Claude Dowse was a builder—a good builder. He understood the importance of solid foundations and the need to use only quality materials. He also had an appreciation of fine workmanship and set high standards in his professional life. Rough enough wasn’t good enough for Claude. His constructions were of the highest quality and made to stand the test of time.

It would be no surprise to anyone who knew him that Claude would apply these very same principles of operation to all of his interests, including his other great love—the Chelsea Football Club.
Assuming the Presidency in 1958, Claude was immediately on the offensive, taking the struggling club by the throat and shaking it out of its lethargy. He had enjoyed the taste of success in 1955 and was sick and tired of the mediocrity that had been tolerated since. It simply wasn’t acceptable.

Claude believed in calling a spade a bloody spade and a mongrel bludger a mongrel bludger. His direct, uncompromising approach immediately raised the stakes as everyone associated with the club suddenly knew that they would be held accountable for carrying out their tasks effectively. No-one would risk Claude’s ire by being slack. His demands started to be met as he set about establishing a solid foundation of willing workers for the club.
He sought out and obtained the service of quality executives in the persons of  Frank Parsons and Frank Hepworth to take up the key roles of Secretary and Treasurer. He then focussed on the playing group. A new young coach was appointed as Claude continued to rule with an iron hand. If there were any problems, no matter how small, Claude would react and they were fixed. He was confronting and, at times abrasive, but there was no doubting the man’s passion for the task, nor his love of the club. During his five year reign, Claude was influential in restructuring the entire operation to one of financial strength and on-field success. His influence was profound, long lasting and affected every aspect of the club’s operation.
Claude was granted a ‘Queen’s Amnesty’  in 1954. He had been under suspension for striking an umpire. But he never played again. Interestingly, he served many years on the M. P. F. L Independent Tribunal and was very adept at sorting the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

In his seventies, his blue and white heart demanded an appearance at the Club after a long absence. The football club at the time was in a parlous state at the bottom of the ladder.
“What are WE going to do about it?” was his question to club powerhouse Ray Stuart . It was a thinly veiled offer of help from the old man that highlighted the need for urgent action.
His passing in 1989 brought to a close a life that was always filled with vitality, strength of  character and drive, a life devoted to his beloved Seagulls.

ACHIEVEMENTS
Joined Chelsea Club in 1940
Life Member CFC - 1958
CFC President - 1958 - 1962
Life Member MPFL
MPFL Tribunal - 15 Years
Vice-President MPFL
1963 - 1977