When I arrived in the States in around 2002 I was a stay-at-home dad and had very little to do but watch TV. I knew of Chelsea because I’m a shirt collector – the first Chelsea shirt I got was the 1998 Umbro one with Autoglass on it – but I didn’t know the players.
I used to record Champions League games on VHS tapes, the first game that I got to watch on TV was against Monaco in the semi-finals. That was my first introduction and I got hooked on the club. I have a lot of memories of following the club in the States for 20 years.
About 2009 I found out about the New York Blues because I wanted to watch Chelsea with more Chelsea fans. My first game watching with them was the 2008 Champions League final, when we lost against Manchester United on penalties.
Then I started going at least twice a month, but I had to arrange my day so I could finish work and drive three hours to New York to get there on time.
When Chelsea play in America, I used to go to the stadiums and the pre-match was going through the bar where all the Chelsea fans get together and network, meeting people from all over the world, sharing our stories of how we started following Chelsea.
It’s just unreal, the people that you meet and all the work and effort they put into supporting the club. It’s amazing because you have people coming from Asia and Australia.
That’s why I like to connect with people, we always have something in common – the love and the passion.
This summer, I’m tremendously happy with the young kid Marc Guiu – he’s rapid and strong. And Romeo Lavia, now that I’ve seen him. It’s pre-season and he’s still getting used to the rhythm of the game, but I really like him. I love Noni Madueke as well, I like his confidence.
You know what you’re going to get from the experienced guys and I got a little taste of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, so I think we’re going to be okay. It just obviously takes time and hopefully we do well this season.
The experience of watching a game live, whether you watch it by yourself, with family, friends, the feeling is just indescribable. Watching the game live, you just can’t compare it to watching on TV.
You feel connected, with the fans, with the players. When they score a goal it’s just mayhem. So if for any reason you haven’t had a chance and you’re planning to do it, do it – 100 per cent you won’t regret it. Watching Chelsea live is just unreal.
