Some of those stories are written during a memorable away trip or come after a you-had-to-be-there incident involving family or friends. Some are wholesome and showcase the softer side of being a Blue, which is what we are focusing on here.

In 2023, Kimberly and Michael Montanez from New Jersey launched the KingKaiTheSamoyed Instagram account. It now has more than 37,000 followers and celebrates their pet Samoyed, Kai.

The two-year-old has become another Chelsea-supporting member of the family, and we spoke to Kimberly to find out how Kai shows his support of the Blues and why he has now become a key part of a Chelsea matchday for many.

Let's begin with your Chelsea story. How did you and your husband become supporters?

We don't remember the game exactly, but one of our friends, a Liverpool fan, was convincing my husband to watch football because he thought he would really enjoy it. He wasn't sure at first, but figured that when he saw a game on, he would give it a watch.

'So, one day, he was scrolling through the TV and came across a Premier League game that Chelsea were playing. He watched and Frank Lampard scored a worldie! From then on, he's been a Blue.'

How has your relationship with the club grown since then? Have you had the chance to visit Stamford Bridge...

'Yes, we actually came to the Bridge for the first time in October! Unfortunately, it was the match against Sunderland, which we lost, but it had been a goal of ours for years to make it to the Bridge and watch a game. So, we were so happy that we had finally made it.'

What does your Chelsea community look like – and how do you follow the club from overseas?

'We're members of the New York Blues Supporters Club! On matchdays, we tune into a few Chelsea livestreams to watch the game with others. We haven't made it out to the New Jersey or New York Chelsea bars yet, but we went to the Chelsea bar in Philly after a Club World Cup match for some drinks with friends.'

Of course, we were in America for more than a month during our triumphant Club World Cup campaign, and have enjoyed many pre-season tours Stateside. Were you able to watch the Blues live?

'Yes! We have been very blessed to attend the number of matches that we have over the years.

'We've been to three pre-season matches – against Arsenal in Orlando in 2022, Brighton in Philadelphia in 2023 and Manchester City in Cleveland in 2024 – and we also made sure to get tickets for three of our Club World Cup games.

'We travelled to the group-stage game in Philadelphia against Flamengo, but also the semi-final and the final, both of which were played in New Jersey! Our favourite match has to be the final against Paris Saint-Germain.

'To experience that match with Chelsea as the underdogs and watching the boys lift that trophy after that win was unreal.'

So, tell us about Kai. When did he become part of your family?

'We sadly lost two family pups in 2022 and the house felt very quiet and lonely after that. So in October 2023, we felt it was the right time to get another member.

'Kai was the runt of his litter, and we just knew we had to have him. He brings life to the house with his huge personality. He's always down to play, very opinionated, super clever and attracts attention from everyone who runs into him with his happy smile.'

When did you decide to post content on Kai on Instagram?

'I made an Instagram account for Kai the day I bought him home at 10 weeks. It was mainly to have a place to document his life and adventures outside of my personal page. We didn't realise the community and opportunities we would have gained from it, and we are very thankful.'

And when did Kai become a Chelsea supporter?

'Kai has been a Chelsea supporter from day one! We published Chelsea posts of Kai here and there at the beginning, but one of them went viral. We gained thousands of new followers, all Chelsea fans, so we decided to start posting ahead of every Premier League game to keep the supporters engaged.

'The amount of love, engagement and messages we get from supporters is why the account is where it is today. Now there is a Chelsea post with Kai every matchday, whether it's Premier League, a cup game, or the Champions League.

'It didn't start that way, but evolved into a ritual. We also give Kai a treat after every goal, because he deserves it for being the best official unofficial mascot.'

How do you help Kai show his support?

'We always dress Kai in Chelsea gear, be that a kit, hat, scarf or flag. We also have quite a lot of Chelsea merchandise hanging on our walls, which we use in shots to make sure everyone knows the boy is proper Chels!

'We even have Chelsea-themed dog toys for Kai that we use in our posts and following our trip to Stamford Bridge, we have a double-faced Chelsea octopus that we got for him from the Megastore!'

Has Kai brought you closer to other Chelsea supporters and also strengthened your love of the club?

'What we appreciate about the Chelsea community is how much love we get with our Chelsea posts. Once I post something of Kai for matchday, we get so many story reshares, reposts and saves. There has never been any hate or opposition fans trolling in the comments.

'During and after a match, a lot of our followers message us to talk about the game, whether it's to celebrate with us or cry with us. I have been told that one of the reasons people follow us despite Kai's page not being 100 per cent Chelsea-focused is because of how much we engage during a matchday.

'We also think that Kai being a Chelsea 'face' gives the account a fun and shareable love for the club vibe, which is our goal. We want to show our genuine love for Chelsea and football through Kai, through the good times and the bad. Kai is a true Blue.'