To mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush, Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation are releasing ‘Chelsea’s Caribbean Voices’ a photography and interview series with fans of Caribbean heritage from across London.

For the final instalment of this series, we spoke to cousins Sirayah and Asher. Sirayah is one of the recipients of Chelsea Foundation and BCOMS’ inaugural Journalist Bursary Award, one of our commitments to promote diversity in sports media.

Sirayah and Asher have long supported Chelsea and share with us their memories of coming to support Chelsea and where they think clubs can do more to bolster their fans with Caribbean heritage…

How did you become Chelsea fans?

Sirayah
Well my mum supports Arsenal and my dad supports Tottenham, and my household was mad on derby days. So I said, let me go to blue. I thought, let me pick a club outside and because I saw Chelsea won a lot more than the others, I said okay let me be a little glory hunter!

The first time I was ever pictured, I was three months old, and I was in an Autoglass ‘98 Chelsea shirt that one of my mum's work friends got for her. So it was like destiny. It was my fate.

Asher
And she just made me a Chelsea fan!

Is there a particular Chelsea moment, either today or in history, that stands out to you as being important, as someone from the Caribbean community?

Sirayah
For me, in my lifetime, it's probably seeing Raheem join Chelsea. Having someone who's directly from my same island come and play for us is pretty iconic.

My sister also plays for Jamaica, so Raheem’s one of her idols as well – she’s so inspired by him. So, I really enjoyed the transfer, I enjoy having someone that looks like me, that knows my food, my heritage, play for the team, and I'm excited to see what his future holds as a Chelsea legend.

• Chelsea Foundation celebrates Windrush generation

• Chelsea’s Caribbean Voices – Gill and Felicia Pennant

• Chelsea’s Caribbean Voices – The Brandfords

Asher
One of my main times was when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2021. We went out to celebrate together, but it was a big moment for a lot of Black people, especially seeing the players and everybody represent them as well, it was just a lot of fun to see everybody come together and enjoy such a special moment together.

So what does Windrush Day mean to you, either personally, or on a societal level?

Sirayah
From both aspects - our family, from what I've been told, came in 1952. It was my great aunt who first came to this country, and then my grandmother followed and had my dad here. We've been able to build up a whole family unit in this country, and really feel British as well as we feel Jamaican.

With Windrush, you can see our impact within London, within society and on sport; there's loads of people within the England squad of Caribbean heritage. We have Notting Hill Carnival in west London, which is a massive part of culture where it brings loads of people together. So for me, it's just a really iconic time to be Caribbean in London, and it's really nice to reflect after the 75th anniversary on the change and all the hard times you've overcome.

Asher
It's very special I think. It’s important for other people to know about our heritage, because obviously, it's easy to see Jamaican people or Caribbean people, but to learn about them is special. Especially all of us living together in the UK, it's good to get a glimpse into what it's like for us and learn about our history as well. I think that's why it's such a special day.

Sirayah
I also just think it's a wonderful thing that we've made it to 75 years, we can see change - there's a lot more to be done, and Chelsea and Chelsea Foundation are taking it seriously. You’re giving people from these actual backgrounds a platform and an opportunity to talk about why these things matter to us, and celebrate as well as educate. So I'm really proud to be a Chelsea fan and I'm proud to be one of the changemakers in the progress to a better society.

Asher
Yeah, you switched me into a Chelsea fan! I didn't have a choice.

If you could pick one element of Caribbean culture that you'd love to see celebrated more by clubs, or Chelsea particularly, is there anything that springs to mind?

Sirayah
I think two things. One, I would like to see clubs celebrate the heritage of people more.

I’d love to see players talking about their favourite food, get more insight into their pre-match schedules: is there a song that brings them luck? Any family things that bring them together? I'd like to see more of that personal insight.

But also I think, particularly Jamaican people, we're so happy, we're so positive, we're so go-lucky. And I think introducing some of that attitude in society as a whole is still needed. It will be beautiful to see more of that attitude that we have from our island: hardworking people who came over here and changed London's landscape, and Birmingham's, for the better.

Asher
I think more music. Have that happiness, have everybody come together and unite through music a lot more, because the Caribbean islands unite through music a lot, and through food a lot as well.

It would be nice to see clubs celebrate heritage more through music – that would be quite fun! Other people would relate to that too, because music is such a huge thing; Jamaican artists are so present and their music is all over the UK. I think a lot of English people in particular, they would relate a lot with the music and go, ‘Wow! Oh my gosh, my players!’

Obviously you guys are of the younger generation, but what do you think is the difference today for the Caribbean community, and Chelsea fans particularly, compared to what it was before?

Sirayah
As someone who's a fan and someone who works in the sport, I just see more people generally that look like me walking around. I feel more included in society. I feel like the older generations literally had to fight for their place, had to fight for housing, fight to have their own neighbourhoods in Notting Hill to just be safe and celebrate their cultures. But now I feel like we're pushed and encouraged to celebrate where we're from, and represent how sport can actually bring together countries, and what we can learn from different islands and communities even within the team itself.