Photo: Katie Chan / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea Women's newly formed supporter focus group, The Blueprint, held its launch event at Stamford Bridge, bringing together fans, player Erin Cuthbert, and sporting director Phil Radley.
The Blueprint was established earlier this year with the aim of giving supporters a strategic input into culture, atmosphere, and matchday experiences at the stadium, which becomes Chelsea Women's permanent home from the coming season.
Members were selected from a large pool of applicants and represent a broad range of backgrounds, ages, genders, and levels of fandom. Topics at the first meeting included stadium atmosphere initiatives, pre-match activities, music, and the development of banners and displays.
"This gives the fans a voice and it shows it is not the club and the fans; we are all together and integrated as one. We all want the same thing, to win football matches and have a good experience," said Cuthbert.
Blueprint member Jenny Symmonds also spoke at the event. "Chelsea has a very personal touch as a club and I feel we have never lost that," she said. "The support has grown so much. I feel the players still really want to engage with fans."
The group is scheduled to meet several times per season and will work alongside the existing Fan Advisory Board.