Name: Berekum Chelsea Football Club

Established: 2000

Colours: Blue

Nickname: The Blues

Home: Golden City Park.

Look at the stat graphic above critically.

Do you see a team that's made progress, gone limp or just about broken even?

Berekum Chelsea have just marked their 200th game since qualifying for the first time to the Ghana Premier League. They played Hearts of Lions on Sunday and drew 1-1.

A relatively unknown side back in the day, they are based in the centre of the country and their entry into Ghana’s top flight took many by surprise - not least the club’s similar name to the London giants.

This team came as Berekum Chelsea, changed their base to Bechem and hence became Bechem Chelsea, before reverting to the current name.

Before the money

From the hot conditions in the Upper West Region, Kwamax FC was formed. One of the key starters of the venture was Maxwell Konadu, current Black Stars assistant coach.

"The aim was simply to harness the budding talents in the region," he says.

Financial hiccups and lack of support from the home fans forced a sale of the club. And Berekum Chelsea was birthed from the restructuring efforts of the new owners.

After years of toiling in the lower leagues, a successful campaign in the 2008 Division One League fired them into the nation’s top flight. The team announced their arrival by finishing a respectable seventh, winning 11 and losing just 9 of the opening 30 league fixtures.

League march

The 2009/10 campaign looked promising in opening half for the then richest club in town, though they dropped two places on the league.

The only consolation for the club was the experience the playing body gained.

In the 2010/11 Premier League season, Nana Kwame’s lucrative monthly salaries and winning bonuses attracted the best in the local scene to the farming region. From Abdul Basit to Solomon Asante, Emmanuel Clottey (above) to Gladson Awako, the Ghanaian local player for once ignored the calls from Manhyia palace or the rainbow family.

The Golden City Park became an El Dorado for local players, as players built their dreams at the Golden City Park.

The team suddenly rose from just a division one club to serious league contenders in a matter of seasons. Emmanuel Clottey took the golden boot as the Berekum based side kept the trophy in the Brong Ahafo Region a year after rivals Aduana Stars did it a year earlier.

It was the second time one region has defended the league title since Olympics and Hearts of Oak in 1973 and 1974 respectively.

Decline

The dream of Nana Kwame to lift the domestic trophy had been achieved. It became quickly clear that plans were not long-term.

No official sponsorships were sought. No headline money-spinning brands scouted. Nothing. They relied on the heavy pockets of the owners.

To imagine the same club facing bankruptcy now is quite stunning. 

Highs

They entered the league in the 2008/2009 season and have since managed to stay. Unlike many clubs who get relegated in their formative years at the top level, Chelsea stayed.

They began their Premier League journey with a win beating old timers Liberty Professionals in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

In 2011, after just three years they clinched the title on May 18 (above, pictured).

A 1-0 win from an Emmanuel Clottey goal ensured the crown was delivered with three games to spare. It made yet another statement that the Ghanaian top flight was not the preserve of Hearts and Kotoko, especially after Aduana Stars won in the 2009/10 season.

This success propelled Chelsea to get into the African Champions League, but they were undone in the group stages and have not been the same since. To date, the Blues are the last Ghanaian side to have reached this level in Africa.

After 200 games, Chelsea have scored 199 goals but have conceded 171. They have bagged in 85 wins, 55 draws and 60 losses. Apart from the 2013/2014 season, their goals for have always exceeded or have been equal to that of goals against.

And then they won the President's Cup back to back in 2011 and 2012 (below, pictured with trophy). Those were truly heady days.

Stars

Chelsea has positioned itself as a good side that can attract some of Ghana’s leading talents, mainly because of the money from CEO Emmanuel Kyeremeh. The likes of Black Stars winger Solomon Asante, Gladson Awako, Yaw Frimpong (all three now at TP Mazembe), Jackson Owusu (Asante Kotoko) and Emmanuel Clottey have all passed through the club.

Lows

These days, things aren't the same in Berekum. The boom went bust when the club was nearly rendered bankrupt. 

Kyeremeh eventually left the country and has taken a backseat in the running of the club. Gradually, the Berekum Blues are slipping into the shadows. They were a delightfully formidable side to watch in their day and fans would hope the glory days return soon, beginning with this weekend's home game against Edubiase . 

-

Follow Joy Sports news on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag on Facebook and Twitter is #JoySports