Sports · 11 July 2026

Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates dies aged 94

Ken Bates, the former Chelsea chairman, has died at the age of 94, it was announced on 4 December. He took over the club from the Mears family in 1982 for £1 and oversaw its sale to Roman Abramovich in 2003. Dennis Rofe, a former player who captained Chelsea, remembered Bates as a "very strong character" who "did a lot of good for the club".

By BriefTea Editorial · 11 July 2026 at 15:06

Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs

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