Last time we played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, it was a rare Saturday 3pm kick-off. The English football authorities and the Holy See don’t coordinate mass times and kick-off times, so I missed my usual Saturday evening mass and turned up on Sunday morning instead. “Hello, Jimmy,” said the priest. “This isn’t your usual mass.” “I know, Father. I was at my other church — Leeds United.” “Oh, splendid. Who were they playing?” “Chelsea.” “Oh, I hate Chelsea!”, the priest replied.
There you go. God says it’s okay to hate Chelsea. I don’t think it’s written into the Catechism of the Catholic Church, not the latest editions anyway, but there it is.
⬢
To read the rest of this article, you need to join TSB+ — members get access to this plus extra podcast and video episodes, all podcasts advert-free, can read every issue of our magazine online and much more. You can join or log in below.
Join TSB+
Support TSB and get all this:
- PODCASTS —
- All podcasts ad-free in one feed
- Members only podcast & video episodes
- The Match Ball live video & early access podcast
- Your voice on the show
- EXTRAS —
- Members Daily Email
- Discounts on merch
- MAGAZINE —
- Digital subscription
- 8 x 80-page magazines a season
- Read as PDFs or web posts
- YEARLY ONLY —
- Add paper mag subscription any time for just £8 (+p&p)
- Or select TSB+ Mag to add paper subscription now
TSB+ Mag
£5.66 p/m
- Billed yearly at £67.88 plus postage
- First month free trial
- Adds 12 month TSB Mag subscription
- £8 instead of £18 - £1 per issue (+p&p)
Other options
TSB Magazine
£1.50 p/m
- Billed yearly at £18 plus postage
- 12 month TSB mag subscription
- 80 page print magazine
- 8 issues of TSB per season
- Delivered worldwide
- Discount on special issues
Gift Memberships
- Give the gift of The Square Ball
- Send a magazine subscription
- Give a TSB+ membership
- Send a gift card