Showing Loyalty to Chelsea FC by Wearing Jersey - Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis of Chelsea FC Jersey Also known as, the Blues, and based in Fulham, London, Chelsea Football Club is an English football club where it features in the English Premier League since its inception in 1905 (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Stamford Bridge stadium, which has a capacity of 41,837 seats, is the home ground for Chelsea Football Club (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Notably, since the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, Chelsea has been one of the richest soccer teams in the football history across the world (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). The team has a regular kit, which includes a royal blue shirt and short with white socks. Moreover, the Chelsea FC Jersey has the club’s crest and derives great meaning to the fans, players, and other stakeholders. There have been various changes to the clubs crest as the club sought to re-brand itself and modernize its image for purposes of taking advantage on new marketing opportunities. The 1950s’ crest was the first club badge to appear on the Chelsea FC Jersey since Chelsea started wearing badges on their shirts in 1960 (“Chelsea FC” 1). Furthermore, the new ownership of Roman Abramovich, fans, and the approaching of clubs centenary led to demands for the restoration of the popular 1950s badge seen below (“Chelsea FC” 1). As such, the crest changed in 2005 and its adoption took place at the start of the 2005/06 season. Notably, the current crest on the Chelsea FC Jersey features a ceremonial lion rampant holding a staff and the name Chelsea football club that depicts a modification of the 1950s’ crest (“Chelsea FC” 1). The crest also features two red roses that represent England, and two footballs. Specifically, the there was a special centenary crest used in 2005 to commemorate the centenary (“Chelsea FC” 1). Ideally, the new crest on the Chelsea FC Jersey depicts the naturalistic nature of the club (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Moreover, the new badge on the Chelsea FC Jersey shows the pride of the Chelseas heritage as it reflects on the club’s tradition (“Chelsea FC” 1). Most assuredly, being a Chelsea fan is more than watching the club’s games since it also including buying and wearing the Chelsea FC Jersey. Indeed, the Chelsea FC Jersey is important to the fans, players, managers, and management. Originally, the Chelsea soccer kit included a light blue jersey, white shorts, and dark blue socks taken from the horse racing colors of Lord Chelsea (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). However, in 1912, Chelsea introduced the current Chelsea FC Jersey, which has dark blue color and hence the term, royal blue jersey (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). As such, blue has been the color for Chelsea FC Jersey for all seasons. Moreover, in the 1960s, Tommy Docherty introduced the royal blue shorts (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Initially, the Chelsea shorts were white in color. Notably, the combination of colors on the Chelsea FC Jersey was a distinct aspect that marked the uniqueness of the jersey and the team since no other club uses the same combination. Indeed, in changing the kit to royal blue shirts and shorts and white socks, the Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty had a believe that the new royal blue colors represent modernity and uniqueness (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). As such, the current Chelsea kit entails the royal blue jersey and shorts with white socks which is a unique soccer uniform. Notably, Adidas is the jersey brand for Chelsea football club where it manufactures the royal blue shirts with silver detailing (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Indeed, Adidas has been producing the Chelsea FC Jersey for over seven seasons. Moreover, Samsung has been the jersey sponsor for Chelsea football club for over eight seasons (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Ideally, Chelsea has an away and home jersey, which is seemingly different. The Chelsea FC away jersey is white in color with a blue trim and the home jersey is dark blue in color with white detailing as seen below. Chelsea FC Away Jersey Chelsea FC Home Jersey The entire home kit includes a blue jersey, blue shorts, and white socks while the away kit includes a white jersey, white shorts, and white socks. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the branding of the Chelsea soccer jersey only started in 1975 (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Indeed, the branded soccer wear revolution of the 1970s forced Chelsea and other prominent teams in England to start branding their playing kits and developing associations with major soccer jersey manufacturers like Adidas and Nike (“Soccer Jersey Expert” 1). Since Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea FC in 2003, prominent and expensive players like Torres, Etto, Drogba, and Lampard have been wearing the Chelsea soccer jersey across the Premier League seasons. As such, the jersey depicts a sense of respect, success, value, tradition, and uniqueness. Furthermore, the continued sponsorship by Samsung adds value and puts Chelsea in the global market. Ideally, Adidas manufactures the Chelsea soccer jersey with a view of making the players perform better, faster, and stronger. Additionally, Adidas abhors sports and hence invests in creating the best performance kits for soccer players like in the case of Chelsea football club. By having an international appeal, Adidas plays a significant role in enhancing the value and performance of the Chelsea FC jersey. Adidas adds unique features to the jersey where in the 2013/14 season the Chelsea FC jersey features the Adidas TechFit technology in the on-field jersey. Notably, the Adidas TechFit technology enhances the performance of the jersey since the incorporated cutting edge TechFit technology (“World Soccer Shop” 1) helps to improve speed, increased endurance capabilities, and enhanced awareness (“Chelsea FC” 1). Indeed, the new Chelsea FC jersey manifests additional and advanced technologies, which include a white color block on the sleeves. Specifically, the white color block on the sleeves generates Adidas iconic three white stripes that are seemingly blue in color, which creates a distinctive and striking design. The Chelsea FC jersey is equally very comfortable subject to the jacquard fabric that Adidas uses to manufacture the jersey. Moreover, the Tech-Fit Technology enables the players to improve their speed, increase their endurance capabilities, and enhance their awareness in the field. This emanates from the fact that the Chelsea FC jersey stabilizes and concentrates the muscles’ energy (“World Soccer Shop” 1), which enhances the maximization of power output and increases the speed of the players in the field (“Chelsea FC” 1). In addition, the Chelsea FC jersey adopts the CLIMACOOL Technology (ClimaCool™), which shows a combination of heat and moisture controlling materials, ventilation channels, and 3D fabrics, which play a significant role of improving airflow to the skin in the key heat zones (“Chelsea FC” 1). Most importantly, Adidas used 100 percent Polyester to manufacture the Chelsea FC jersey, which is a convenient material for the players while in the field. As such, it is clear that the current Chelsea FC jersey uses the latest Adidas technologies to make sure that the jersey invokes the true meaning of a Chelsea player or fan and gives the club an edge on the soccer scene (“Chelsea FC” 1). In fact, we can trace the anatomically placed mesh at the back of the neck and underarms of the Chelsea FC jersey, which plays the role of ventilating the players’ body to maintain their cool while playing (“World Soccer Shop” 1). As such all the materials that make the Chelsea FC jersey aim at ventilating the players’ body, enhancing performance, increasing awareness and endurance, reducing heat and moisture build-up, increasing comfort, and enhancing transpiration while playing (“World Soccer Shop” 1). Quite notable is the clubs crest on the left chest in both the home and away jerseys. The clubs crest is the actual identity of “The Blues.” As such, the Chelsea FC jersey is not only unique and comfortable to the players but to the fans who proudly wear the jersey in all Chelsea games and in other occasions. Indeed, the fans wear the jersey during Chelsea games with an intention of showing their loyalty to the team as they celebrate the club’s history. As such, the jersey helps the fans to relate with the players, the management, and the history of the club. It is the surest way of showing their affiliation to the club. In fact, in the previous seasons like the 2013/2014 season, Adidas and Samsung called on Chelsea fans to order the Chelsea FC jersey without seeing it. Notably, with the huge loyal fan base, the call achieved its purpose since the fans adore the jersey subject to its comfort, design, uniqueness, availability, modernity, and performance (“Chelsea FC” 1). Most assuredly, the manufactures maintains that only blue matters, which depicts the uniqueness of Chelsea FC. In every season, different and the biggest Chelsea stars features in the iconic imagery on the Jerseys that the club will use in the forthcoming season (“Chelsea FC” 1). This inspires the fans and shows that the club aims at continued success. Ideally, the iconic imagery on the jerseys confirms the belief that Chelsea is a deeper and emotional thing and not just a soccer team (“Chelsea FC” 1). Indeed, Chelsea is the only club in England that calls itself, The Blues. Moreover, the interaction between Adidas and Chelsea brands has been significant to the extent of reaching fans of other clubs (“Chelsea FC” 1). The Chelsea FC jersey develops the magical thinking aspect among players, fans, and managers who believe that the choice of the jersey may influence the success of the team on the pitch. Works Cited “Chelsea FC.” New 2013/14 Official Home Kit. 2014. Web. 20 January 2014. < http://www.chelseafc.com/shop-article/article/2911465/title/home-kit> “Chelsea FC.” Chelsea And Adidas Reveal New 2013-14 Kit. 2014.Web. 20 January 2014. “World Soccer Shop.” Chelsea 13/14 OSCAR Authentic UCL Home Soccer Jersey. 2014.Web. 20 January 2014. “Soccer Jersey Expert.” History of Chelsea Soccer Jerseys since 1905. 2014.Web. 20 January 2014. “Chelsea FC.” Club Badges. 2014.Web. 20 January 2014. http://www.chelseafc.com/club-badges Read More