It was all smiles at our Cobham training ground this weekend as the Chelsea Foundation hosted our first Community Day since March 2020.
Due to the global pandemic, our open training sessions have not been able to take place but on Sunday, a host of Blues supporters were invited by the Foundation to watch their heroes during the first Community Day in 17 months.
There were of course strict Covid restrictions in place for all participants in attendance, but it was still a day to remember for our guests.
After a Q&A session with former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, the guests watched on as the players took part in a behind closed doors game.
Following the game, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel and his squad spent time chatting to the Foundation guests, as well as posing for socially distanced photographs with the visitors.
There was also an opportunity for our guests to have their photo taken with the Champions League trophy, while six-year-old Frankie, who was one of our guests, was the lucky recipient of Blues boss Tuchel’s hat (pictured top).
Also, among the guests on the day was 23-year-old Harry Staples, 6-year-old Tony and 9-year-old Bryson.Bryson said: ‘I liked meeting Mason Mount and the players. My dad has always wanted to bring me here and to Stamford Bridge. I got photographs with Mason Mount and Jorginho! My friends at school are all a bit jealous but I said I will tell them that it was great and show them my photographs!
Tony, who attended the Community Day with his Mum, enjoyed a kickabout with his favourite player Mason Mount.
‘I got to nutmeg him, and it made me happy!’ Tony said. Tony’s Mum, Paula, added: ‘It’s been brilliant, we’ve loved it. Tony has been waiting a long time and it’s been so great. How they interacted with him and chatted with him was great to see. To see him kick a ball with Mason Mount, it was just brilliant.’
The regular Community Days see the Chelsea Foundation linking up with a range of charities to arrange visits for supporters and their carers, giving them a well-deserved boost in what is obviously a difficult time for them and their families.