The story began in 2012, when founder Lindsay Mize moved to Tampa and struggled to find somewhere to watch Chelsea matches with fellow fans. Determined to change that, he turned to Facebook, searching for other local fans who shared his passion for Chelsea.

‘I typed in “people who live in Tampa and like Chelsea Football Club” and got about 1,400 results,’ Lindsay recalls. ‘I spent a week sending messages to all of them, inviting them to our first watch party.’

The first meet‑up took place at Reilly’s Westshore Taphouse for a match against Liverpool.

‘Six people showed up, and three of them are still regular members today,’ says Lindsay. ‘Chelsea winning that game made it an even better way to start.’

From the start, the group’s aim has remained the same, to show up and support the team. Whether Chelsea were lifting trophies or enduring tougher periods, the Cigar City Blues have always gathered to watch games, no matter the time.

‘Despite Chelsea only being the dominant Premier League club for part of our history, we’ve had by far the best support and turnout at the pub for the last decade,’ Lindsay explains.

One of the most exciting moments in the group’s history came in May 2021, when Chelsea contested the UEFA Champions League final. For many members, including Zack Doan, one of the group’s most dedicated organisers, it remains unmatched.

‘We had around 250 people pack the pub,’ says Zack. ‘The celebration at the final whistle was unbelievable, one of those moments you remember forever.’

That same sense of togetherness defined the recent Premier League Mornings Live weekend in Tampa. Knowing fans would be travelling in from across the country, Zack set about organising a welcome event to bring Chelsea supporters together ahead of the weekend’s event.

‘As soon as we heard Fan Fest was coming to Tampa, I knew we had to do something,’ he explains. ‘Miami and Orlando have already hosted the event, so we had to show how big a soccer city Tampa is.’

Hosted at Coppertail Brewing Company, the event quickly gathered momentum, with giveaways and support from the club.

‘They even brewed a special beer for us - Brew is the Colour,’ Zack adds. ‘Having the club involved and so many fans together made it a really special night.’

Behind much of the group’s recent growth is their online presence, driven by social media manager Iliyan Ivanov. Having discovered the group in 2018 after attending a watch party, Iliyan quickly saw the potential to reach more fans across Tampa and beyond.

‘I didn’t even know the group existed at first,’ he says. ‘But once I went to the pub for that first match, I knew I wanted to come back and connect with more Chelsea supporters.’

Through consistent posting, matchday content and fan engagement, particularly on Instagram, the Cigar City Blues began to reach fans who didn’t know where to watch Chelsea matches locally.

‘People started telling us they found the group because of Instagram,’ Iliyan explains. ‘Soon we didn’t need to tell venues how many people would turn up and we were already drawing big numbers.’

Like Lindsay and Zack, Iliyan’s favourite memory with the group centres on the unforgettable night in May 2021.

‘Nothing will ever match the Champions League final,’ he says. ‘Roughly 250 Chelsea fans turned up. We outnumbered City fans so much that they ended up leaving. The joy after the final whistle was just unreal.’

‘Without Chelsea and the Cigar City Blues, Iliyan and I would have never met,’ says Zack. ‘Now he’s like family to us and he is even godfather to my son.’

Twelve years on from that first watch party, the Cigar City Blues have big plans for the future.

‘We just want to keep growing,’ Zack says. ‘We pride ourselves on being one of the best supporter groups to be part of and we want that to continue.’

Chelsea Official Supporters Clubs gather across the globe, bringing together fellow fans to support the club they love. It’s easier than ever to find a group near you, or to start your own today! All Together, Wherever You May Be.