In the first of a series of interview with Foxes Fans abroad Matt Davis caught up with Bruce Nadin, long term Foxes Trust member and former LCFC Club Chaplain ….
A bit about you:
Name: Bruce Nadin
Current home town: Cape Town
Birthplace: Farnborough, Kent
How long have you supported LCFC? Since 1976
Why are you living away from Leicester? Been living in South Africa since 2009 initially working with a Christian grassroots football charity working in prisons and townships. Now I help lead a church in one of our poorest neighbourhoods, I’m Chaplain at one of our pro clubs Ajax Cape Town, and I’m National Director of Sports Chaplaincy South Africa.
Other than the football, what’s the one other thing you miss? Not the weather that’s for sure! A good Belgrave Road Curry, Pork Pie and a traditional English Pub
Overview of LCFC:
Favourite match & why: So many, but flying back from Cape Town to watch us lift the Premier League trophy. The buzz in the City, the sense of beautiful disbelief in and around the stadium, Andre Bochelli, and the coronation performance that followed. It will live with me for the rest of my life. I get emotional every time I think about it!
Favourite player of all time who played for our club: Keith Weller. A rare combination, A flair player with incredible work ethic.
This season:
Your favourite current player in our squad and why? Riyaad Mahrez when on form. He is something I thought I’d never see in a Leicester shirt. A player consistently capable of doing the most sublime things… like his first time lay off for Vardy against Man City that led to our third goal. Not sure any other player who has ever played for the club could have done that.
Up and coming prospect in our squad? Ben Chilwell. He looks the real deal to me. Great technique, good game awareness, and he’s an attacking full back who actually looks like he can defend!!
Where do you think we'll finish this season? At the start of the season I said 6th to 8th, but I reckon 12th to 16th. I actually think much of our football has been below the quality we produced when bottom of the league two seasons back! We’ve lost that fearless streak and the goal threat that goes with it. I’m sure Claudio will find a way to get us back on track!
Where would you like to strengthen in the transfer window and any idea of who with? Central Defence, Creative midfielder, Right Back, although I think Daniel Amartey could become a really good one!
Our 15/16 Season:
At what stage did you think we would win the league? My head started to believe when we got 6 points from the three quality performances against Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal in February. However, my heart couldn’t believe it until Hazard scored that goal. I was genuinely worried when Vardy got sent off against West Ham… being a Leicester fan and use to disappointment I wondered if that was going to be our Gerard moment. The emphatic victory against Swansea the following week put all those fears to bed
Where were you when the final whistle went at the Chelsea v Spurs game and how did you feel?
I watched at home in Cape Town with a Hull fan. It was midnight when the final whistle went. My phone exploded with messages, videos, photos. That’s the beauty of social media – 6,000 miles away I felt part of what was going on. Kept bursting in tears and didn’t get to bed till 3 a.m. I had to up at 6 a.m. the next morning, but it was worth it
Where were you when we were presented with the trophy and how did you feel? Answered that above
How has Leicester winning the league changed the perception of our club in your country?
It’s crazy, The whole world knows about us now. On the day of Swansea I was walking in my Foxes shirt to go and watch the game with other Foxiles at a bar in the Waterfront. A group of a dozen local lads saw me coming and gave me a guard of honour. People in nearby restaurants looked up to see what was happening and spontaneous applause erupted. It was beautiful. I’ve got a few more stories like that!
Has it made a difference to you personally?
As the ex Chaplain of the Premier League Champions I’ve had a lot more requests for speaking engagements that’s for sure!
Current Predictions:
Where do you think we will finish this season? 12th
Which three teams do you think will be relegated? Swansea, Hull, and one of Sunderland, Middlesboro, Crystal Palace. I’m still a little scared it might be us though.
Who do you think will win the league? Chelsea
If you currently live abroad and would like to feature in this series of articles please get in touch with the Trust via [email protected]