Chelsea was one of those fortunate clubs that joined the Football League without having played previously in another league competition. This was in the 1905/06 season and after two Division Two matches at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea then played its first ever match in the FA Cup. No, not against Arsenal or Manchester United but on 7th October 1905 they entertained the Grenadier Guards in the first qualifying round of the competition. The Programme for the match - sorry the Chronicle of the match!!, note that Chelsea was posh even in those days - hardly gives a mention to the 'English Cup' or the visitors apart from on the team page!! The Chronicle - which cost 1d (one old penny) - did include an ad for season tickets. A season ticket to the ground and stand cost 'Gentlemen' £1 and a shilling while the price for 'Ladies and School Boys' was half that. Presumably no 'School Girls' were interested! Oh, Chelsea won the match 6-1 in front of around 5,000 fans and survived to the third qualifying round.
The Grenadier Guards Football Club refers to historically active military football teams, such as the 2nd and 3rd Grenadier Guards F.C. that played in the London League in the late 19th century. While the regiment does not currently field an active senior team in this form, the Band of the Grenadier Guards F.C. was an English football team that played in the London League from as early as 1896 until 1898. During the 1896-7 season, they were champions and during the 1897-8 season they finished 4th.In the 1909-10 season they joined the London Spartan League B Division. They gained promotion in their first season finishing third of six in their division. Participating in the Spartan League A Division for three more seasons they recorded finishes of 7th, 6th and 10th, before withdrawing in 1913. For more info on the Spartan League: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartan_League
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