I was 12 in this picture, and closing in on the peak of my sporting career. Growing up in a football family, my dad made sure my two younger brothers and I were raised in a Chelsea household; the shed at the back of the garden was, we were told, where Arsenal supporters belonged. We went to all the games at Stamford Bridge, competed in our local little league as though it were the Premier League, and followed Dad to the pub to watch Sunday matches.
Although we couldn’t always afford expensive new kits every season, we always had something Chelsea to wear. My dad would often dodge high ticket prices by taking us to watch the women’s team and the under-21s, where you could witness great talent at a fraction of the cost.
One of my most memorable football moments was the extraordinary 6-0 Chelsea victory against Arsenal in 2014, which I enjoyed alongside our extended family. In south-west London, particularly Worcester Park, there has always been a strong Chelsea tradition due to the movement of working-class households out to the suburbs. This gave the area a strong football culture, which my family was happy to be part of. Now, as a new generation is priced out of the suburbs, that community risks being broken up.
Even though we’ve all grown up, I’ll always look back fondly on those childhood memories. Today, Dad still coaches the little league team I joined almost a decade ago, where my youngest brother has taken my place. My hope is that one day I can give my future children their own memories to cherish.
