Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc

Head chef @wistonhouse home of @wiltonpark in West Sussex. On Instagram chef_tone_franklin. Father of two and Chelsea fan since the 70’s💙⚽️

[Eden Hazard @hazardeden10]

Football is back and so am I, but will they recognise me? 👀

BTW what is your discount @JohnTerry26 ? 😜

Let’s go @ChelseaFC 💙

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@80s_Kidz Buggy

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@80s_Kidz Knock Down Ginger

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Ken Bates saved Chelsea. Not only back in 1982 when Bates rescued the club from potential oblivion. But still now, even following the sad news of his passing aged 94, Bates’ legacy continues to protect Chelsea. He created the CPO, Chelsea Pitch Owners, which safeguards the future of the stadium.

Bates achieved much in an extraordinary life. He fought to protect the FA Cup, fought for the new Wembley to be built, stabilised Leeds United and fought for smaller clubs but his greatest legacy revolves around Chelsea. Combative, controversial, loyal and principled in his way, Bates was driven by a desire to prove himself, to make something of himself, to take on the establishment in its varied forms.

Much of this drive stemmed from memories of growing up without parents (his mother died, his father disappeared and he was raised by his grandparents) and frustration at a childhood disability destroying his dream of making it as a footballer at Arsenal. He'd been a good attacker.

It was April 2 1982, when Bates rescued Chelsea. He spoke to the club bankers who’d run out of patience. “We have two cheques here,” the bank told Bates. “One is for the share of the (FA Cup) gate which has to go to the FA. And one is the players’ wages. Which one can we bounce?”

He came in, invested money to tide the club over and started cutting costs. Entering the Bridge boardroom for the first time pre-match, Bates was shocked to see the number of guests, the feast laid on, even a cigar box being passed around at a club losing £12,000 a week. Chelsea even had a club chauffeur. Not for long.

Bates’ cost-cutting was brutal but vital. Chelsea recovered, fought off property developers through Bates’ strength of personality, established themselves as a force in the Premier League and became more involved in European competition. Bates loved Chelsea. He loved entertainers. His favourite was Gianfranco Zola because the Italian played with a smile, dribbled and lit up stadiums and fans’ lives.

Even after selling to Roman Abramovich in 2003, taking over Leeds where his cost-cutting (and Chelsea past) alienated many fans, and then living in retirement with his beloved Suzannah in Monaco, Bates would try and return to watch matches at the Bridge. He kept a flat full of mementos nearby.

On the sideboard was a framed copy of Bates’ CPO share. One day while Chelsea chairman, a fan shouted about the possibility of “your grandson sells the land for houses”. Bates’ initial reaction was, typically, “You ungrateful bastard”.

But he realised that was a very real threat – the Bridge was prime London land. Developers craved it. So Bates created the CPO; it now numbers 13,000 fans owning 23,000 individual shares (Thomas Tuchel has one) and a large majority would be required to vote for any change in use of the pitch. And they aren’t for change. As Bates intended.

We last spoke on May 18. Ken sounded frail but was typically opinionated on the footballing issues of the day. Bates had his difficult side, vendettas and views, but he was passionate about family, football and Chelsea FC. RIP, Ken.

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@currys Mexico 🇲🇽 1-2 England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#CurrysFootball

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@itvracing Great win, reminds me of Nijinsky 1970. Btw why is the Oaks, the third classic of the season put on a Friday afternoon? Surely making it a centrepiece race on Sunday or tomorrow with the Derby would be more deserving of a great race?

[Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC]

Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆

Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐️

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@AtTheRaces @Ascot Saturday

[At The Races @AtTheRaces]

Win SIX @Ascot tickets for this weekend to a day of your choice!

For your chance to win simply like, repost and comment 'FRIDAY' or 'SATURDAY' to enter 👇

[Tony Franklin BEM⭐️⭐️cfc @chef_Tone70]

@AtTheRaces WIN

[At The Races @AtTheRaces]

WIN TWO TICKETS TO GOLD CUP DAY AT THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 🚨

For your chance to win, simply like, repost and comment ‘WIN’

Winner will be announced on Thursday - good luck! 🤞

[Laurenz Vescoli @Laus1507]

There is factually at the very least 3 punishable fouls happening in one and the same clip!

Not one of them was given…

You can’t even blame Arsenal for it, if we tried this and the refs let us off every single game, we‘d keep doing it too!

You are a disgrace @FA_PGMOL

[EPL Bible @EPLBible]

How on earth is that not handball btw? 🤨 https://t.co/w8KOHQQI0N

[Paddy Power @paddypower]

Arsenal 🤝 Sh*te tifos

[Paddy Power @paddypower]

The ball clearly not on the quadrant for the corner kick, but VAR say carry on because it's an Arsenal set piece...

[EPL Bible @EPLBible]

Should Chelsea have got a penalty? 🤔

[The Touchline | 𝐓 @TouchlineX]

📸 - Declan Rice keeps placing his balls outside the circle before taking a corner kick, but nothing is being done about it.

[Paddy Power @paddypower]

Arsenal player dives and the Chelsea player gets booked.

That sounds about right.

[Troll Football Media @TrollFootball2]

Should this have been a handball and a penalty for Chelsea? The commentator thinks so…

But Arsenal fans will tell you PGMOL want Man City to win the league

[Lea @Lea_EFC]

Raya punches Pedro in the head 👀

❌ Referee - Play on
❌ Assistant Referee- Play on
❌ VAR - Play on

You cannot make this shit up 😂😂😂

🔴 ARSENAL FC 🤝 PGMOL