120 years of Chelsea: the Roman Empire

On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between.  

On this episode, we go back to July 1st, 2003 - and the day the course of the club’s history changed forever when Roman Abramovich became owner. Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic’s Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson alongside him to reminisce about the glory days, the José years - and the experience of covering the club during that period. 

And what was it like to be a fan growing up in that era? Younger fans are often tarred with a glory hunter brush, but Luke Bosher explains what it was like to be introduced to the club when they were serial winners and at the height of their powers. 

Plus, Liam Twomey’s back to help us finish off our overview of the defining fixtures from each decade, from the 1980s through to the modern day. 

• Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003
• Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decade

HOST: Matt Davies-Adams

WITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Dom Fifield 

PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva

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