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Chelsea Supporters Trust raised £5,742 from 226 supporters

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Closed 04/07/2017

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£5,742
raised of £5,500 target by 226 supporters

    Weʼve raised £5,742 to recognise former Chelsea FC player, Jack Whitley, with a memorial on his grave in Brompton Cemetery

    Funded on Tuesday, 4th July 2017

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    Story

    The aim of this crowdfunding project is to raise enough money to erect a memorial marking the final resting place of one of Chelsea Football Club’s most loyal servants, Jack Whitley. He is the only Chelsea footballer we know to have been buried in the cemetery next door to Stamford Bridge.

    Jack served the club loyally and with distinction from the age of 29 to 61, as first-choice goalkeeper (1907-1914), then as first team trainer (1914-1939).

    He had died at Tring in Hertfordshire on 5 July 1955, a few months after the club won the league title for the first time in 1955, aged 77.

    In summer 2015 a chance rereading of the Albert Sewell book ‘Chelsea Champions!’ led official Chelsea historian Rick Glanvill to discover that Whitley had specifically requested to be buried at Brompton Cemetery and, with the help of the Friends of Brompton Cemetery, Jack’s grave was ‘unearthed’.

    Sadly, at the moment it is a common grave with no stone to acknowledge Jack’s presence and his long association with the club just across the railway line.

    As he is the only occupant of the grave, we aim to obtain the relevant permissions and place a ledger (or flat slab) with a suitable inscription on, repaying the commitment Jack showed to Stamford Bridge and Chelsea Football Club.

    To do this we need to raise around £5,500, and that is where the great Chelsea family comes in.

    As well as chipping in what you can afford yourself, please help make every Chelsea supporter you know aware of the crowdfunding exercise.

    We propose an inscription along the following lines:

    "In affectionate memory of

    JOHN ‘JACK’ WHITLEY
    11 Apr 1878 – 5 Jul 1955

    Loyal servant of Chelsea FC for 32 years
    Goalkeeper and first team trainer
    Who asked to be buried
    next to his beloved Stamford Bridge.

    Funded by Chelsea FC supporters 2017"

    Thank you very much,

    Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

    Updates

    11

    • Chelsea Supporters Trust7 years ago
      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      7 years ago

      Jack Whitley's grave can be found at the north-east corner of Brompton Cemetery and is a 5 minute walk from West Brompton station. The  74 and 430 bus' stop just outside of the cemetery entrance.

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    • Chelsea Supporters Trust7 years ago
      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      7 years ago

      We would like to thank all those who kindly donated money towards the fund, whatever the amount, and express our gratitude to Milestone Memorials, Royal Parks, the Friends of Brompton Cemetery, and Chelsea FC, for helping to make this happen. On Saturday there will be a guided tour of Chelsea related graves at 11am sharp, followed by a short service to unveil the memorial and inscription which we hope to hold at 12.00 pm although the time needs to be confirmed. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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    • Chelsea Supporters Trust7 years ago
      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      Chelsea Supporters Trust

      7 years ago

      Chelsea Supporters Trust Chairman, David Chidgey said: “We are proud to be associated with the campaign to provide a fitting memorial to Jack Whitley, a loyal servant of Chelsea FC. Furthermore we are very grateful for the generosity of Chelsea supporters who donated to the campaign so readily. It proves unquestionably that the bond between supporters and players remains as strong as ever."

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    7 years ago

    Chelsea Supporters Trust started crowdfunding

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    Page last updated on: 9/24/2017 20.38

    Supporters

    226

    • Jon Ellis

      Jon Ellis

      Jun 6, 2017

      £20.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      May 4, 2017

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Apr 27, 2017

    • Ricki Benka

      Ricki Benka

      Apr 17, 2017

      Glad we can help towards a worthy cause. It's good to see Jack being remembered.

      £30.00

    • gordon treweke

      gordon treweke

      Apr 15, 2017

      Donation on behalf of Chelsea Badge Group

      £100.00

    • Alex Kirby

      Alex Kirby

      Apr 7, 2017

      £10.00

    • Amy  Smyth

      Amy Smyth

      Apr 4, 2017

      £10.00

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    About the fundraiser
    Chelsea Supporters Trust

    Chelsea Supporters Trust

    Building on the Brompton Cemetery Chelsea Graves project, the Chelsea Supporters Trust is mandated to work with the club and club historian Rick Glanvill to identify appropriate projects to reflect and enhance the club’s heritage. The Jack Whitley memorial is such a project.

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