Question for Leicester fans

[Sunbury Fox]

1 hour ago, Webbo said:

The title winning season was the most stressful ever. When it started most of us would have just been glad to stay up, and then we were top of the league we were just waiting for the bubble to burst, not really wanting to think about the possibility that we might win it. Then when it looked a real possibility we were just hoping not to **** it up, knowing that we'd never get the chance again. 

 

Happy that we won it but tbh more relieved it was all over. 

That totally resonates with me too. It's for that reason that I still marvel at the mental resilience of the players at the time who must, like us, have known this was our one chance to win the PL. The stress was unbelievable in the final few weeks of the season, with the West Ham game in particular being almost unbearable. Watching that equalising last minute penalty by Ulloa in that game in the pre match video still makes me feel incredibly emotional.

 

Another factor that astonished me in that season was the support we received from other non big 6 PL club supporters. For example, I remember Southampton fans waiting outside the stadium to clap and cheer our fans as we left after a crucial 1-0 home win towards the end of the season. What made this all the more striking was that Southampton needed points to secure a European place. And also at Sunderland and Palace away many home fans clapped our players off the pitch at the end of home defeats for them in games that were also important for their own aims. It made me realise that what we were doing wasn't just for us it was for supporters of all "ordinary" clubs as it gave them all hope that the same could happen to them one day. 

 

 

[CosbehFox]

Really interesting question - I've actually considered writing a book or doing a set of podcasts with fans from other provincial clubs who pulled it off. Some of the research I have done for certain clubs are incredible stories. Our rise is a little bit unique to the rest in terms of how much we improved; Verona for example were a good team for a spell before they won Serie A. 

 

It's interesting that you ask the journey from L1 to PL title. As I think you could possibly four starting points for our story. The Wycombe FA Cup Q/F. The relegation to League 1. The return of Pearson. The play-off loss to Watford. All four are good places to start for. 

 

As for the season of 15/16. There were times it felt like a dream. The double win over Man City and Liverpool there. When we lost at Arsenal, I was convinced we'd do cos we looked a complete team that day. It was a silly mistake and a very good header away from a great point. It galvanised us; I don't think many outside of LCFC realise how important that result was in making sure we got over the line. 

 

From then it was torture. LCFC have only once been in any sort of top flight title contention before 15/16. The 1-0's. Every week on telly, so watching Spurs games at differing times. I did feel that we were playing teams who were not going to be too annoyed at losing to us. 

 

The truly incredible thing it did was unite a city like I'd never before. It was a Mardi Gras/Rio festival vibe come trophy lifting day. 

 

I thought it would change my perception of football. It hasn't. We had the Champions League run and I was gutted as I had been in a long time when we lost at Millwall in Cup 5th Round. European football is hell of addiction. 

 

The FA Cup in many ways was a big thing for Leicester. That was realistic (growing up as a kid I wanted to see Leicester do two things; win the Cup and watch us live in European). The PL was a dream. I thought may be I'll calm down after we'd won the Cup. But then your mindset changes again; I'd love us to win a European trophy. I'd love us with 40,000 fans in our stadium becoming 'level' to some of the bigger city clubs. 

 

We are still a have not and you'll find a lot of opinion on the PL are matched by the other thirteen of us. 

 

That said I have a bit of ying to yang watching football; I watch as many non league games as LCFC games a season. Good for the soul. Albeit like watching the same sport but with different rules. 

Edited 18 January 2022 by Cardiff_Fox

[Scanchez]

3 hours ago, RumbleFox said:

It broke football for me. Never quite been the same. It’s like playing through a computer game after you’ve completed it. It’s still fun and you can admire the beauty of it but something’s missing. X 

This is the exact same analogy that I use.

[gerrytaggart]

Imagine following a monkey all your life then one day it turns into a gorilla.

 

You say to yourself, of all the monkeys in the world it was mine that denfed logic and became a gorilla.

 

That's how I feel.

 

[RoboFox]

To a certain extent, I can empathise with fans of the big clubs for being total arseholes. 

 

Winning is really fvcking addictive. 

 

Edited 18 January 2022 by RoboFox

[TrentFox]

4 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

That's 'Post Of The Year' sewn up, then.

Stolen, unashamedly, from this….

 

[Nalis]

When we lost the play off final against Watford, I really thought that was our last chance to get out of the championship for a long time. Thought our better players at the time like Knocky and Kasper would move on and we'd be left with dross on high wages.

 

The following season was quite enjoyable, we only seemed to get beat before international breaks and we just looked like a different beast mentally given previous season had false hopes of decent season starts. When we beat QPR one nil away at Christmas when they were all over us, that was the stamper that it would take something special to finish ahead of us.

 

The great escape is interpretated in different ways to a lot of people. For me, I always felt like we were almost there and our 7 wins in 9 was a combination of change of formation, things finally clicking into place and a decent run of fixtures - those you could argue we got the hard matches out of the way first which put us in a false position.

 

Everyone else has covered our league win - surreal, ecstatic and downright stressful, dont think words do our emotions justice sometimes.

 

Currently, I still get pissed off in the midst of watching a match but not really pissed off on the bigger picture. I look back at last season's 5th place and FA Cup with pride although at the time we ought to have learned our lessons on wrapping up top 4 and been better in Europe. After the league success, I allow myself to enjoy the wins rather than stress about it so the FA Cup win was very enjoyable.

 

In terms of some of the questions you've asked, its tough to answer as the league win has changed the view of our club forever and we arent the same club size wise anymore whether we like it or not. 

[Foxdiamond]

8 hours ago, Shev said:

Hey all, Wycombe fan here. I have a question (to satisfy my curiosity, more than anything) to pose to you all.

 

How would you describe the journey from L1 to present day, but rather than the obvious (winning the league was awesome, FA Cup was brilliant) instead focusing on the nuance of how it affected you personally in relation to your club and to the game itself. Were there unexpected aspects to how you felt after the league win? Was there nothing but a sense of "now I can die in peace", or was here a deflating aspect to reaching the mountain top after the fact? If the latter, what got you hooked again? And where has it all left you present day? Are you as passionate as you were before you had won the league? Less? more? How has dining at the top table with the giants of the sport made you feel about the soul of the game?

 

Hopefully you all see what I am trying to get at. I am fascinated by "the journey" Leicester fans have been on, as it is quite unique, but I feel there must be a lot of subtle aspects to how it has all gone for each fan personally that may be missed by fans of other clubs.

 

Cheers!

Hi, thanks for question. Having been a fan since 1963 always thought we had underachieved having come so close to major honours. The League Cup wins in 1997 and 2000 helped but never expected to better this. Having won League and FA Cup means I am at peace. Still want us to win every game but can look back with pride and emotion. Can hold my head high down south here with fans of all the London clubs etc. I think they thought following Leicester made me eccentric  Now when I meet someone new I have point out that long term fan not just since 2016. Good luck my old boss is a Chair boys fan

[sacreblueits442]

1 hour ago, Scanchez said:

This is the exact same analogy that I use.

...there is no right or wrong feelings to describe what we all have gone through, we are all not the same!!!

  If you take the people who are now satisfied with what they have witnessed and allied their feelings to being a player in this team, then it maybe easier to understand the drop off in their play and overall attitude.

  Clubs are successful for two reasons, the one which is most obvious is the finance, the other not so much, being the ability and mental fortitude to go again. To consign what had gone before to history, and the mementos and videos and newspaper cuttings boxed away, to be viewed when the boots are hung, and time now allowing you to relive those movements. 

  For me once it is achieved it is done, you just challenge yourself to do it all again!

 

 

[FuriousFox46]

It’s so weird because I’m an anxious person in general but I don’t recall feeling at all stressed during the 2016 run-in.

 

Once we’d beat Man City, I just felt so calm about it all. It’s like we couldn’t lose even if we did?

[Footballwipe]

10 hours ago, Shev said:

Were there unexpected aspects to how you felt after the league win?

That the only time it felt "real real" to me was when we physically lifted the trophy. That whole period is a blur to me. The Monday night I was even naive enough to think it was to be done on Saturday when Spurs went 2-0 up. The pure joy felt when winning the title, for me, only truly kicked in when the trophy was lifted. The atmosphere and that day was absolutely incredible, but it was a few seconds that really summed it up for me.

 

Part of me (selfishly) wishes we'd won it at OT because of that reason, but the Monday night was pretty special.

 

Oh, I also kept the promise I made to my missus in the January and proposed to her as a result.

 

Quote

Was there nothing but a sense of "now I can die in peace", or was here a deflating aspect to reaching the mountain top after the fact?

Some have mentioned it, but there has definitely been a deflation in my LCFC obsession since we won the title. When you reach the pinnacle it's hard to properly get yourself going (well, for me anyway.)

 

One moment I pinpoint for this is after the Atletico second leg. The end of that game and the long, long applause we gave to the players felt like the natural end. It was the end of the April 2015-April 2017 rollercoaster. Survival, title, struggle and UCL adventure. You follow that with a couple of mediocre seasons and it became hard for me to keep the intense love I had.

 

Quote

If the latter, what got you hooked again? And where has it all left you present day? Are you as passionate as you were before you had won the league? Less? more?

Fleeting moments for me, small things. Being in the stands when Barnes lashed home our goal against Leeds, for example, and the unleashing of emotion make me realise I still have that fervent support pre-title win. Things like the excitement for this Forest game as well give me the motivation and fun back into supporting the team. On the whole though, it is less. The spark went. I'd not think about heading up for a long journey midweek game before. Now if it's on TV I cba. Covid took the shine off things too, make no mistake, but the title win I am sure took the innocence off my LCFC support.

 

Maybe it's age and a change in priorities for me as well. Another sport came along and is vying for my attention which never helps

 

Quote

How has dining at the top table with the giants of the sport made you feel about the soul of the game?

I think it depends how you view us. I still have this "lower level" view where battling for fourth two seasons in a row is still amazing. But look at the squad, the training ground and the new stadium proposals. This should be the norm. Sometimes I worry the club has blazed forward and is leaving me behind, but I think part of that is to do with the narrative around us now. We're talked about, the centre of attention. There's social media abuzz with debates and talk and topics and it just doesn't interest me. When you reach that level everything seems bigger, but then I head to my seat, or get into the stands at an away game and it just makes it feel 'normal' again.

[Yes]

10 hours ago, Shev said:

Are you as passionate as you were before you had won the league?

Probably as passionate but more proud, I really feel like it gave us something of an identity, the clubs obviously always meant a lot to us as fans but to do something as big as that just made it that bit more special. 
 

Have to say I think it would be hard to adjust to going down again, I would eventually of course but right now I just want the club to grow as much as possible in every possible way, grow the fan base, expand the stadium, win more trophies, just while we still have the chance. I’ll be satisfied if we don’t achieve anything else of course but I’d love to see us give it a good go. 

[Foxxed]

There’s a small feeling of “now what?” but I’m still amazed we did it and I think I’ll always be amazed - the way we did it from nowhere will always defy logic and astound me.
 

Now we’re often going shoulder to shoulder with the big boys the soul of the game comes into focus. The soul of the game exists within the fans but the Premier League and Champions League are killing it.

 

The Premier League and Champions League are creating a bigger and bigger gulf, and the big boys feed off the smaller, and we’ll be part of that.
 

Without letting the fans control the direction of the league and redistribute the TV money to the grass roots, there’s no way out—the big will get bigger, the small smaller, and game will move further towards the money and away from the community that made it.

 

I’ve come to realise nothing will match 2015/2016 but watching our academy and kids from around the way become world famous footballers keeps me enjoying the game. And the ups and downs still make the game enjoyable if you can ignore the money, the increasing gulf in the league etc.

 

 

Edited 18 January 2022 by Foxxed

[Mickyblueeyes]

1 hour ago, FuriousFox46 said:

It’s so weird because I’m an anxious person in general but I don’t recall feeling at all stressed during the 2016 run-in.

 

Once we’d beat Man City, I just felt so calm about it all. It’s like we couldn’t lose even if we did?

This exactly. I dont know, I might not be remembering it right but even during the run in, I remember going into games with an expectancy for a win. I recall my feelings during the West Ham game where I thought this shouldnt be happening. 

 

Compare that to Prem games in the last two years. I've been a nervous wreck. Worried which team would show up and how we would perform. Normally with us the first 20 minutes is a give away for how the game will go. Far more stress in the last two years then the title winning season which was just amazing. 

[Red Squirrel]

Like other people here I've been supporting Leicester for about 58 years

We were like so many other clubs of our size and potential (there must be 30 of us) until the present owners came in - then everything changed

We won the league - no one was expecting that, a magical experience particularly when the trophy was lifted at the season end. The celebrations were class.

The European adventure 

The terrible helicopter crash which enhanced the already unique bond between the supporters and the Srivaddhanaprabha family. This relationship is truly special.

2 x 5th in Prem

The FA Cup

 

It feels different now 

We are one of the richest 20 clubs in Europe. TV revenue has tilted the odds more towards clubs like ours

A £100M training ground

An 8,000 capacity increase and massive infrastructure development next

I don't get the impression the majority of the fans feel entitled (a few Herberts do.. mostly on here) - just grateful we've been alive to witness all this

We are a top 10 club if you had to categorise it with solid foundations to push on

 

One man, one family has enabled all this - what a fantastic legacy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[huggybear]

People laugh at me but every year I say, 'let's get to 40 points and see what happens from there' with the hope of some great games along the way.  They say I'm not ambitious - I definitely am but 35+ years experience of following Leicester have taught me to keep it cautious.  Leicester have always been an 'interesting' club to follow whether it's defecting managers, cup exit shocks, rape accusations, fire extinguishers, corrupt refs, administration, basket case managers, League One, or the devastating loss of our incredible owner.  Being a Leicester fan has never been about trophies for me, it's about the journey.  Those big-name scalps and cup runs always ending in disappointment.  I feel immensely proud that my club is in the PL, but I don't take it for granted.  I celebrate every win like it could be our last.  We can be 4-0 up and I'm still worried we'll lose 4-5.

 

When we won the PL that was my least enjoyable season ever.  The sense of impending doom was endless through every second of every game.  Part of me hopes we never win it again because of this, but also because it will keep that story even more special

 

I still expect our big name players and managers to leave, I know our place in the media created PL hierarchy.  I don't ever want us to stop being the underdog.  

[Raj]

It's like somehow you've  bedded Kelly Brook!.

Your used to female snooker refs all your life, you bag Kelly Brook and now your reputation has propelled you to bagging a better quality of female snooker refs!

You KNOW you will never bag Kelly Brook EVER again but your happy with your current predicament as every now and again you'll bag a stunner (Like the FA Cup or beating Luverpool) which you still cant believe!

Most days though you lie awake at night and dream "Did that REALLY  happen?"

It's like you look in the mirror and you see Bradley Cooper but you really look like Harry Kane!!!

 

Personally though as a 50 year old asian who actually started going down in the 90s under Martin o Neill (and being there when you bastards knocked us out the FA Cup with that bloke from teletext!!!) the ups and downs of City have been a real rollercoaster.

Weve  had Everything...relegation,administration,  promotions, scandals, new ground, loads of owners,  loads and loads of managers, some crazy like Martin Allen and some unbelievable  like Sven Goran and some legends like Pearson and Claudio.

The death of our esteemed  owner, our legends written into history like Wes Morgan,Kasper, Vardy etc. European nights, nights abroad, FA Cup win, ...its just been brilliant.

I dont care what happens from now on, as I think weve had alot more than expected.

 

Hope that helps @Shev!!!

 

 

Edited 18 January 2022 by Raj

[Hammo]

Can I just point out that increased expectation does not equal ‘entitlement’ (which has become one of those annoying football buzzwords).

 

There is a big difference between the two. And I would place most current Leicester fans, myself included, firmly in the ‘increased expectation’ camp.

 

It is not a sin to want the good times to keep rolling. Especially with a squad of players that is arguably the most talented this club has ever had. 

 

 

[damolcfc]

Dont do it... everybody wants to beat the big boys....😆

 

Then u buy afcon players......not good come injury hit mid season...

And you end up with trophies... that means employing somebody to do the dusting ...

 

😝

 

[wattolcfc]

Loving this thread, thank you Wycombe fan. It’s bringing back some great memories, memories that will live on forever. In fact, it gets me teary just thinking about it.

[Flamey]

It actually made me feel like I could tick a box that I thought would never be ticked, and all the joy and emotion that came with it. However, the most important thing to me was that my dad was still around to see both the league win and fa cup win, he has been supporting them since the  1940's.

[Vlad the Fox]

When we got promoted to the premier league, as I left the stadium after all the celebrations on the pitch I had a brief moment where I felt deflated as happy as I was. I was a brief thought of “what now?” We’d had a number of years of promotion (league 1) and challenging at the top end of the championship, we’d had some exciting times and it dawned on me that that could be coming to an end, that mid table obscurity would be deemed successful and the years of winning most weeks had come to and end.

 

How wrong was I.  

 

Now, it’s a mixture of huge desire to win every game, which can manifest itself in raging moments of football turrets, a fierce desire for more silver wear, yet a feeling security and contentment and an appreciation of where we’ve come from. Of course this moulds me into a well balanced and calm supporter.  

[FoxyLeon]

Despite being almost universally agreed to be the 'Greatest thing to happen to English Football', there's unfortunately a huge amount of jealousy, and envy, which has really led to a question and position of some people asking 'Why Leicester?'/'Why not us?'.

 

Adrian Durham, is the perfect example of this kind of attitude.

A few weeks back he was slagging off Leicester fans for questioning Rodgers's ability to progress us further, using the Premier League title win as a stick to bash us with, basically having an attitude of 'Be grateful for your League Title win'.

 

But then, on the same show, will use a phrase like 'This is Manchester United!', when addressing their current slump, as though somehow, their entitlement as a previously successful club, trumps the beliefs and dreams of fans of other clubs, like ours, who want further success. 

 

This amount of jealousy and envy is a trophy in itself though. We've seen sides in recent years, and even months/weeks, like Tottenham and Everton, still demonstrating their jealousy over what happened to a club they believe to be 'inferior' to them. Still failing to realise that our League title win, and FA Cup win, is/was not just a 'fluke', but proof of just how well run our club is, compared to theirs. They can't wrap their head around the fact, that a club with less resources, is simply making better use of their resources.....And the problem they have now, clubs like Tottenham/Everton/Villa, who have always been 'bigger' in this department, know that now we're growing at a rate, that is likely to reach and surpass them soon. 

 

We will never be a Manchester City, in becoming a financial powerhouse overnight. But our name will always be etched into English Footballing History, and our projection in the long-term, is only going in one direction, upwards. Our club is continuously progressing, the stadium expansion, unlike the huge projects undertaken by Arsenal/Everton, will allow us to simultaneously improve our income and flex our muscles financially, without needing to sell/reduce our outgoings like Arsenal had to, and Everton have to now.

 

This season on the field has been below expectations.....

But the reality is, our squad has the most depth it has ever had, we have the most saleable assets in terms of players we have ever had, we have a training ground setup that is the envy of almost every club in European football and we will soon have additional revenue streams incoming with the extra 8000 seats in the stadium, the arena next to the ground, as well as the other redevelopment in that area of the City.

[Ric Flair]

15 hours ago, Shev said:

Hey all, Wycombe fan here. I have a question (to satisfy my curiosity, more than anything) to pose to you all.

 

How would you describe the journey from L1 to present day, but rather than the obvious (winning the league was awesome, FA Cup was brilliant) instead focusing on the nuance of how it affected you personally in relation to your club and to the game itself. Were there unexpected aspects to how you felt after the league win? Was there nothing but a sense of "now I can die in peace", or was here a deflating aspect to reaching the mountain top after the fact? If the latter, what got you hooked again? And where has it all left you present day? Are you as passionate as you were before you had won the league? Less? more? How has dining at the top table with the giants of the sport made you feel about the soul of the game?

 

Hopefully you all see what I am trying to get at. I am fascinated by "the journey" Leicester fans have been on, as it is quite unique, but I feel there must be a lot of subtle aspects to how it has all gone for each fan personally that may be missed by fans of other clubs.

 

Cheers!

As far as unbridled enjoyment and not feeling a sickening amount of pressure bar a few fleeting moments in a successful season, that 2008/09 season when we won League One was the best season I've felt as a Leicester fan. Maybe it was the arrogance that once we were in the top 2 that there was no way we'd blow it or the novelty of being at that level but it was so enjoyable and great experience to go to grounds that I'd not been to.

 

Some incredible away ends too, Lloyd Dyer's last min winner at Huddersfield was just off the scale. I'm surprised there wasn't serious injuries, there were bodies tumbling down the stairs 😂😂😂

 

Everything since then has obviously been a roller coaster and the last 8 years especially have just been ridiculous. It's been immensely stressful though, as a fan accustomed to heart break and knowing what we are as a club (a perennial yo yo club) it's not been easy to shift belief to a club that is now genuinely up there as one of the top handful of clubs, often better than the powerhouses. 

 

It's been incredible, I never want this to end but there's always a nagging fear that it inevitably will do. We've phenomenal owners though who whatever happens will have transformed this club forever. 

[Daggers]

2 hours ago, Raj said:

It's like somehow you've  bedded Kelly Brook!.

Your used to female snooker refs all your life, you bag Kelly Brook and now your reputation has propelled you to bagging a better quality of female snooker refs!

You KNOW you will never bag Kelly Brook EVER again but your happy with your current predicament as every now and again you'll bag a stunner (Like the FA Cup or beating Luverpool) which you still cant believe!

Most days though you lie awake at night and dream "Did that REALLY  happen?"

It's like you look in the mirror and you see Bradley Cooper but you really look like Harry Kane!!!

 

Personally though as a 50 year old asian who actually started going down in the 90s under Martin o Neill (and being there when you bastards knocked us out the FA Cup with that bloke from teletext!!!) the ups and downs of City have been a real rollercoaster.

Weve  had Everything...relegation,administration,  promotions, scandals, new ground, loads of owners,  loads and loads of managers, some crazy like Martin Allen and some unbelievable  like Sven Goran and some legends like Pearson and Claudio.

The death of our esteemed  owner, our legends written into history like Wes Morgan,Kasper, Vardy etc. European nights, nights abroad, FA Cup win, ...its just been brilliant.

I dont care what happens from now on, as I think weve had alot more than expected.

 

Hope that helps @Shev!!!

 

 

Nota bene: Raj is more likely to have had a threesome with Martin O’Neill and Martin Allen than ever having got within 6ft of Kelly Brook.