Mark Worrall

When Skies Are Grey Mark Worrall

When Skies Are Grey: Super Frank, Chelsea and the coronavirus crisis



every goal, every game and everything in between, the definitive account of the 2019-2020 season



"You are my Chelsea, my only Chelsea. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never notice how much I love you, until you've taken my Chelsea away." A traditional anthem sung by Blues supporters for decades takes on true-to-life meaning during the 2019-2020 season when the deadly coronavirus pandemic brings Premier League football to a juddering halt.



"When Skies Are Grey" is a deep dive into an unprecedented campaign that delivers Hollywood-style drama from the minute Chelsea appoint Club legend and record goal scorer Frank Lampard as manager on 4 July 2019. It's Lampard's destiny to return to Stamford Bridge and despite having to cope with a transfer embargo Blues supporters are tingling with anticipation in the weeks building up to the big kick-off away at Manchester United. The match ends in a 4-0 defeat for the London club, a reality check for the new gaffer, players and fans alike.



Undeterred, and increasingly putting his faith in the dazzling array of young talent that blossomed in Chelsea's Academy, Super Frank takes supporters on a gloriously unpredictable rollercoaster ride that gains momentum on 22 February 2020 when the league double over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur is completed and hits the buffers on 13 March when elite football in England is suspended because of the spread of coronavirus. 10 days later, with the COVID-19 death toll spiralling, the United Kingdom is placed on lockdown a situation that has far-reaching consequences for society.



Helping lift the gloom and make supporters proud, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich along with players and staff at the Club make a wide-range of thoughtful and generous gestures to provide support to National Health Service staff and key workers. Significant donations are also made to charities.



Ultimately, the relentless pursuit of money by the game's power brokers dictates that the Premier League eventually returns on 17 June with all remaining fixtures crammed into six weeks and played behind closed doors. It's a scenario plenty of fans have serious misgivings about as the season resumes and accelerates to a suspense-filled conclusion.



Set against a backdrop of fears of the unknown, incessant ITK (in the know) transfer rumours and spectacular social media fallouts, "When Skies Are Grey" provides a unique day-to-day insight into the mind-set of Chelsea supporters as they follow their team during the course of a campaign that will never be forgotten.