Chelsea to continue Aldershot relationship through 2015-16

Sixteen months ago, Chelsea FC -- that's big, bad, oil-monied and evil Chelsea FC, if you work for a paper -- saved Aldershot Town from extinction. That's not the sort of story that tends to get repeated elsewhere, so we'll repeat it here: in summer 2013 the Shots had just been relegated from League Two and were forced into administration due to poor finances before the Blues got involved.

A two-year deal was agreed for our youth team to play at Aldershot's EBB Stadium (they even got Stamford Bridge's old pitch in the process), and so far I'd say that's been a roaring success. So much of a success, in fact, that Chelsea have now agreed to extend their stay at least through the end of the 2015-16 season. Says Chairman Bruce Buck:

We are very happy to continue our relationship with Aldershot, who have been excellent hosts to our development teams over the past season and a half. The facilities at the ESS Stadium make it a good venue for our young players to experience competition, while the location allows Chelsea supporters easy access to watch our stars of tomorrow in action.

Source: ChelseaFC.com.

While I have no problem being the cartoon baddies for the rest of the Premier League, that fact that we're so involved in helping out an unlucky smaller club in the area makes me proud of be a Blue. Nice one, Chelsea.