Plough Lane Emerges as Option in Chelsea Women’s Stadium Talks as Kingsmeadow Capacity Strains

Plough Lane has emerged as a genuine option in Chelsea Women’s discussions over where to stage more of their home fixtures, with the club increasingly aware that Kingsmeadow no longer reflects either the scale of their success or the growth of the women’s game. 

The 9,000-capacity stadium, owned by AFC Wimbledon and located in south-west London, is understood to be under consideration as a shared venue that would allow Chelsea to host more Women’s Super League and domestic cup matches in front of larger crowds. 

Its location is also viewed as a practical advantage, sitting closer to Chelsea’s Cobham training base than Kingsmeadow and offering improved transport links and matchday facilities.

Kingsmeadow, based in Kingston upon Thames, has a capacity of 4,850, including 2,265 seats, and is routinely sold out, particularly for high-profile league fixtures and European ties.

While Chelsea have continued to use Stamford Bridge for selected marquee games, the size of the men’s stadium and the demands of a congested calendar mean it is not always a viable option for regular use. Chelsea’s average home attendance this season stands at 6,397, a figure that highlights the gap to London rivals Arsenal, who now play all home matches at the Emirates Stadium and are averaging more than 36,000 supporters per game, with last season’s north London derby against Tottenham drawing a crowd of 56,748.

Head coach Sonia Bompastor has acknowledged that the club is approaching a decision point. “We are probably close,” she said when asked about future stadium plans, confirming that talks are ongoing between herself, the club’s ownership and chief executive Aki Mandhar. 

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s recent WSL meeting with Arsenal, Bompastor praised the Gunners’ model for growing their fanbase, saying, “Congrats to Arsenal because they are doing an amazing job with their fanbase. That’s probably where every club wants to be.” She added that Chelsea is keen to follow a similar trajectory, explaining that “a lot of conversations are happening in the background with me, the club’s ownership and CEO. We want to move in that direction.”

The discussions are not limited to capacity alone. Bompastor has also stressed the need for flexibility as Chelsea juggles men’s and women’s fixtures alongside domestic cups and Champions League commitments. “It’s important for clubs like Chelsea to have a backup plan,” she said. “When you play many games in a season with your men’s team and women’s team, and you play Champions League, sometimes you can have clashes.”

 In that context, a venue such as Plough Lane is seen as offering a balance between scale and practicality, providing a consistent home for women’s matches without the logistical challenges of Stamford Bridge.

Any move to Plough Lane would not necessarily represent a complete or permanent relocation. Chelsea is expected to continue using a mix of venues, with Kingsmeadow remaining part of the club’s infrastructure and Stamford Bridge reserved for selected fixtures with the highest demand. 

The conversations instead point toward a more flexible model designed to support rising attendances, improve the matchday experience, and allow the women’s team to grow its audience sustainably.

Players have also hinted that change may be imminent. Asked about the prospect of playing more games in larger stadiums, Lucy Bronze suggested plans are already taking shape, saying, “I already know more than you do.” She added that she hopes Chelsea can push on next season, stating, “I think, hopefully, next season we can do a little bit more. I think just keep growing the fan base, keep growing women’s football in the WSL. I think especially when it’s nice London rivalries, it gives us something to celebrate in the capital.”