Chelsea FC
Stamford Bridge
The Ground
The ground has been transformed in
recent years with three sides of the ground being re-built. The
completion, at one side of the pitch, of the attractive
looking West Stand in 2001, means that
Stamford Bridge is now an impressive sight.
A far cry from the Stamford Bridge of old,
which was largely open with one huge three tiered stand, the East
Stand, being at one side of the pitch. This
stand, opened in 1973,
has been retained and the developers have taken advantage of
the fact that the 'old' Stamford Bridge was oval shaped and
stretched the new stands right around the ground filling the
corners, so that the ground is totally
enclosed. The team dug outs are located on
this side of the stadium.
Both ends are two tiered,
with the North Stand now renamed the Matthew Harding Stand in memory
of the man who did so much to transform the club. Below the roof of the Shed End, is a Police Control Box,
which keeps a look out over proceedings. The new West Stand
is a superb three tiered affair having a row
of executive boxes running across its middle, the
type of which you are able to sit outside.
Its roof is virtually
transparent, allowing more light to reach the pitch and gives it a
unique look.
Future
Developments
The Club have announced that
they are looking into the feasibility of building a new 55,000
capacity stadium in West London. The Club are unable to
significantly re-develop Stamford Bridge any further, so to increase
capacity would mean building a new
stadium.
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