Elizabeth Diaz’s introduction to our club started with Didier Drogba and it has evolved into a passion that Chelsea influences almost every aspect of her life.

She is part of the New York Blues supporters' group and will be in the stands when we face NJ/NY Gotham in New Jersey before traveling to Washington DC to face London rivals Arsenal.

Elizabeth is a Gotham season ticket holder, but on this occasion, she admits she will be sitting with and cheering on the Blues.

But before we delve into next month’s Stateside visit, let’s go back to where it all began for the New York native and her support for Chelsea.

Her affinity with the Blues began with her husband William, who followed the men’s team due to being a big fan of Blues legend Drogba.

The fascination grew and in 2013 she watched Chelsea live for the first time when the men’s team faced Manchester City at the Yankees Stadium while on a tour of the USA.

As their love for the men’s team grew, their support of the women’s team would soon be ignited due to another connection with a men’s team player. Enter the James siblings.

‘I got into the women’s team, again, through my husband because he loves Reece James. So when we found out Lauren was on the team we had to start watching’ explained Elizabeth.

‘And now there are Americans on the team, with Cat [Macario] and Mia Fishel, so it was like wait a minute – we’ve got our own real connection.’

Elizabeth will feel that connection up close when we travel across the pond in a matter of weeks – but it won’t be the first time she has watched our women’s team play in the flesh.

In 2023, a trip to London coincided with our Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. And while the result didn’t go in our favour, it was still an unforgettable experience for Elizabeth.

‘It was just awesome,’ she said. ‘The energy, damn, it was just amazing. It was the game that just got me so excited to get into women’s sport and not just follow the men’s side.’

Usually, Elizabeth and her husband incorporate Chelsea into their annual vacations, like that trip to London. Wherever the team are playing, they follow. However, this year it's the Blues who are coming to them.

To have the chance to watch their team on home soil again – and especially the stadium they so regularly attend watching Gotham in the NWSL – means a lot to these two die-hard Chelsea fans.

‘It’s a really big deal,’ answered Elizabeth. ‘Some of the fans in our group have never seen the women’s team play besides watching the games on TV. We do have some supporters who have gone to England and been to games at Kingsmeadow.

‘We’re all just so excited to see these players, like Lauren James and Cat – it’s just so exciting.’

Another Champions League clash, this time with the men in action back in 2019, is one of Elizabeth’s standout memories watching Chelsea. The 4-4 draw with Ajax had it all, but it was the energy inside the Bridge that left her wanting more.

She hopes that feeling will be replicated at the Red Bull Arena and Audi Field when she watches the women take on Gotham and Arsenal this summer.

‘It is all about the energy because that is what got me hooked,’ explained Diaz. ‘I’m from New York – I’m a big sports fan. We’ve got a lot of huge sports teams, so getting into sports was easy.

‘But, the passion with football is just completely different. It’s the passion that drew me in – it’s that deep feeling – and I definitely have that with Chelsea. I think I have it more than my husband now!’

That sentiment is something certainly shared by fans across the globe. Our games in the USA are a chance to bring some of them together.

‘That’s the biggest draw for me,’ added Elizabeth. ‘Getting to meet other passionate fans and seeing the passion that they have.

‘We can just feed off each other’s energy. Getting to see what they do in their group and bounce ideas off each other to make our supporters club better or their club better – it’s going to be great.’

• The 2024/25 season is fast approaching and you can secure your tickets for Stamford Bridge here! Season ticket holders and Chelsea members can buy their tickets via this portal. Supporters wishing to purchase accessible tickets can do so here.