalries to be with (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur andManchester United.[61] Their rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur is said to have developed following the 1967 FA Cup Final, the first cup final held between two London clubs. Additionally, a strong rivalry with Leeds United dates back to several heated and controversial matches in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the 1970 FA Cup Final.[62] More recently, a rivalry has grown with Liverpool following repeated clashes in cup competitions.[63]
During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, Chelsea supporters were associated with football hooliganism. The club's "football firm", originally the Chelsea Shed Boys, now known as the Chelsea Headhunters, were nationally notorious for violent acts against hooligans from other teams, such as West Ham United's Inter City Firm and Millwall's Bushwackers, both during and after matches.[64] The increase in hooliganism in the 1980s led chairman Ken Bates to propose erecting an electric fence to deter them from invading the pitch; the proposal was rejected by the GLC.[65] Since the 1990s there has been a marked decline in crowd trouble at matches, as a result of stricter policing,CCTV in grounds and the advent of all-seater stadia.[66] According to Home Office statistics 126 Chelsea fans were arrested for football-related offences during the 2009–10 season, the third highest in the division, and 27 banning orders were issued, the fifth highest in the division.[67]
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