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Chelsea Football Club Ltd.

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Traditional Chelsea football shirt

Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. In 1982 Chelsea were struggling financially and the stadium freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing its home. At this point it was acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, and after a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash. Bates then formed Chelsea Village plc which was floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), but after the 2003 close season purchase by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich the club was de-listed.

The club play at Stamford Bridge (capacity: 41,841).

Chelsea have been English champions four times, have won the FA Cup six times, the League Cup four times and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice.

Turnover and pre-tax profit figures are in millions and relate to Chelsea FC Ltd except where indicated. * = Chelsea Village plc.

Financial Overview

Year
Turnover
Pre-tax profit
Wages / Turnover ratio (%)
Employees

2007/08

190.082

-70.397

84.5

195

2006/07

165.341

-66.779

74.3

183

2005/06

130.410

-78.297

79.5

160

2004/05

122.657

-132.854

78.6

133

2003/04

118.032

-75.895

 

124

2002/03

75.136

-15.277

 

105

2001/02

75.248

-10.477

63.5

 

2000/01

51.326

-5.962

84.7

 

1999/00*

59.246

2.311

68.6

131

1998/99*

44.076

3.499

56.5

108

1997/98*

37.109

3.067

62.8

105

1996/97*

23.729

-0.513

63.9

99

1995/96*

15.948

-2.045

58.5

104

1994/95

13.500

3.395

44.4

88

1993/94

10.900

-1.362

 

88

1992/93

7.891

 

 

 

Average Match Attendances

Season
Ave. No. Spectators

2009/10

41423

2008/09

41590

2007/08

41395

2006/07

41542

2005/06

41900

2004/05

41870

2003/04

41235

2002/03

39785

2001/02

39072

2000/01

34700

1999/00

34532

1998/99

34750

1997/98

32900

1996/97

27615

1995/96

25598

1994/95

21025

Website: 
www.chelseafc.com

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