Watching Chelsea play from my old lazy boy recliner for so many seasons to finally see them in their season opener in person at Stamford Bridge, made this one of the best days of my life.
Until, of course, Harry Kane decided to wake up and score a header in the last seconds of the game to even the match at 2-2.😂Still, it was a day I will always remember.
We arrived at Stamford Bridge 4 hours before kickoff and enjoyed a few drinks at the Butcher’s Hook, previously known as The Rising Sun, the pub where the club was founded in 1905. After dreaming of visiting this place for a couple of decades and wondering if it even still existed, to be there with a glass of whiskey and my two boys singing with the Chelsea fans was surreal.
Following the warmup at the Butcher’s Hook, we walked over to partake in the Sunday roast at The Fox and Pheasant, a lovely country pub in the middle of Chelsea founded in 1846. When we showed up, there were no available tables. I talked to one of the bartenders and she said “I’m so sorry hon, there are no available spots for the afternoon.”
There must’ve been something in my accent and something in the sad look on my face that made her say…”Hold on though love, let me check something.” She returned and said “I’m going to seat you at a reserved table but you only have 40 minutes! Then you have to leave. 40 minutes.” It was the best seat in the house. We felt like royalty.
It was here at The Fox and Pheasant, after another whiskey 😂that the levy broke on my emotions. In that moment, with my boys, I made them promise me that when I’m long dead and gone, they would return to this table together and remember me, the good times we had together in this life, our love for football, Chelsea, and each other.
Sunday roast at 3:00 p.m. was a tradition in my Mom’s house for as long as I could remember. My friends always thought it was odd that we would eat dinner at 3:00 p.m. every Sunday. My mom has never traveled to England but her people were from there. I am sure she got the tradition from her Mom who got it from her Mom. None of them would have guessed it came from England and was still a practiced tradition today.
Part of the deep joy of the experiences at Stamford Bridge and throughout England centered around the feeling of coming home. My DNA and soul seemed to be percolating the whole time we were there. In so many faces on the street, I saw a relative. I have never felt so comfortable in a place in my life. I deeply believe a part of me walked these streets before and breathed this air.
After a lovely meal at The Fox and Pheasant, we returned to the Butcher’s Hook for another drink and some cheers. Finally, it was time to go into the stadium for the Derby with Tottenham.
Chelsea absolutely dominated Spurs in the first half. It seemed like Tottenham’s team were still on the bus. KOULIBALY’s goal to put Chelsea ahead was gorgeous. What a touch on the half volley!
When Tottenham evened it up, Reese James’ goal sent the stadium into orbit! It seemed the game was in hand but in the last minute of extra time, Lord Kane scored the equalizer. Apparently, he took humbrage to the derogatory cheer the Chelsea fans were singing prior to his goal…”Harry Kane, he spits when he talks. He spits when he talks.”
Getting on the trains with the Tottenham fans after the game was an adventure but we made it!😂 The Underground was as packed as humanly possible and the Tottenham fans were absolutely thrilled with a tie when it was so clear they were set to lose until the final minute of play. They banged on the subway car windows and sang their songs on the way back to Tottenham.
It was 17 years prior to this game we first saw Chelsea play in Washington, D.C. I hope I get to go to another game with my boys in this lifetime but if not, this was enough. The joy from being there on this afternoon will hold me until the end if need be…Come on Chelsea!