The Shed End: Heart of Stamford Bridge

TL;DR: The Shed Finish has at all times been Chelsea’s dwelling for noise and id. The Matthew Harding may argue it’s louder, however the Shed carries the historical past.

The Shed Finish has been a part of Chelsea for the reason that Nineteen Sixties, when a easy coated terrace on the south finish of the Bridge picked up its identify from lads like Mick Greenaway and Cliff Webb. They stood below the tin roof, led the chants, and gave the top its character.

It was the place the noise began. Packed tight, shoulder to shoulder, the Shed had its personal songs and traditions that set it aside. It was noisy, typically hostile, and at all times Chelsea. You didn’t simply watch the sport, you lived it with everybody round you.

The Shed noticed the lot. The glamour of the 70s, the near-collapse of the membership within the 80s, the relegation and promotion scraps of that period, and the rebuild that got here with the 90s. Each excessive and low was felt there, and for a lot of supporters it was the place you discovered what following Chelsea actually meant.

By the mid-90s the terrace was gone, changed by seats as a part of soccer’s transfer to all-seater stadiums. The rebuilt Shed Finish opened in 1997. It was by no means fairly the identical, and within the 2000s the membership made it worse by sticking away followers there. For loads of older supporters that was the second the soul of the Shed took successful.

Redevelopment reshaped the Bridge. The Matthew Harding Stand went up in 1994, the Shed Finish in 1997, the West Stand in 2001. The East Stand from the 70s is the one unique left. By the point Mourinho arrived, the bottom had its fashionable look and the Shed was break up between dwelling and away.

Nowadays, a part of the Shed has secure standing. It isn’t the crush of the previous terrace, however the rail seating offers followers the prospect to face and sing once more. It’s a nod to the previous, and when it’s full it nonetheless has that chew.

Lately there have been correct efforts to get the environment again. Teams like We Are The Shed have labored onerous to convey again color, noise and id. They organise flags, banners and shows, and push for singing sections so the Shed feels just like the Shed once more. These efforts are run by diehards giving up their very own money and time to maintain the traditions alive, and you’ll hear the distinction on huge European nights and in opposition to rivals.

Lots now say the Matthew Harding Stand is the true heartbeat of Stamford Bridge. With no away followers and each tiers full of season ticket holders, it typically outshouts the Shed. However for historical past, for tradition, and for the sheer graft put in by supporters to maintain it alive, the Shed Finish remains to be the place the membership’s id was cast.

Our view

The Shed Finish is Chelsea’s roots. Its chants, its environment, its characters formed what following this membership means. Even with seats and away sections, it carries the historical past, and secure standing plus the work of diehards at the least offers us again a small a part of what made it particular.

Why it issues

The Shed Finish reminds us who we’re. It connects generations and retains alive the tradition that constructed Stamford Bridge. Whether or not you sang within the Shed within the 70s or stand there now with rail seating, you’re a part of the noise that made Chelsea Chelsea.

Sources:The Shed Finish discussion board – historical past & naming |TalkChelsea – Mick Greenaway and early chants |Wikipedia – Stamford Bridge redevelopment |We Are The Shed