Why I love...Chelsea

Radio One DJ Trevor Nelson talks exclusively to BBC Sport Online about his passion for the blues of Chelsea.

Born and bred in Hackney in East London, right in between the grounds of Tottenham and Arsenal, Trevor Nelson is not your most obvious Chelsea supporter.

It seems that his father would agree.

"The first game I ever saw was at Tottenham and the second game I ever saw was at Arsenal," he says.

The Chelsea kit is why I supported Chelsea. It was understated but timeless. All blue

  Trevor Nelson

"My Dad took me because he wanted me to support one of them, but I didn't like either."

So was it some form of childhood rebellion that led the DJ to Stamford Bridge? Er, not quite...

"The Chelsea kit is why I supported Chelsea," he laughs.

"It was understated but timeless. All blue. And then I found out that they were quite a rock and roll team as well."

This was around 1972, right after the Blues had won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners Cup, although he swears that this in no way swayed his judgment.

It would be more than 20 years before Chelsea were back in a cup final, 1994's FA Cup final against Manchester United - surely a day the DJ remembers well?

"That was a terrible day," he groans. It was a horrible, horrible feeling to wait that long and then be outclassed like that.

"I wore my Chelsea shirt that was autographed by the whole team. At full time it rained and my signatures started running . It was a sad day, a very, very bad day."

The late 90s have seen success back at Chelsea

But within three years of what Nelson describes as his "worst day in football," Chelsea were back at Wembley.

This time his beloved team comfortably beat Middlesbrough 2-0 and European and domestic success has continued to improve, albeit in stuttering fashion.

Although the club is currently going through a transition period with the arrival of new coach Claudio Ranieri, Nelson believes the team is still capable of challenging for honours.

"Ranieri has got a good team who can beat anyone on their day.

"I don't think we've got a team who can win the Premiership because we've got too many flair players, but we can always win a cup," he adds.

So does the DJ have a favourite terrace chant?

"They're all too filthy to repeat. But we're one of the few teams in London whose fans really like singing - wherever they go people know that they're there.

"They're the complete opposite of Arsenal, who have the most boring fans in the world."