ATTN: Chelsea fans in Philly

[Eddie26]

A bunch of us that get together every week at the Dark Horse finally decided to get off our butts and start and "official fan group". We've created a Yahoo! group for now and are looking into the possibility of purchasing a site in the future.

The info is:

* Your group information:
Group name: PhillyBlues

Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PhillyBlues

Group email address: PhillyBlues@yahoogroups.com


It's basically a message list and a small site (the same thing as the USBlues and NYBlues) where we can post stuff. (Pics, calendar, polls, etc.) But at least we can keep in touch. I know I haven't been around much in the last year but I have to change that. We've got a solid group of regulars, now we need to find the rest of you that maybe don't know about us.

For the future, I was talking to Tim and he had an idea of making a banner. I think we can come up with a good one (Bill, your tshirts that one time were great!). We could put something together and talk to the guys at the Horse in maybe letting up hang it up during games. (I can't see why that would be a problem.) I've spoken to Paul in the past into possibly having thing where we pay them like $25 or $50 or whatever (maybe even $100) at the beginning of the year and that'll entitle us to not have to pay the $5 cover, a free drink every game and possible like 10% or 20% off your food tab (I'll ask on Wed about the possibility and what we can maybe work out for us with them). I don't know about you but I would pay for that. We could also hang up the shirts Bill had made (if there are any left) and get them sold and possibly make new ones.

I'd like to get a good, organized group together and put the Liverpool and Arsenal fans there to shame. Please pass this around to anyone you think might be interested. (Bill I think you might have a lot of people's email addresses.)

When signing up, I advise choosing the option to get a Daily Digest for the group, otherwise, you'll get a bunch of emails in your mailbox.

-Eddie

[Clan]

Where in Philly is the Dark Horse?

[speedyturtle4]

How famous is Chelsea in the US? I live in Crawley near Gatwick. Is football becoming a more dominant sport in America and do you think it will become a nationally accosiated sport in the future? How much of an impact are the tours Chelsea and other big clubs in Pre-season making on America? Who are seen as Chelsea's star players?

[Eddie26]

Where in Philly is the Dark Horse?

On 2nd St between South and Pine in Olde City. Good pub, owned by some Irish guys.

Where are you?

[Eddie26]

How famous is Chelsea in the US? I live in Crawley near Gatwick. Is football becoming a more dominant sport in America and do you think it will become a nationally accosiated sport in the future? How much of an impact are the tours Chelsea and other big clubs in Pre-season making on America? Who are seen as Chelsea's star players?

I think it's growing but for now it's more of a "cult". People who know it are rabid about it (talking about soccer in general.)

As for CFC, I became a fan in the late 90's when I got FoxSportsWorld for the first time and a roommate of mine was English (from Newbury) and was a huge Chelsea fan. I got into the EPL through him (and Chelsea for that matter).

I think the EPL and MLS in general are growing quite a bit. I see more and more kits around town. I own (along with a bunch of Chelsea ones) a Bolton Jay-Jay Okocha jersey and people ask me all the time about it or I get looks from people who know the EPL that say "Nice jersey".

We in the US now get about 4-5 games a weekend on TV. Usually 3 on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays.

[speedyturtle4]

Can you subscribe to Chelsea tv in the states. Because in the UK we have Chelsea tv which has a full replay of all the matches, phone- ins, Daily news updates, player interviews and reserve and youth team matches live. And its only £6 a month and there is also Big Blue Digital Radio which has all the Chelsea matches, although a litle too biased and plays adverts sometimes in the middle of the match lol. I think they sell portable Big Blue radios at the Chelsea mega store.

[Eddie26]

Can you subscribe to Chelsea tv in the states. Because in the UK we have Chelsea tv which has a full replay of all the matches, phone- ins, Daily news updates, player interviews and reserve and youth team matches live. And its only £6 a month and there is also Big Blue Digital Radio which has all the Chelsea matches, although a litle too biased and plays adverts sometimes in the middle of the match lol. I think they sell portable Big Blue radios at the Chelsea mega store.

No you can't. You can get the online version though. Setanta (an Irish based satellite company) this year signed a deal with both Chelsea TV and MUTV. The only problem is that you can only get this in pubs.

I think the pubs are one of the reason the EPL is as popular as it is. Until recently, you couldn't watch most games at home. You could only watch them by going to certain pubs, therefore forming a comraderie (sp?) with a group. You saw them every week, you talked about you team, drank some pints, maybe have lunch and then go home. Which is how we at the Dark Horse all met each other. It took us about 4-5 years to decide to start a little "club".

Since we on the East Coast are 5hrs behind, games start here at 7:30am, 10am and 12pm. So it takes a little commitment to get up to watch the games. The weekday games are on at 2:30 but you can usually catch a replay at 5 if you are able to avoid the score.

They do sell the Big Blue radios at the Megastore, only problem is that they don't work here!! I bought one when I went to the Chelsea-Brum game last year.

[Clan]

On 2nd St between South and Pine in Olde City. Good pub, owned by some Irish guys.

Where are you?

Well, i haven't a clue where that is either.
How close is it to the new stadium?

If i left my drive way and headed to Philly it would take me 2 hours to get to the stadium.
Down the turmpike and on to the surekill, then off on exit 131.

[Eddie26]

Well, i haven't a clue where that is either.
How close is it to the new stadium?

If i left my drive way and headed to Philly it would take me 2 hours to get to the stadium.
Down the turmpike and on to the surekill, then off on exit 131.

Olde City is one the western part of Center City so it's north of the stadiums but only about a 10-15 min ride down Delaware Ave or 95 and you are there. From the Schuykill you take that to 676 West, get off at 8th street, take that until Pine, make a right and take it until you get to 2nd. In all should take you about the same as getting to the stadiums. If you don't mind, what town do you live in the Poconos?

Here's the pub's website: www.darkhorsepub.com

It's not on the schedule but they will have the Chelsea-West Ham Carling Cup match on Wed at 5pm. A bunch of us are going if you are interested. I am staying after that for the Red Sox-Cards game. I don't know if anyone else is though.

[Clan]

Um, perhaps i'll take a ride of of these weekends.

Small town outside of Scranton called Thornhurst.

[Eddie26]

Um, perhaps i'll take a ride of of these weekends.

Small town outside of Scranton called Thornhurst.

Let me know. It's usually about 10 of us, maybe more depending on the immensity of the game. (Obviously more Chelsea "supporters" only come out for the Spurs, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool games)