Chelsea FC 1-0 Manchester United - 8th November 2009
It was November 8, 2009, and Stamford Bridge was electric. Chelsea, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, were locked in a top-of-the-table battle with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Chelsea were chasing the Premier League title, and every moment of the match carried weight. With the score at 0-0 and only minutes remaining, Chelsea captain John Terry headed in a controversial 76th-minute winner, securing a 1-0 victory that would prove pivotal in their title-winning campaign.
But as the game neared its climax, with substitutions being made—Salomon Kalou for Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan for United’s Anderson and Ryan Giggs—the cameras panned to the stands behind the dugout. Amid the sea of cheering fans, one supporter (David) stood out, not for waving a scarf or chanting, but for vigorously brushing his teeth, toothbrush in hand and foam in mouth. The moment was captured live on Sky Sports, and football fans around the world did a collective double-take.
John Terry's one and only goal against Man Utd! ⚽️🙌 pic.twitter.com/rqI9AdZpi1
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2021
David's explanation of the toothbrush incident.
Soon, a man identifying himself as David called into the show to explain. His story was as straightforward as it was bizarre: “I was wanting to get to the game and I put [the toothbrush] in my pocket and forgot to brush my teeth. I thought no one was looking. I always brush my teeth before I go anywhere.” David added that he believed his moment of oral hygiene would go unnoticed in the packed stands. “I thought no one was looking at me,” he insisted.
But David’s tale didn’t end there. He revealed another layer of eccentricity, explaining that he was wearing dark sunglasses during the match to avoid being recognized by an ex-girlfriend in attendance. “I saw my ex-girlfriend at the game,” he told 606. “The reason I was wearing sunglasses was to disguise my face because I like the girls, I like the women. I think I am a ladies’ man and I’m very good-looking.” This added a comedic twist to an already surreal story, painting David as a character straight out of a sitcom.
The moment even inspired copycats. In January 2024, during Chelsea’s match against Fulham at Stamford Bridge, a group of seven men in green velvet jackets were filmed brushing their teeth in unison. Initially, fans were baffled, with some assuming it was a homage to David. However, it was later revealed to be a promotional stunt for the film Argylle, produced by a company linked to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and starring Dua Lipa, who was present at the match. The stunt drew mixed reactions, with some fans decrying it as a commercialization of the game, but it underscored David’s lasting influence.
Surprise Cameo from current Chelsea FC player.
On X yesterday (18th June 2025), it emerged that a future Chelsea star was present during David’s viral moment. Trevoh Chalobah, then a 10-year-old in Chelsea’s academy, was sitting just one row behind the toothbrush-wielding fan.
How have I never known that Trevor Chalobah is behind this guy 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/o8FsNvW7rN
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) June 18, 2025
In June 2025, Chalobah shared a clip of the incident on his Instagram story, posted by Australian outlet Optus Sport, with the caption: “I was just trying to watch a game of football man!” The clip, identified by former Chelsea youngster Milan Lalkovic, showed a young Chalobah looking slightly confused as David scrubbed away. Chalobah, now a first-team regular, became an unwitting part of one of the Premier League’s strangest viral moments.
https://t.co/OTm86ZfzGJ pic.twitter.com/dp5hOO9zpa
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) June 18, 2025
