Chelsea could tour India in 2015

[coolhead23 1,146]

For all the Indian fans in India, I'm sure we all are hoping this comes true ... It is time that big clubs start exploring the growing fan base here in India.

Chelsea could tour India in 2015

Good news for all the Chelsea fans on the Subcontinent! According to Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay, speaking at the International Football Arena roundtable in New Delhi, the club has a long-term plan for India:

India is an important market for us. We hope to be visiting the country soon to initiate a long-term partnership. It's too easy for clubs just to fly in, play and then leave. At Chelsea we feel a fundamental responsibility to help develop the sport at grass roots level and leave behind a lasting legacy, so there would be much more to consider than just playing games here.

-Ron Gourlay;

IFA Press Release

According to the the Hindustan Times, "soon" may be as early as the preseason to 2015-16:

We’ll follow a similar cycle (to the one in Malaysia, Thailand and the USA). The earliest we can get the first team down here is 2015-16. The planning we put into a tour, with our various CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities and campaigns such as Blue Pitch, starts six months before the tour.

-Ron Gourlay;

Hindustan Times

Over the last half decade, Chelsea have followed a fairly regular preseason rotation, switching between North American and Southeast Asian tours, placing ever increasing emphasis on leaving a lasting legacy wherever they visit. "Here to play; here to stay" was the theme for this summer's USA tour, which included coaching clinics, youth training sessions, and the like in addition to the regular exhibition schedule.

While including India in next summer's pre-season sounds infeasible, a tour looks almost a certainty at some point in the near future.

Source: http://www.weaintgot...r-india-in-2015

[warnie_666 1,081]

I am surprised they havent tapped the indian market yet. But i knew it was inevitable

[Rmpr 8,977]

Great for Indian Chelsea fans, India is a very overlooked market. Clubs have yet to realise how big and lucrative this market is (and will be). Nice to see Chelsea being ine of the first to go for it!!!

[didierforever 7,349]

god bless whoever proposed this...

[Beirut_Blues 306]

too soon to be talkin abt this?

[Liquidator 5,176]

We should tour South America as well at some point- we could be big in Brazil with Oscar, Luiz, Ramires, Piazon etc.

[Madmax 9,219]

I just hope we don't embarrass ourselves. Truth be told, the facilities here are beyond a joke.

[Ankit 3,176]

Although it's too far fetched right now to think about it!! But fuck it, last year Bayern Munich came to Delhi and played a match against Indian national Team. I was so excited to see a team of Bayern's stature that i reached the stadium 2 hrs before kick off after covering a bus journey of about 4 hours.

Wonder what will i do if Chelsea come calling.

[nachikethas 1,149]

too soon to be talkin abt this?

for u may be for us never!!! im goging to put a countdown board in my room

[Buffalo talks Blue 85]

Great news for India! Blackburn Rovers once planned to open an academy in Pune. Is it started yet?

[Ankit 3,176]

Great news for India! Blackburn Rovers once planned to open an academy in Pune. Is it started yet?

No. Not yet, it was supposed to take about 2 years to be set up. Although the spotting of kids aged 11-12 has started in few cities. The one-and-a-half-year programme could churn out a bunch of talent by July 2013.

[Buffalo talks Blue 85]

No. Not yet, it was supposed to take about 2 years to be set up. Although the spotting of kids aged 11-12 has started in few cities. The one-and-a-half-year programme could churn out a bunch of talent by July 2013.

Oh, okay.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Forever alone