ONE of the Premier League’s most iconic stadiums looks unrecognisable in a re-surfaced throwback picture.
Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge looks completely different these days as a 40,000-seat arena that has hosted some of the biggest teams in world football – but it hasn’t always been that way.
An old photo circulating on social media showed the SW6 ground looking like it belonged to non-league minnows – with a tiny stand sitting right behind the goal.
But it’s that terrace, which was originally built in 1930, that has given its name to a Chelsea stand that is still in the stadium today.
The rickety old structure beard a remarkable resemblance to A SHED due to its partial covering and rustic look.
The original stand had been built to house punters and bookmakers for dog racing, which used to take place on a track enclosed within Stamford Bridge in the 1930s.
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Fans began to affectionately call the unusual stand the ‘Shed End’ – a name that ultimately stuck.
So much so that when Chelsea renovated the stadium and added a new stand on that south side, they ensured that it was officially named the Shed End.
In fact, the stands itself actually bears the words on it.
The incredible history behind the 148-year-old stadium could be about to come to an end.
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Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has insisted that the West London club WILL move out of their historic digs – which has been home to the club since 1905.
Boehly told Bloomberg: “I think we have to think about long term, what we are trying to accomplish.
“We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flesh out.”
Adding: “Stadium development is a theme [around the world].
“Sporting infrastructure, we’re very much on the front end of the sporting wave. We have 16-20 years to figure this out.
“Obviously, inside of London it’s really complex. It’s not as if we’re building something in the middle of a rural environment.
“We have a lot of constituencies to make sure that we care about.
“Certainly the Chelsea fanbase is one. But long term, I think we’re going to be building something new. And we’ll figure that out.”
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Plans for a £500million, 60,000-capacity redevelopment were initially confirmed in 2015 when Roman Abramovich was still owner, only to be scrapped three years later.
While SunSport revealed last month that ambitious chief Boehly has sounded out a new site in Earls Court.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
