
Straight Outta Cobham: The Athletic FC's Chelsea show
The Athletic's Chelsea experts - Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher and Jessy Parker Humphreys - are alongside host Matt Davies-Adams to bring you behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge. Expect unrivalled insight, honest opinion and stimulating debate.
Latest episodes

Apr 21, 2025 • 45min
George & Neto inspire late comeback to resurrect top five hopes
Just returning the favour after Boxing Day...Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to reflect on the unlikely Easter Sunday comeback which saw Chelsea score two late goals to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.We talk half-time tweaks, the outpouring of emotion at full-time from the players and fans - and what this means for the chances of Champions League football next season. Not such good news for CFCW though - who were humbled in a 4-1 defeat at a dominant and ruthless Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first leg encounter. Plenty of work for Sonia Bompastor's side to do if they're to keep their quadruple hopes alive when they face off again at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.We'll be back on Thursday to look ahead to that game and Saturday's early kick-off against Everton in the Premier League. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 2025 • 45min
Chelsea hit 'rock bottom' but progress despite woeful Legia defeat
Has a team ever reached a European semi-final but been booed off the pitch? Asking for a friend...Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Dom Fifield unite BEFORE the Legia game to look ahead to Sunday's visit to Fulham in the Premier League. But don't worry - thanks to the magic of editing we also hear from Simon Johnson in the press box after the hugely demoralising 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw in the Conference League which threw up more questions than answers. We look ahead to the small matter of a Champions League semi-final first leg over in Barcelona for CFCW, talk agents fees and veteran strikers and hear from Pat Harding - son of Matthew - who's following in his father's footsteps after becoming chairman of Hassocks FC. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 2025 • 45min
Have Chelsea blown their chances of Champions League football?
What is it about Ipswich?!Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to mull over the pretty disastrous 2-2 draw with the Tractor Boys at Stamford Bridge.We touch on the fractious relationship between Enzo Maresca and the fans after his pointed post-match comments, the lack of leadership amongst the squad and the costliness of the back-to-back draws with a pretty treacherous run-in to come. Then it's onto Thursday's visit of Legia in the Conference League quarter-final second leg. The Blues take a 3-0 advantage into the tie... surely they can't mess that up!?Plus, there was late drama for CFCW as Aggie Beever-Jones scored a 94th minute winner as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 to book their place in the FA Cup final!We'll be back on Friday to round up the Thursday night's European escapades and look ahead to the tricky trip just down the road to take on Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2025 • 55min
George & Acheampong shine in Poland - so is Sunday an audition for Liam Delap?
Tyrique George... you love to see it!Matt Davies-Adams has got Jessy Parker Humphreys and Luke Bosher with him to give their verdict as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Legia Warszawa over in Poland on Thursday night. We heap praise on academy graduates George and Acheampong for seizing their opportunities - but also ponder why it was such a painfully slow start to the game and whether Enzo Maresca should be more critical of the first half woes which continues to be a plague this side. We've got a look ahead to Sunday's visit of an Ipswich Town side who are on the brink of relegation - but hoping to do the league double over Chelsea! Plus, is this an audition for Liam Delap at Stamford Bridge?We touch base with the women's team - back in action after the international break and with the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool to look ahead to as Sonia Bompastor's side enter a defining month of action. And of course... a quiz! We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the visit of the Tractor Boys and look ahead to the second leg of the Conference League quarter-final tie against Legia. HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Jessy Parker Humphreys and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 2025 • 43min
Away woes continue after drab goalless draw at Brentford
What much better things could we have been doing with those two hours of our lives? Matt Davies-Adams, Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey have the unfortunate task of talking about the 0-0 draw at Brentford on Sunday.There was eyebrow raising team selection, an abundance of long kicks, the ongoing Nkunku problem and a sense of one steps forward, two steps back for Enzo Maresca. Then, we look ahead to Thursday's trip to Poland to take on Legia Warszawa in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg. Who's making the starting XI?!We'll be back on Friday to find out how the Blues got on, plus look ahead to the visit of Ipswich in the Premier League AND CFCW's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2025 • 59min
Spurs battered 1-0 - can Chelsea's away fortunes change at Brentford?
Poor old Ange...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher in tow to look back on the fiery and thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.We talk the triumphant return of Nicholas Jackson, Caicedo's extraordinary engine and the much-improved showing from the Blues, buoyed on by a raucous crowd. Now - can they translate that home form to Sunday's away day at Brentford?! Enzo Maresca's side are hoping to avoid suffering five straight Premier League defeats on the road when they face the Bees. We'll be back on Monday to reflect on the short trip to the Gtech and preview Thursday's Conference League quarterfinal first leg in Poland! HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson PRODUCER: Lucy OlivaWe're asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/athletic/survey25. Three lucky entries will win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 2min
An axed day off, stadiums, Spurs - and John Terry on *that* historic 04-05 defence
Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher to get back up to speed with all things Chelsea Football Club after the international break. We begin with a round up of the latest Blues news since we've been off - including more stadium uncertainty, a new wonderkid and a revoked day off...We've got a special guest, as club legend John Terry speaks to Simon Johnson to commemorate the 20th anniversary of THAT remarkable defence that conceded just 15 goals in 38 Premier League games in their record-breaking first title charge under Jose Mourinho in 2004-2005. Then, Jessy Parker Humphreys does their best to round up a pretty crazy fortnight in the world of CFCW as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League in dramatic circumstances.On Thursday it's all eyes on the Premier League as Spurs make the short trip across town to Stamford Bridge. We preview that game and it's importance for Enzo Maresca as the run-in to the end of the season begins in earnest. We'll be back on Friday to run the rule over the visit of Tottenham and look ahead to the trip to Brentford!HOST: Matt Davies-Adams WITH: Luke Bosher, Liam Twomey and Jessy Parker Humphreys PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2025 • 42min
120 years of Chelsea: the new-look Blues
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we follow the club into the modern day and discuss the seismic changes that have taken place behind the scenes since the takeover by BlueCo in 2022. Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey alongside him to analyse the current state of the men’s team - which it’s fair to say is going through a bit of a tumultuous time! Then, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Dan Sheldon, who’s recently investigated some of the concerns around the ‘CFC LDN’ rebrand and whether there are wider connotations… We had to finish on a high note, so Jessy Parker Humphreys is with us to explain how despite it all - the women’s team have maintained their standards of excellence (Man City 1st leg aside!) and continued to win trophies while the men’s team have struggled to compete.
Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003
Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decade
Back on Monday to look ahead to the return to Premier League action with the small matter of Tottenham coming to Stamford Bridge - plus we'll check in on the fortunes of CFCW!HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Dan Sheldon and Jessy Parker HumphreysPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 24, 2025 • 1h 7min
120 years of Chelsea: the Roman Empire
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, we go back to July 1st, 2003 - and the day the course of the club’s history changed forever when Roman Abramovich became owner. Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic’s Dom Fifield and Simon Johnson alongside him to reminisce about the glory days, the José years - and the experience of covering the club during that period. And what was it like to be a fan growing up in that era? Younger fans are often tarred with a glory hunter brush, but Luke Bosher explains what it was like to be introduced to the club when they were serial winners and at the height of their powers. Plus, Liam Twomey’s back to help us finish off our overview of the defining fixtures from each decade, from the 1980s through to the modern day.
Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003
Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decade
HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey, Luke Bosher & Dom Fifield PRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2025 • 1h 3min
120 years of Chelsea: the early(ish) days
On the 10th of March, Chelsea Football Club celebrated its 120th anniversary. It’s fair to say from 1905 to 2025 there’s been chaos, controversy, jubilation, heartache, success, failure and everything in between. On this episode, Matt Davies-Adams is joined by The Athletic’s Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey to delve into the history of the club from its formation in 1905 through to the latter stages of the 20th century. Yes, Chelsea really did exist before 2003! What about some of the club’s forgotten figures? The Chelsea Graves Society was set up by fans, dedicated to tracing the final resting places of former players and significant others associated with the club. Member Andrew Rowley joins to tell us more.Then, we take a decade-by-decade look at some of the defining fixtures which shaped the club - and paved the way for the Chelsea we know and love today.
Read Simon's piece on Chelsea's rich history before 2003
Read Liam's piece on Chelsea's most important match from each decade
HOST: Matt Davies-AdamsWITH: Simon Johnson and Liam TwomeyPRODUCER: Lucy Oliva Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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