Some People Call Me Crazy Shirt

Charlie CrowhurstThere’s a story in the Daily Mail about Turkish Airlines coming in to replace Samsung as our shirt sponsor starting next season. Plausible? I suppose; it wouldn’t be the first time (or the second) that we’ve had an airline as a sponsor and apparently the Turkish one is the third largest in Europe (who knew?), so presumably they have the money to outbid Samsung, whose contract is up this summer.Since I’m in no position to comment on the validity of this rumor, let’s take a trip down memory lane instead. Here then is a quick overview of the nine different companies (eleven brands total) that have sponsored a Chelsea shirt since we first adorned the Royal Blue with a trademark in 1983.To see most of these shirts in one place, I highly recommend checking out the Flickr account of @wiltshire711. He’s got a shirt collection to put all other collections to shame. Warning: you might get VERY jealous after clicking here.

Some People Call Me Crazy Shirt

GULF AIR (1983-84)A few years after Liverpool or Derby County or Kettering wore a sponsored shirt (didn’t feel like researching beyond this bit), Chelsea trotted out with one for the last five months of the 1983-84 campaign. It wouldn’t be the first time we’d take flight on the wings of an airline from the Near East. The simple, almost understated design (outside of the contrasting color, obviously) would set another precedent as well.Did you know? That in the 1983-84 season, Gulf Air became #Chelsea Football Club’s first ever shirt sponsors! pic.twitter.com/lN4TlwzLJg Gulf Air (@GulfAir) August 27, 2014While the sponsorship would last only the one season — to the tune of £150,000 — it proved a successful one as Chelsea won the second division