Ahead of the team's departure from Asia, another initiative was launched that will contribute to the legacy the club is leaving behind in this part of the world.

Kicking off in Hong Kong is a unique partnership between the Chelsea Foundation and Barclays Spaces for Sport scheme that, with pitch-level work by the Chelsea FC Soccer School in Hong Kong and our global charity partner Right To Play, will aim to help thousands of disadvantaged young people.

Andre Villas-Boas and Josh McEachran represented Chelsea at the launch, as did club ambassador and Foundation trustee Graeme Le Saux, who said:

'Having played football all my life and having got to the highest level, I have been able to see how football can have a really positive impact on young people's lives, both in enjoyment and in learning how to develop teams and relationships.

'In this context it is about getting out into communities that maybe don't have the same opportunities that most of us are privileged to have. We are supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports over a three-year period to deliver something really meaningful, sustainable and measurable.

'We can look at it in a few years and hopefully develop the programme for longer and wider. We are very excited to get things underway.'

Using the Chelsea Foundation's expertise in delivering social inclusion programmes in the UK, the scheme will target approximately 2,600 disadvantaged young people aged 15 to 17 who are not in education, employment or training.

The programme will work with local schools and youth organisations to identify the people who may be at risk of offending or gang membership. Barclays intends to invest close to £400,000 over three years to support the scheme.

Football and basketball activity will be the name of the game, plus Right To Play's sport for development programme that enjoys success across the globe. In Hong Kong, there will be three venues used.
Villas-Boas said: 'We take our role in the community very seriously at Chelsea FC and we are delighted to be partnering Barclays Spaces for Sports here in Hong Kong.

"Chelsea has been doing some great work on the ground here and with this new funding from Barclays we will be able to reach a wider group of less privileged children through sport.'