Despite wondering when we might see live football again, we thought this was still a good opportunity for the Foxes Trust to release a survey on VAR which is available for any Leicester City fan to complete
No matter when (and we hope it is soon) live Premier League matches return, differing opinions about VAR are bound to resurface. Follow the link to complete the Foxes Trust survey so we can feedback fans’ views to the Club and to the Premier League.
Please email this link to other LCFC supporters. We will publish the results in the summer. Thanks to the Football Supporters Association for assisting in creating this survey and thanks to you for taking the time to complete it.
We thought as the final article in the series looking back at our
Premier League title win, our board members would give their individual
memories of the time, starting with our newest board member
Kate Thompson
My overwhelming feeling was one of disbelief, which has never
really gone away. Little old Leicester
City, mixing it with the big boys! And
the enormous pride in my club, who became known to the whole world – and some
even learnt how to pronounce it! I have
not lived in Leicester for 30 years and I was astonished by the number of
people locally who spoke to me when I was in town, phoned or emailed to
congratulate me. As if I did anything
but turn up to support the team! Where I
live, most people support one of the London teams, with a preponderance of
Arsenal and Spurs fans, but with the odd one who supports Watford and a few
Luton supporters. I didn’t know how many
people knew who my team is, so I must have talked about them more than I realised! Now, we just have to win the FA Cup and
wouldn’t it be ironic if this was our year when we can’t see the match live?
Dave & Di Statham
Saturday 7 May 2016, we arrived at the ground around 12.00pm. As we approached the stadium there was already a carnival atmosphere. Our seats are in the Keith Weller seating area which meant access was available to the inside of the stadium earlier than in other areas.
We chose to go straight in which proved to be a good idea as it meant that
we were inside the ground as Andrea Bocelli went through his rehearsal. Even in
an empty stadium his voice filled the air and sent chills down the spine.
By the time of the kick off the atmosphere inside the stadium was amazing.
The one fear as we kicked off was that all the celebrations during the week may
take the toll and we lose the game. This was such a significant day so we did
not want it to be spoilt by a disappointing result, even if it did not really
matter anymore. The fears were unfounded as the team once again gave their all
and produced another good win.
Then came the moment we had all been waiting for. The game was just the
support act to the “big event”. As Birchy walked out holding the
trophy our thoughts went to dad Ken who passed away in 2011. He had followed
Leicester City since the 1940’s and had witnessed 4 FA Cup Final defeats at
Wembley. Yes he finally saw them win a Trophy at Wembley in 2000 but this was
the ultimate and he would have been so thrilled to have witnessed this day. (I
am sure he was watching with pride from above).
As Wes lifted the Trophy to the sky and the fireworks exploded we stood in
our seats in a daze. Was this really happening ? – Did Leicester City REALLY
win the Premier League ?
Even now when we see replays of the presentation or see photographs there is
still a feeling of doubt as to whether it was all just a beautiful dream.
Sarah Hubbard
Who would have thought it? My LEICESTER CITY winning the premier league. I
never ever thought in a million years that I would live to see that happen.
From gathering together as a family before the match, including my cousin who
had come over from Birmingham just to be there, to the hairs on the back of the
neck when Andrea Bocelli sang, singing and using the clappers during the match
and the intense heat from the fires of the celebrations….Wow, unbelievable,
fantastic, awesome, amazing, incredible, marvellous, astounding…these words
just don’t describe what and how much that day meant to me. I will remember it
for the rest of my life!
Meanwhile Colin Murrant has gone all poetic….
Dreams come true
Two Thousand young fans from Italy came,
And joined the parties down The Lanes.
They sang, like we did, to the Ground
Where there was more tumultuous sound.
Friends and fans we’d known for years
Hugging, unashamed tears.
Passed Filbert Street, forever home
Bocelli, all the way from Rome.
The Gospel Choir, the TV crews
Around the World, Foxes made the news.
Through Guard of Honour, the Foxes head
Our heroes by Captain Morgan led.
The match result, it mattered not,
Toffees ne’er going to spoil the plot.
First sunshine, then came the rain
Vardy, King, Vardy again.
Then the moment we had waited for,
With Vichai, Top and millions more.
Finally, the Trophy raised to the sky
Claudio and Wesley held it high.
King Power awash with White and Blue
The day surreal, wildest dreams come true.
We laughed, we cheered, we sang, we cried
To scenes played out before our eyes.
Wondrous memories that will never fade,
Premier League Trophy on base of Jade
Greatest sports achievement by far
“Champions of England”, we know what we are.
Steve Moulds
My diary entry for 2 May 2016 simply reads, in
capital letters, ‘Leicester City Become Premier League Champions’. That evening
had begun with nervous anticipation. I live in London and was finding it
difficult to get tickets to matches post-Christmas so, as per usual, was tuning
in to the Chelsea v Tottenham match, in the hope a rival blue army might do us
a favour. At half time, with Spurs 2-0 up, my attention waivered, it was going
to be a nail biter to end of the season. The sudden excitement of the commentator’s
voice, as Eden Hazard weaved toward goal drew me back in. ‘Goal’ 2-2 – and soon my world exploded into a
barrage of texts, emails and phone calls of congratulations.
Out of superstition, I had decided not to buy a
ticket for the Everton game – just in case! As I was unable to go, a good mate
asked me down to Bath to see the final Tigers game of the season. Although the
Tigers lost, by the time we got to the pub, the TVs were a glow with City’s
triumphal celebrations at the KP – the drinks were definitely on me.
Ian Bason
My two main memories of the day we lifted the trophy were before
entering the ground and the trophy presentation ceremony
I’ve never seen so many fans outside the ground hours before kick
off and it was hugs all round, with fellow fans I’ve known for many years even
to those I’ve never met before, all in the party spirit. It was good to see
former club chaplain, Bruce Nadin, back in the country to celebrate and within
moments of meeting suddenly we were being filmed by a TV camera crew with a
rendition of the Ranieri song alongside a couple of USA visitors
After the game, with the sight of Birch carrying out the Premier
League Trophy, my mind flashed back to late 2002 where Birch stood in the Great
Hall at the launch of the Foxes Trust and offered to help in anyway he could. As
the Trust board put in many hours and played our part in saving the club from
extinction with the hope of returning to the Premier League one day, now was
the reward for all those efforts adding an extra sense of pride as the trophy
was raised to the sky.
Matt Davis
Growing up with football from the mid to late 70’s, all I ever
dreamed about was two things:
1) LCFC winning the league (old first division and then latterly
the Premier League)
2) England winning the World Cup
Knowing the former was always beyond reality, I put all my faith
in the former and so every year from 1982 onwards it was always going to be
‘our year’ – so imaging my total ecstasy when ‘that’ goal went in for Chelsea
meaning we’ve won the league … my unachievable ‘plan a’ dream becoming
reality – surely not?
Despite partying at the stadium that night and then doing numerous
press interviews at the stadium up to the Everton Game, the reality simply
hadn’t sunk in.
On that day, the party atmosphere, the noise of the concourse, the
noise in the ground, the amazing voice of Andrea Bocelli singing, the win
… all just seemed like I was still in a boyhood dream, until big Wes lifted
the trophy, that was the magical moment when the 5000-1 dream came a reality
for me.
Continuing
our bank holiday week end coverage, our match reporter resumes at the start of
the second half with images of the celebrations added to the piece
Report by
James Bandy
After the break, Kasper Schmeichel denied Oumar Niasse with an unorthodox header on the edge of the penalty area before stopping a Lukaku backheel. The Belgium striker was again denied by the Leicester goalkeeper, before Robles had to be alert to deny Fuchs his first goal of the season after being released by Mahrez.
Robles ws soon beaten, though, as Pennington brought down Vardy with a clumsy challenge. The Everton defender was lucky not to see red, having been given a yellow in the first half for hauling down Mahrez in full flight. Vardy made no mistake from the spot, drilling his spot kick hard to the keeper’s right for his 24th goal of the season.
The England striker had a chance to
score his 25th seven minutes later. Darron Gibson upended Jeffrey
Schlupp as he raced into the area, but with the chance to complete his first hat-trick
in professional football and bring him level at the top of the Premier League
scoring charts with Harry Kane, Vardy got his effort all wrong, blazing the
ball high over Robles’ crossbar.
Leonardo Ulloa and King flicked headers wide towards the end, with Oviedo denying Vardy the hat-trick he craved, before Mirallas grabbed a late consolation which was far better than the overall Toffees performance. Marcin Wasilewski was twice beaten by a tidy Kevin Mirallas sidestep, with the Belgium international cutting inside Kante to score.
The strike visibly annoyed Schmeichel and his defensive colleagues, who wanted a clean sheet, but it epitomised their professionalism – and possibly the fact the Denmark No.1 had one eye on the Golden Glove award after keeping 15 clean sheets so far this season.
But the disappointment was short-lived, as the final whistle blew and Morgan lifted the Premier League trophy amid incredible scenes inside the stadium. It capped what is without doubt the greatest day in the club’s 132-year history. The players have achieved immortality, and it’s humbling that us fans can say we were alive to witness it. Just don’t make us wait another 132 years for the next one, eh?
Leicester:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, King, Kante,
Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy. Subs:
Ulloa, (62, for Okazaki), Schlupp (67, for Albrighton), Gray (91, for Mahrez),
Amartey, Chilwell, Schwarzer, Inler.
Everton:
Robles; Oviedo, Pennington, Stones, Baines; Lennon, Barkley, McCarthy,
Cleverley; Niasse, Lukaku. Subs:
Mirallas (63, for Niasse), Gibson, (63, for Cleverley), Osman (81, for
Barkley), Besic, Howard, Connolly, Dowell.
Referee:
Andre Marriner Attendance:
32,140.
The views expressed in this report are the
opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not
represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation
Over this bank holiday week end we thought we would look back to our memorable day over a few articles, here is our match reporters thoughts on pre-match up to half time
Report by James Bandy
So it was real after all. The thing that Leicester fans had dreamed for months but daren’t speak of, finally became a reality. After 132 years, the club had won its first ever top-flight title, and they celebrated lifting the trophy with an emphatic 3-1 win over Everton at a packed King Power Stadium.
After being confirmed champions following Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea five days earlier, the celebrations had been in full flow for players and fans alike. After the exertions of this season, you could almost have forgiven the players being off the pace. After all, just two years ago, promotion to the Premier League had been followed by a 4-1 defeat at home to Brighton, but that never looked like happening against an Everton side that looked short on confidence and spirit.
Instead, The Foxes produced a
performance befitting of champions, full of the pace, energy and incisive counter-attacking
football that has enthralled fans and neutrals alike and carried them to this unlikeliest
of titles.
Leicester made four changes from the team that started against Manchester United the previous week. Jamie Vardy returned from his two-match suspension in place of Leonardo Ulloa and Marc Albrighton replaced Jeff Schlupp, while King and Wasilewski came in for the suspended Drinkwater and Huth.
There was a superb atmosphere around
the city and stadium before the game, and
the noise inside the King Power was deafening as Everton gave the champions a
guard of honour on their entrance from the tunnel. It wasn’t long before the
home fans were on their feet again, as Vardy marked his return in style.
Mahrez’s quick throw-in found King in
space on the right flank, and the Wales midfielder clipped an exquisite ball
into the centre for Vardy, who ghosted in between Bryan Oviedo and John Stones
to deftly guide the ball into the far corner.
Leicester were in control against an
Everton side without a win in their last four away matches, and could have
doubled their lead when King headed into Joel’s hands from close range after a
fine Mahrez cross.
Wes Morgan then danced through the
visitors’ defence before striding into the penalty area and, perhaps realising
how ridiculous it all was, tried to find a team-mate when he probably would
have been better off shooting. It was exhibition stuff, and the fans couldn’t
get enough.
On 33 minutes, Leicester made it 2-0. Mahrez raced into the penalty area and with a double stepover, took two Everton defenders out. Baines managed to get a foot to the ball, but only helped it into the path of the onrushing King, who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
The Football Supporters Association (FSA) recognises one
area requiring particular attention for millions of families is how to provide
children with creative activities to fill the days, as many are now faced with
the ongoing new reality of home schooling.
The FSA have therefore created
a series of worksheets for children to do whilst at home, which both the FSA
and the Foxes Trust hope can help fill the day a little for those of you with
kids, while gently educating as to the core ethos of supporters and fan groups.
Hopefully these will help offering another
creative and learning activity to add to your schedule. They are most
appropriate for primary school age children but can also work as a prompt for
ideas and writing topics for middle and secondary school children, too.
Please note a number of these activities require home printing facilities
If you have any completed sheets, feel free to share them with us too email mail@foxestrust.com as we could share any particularly nice ones on Facebook and Twitter (with the appropriate permissions!).
