From the disappointment of Moscow, where the genesis of our group unknowingly stood together at what’s become our home bar, to this past season’s redemption in Munich for long-awaited Champions League glory, and a few FA Cups, Community Shields, a league title in between, as Chelsea supporters we’ve experienced the agony, the ecstasy (and more than a few managerial comings and goings) of what its like to be passionate about our club.
As I’ve said many times over the past few months, our supporters group came from very humble beginnings. When I first moved to Denver in 2008, I missed the atmosphere of matchdays at Nevada Smith’s, the epicenter of proper football in Manhattan. Regardless of who you supported, a matchday visit to Nevada’s was the next best thing to being at the football ground – pints and pies, singing, banter between rival supporters – everything a football supporter wants come Saturday. Back then, there weren’t many of us wearing blue and there wasn’t much singing going on, but those of us who supported Chelsea gravitated together, becoming the nucleus of what is now the RMB’s.
The Rocky Mountain Blues became an organized group in 2009 and amassed enough of us to become an Official Chelsea FC Supporters Club the following season, ending the campaign in a packed British Bulldog on the last day of the season where Manchester United lost for Chelsea to secure the title at Stamford Bridge against Wigan. It was the most Chelsea supporters I’d ever seen in town, all packed into what’s now known as the Shed End Denver, singing and giving the red half of the room loads of stick. It was not a day I’ll soon forget.
Flash forward to May 19. The British Bulldog was Blue from end to end and packed with our supporters to see Didier Drogba equalize and then cap his Chelsea career by scoring the winning penalty kick to secure our first European Cup Champions trophy. An ecstatic day in the history of our club and the short history of the RMB’s as a supporters group.
And following the exultation of Champions League glory, the buzz of an exciting US preseason tour and a lot of behind the scenes work over the past couple of months, a new season begins… Sunday’s match saw a new era for not only Chelsea FC as a football club but for the Rocky Mountain Blues as a supporters group. If the atmosphere at The British Bulldog for yesterday’s opener and last week’s FA Community Shield match is any indication, matchdays with the RMB’s will be the highlight of your weekends.
To our long-standing membership: Thank you for your feedback, support, and dedication. You’re there for 5:30am matches against Bolton, midweek Champions League group stages, and the big weekend league matchdays, bringing the ruckus that other supporters groups only wish they could. You are the heart and soul of this group.
To our new members: We are your Chelsea community. We encourage you to get stuck in with us here in Denver or connect with our new viewing party annex locations in Boulder and Salt Lake City. Come get stuck in and get involved on our Facebook group, helping with matchdays at the pub, designing merchandise, organizing special events, putting together an RMB football team. Got an idea? Reach out. We’re listening.
Without you, we can’t fulfill our mission to not only support our club but fly the flag for our game in our community, our region, and our country. Wear your colors proudly, sing loudly, because when you stand with us, you’ll always KTBFFH!
Rocky Mountain Blues 