Soccer players never get tired of playing the game.
That’s what this page is all about.
Where your FIRST TOUCH SOCCER book ends, the FREE KICK page begins.
It’s a chance for you to learn more about Chelsea … and for me to talk about some of the great stories I couldn’t squeeze into the book.
Scroll down to get the latest news … and to learn more about English soccer. And check out some of the cool collectibles I have in my home.
Enjoy this site, check back whenever you like, and contact me with any questions or comments.
Breaking News
What’s up with Chelsea F.C.
November 11, 2022: Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga earned Premier League “Save of the Month” honors for his three rapid-fire saves in a win over Aston Villa.
October 11, 2022: Chelsea shut out AC Milan for the second time in a week to advance in Champions League play. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in each match: one played in England and the second in Italy.
July 30, 2022: Chelsea completed a deal with the MLS Chicago Fire for goalkeeper Gaga Slonina. The club paid $10 million for the teenaged superstar, who became the youngest keeper in league history last season at 17.
March 02, 2022: Team owner Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, announced he planned to sell Chelsea and donate the money to victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
February 27, 2022: Chelsea played Liverpool in the final of the English Football League (EFL) Cup. Chelsea scored twice in extra time but both goals were disallowed after offside calls. The match was decided on penalty kicks, with Liverpool winning, 11–10.
November 20, 2021: American star Christian Pulisic scored the final goal in a 3–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The victory vaulted Chelsea into first place in the Premier League after 12 games.
October 23, 2021: 22-year-old midfielder Mason Mount scored his first hat trick in a 7–0 wipeout of Norwich City.
August 11, 2021: Chelsea defeated Spanish powerhouse Villarreal FC on penalty kicks to win the UEFA Super Cup after the two teams tied 1–1 in overtime. Hakim Zyech scored Chelsea’s lone goal, while Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench to make the match-winning save.
May 29, 2021: Chelsea defeated Manchester City in the Champions League final, 1–0. Kai Havertz scored the game’s only goal. The victory marks Chelsea’s second Champions League title, and Christian Pulisic became the first American to play for a Champions Cup winner.
May 15, 2021: Chelsea reached the FA Cup final but lost 1–0 to Leicester City.
April 17, 2021: Chelsea defeated Manchester City to earn a spot in the FA Cup finals against Leicester City. Hakim Ziyech scored the game’s only goal.
March 2, 2021: A 2–0 win over Sheffield United boosted Chelsea into the semifinals of the FA Cup. Hakim Ziyech and Oliver Norwood scored the club’s two goals.
January 26, 2021: Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as Chelsea coach after the team started the season poorly. Lampard was a Chelsea legend as a player, scoring 147 goals for the club between 2001 and 2014.
August 1, 2020: Chelsea made it all the way to the FA Cup final but could not hold a 1–0 lead against Arsenal and lost, 2–1. Striker Tammy Abraham was the club’s top scorer during the year, with 15 goals in Premier League matches and 18 overall. American star Christian Pulisic was one of the league’s top playmakers.
September 14, 2019: Tammy Abraham scored a hat trick against Wolverhampton. He also put one in his own net by mistake in a 5–2 victory.
May 29, 2019: Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4–1 in the Europa League final. The club won the tournament without losing a single match.
September 29, 2018: Eden Hazard scored Chelsea’s only goal in a 1–1 tie with Liverpool. It was his 7th goals in 8 games.
May 19, 2018: Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1–0 in the FA Cup final. Eden Hazard scored the only goal of the game on a penalty kick after being fouled in the penalty area. Defender Antonio Rudiger was named Man of the Match.
April 22, 2018: Chelsea defeated Southampton 2–0 to qualify for the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Strikers Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud scored for Chelsea.
January 20, 2018: Eden Hazard scored his 100th goal in Premier League play.
May 21, 2017: John Terry played his 717th and final game for Chelsea. He left the field in minute 26—the same number he wore for the club for more than 20 years.
May 12, 2017: Chelsea defeated West Bromwich Albion F.C., 1–0 in the 36th match of the season. The victory guaranteed the club its fifth Premier League title, and sixth English championship overall.
Premier League & FA Cup
Collector’s Corner
More treasures from the author’s collection!
Fun Facts
Did You Know?
• In 1928, Chelsea was one of the first two clubs to wear uniform numbers. Arsenal was the other.
• In 1971, Chelsea played Jeunesse Hautcharage F.C. in the Cup Winners’ Cup tournament. Hautcharage was Luxembourg’s unexpected “Cinderella” league champion. But the glass slipper didn’t fit. Chelsea won 13—0 and 8–0. The two-game total score of 21–0 is the most lopsided in the history of European soccer.
• In 1997, Chelsea played a match against Tromso I.L. in Norway. The field was located 100 miles above the Arctic Circle. A blizzard made the game almost impossible to play, and Chelsea lost 3–2.
• In 1999, Chelsea became the first English soccer club to field a starting lineup of 11 players who were born outside the country. Tore Andre Flo scored twice in a 2–1 victory over Southampton F.C.