Twickenham's hallowed turf to resound to football boots

The hallowed turf of Twickenham, the home of rugby union, could soon be trod by professional footballers. It would be the first time the ground has been used for anything other than rugby union.

Chelsea, the Premiership club from west London, are considering playing some of their league matches at Twickenham next season while their own ground is being re-developed.

The Rugby Football Union, owners of Twickenham, said it had not yet been approached but "would be interested" if it was. Indeed, the RFU has already offered Twickenham, now a state-of-the-art 75,000-seat venue, as a host ground for England's 2006 football World Cup bid.

Any attempt to extend use of the stadium, which at present stages just 12 events a year, will be strongly opposed by local residents. There will also be dissent from within the game. Some, recalling the famous 19th- century quotation, "football is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, and rugby a hooligans' game played by gentleman" are certain to regard footballers - and their supporters - as the wrong kind of "barbarians" for Twickenham.

Chelsea, however, are as glamorous as a football club can be. Though their supporters have not quite shaken off a notorious past, the club, fashionably based near the Kings Road, is enjoying a massive surge in popularity. Managed by the enigmatic Dutchman Ruud Gullit, the team features several foreign stars, including Gianfranco Zola, the Italian whose goal beat England last week.

Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground is now being turned into a modern 42,500- seat arena incorporating a hotel, shops, flats and offices. While the ground will remain open, capacity will be reduced to a maximum 31,000 at the beginning of next season. This is inadequate, especially if the fixture list provides an early home match against the likes of Manchester United or Arsenal. In that circumstance Chelsea would seek to play at Twickenham. Tony Hallett, the secretary of the RFU, said: "It's news to me, but we would be interested if they did approach us."

While the RFU would not want a football club in permanent residency at the ground, it would welcome occasional fixtures, such as FA Cup semi- finals. The RFU at present has to pay off a pounds 34m loan towards rebuilding costs.

While the idea may seem anathema to union diehards, some will feel the sanctity of the ground, the home of English rugby union since 1910, has already been lost.

Last year the RFU allowed the rugby league professionals of Wigan to play a game of union there.