Chelsea are one of English football's biggest clubs and the West London Blues have brought numerous players through their academy over the years.
Like many other top English clubs, Chelsea academy players have conquered the world of football, playing their trade at different clubs in Europe and beyond.
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 to 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.
Chelsea academy training ground
Built in 2004, and officially opened in 2007, the Cobham Training Facility is used by the Chelsea first-team squad and is home to U18s fixtures. It is situated in Stoke d'Abernon near Cobham in the ceremonial county of Surrey,
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.
Note that Chelsea FC moved to Cobham training ground in 2005, which means they will be celebrating 20 years of training in the facility next year.
However, while Chelsea Under-18 and Under-21 do most of their training at Cobham, matches are played at Kingsmeadow Stadium, a venue we will also explore in this post.
Chelsea moved their training ground to Cobham 19 years ago. Ever since, the village and surrounding areas has become home to footballers.
The streets are lined by mansions hidden behind gates with some valued at more than £20m.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 8, 2024
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.
Kingsmeadow: Home to Chelsea Academy and Chelsea Women
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.
In 2016, Chelsea purchased Kingsmeadow for the women and Chelsea Academy teams in a deal worth over £2 million. AFC Wimbledon used the money to build their current ground, Plough Lane.
Kingsmeadow has a capacity of 4,850, with 2265 seats and the rest standing. It was 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 4,870 spectators for a match between AFC Wimbledon and Accrington Stanley 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 4,582 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, where do you sit before you attend the Chelsea U21 home games?
Let's explore each of the stands at the Chelsea Academy ground as follows:
Paul Strank Stand
This stand at Kingsmeadow has 1,265 seats and is connected to changing rooms, bars, officers, and other useful facilities. In 2008, it 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, from 2005 to 2006, it was renamed 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.
After much work and many discussions, ticket prices for #CFCDev academy matches at Kingsmeadow have been revised with immediate effect. Season Ticket Holders, Members and U20s can now all attend free of charge, everyone else is £4.https://t.co/NFH29nfcwC
— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) November 4, 2024
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?
AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian originally occupied the current home ground for Chelsea Academy.
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 2,265 seats at the Chelsea Academy Stadium.