The first in a short series of articles from Paul Waterhouse of Bygone Chelsea 1905-99 on the history of the matchday programme.
During the 1906-07 season, a Mr William Grogan, who appeared to be a local artist, drew a number of Chelsea players and they were featured in the match day programme over the course of the campaign.
However, a cartoon that he sent to the club was featured on the cover of the programme for the game against Leeds City on 23rd March 1907. Chelsea won 2-0 in front of 25,000 spectators and George Hilsdon scored both goals.
What is significant is that I believe this is the first home programme to feature a cartoon on the cover, something that would become endearing to Chelsea fans over the decades thanks to Bernhard Hugh and Charles Shaw Baker.