Chelsea fans captured on canvas

By John Sinnott

Chelsea fans have a long association with throwing celery

Chelsea and their fans' association with throwing celery have been captured on canvas by a leading British painter.

Artist Mick Kirkbride was commissioned by Chelsea fan and art collector Leon Deith to recreate the essence of Blues fans and "Cech Mates" is the result.

Chelsea fans have been throwing celery and singing a rude song about the vegetable for more than two decades.

Kirkbride told BBC Sport: "My work is satirical and sardonic and focuses on the idiosyncrasies of football fans."

Chelsea have found the celery-throwing habit of their supporters less amusing - in March the club banned three of their fans after they threw celery during the team's FA Cup win at Tottenham Hotspur.

"I can understand why it might get under the club's nose, but I love that pantomine side of football," said the 47-year-old Kirkbride, who is a member of one of England's most prestigious art societies - the New English Art Club.

"I've got to say I'm tickled by the idea of fans throwing celery at Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas when he's taking a corner. It's not offensive, just a bit cheeky."

It's a celebration of the genuine Chelsea fan Artist Mick Kirkbride

Set against the backdrop of a plaque commemorating Stamford Bridge's Shed End, the painting depicts three Chelsea fans sporting the same protective headgear that club goalkeeper Petr Cech has worn for much of this season.

All three fans are holding sticks of celery.

"The picture is of three imaginary Chelsea fans," said Kirkbride, who as well as painting lectures at the London College of Fashion.

"I really like the plaque on the wall. It looks very National Trust, which makes me laugh when you think how horrible the Shed End was in the 1970s.

"In a way the painting is aimed at those Chelsea fans who have supported the club all their life, but might no longer feel part of the corporate juggernaut that the club has become.

"It's a celebration of the genuine Chelsea fan who has a love and genuine understanding of the history of the club."

Artist Kirkbride is a Sunderland fan

Chelsea warned their fans before the FA Cup replay with Spurs not to throw celery during matches, saying it was a criminal offence and that anyone caught could be banned.

The warning had followed referee reports which mentioned celery-throwing at two previous Chelsea matches.

Deith has commissioned a further eight painting from Kirkbride, who was born in the north-east and is a Sunderland fan, about Chelsea for next season.

This is not the first football related painting Kirkbride has produce.

His first was a memorial painting of the 39 people who lost their lives at Heysel in 1985.

And he produced a series of paintings linked to the World Cup in Italy in 1990 after he won a Northern Arts grant.

"Those paintings were darker and more issue-based," said Kirkbride. "The game was going through such a torrid time then, but this Chelsea painting is much more celebatory."