As a lesser mortal in India following an English club, I’ve always longed to visit the home stadium of my team. Though my idea of visiting the Stamford Bridge meant being one of the 42,000 odd crowd in a high profile match, I had to be content this time to just have the privilege of visiting the stadium in an off-season period.

When I knew that I was going to be in London, the one thing I wanted to do at all costs was to visit the Bridge. I didn’t care actually if I’m seeing those tourist essentials of London such as the Buckingham palace, Madame Tussuad’s museum and the like. All I wanted to do was to visit Chelsea’s home. I had checked in the official website that the stadium tour would only be until afternoon. So after my first work week in London, I thought of paying a reconnaissance visit to the Bridge on Friday, after my work hours.

This cab driver who picked me up from Airport had told me that Stamford Bridge is quite close from the place where I stayed. Well, I was staying in Central London in a very nicely furnished spacious apartment, which was a 2 minute walk from my office. On Friday evening, I didn’t even bother to go back to the apartment to change my clothes. I stepped out of my office and went straight to the nearest tube station. I was heading to Stamford Bridge. Being evening 7 pm, I knew that megastore would be closed, the stadium tour would also be closed and entry will not be permitted inside the stadium. But I still wanted to go. Though I had planned to spend the Saturday on all things Chelsea, I could not wait until the next day.

After changing lines in the tube stations, I finally got down at Fulham Broadway tube station. There is a lot of anecdotes behind why Chelsea’s stadium is not in Chelsea but only in Fulham. Quite a few Chelsea-jerseyed around almost confirmed that I had got down at the right station. I was not wearing a Chelsea jersey. I was wearing just a ‘smart’ casual as it was a Friday. Walking out of the tube station, I could see that it was a fine neighbourhood, quite calm and cozy. I was checking with the passers-by if I was anywhere near the stadium. I was told 200 yards, 100 yards, 50 yards etc. When the last guy told me that it was 50 yards from where I was, I just could not believe it. How could there be a 42k seater stadium just 50 yards away from me and I could not even see it or sense it?

As I kept walking, I suddenly see Stamford Bridge on my left. It was so surreal. I didn’t think that it would suddenly appear like that. Stadiums are generally visible from a long distance and you build up the expectations and excitement as you walk towards it. The Bridge was on the left in a withdrawn area where the entrance to the whole complex, which was on the Fulham road, was a bit narrow but when you walk inside you see the stadium. But I could not have just walked inside, I thought. I checked with the security guard if I can take a walk around the stadium. After he okayed, I started clicking pictures from all angles and even made a video that takes you from Fulham Road to the stadium.

The stadium was closed and it was quite apparent. All I could do was to just walk around the stadium slowly as I could realise and confirm that I’m THERE! I started walking down looking at the stadium, the name boards of the popular stands, the architecture of the structure. As I was strolling along, I did see some cars being parked and taken off. Everytime a car was parked and someone alighted, I was just looking ‘is it John Terry who left his something in his dressing room cupboard and has just come back to pick it up’? Well, I don’t want to shock you by saying I saw any of the players there. They were obviously holidaying in some distant sunny coasts.

Stamford Bridge was beautiful. Why didn’t they open the stadium just for me? I badly wanted to see the pitch. As I completed my full circle around the stadium, I saw this Chelsea mega store, which was closed. As it had glass walls and glass doors, I could see the mega store offerings. I’ve known this phrase ‘a boy outside a sweet shop’. I was becoming more and more restless as I saw the Chelsea stuff inside the store. I could at least nick this picture with Chelsea ‘giant’ John Terry.

That’s all I could do on Friday. My own stadium tour was over. All I then had in mind was to go back to the apartment, drown myself in beer and hurry up the night so that I could be back here in the morning. The next day was to be a memorable one. I was supposed to be walking around the spaces which were graced by the Chelsea legends. I couldn’t wait.