On Saturday, Stamford Bridge hosts the first of three huge Barclays Women’s Super League encounters at the stadium this season and as well as top-of-the-table action on the pitch, there will be top activities taking place around the stadium.
The activity reflects the diversity of our fanbase and and the inclusivity we are striving for and we have a rundown of the events here...
Supporting Rainbow Laces
Chelsea, the reigning WSL champions, host our closest challengers last season, Manchester City, with these two sides again making the early running in the title race, and this weekend’s fixture is our match dedicated to Rainbow Laces.
At Chelsea Football Club we are committed to ensuring our club is a safe and welcoming place for all LGBTQ+ people in football and our community so we are proud to support Stonewall’s 2024/25 Rainbow Laces campaign.
Look out on Saturday for rainbows around the Bridge including on giant flags and corner flags, the ball plinth, boot laces and the captain’s armbands. Search ChelseaFCW on social channels for special content on the day.
The Premier League home match against Aston Villa on 1 December will be the men’s team game dedicated to Rainbow Laces.
Sampling Lindahls
All fans attending the match have the chance to try the new protein yoghurt pouches from Chelsea Women partner Lindahls. This new product was launched last month and there will be sample stations near the Stamford and Britannia Gates before the game.
This early chance to taste the yoghurt comes along with the chance to ‘Pose for a Pouch’. Fans who post a photo of themselves at the Pose for a Pouch activation station outside the Millennium Hotel will be in with the chance of winning a signed Chelsea shirt!
Hosting Lonely Girls Club
In the Rose & Ball pre- and post-match we link up with The Lonely Girls Club, a nationwide organisation bringing women together to connect, find support, try new things and make friends.
Building on the success of a similar event last season when we played Arsenal Women, this latest community event is for women to meet up, whether they are die-hard Chelsea or Man City fans who come to matches on their own, or are completely new to the women’s game.
Hosted on Saturday will be 100 Lonely Girls Club community members plus 20 to 30 Chelsea fans who will be joining a Lonely Girls Club event for the first time.
Inspiring her
Celebrated at Saturday's game will be a new mission to drive girls’ participation in football which was launched today.
Inspire Her is a Chelsea Foundation project supported by partner Nike and as well as empowering girls in local communities to play and love the sport, it will inspire them to pursue their passions on and off the field and create the next generation of female change-makers and leaders across the game.
There will be a special Inspire Her panel event at the Bridge before Saturday’s game featuring Chelsea Foundation representatives, experts in girls’ football and other fields, as well as partners and media. Guests will hear how Inspire Her will change girls’ grassroots football across the programme and beyond.
Talking with Carney and Scott
The growth of the women’s game will also be the focus at an exciting live recording of the popular We Are Chelsea podcast.
Two Lionesses legends - former Chelsea captain Karen Carney and ex-Man City star Jill Scott – will be joined by an audience that has been selected by a random draw of ticket holders for the match.
The discussion will range from this weekend’s contest between the two clubs and the players on show to how teams like Chelsea and Man City are driving the English game forward.
Look out for the latest We Are Chelsea coming online soon.
Welcoming donations
Supporters wishing to donate warm clothing to be distributed to those in need across our local community can do so prior to this game...
Chelsea Football Club, Chelsea Foundation and the Chelsea Supporters' Trust are working in partnership with charities tackling homelessness across London this Christmas and beyond in the Wrap Up Warm initiative launched last week.
At Stamford Bridge, the matchday drop-off point is situated at Stamford Gate behind the security checkpoints. On Saturday it will be open from 2.30pm until kick-off.
Examples of items that will be welcomed are:
All preferably new or gently used
Warm winter coats
Winter hats
Gloves
Jumpers/hoodies
Trousers
Shoes
New, we cannot take second hand of these
Socks
Men's underwear
Thermal vests/Long johns