The Summer of 2016

LGFOX

LGFOX

Roofer
We’ve all I’m sure got great memories of that summer where as Leicester fans we were kings of the world. I was talking to a mate the other day who’s a Birmingham fan and he said to me you must have felt like you were floating on air.
So what was your memory when you met a stranger and it came out you were Leicester?

I had several but my favourite was sitting in a bar near the Pantheon in Rome. In fact I walked by the bar on our recent trip there. It was a humid afternoon as I sipped a cold beer and listened to the RL podcast from the 7th May. for the umpteenth time. As I listened to Jamie banging in the goals a guy set up in front of me and suddenly proceeded to play Nessum Dorma. It was immaculate timing! Of course the Saharan sand got me big time when suddenly the waiter came over ( there was hardly any other customers) and asked me if I’d like another drink. He saw my tears asking if I was ok?
Er yes. You like football? He nodded. Lazio or Roma? Oh Roma ( phew).
Well I’m Leicester!
Wow. Oh bloody wow. Ranieri. Ranieri.
He then sat down with his mate and asked me what it had all been like. He bought me another beer ( no charge) and we talked and talked.

I truly felt like the king of the world that summer.

Anyone else have these moments, on holiday, at work etc?

Happened to my mate too. He was in Adelaide on business and they produced a Leicester City cake for him and gave him a round of applause. As he said. Bizarre.
 
Happened to me in the Caribbean. Went a few days after the title was wrapped up.
Speaking to a big group from Chicago.
When they heard I was from Leicester, the whole group wanted to know all about what it was like.
On previous holidays, you had to say north of London when mentioning Leicester and were given that quizzical look.
Now so many people know about us.
 
During the early part of 2016 when we became serious contenders I became a very bitter old man, I simply couldn't stand it when the rest of the football world joined in with that big Leicester City lovefest. I mellowed a tad when other teams were only cheering us on because of their own hatred of the 'big 6', I wasn't totally at ease with it though.
 
Just landed back from holidays in Italy and me and my son jumped on a train to Leicester in order to make it in time to the match - left the wife and daughter to drive home with the suitcases! the train goes through London, picks up some Palace fans who notice me in my shirt and the then new Premier League badge. @i quite like it' one said to the others.....'it's even better when it's in gold' was my reply

Also met an Exeter fan who had travelled up to be at the KP Kasabian concert, just wanted to be there to meet all the City fans and find out what it's like and be part of the celebrations. Didn't even like Kasabian
 
Shortly after the ‘Miracle of all Miracles’ I was sent by my theatrical agent to Shepperton Studios for an audition and screen test for a small non speaking (“and nowhere near any deep water,please”) part in Pirates of the Caribbean 5000/1. As I trudged dejectedly away still covered in seaweed,from my failed audition,I heard the mellifluous and unmistakable voice of Sweep emanating from the adjacent studio where The Sooty Show was being rehearsed.
Sweep was singing “Nessun Dorma”.
I immediately burst into uncontrollable tears!
At that moment Captain Jack Sparrow appeared right in front of me and enquired in his faux Keith Richards accent,
“Why is you crying,mate”?
“I is crying ‘cos I is from Leicester” I replied as best I could,
“Is you crying so much ‘cos your team Ly-ses-ter is just won the Premier World Series Cup thing”,Sparrow further conjectured.
“No I’m crying because I didn’t get the part in your crappy film,you moron”!
 
Listen you lot you talk about probably, brag about your first born as I do, but to be completely gobsmacked ......silenced, lost in world of make believe then this is it.
It must have been The ultimate of your life
 
mickyhoss said:
During the early part of 2016 when we became serious contenders I became a very bitter old man, I simply couldn't stand it when the rest of the football world joined in with that big Leicester City lovefest. I mellowed a tad when other teams were only cheering us on because of their own hatred of the 'big 6', I wasn't totally at ease with it though.
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I was - and remain - ambivalent about what others thought of us; then as before & after (well, maybe with the exception of the Italian lot who travelled over to be close to it at the Everton game just because of the sheer lunacy of that). Most of the conversations initiated might as well have been along the lines of "nice weather for the time of year"; i.e. I'd make the right noises but, honestly, I didn't care. I just had the biggest fucking smile on the inside. Occasionally on the outside too.
 
In 2016, I still had to drop my lad off in the playground before school.
Less than a 10 minute walk, however from January onwards I was accosted on a daily basis, even more so on a Monday morning in the playground....even my lads teacher used to join in.
At work, one of my female colleagues said she felt sorry for me, as no one ever asked about my family, just Leicester,. Leicester,Leicester.
On the Sunday morning before the Man Yoo game, me & the lad got every scarf, pennant, flag we had, & covered the windows on the front, even botched up a flag pole.

To this day, every once in a while some stranger will say ....you're that Leicester fan aren't you!!

All very surreal, but also fantastic.
 
Living in New Zealand I used to be able to go to work on a Monday and watch the Sunday games when I got in after work without any risk of anyone telling me - or even knowing the score. In 2015/16 that changed.
 
Just all sorts that summer. Wore my top at Edgbaston watching England and I spent all day fielding questions and shaking hands. Got free food and beers from the kiosks.
Enroute to Brugges we were stopped by a group of Americans who just couldn't get enough. On the way home we stopped in a back street boozer and the landlord wanted a photo of our flag with us all outside for his Facebook page.
Blackburn fan who at Kasabian just wanted to experience again what it was like after similar for him in 92.
Met a couple from Edinburgh who booked a week in the Holiday Inn in town to see the parade and experience the atmosphere.
My favourite, not me, my mate works for Warburtons in Bolton and the morning after we'd won it he walked through head office and got a standing ovation.
Unreal times.
 
Went to the Euro's in France that summer & it was only then that the magnitude of what we had achieved really set in.
Fans from countries all over Europe (but not the Russians) seemed overjoyed at the Leicester story & heartfelt congratulations we received were overwhelming.
Notably in Lyon for the Italy v Belgium game where we were made to feel like minor celebrities. Every Italian was singing the praises of The Don & the Belgians most of who I met were Anderlect waxed lyrical about Wasilewski even though he played a bit part that season.
 
In June 2016 I was in a queue waiting to check in at Tokyo airport, wearing my Leicester shirt. Got a round of applause from most of the others in the queue. Felt like a celebrity
 
borebage53 said:
Shortly after the ‘Miracle of all Miracles’ I was sent by my theatrical agent to Shepperton Studios for an audition and screen test for a small non speaking (“and nowhere near any deep water,please”) part in Pirates of the Caribbean 5000/1. As I trudged dejectedly away still covered in seaweed,from my failed audition,I heard the mellifluous and unmistakable voice of Sweep emanating from the adjacent studio where The Sooty Show was being rehearsed.
Sweep was singing “Nessun Dorma”.
I immediately burst into uncontrollable tears!
At that moment Captain Jack Sparrow appeared right in front of me and enquired in his faux Keith Richards accent,
“Why is you crying,mate”?
“I is crying ‘cos I is from Leicester” I replied as best I could,
“Is you crying so much ‘cos your team Ly-ses-ter is just won the Premier World Series Cup thing”,Sparrow further conjectured.
“No I’m crying because I didn’t get the part in your crappy film,you moron”!
Click to expand...


You do make me smile.
 
Was in New York 2 weeks after we won in could have sold my City shirt a hundred times over.
The guy in Legends Bar gave a run down of the Chelsea draw looks like it was some night,/day.
At least they had grasped it was Leicester not Lei-cester.
If I could have a dollar for "Go you Foxes" it would have paid for the holiday.
 
Higher_Power_Fox said:
I had to go on some workshop bollocks recently and the guy presenting it asked which football team we support, when I said Leicester he looked at me with suspicion and asked me how long have I supported them!...Twat Arsenal fan.
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Haha. That reminded me when we were in the queue at the LA Galaxy stadium in 2016 to have our photo taken with the trophy. American guy behind with his family caught my accent.
‘You a real Leicester fan actually from Leicester?
Yep.
How long you been a fan.
Since 1965

Oh wow.

And you guys. How long

Oh since January!!

I kid you not.
 
borebage53 said:
Shortly after the ‘Miracle of all Miracles’ I was sent by my theatrical agent to Shepperton Studios for an audition and screen test for a small non speaking (“and nowhere near any deep water,please”) part in Pirates of the Caribbean 5000/1. As I trudged dejectedly away still covered in seaweed,from my failed audition,I heard the mellifluous and unmistakable voice of Sweep emanating from the adjacent studio where The Sooty Show was being rehearsed.
Sweep was singing “Nessun Dorma”.
I immediately burst into uncontrollable tears!
At that moment Captain Jack Sparrow appeared right in front of me and enquired in his faux Keith Richards accent,
“Why is you crying,mate”?
“I is crying ‘cos I is from Leicester” I replied as best I could,
“Is you crying so much ‘cos your team Ly-ses-ter is just won the Premier World Series Cup thing”,Sparrow further conjectured.
“No I’m crying because I didn’t get the part in your crappy film,you moron”!
Click to expand...

Not thespian related me old china but I do fondly recall meeting you at the KP the morning after we all went to footballing heaven. You admitted to going to bed before the Cheatski vs. TITHR game was over so didn’t know we’d won the Premiership until the following morning! There can’t be many diehards who have that claim to fame!

You’ll be telling me you had a heart attack before we won the FA Cup next!! 😁🤠🦊
 
Doubledeckerderek said:
In June 2016 I was in a queue waiting to check in at Tokyo airport, wearing my Leicester shirt. Got a round of applause from most of the others in the queue. Felt like a celebrity
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I was there in 2014 and literally no one knew who we were. Was so frustrated. Great people, I can imagine how they would be like that.
 
Went to Florida in the July. A number of people spotted my LCFC tattoo (1980 flag) and all wanted to talk about our club.

Weirdest or most surreal - some random Americans in a Florida water park stopped me for a chat and turned out they lived in Clarendon Park and had witnessed the trophy parade.
 
Higher_Power_Fox said:
What a great thread.
A lad at work (London) gave me his Chelsea vs Spurs program if anyone wants to buy it ;)
Collector's item in perfect condition.
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I'd like it if nobody else does

Was at SB for our game a fornight later and the programme sellers had them, always regreted not getting one at the time*

*not that I buy into the theory that Spurs won it for us that night at all
 
I met some Olympiacos fan/bar owner in this cave bar in Corfu who loved it cause of the cambiasso connection and would not shut up about it. Her indoors wondered why it was taking so long to get the drinks, with him it was buy one get one free .😁
The other one that will stick with me , once again in a bar, Mexico , barman sees Leicester badge on t shirt and gives me ahhh Leicester citeeee, and a massive smile . Priceless
 
For the next 12 months around Magaluf l got acknowledgment from the bar owners an bar DJ whenever l walked by or went in. One DJ a Leeds and Kasabian fan would pick his mike up a go "Leicester Leicesterrr. Leicesteerrrrr" if l walked in. Another would shout "Jamie Vardy's having a party" he was a Newcastle fan. My local Spanish bar owner if l walked by would shout "Leshter Siteee" in my direction. This was the same around the resort as loads know I'm Leicester. I even have a photo of a Lucky Luckyman in a City shirt, not from me actually !

They all got something with Leicester on them, flags, the odd City shirts for their kids even the clappers were displayed on their spirit shelves. Most have gone now. I always liked the Forest fan who owns Linekers would shout "come on Leicester" but he's always done that. The funny thing is a City fan was his bar manager for years, a really nice easy going lad ended up in court for filling Mick the Forest fan owner in not long after.

The night of the 2nd my misses and daughter were over there and massively celebrating the title and no one else seemed to realise, that summer it sunk in everywhere on the island
 
Two that stick in my mind, and neither as good as you guys. 1. Derby fan clocked my shorts on holiday and shook my hand, and 2. Returning to work in Coventry on the Wednesday (I was poorly on Tuesday, can't remember why) and they'd trimmed up my office with blue balloons and a big City badge.

It has been great to answer "Leicester City" ever since though when asked who your team is. The look of jealousy and awe never ceases to satisfy, even from fans of bigger clubs. What we did was a miracle.
 
Truro12 said:
Two that stick in my mind, and neither as good as you guys. 1. Derby fan clocked my shorts on holiday and shook my hand, and 2. Returning to work in Coventry on the Wednesday (I was poorly on Tuesday, can't remember why) and they'd trimmed up my office with blue balloons and a big City badge.

It has been great to answer "Leicester City" ever since though when asked who your team is. The look of jealousy and awe never ceases to satisfy, even from fans of bigger clubs. What we did was a miracle.
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You’re right about mentioning ‘Leicester City’. We were waiting in the queue to board the Euro tunnel coming back from Eindhoven. They’re were loads of West Han fans who’d come back from Lyon.
Got asked the inevitable question ( if I had a quid for every time I was asked this over the years!). ‘So when did you think you’d won it?’
They said they’d cheered us on and one said he felt awful when he thought they’d beaten us at the KP only for Carroll to bring down Schlupp. He bizarrely asked if I remembered the moment!
 
We had a day with the Welsh fans in Paris for the Euros, including the fanzone. 9it would have been the day england played, we'd already booked everything)
I had my Bentleys 70/30 t shirt on, my youngest had his Mahrez city shirt. Loads of people of all nationalities talked to us about is and wanted selfies with him ( not me).
The guy in the Falafel place - an Algerian - gave him his lunch for free.
 
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