Abuse, fears and hope: Chelsea Women fans adjust to a new reality

As the sun set on one of the most turbulent days in Chelsea’s history, there was still business to be done. There were few home comforts in store for the women’s team as they travelled to West Ham, on a night when those would have been keenly appreciated. Emma Hayes’s side were in need of a win to keep on the coat-tails of Arsenal at the top of the Women’s Super League. Accompanied by so much uncertainty, their loyal legion of fans descended on Dagenham on Thursday, decked out in royal blue, to offer unrelenting support.

In the circumstances, the action on the pitch was a sidenote to more significant matters. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stunned the world and the government’s response felt close at home. The imposition of sanctions against Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, has been much discussed and was not wholly unexpected. But the instinct that something was going to happen sooner or later did little to lessen the blow for the fans, players and staff.

“I thought: ‘This is going to be a very long day,’” says Tracy Brown of the fan group Chelsea Pride. “To be quite honest, we were all expecting it at some point. We know that it’s been fast-moving. At the same time, we all absolutely condemn everything that’s happening over in Ukraine and our thoughts go out to everybody over there. But as a fanbase, we know that this is obviously just going to be a difficult time for us.”

This is the crux of the issue. The fans, for the most part, are understanding of the government’s strong measures. However, news that their club’s very existence could be under threat was sure to trouble even the most confident supporter. The anxiety was clear among those who follow Hayes’s side home and away. They have found themselves a target