Chelsea FC: We're Not Just About The Whores

 

 

Chelsea Football Clubs players took part in more community and charity activities than any other Premier League Club last season – topping a poll conducted by the Professional Footballer Association. For the second time in three years the Chelsea squad has come first in the PFA survey having taken part in 1,145 activities throughout the 2009/10 season 465 more than the second-placed club and almost three times the league average.

Chelsea Captain and PFA representative John Terry was delighted to top the poll again: Everyone at the club knows how important it is to put to something back into our communities at home and abroad. All the players take our role extremely seriously and its great this work has been recognized again. We all love seeing the kids in their schools, down at the training ground or meeting them in the dressing room and tunnel after the game its very humbling to hear their stories and were proud to be able to help



As well as working with two charity partners Help a London Child on a national level and internationally with Right To Play, the club recently launched our first community day at the Cobham training ground for seriously and terminally ill youngsters. Chelsea also run our unique matchday wishes program at home Premier League games where young fans often with terminal illnesses are welcomed into the tunnel after matches to meet the players.

PFA Chief Executive, Gordon Taylor OBE welcomed the results: Players get a lot of criticism, much of it undeserved. These figures show just how much they put back in their community and how involved they are in the clubs Corporate Social Responsibility activities. The PFA congratulate Chelsea once again for their outstanding community activities and in-particular the players for their commitment to supporting this vital area of their work.

The Cobham training ground also welcomes a host of charities including the Princes Trust, Help for Heroes, Willow Foundation and participants on the wide range of Chelsea Foundation activities.

Chelsea invest more than £5m into CSR activities every season and directly over £1m for charity every year. Through one of the most wide-ranging community programs in the world of sport almost one million young people are engaged through Chelsea programs. The club recently launched our own charity the Chelsea Foundation to oversee the clubs award-winning community, education and CSR work.