Chelsea's choice to play in blue is linked to the club's connections to the English aristocracy – and in particular to the noble branch of Earl Cadogan. According to some sources, the land where Stamford Bridge now stands was once owned by the Cadogans – and the lion in Chelsea's crest can also be found in the noble family's coat of arms. When Chelsea played their first matches in 1905, they did so in the same shade of blue that Earl Cadogan had used at horse racing events: Eton blue. Seven years later, the shade of blue was changed to "royal blue." The white shorts were changed to blue in 1964, following an initiative by head coach Tommy Docherty.
Chelsea's choice to play in blue is linked to the club's connections to the English aristocracy – and in particular to the noble branch of Earl Cadogan. According to some sources, the land where Stamford Bridge now stands was once owned by the Cadogans – and the lion in Chelsea's crest can also be found in the noble family's coat of arms. When Chelsea played their first matches in 1905, they did so in the same shade of blue that Earl Cadogan had used at horse racing events: Eton blue. Seven years later, the shade of blue was changed to "royal blue." The white shorts were changed to blue in 1964, following an initiative by head coach Tommy Docherty.