Chelsea are one of English football's biggest clubs and the West London Blues have brought numerous players through their academy over the years. And like any other top English club, Chelsea academy players have conquered the world of football, playing their trade at different clubs in Europe and beyond. And even in the FIFA World Cup, it is easy to pick out Chelsea FC-bred stars whose football stardom have left millions in awe.
Players like Bobby Tambling, Graeme le Saux, Terry Venables, Jimmy Greaves, John Terry and, in more recent years, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham have all worked their way up and into the first-team squad.
So, for fans wishing to see the next generation of young talent at the nine-time FA Youth Cup winners, where do Chelsea Academy play their matches? Well, while they do occasionally play games at the club's primary ground, Stamford Bridge, you will most likely see the youngsters in Chelsea jerseys playing at either Kingsmeadow or Cobham Training Centre.
Kingsmeadow: Home to Chelsea Academy and Chelsea Women
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Home to Chelsea Women, Kingsmeadow is also the primary location for Chelsea's men's Under-21s side. Located in Kingston-upon-Thames in London, the 1989-built stadium has been the home for the club's women's side since 2017 and the Academy teams since 2020.
Kingsmeadow has a 4850-capacity, with 2265 seats and the rest standing. It used to be the home of AFC Wimbledon between 2002 and 2020, while Kingstonian FC played there from 1989 until 2017.
The highest-ever attendance recorded at the stadium was a match played between AFC Wimbledon and Accrington Stanley, which attracted 4870 spectators on 14 May 2016.
The highest attended match involving Chelsea was a friendly played back in 1995, versus the ground's then-occupiers, Kingstonian, which saw 4582 fans attend.
Exploring the stands at Kingsmeadow
Like any other stadium you have been to, Kingsmeadow features a myriad of stands where fans can sit or stand to watch the Chelsea academy team take on opponents. So the question is, especially before you attend the Chelsea U21 home games, where do you sit? Let's explore each of the stands at the Chelsea Academy ground as follows:
Paul Strank Stand
This stand at Kingsmeadow has a total of 1,265 seats and is connected to the changing rooms, bars, officers and other useful facilities. In 2008, the stand was renovated to include a protective roof from rainfall and additional seats.
RayGas Stand
RayGas stand was originally known as East Stand and at some point, Your Golf Travel Stand. The stand holds the scoreboard and a camera gantry and faces the Paul Strank Stand.
Chemflow Stand
Formerly known as Tempest End and Athletics Stand, Chemsflow Stand at Kingsmeadow has also undergone modifications in recent years. For example in 2005 through to 2006, it was renamed to Tempest End, thanks to a sponsorship deal with Tempest Sports.
John Green Stand
John Green Stand at Kingsmeadow changed its name from Nongshim Stand. It features 1,000 seats. The current name is thanks to John Green, an American author who has had a huge interest in the team.
How to get to Kingsmeadow – Chelsea Academy home stadium
Depending on where you come from and the means you are using, there are different access points to Kingsmeadow, the home ground of Chelsea Academy.
The nearest railway station to Kingsmeadow is Norbiton, a 15-minute walk from the ground. South Western Railways run trains from London Waterloo to Norbiton, via Clapham Junction and Waterloo. The station is in London Zone 5.
The number 131 bus (Fairfield Bus Station to Tooting Broadway) stops directly outside Kingsmeadow Stadium, while the K5 will get you nearby, too.
FAQs about Kingsmeadow
Which teams originally played at the Kingsmeadow?
The current homeground for Chelsea Academy was originally occupied by AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian.
Which stand are available at Kingsmeadow?
There are several stands at Kingsmeadow. Note that the stands were during sponsorship by AFC Wimbledon. They include the John Green Stand, formerly known as the Nongshim Stand, Paul Strank Stand, RayGas Stand, and Chemlow End.
What is the current seating capacity of Kingsmeadow?
There are a total of 2265 seats at the Chelsea Academy Stadium.
Cobham Training Facility: Home to Chelsea U18s
Built in 2004 but not officially opened until 2007, the Cobham Training Facility is used by the Chelsea first team squad and is home for U18s fixtures.
It has also been used for other sporting events and by other teams. The Chinese Olympic Football team used it as their training base for the 2012 Summer Olympics, while a global U16s tournament known as the Cobham Cup is also hosted there. The Cobham Rugby Football Club also use the facility to train.
Chelsea's U18s play most of their league fixtures at the training ground, but FA Youth Cup fixtures will often be hosted at Kingsmeadow. In general, fans cannot attend games at Cobham Training Ground.