Importance of Local Pre-Season Fixtures Underlined as Fans Revel in Carnival Atmosphere

For the second successive season, Chelsea scheduled at least one pre-season friendly, away from home against Championship opposition.

These games against Reading in 2009 and Crystal Palace this season took place relatively close to Stamford Bridge and attracted thousands of Chelsea fans eager for a return to any football after a summer without domestic football.

These normally low-key affairs have been transformed by the abnormally large turn out from the Chelsea faithful, singing loudly and with a veracity that belies the occasion, these games have taken on a carnival atmosphere.

This is increased by the fact that unlike most games during the season; almost any fan can get a ticket as demand from opposition fans is nowhere near enough to fill the ground.
Also unlike the games held overseas or during the season, these games are priced at under half the price of a normal CFC match ticket, meaning that families and those priced out of Stamford Bridge can afford a Chelsea day out.

Crystal Palaces are one of the teams that have been struggling financially recently, going into administration within the last 12 months this fixture against Chelsea attracted over 21,000 fans in a major cash life raft for the Championship side.

With these factors in mind I hope that next year without the shadow of a World Cup affecting the fixture planning, the club will merge the needs of the commercially driven overseas tour with the gesture of a local pre-season friendly that benefits Chelsea fans and the host club alike.