Jamie Vardy: A Legend's Final Home Appearance

[bovril]

We are going to see emotional slow-mo indie-schmindie compilations on a level never before seen

[WorcesterBlue]

From a Tractor Boy looking forward to tomorrow. Give it large for Vardy at tge match.  You wont see his like again. 

He will get a good reception from the away end. We recognise class when we see it.

[Spudulike]

13 minutes ago, WorcesterBlue said:

From a Tractor Boy looking forward to tomorrow. Give it large for Vardy at tge match.  You wont see his like again. 

He will get a good reception from the away end. We recognise class when we see it.

Perhaps give the songs about his wife a miss then 

[VLC86]

17 minutes ago, WorcesterBlue said:

From a Tractor Boy looking forward to tomorrow. Give it large for Vardy at tge match.  You wont see his like again. 

He will get a good reception from the away end. We recognise class when we see it.

Wait till he scores and does a tractor celebration in front of your away end for the applause please.

[Corky]

49 minutes ago, WorcesterBlue said:

From a Tractor Boy looking forward to tomorrow. Give it large for Vardy at tge match.  You wont see his like again. 

He will get a good reception from the away end. We recognise class when we see it.

Er, no. You are meant to sing about his wife being a grass, we'll sing about him winning more than you which in inaccurate (actually the same domestically) and all will be well with the world.

 

Applauding him messes the whole thing up. Applaud Wout Faes instead.

[Spudulike]

4 minutes ago, Corky said:

Er, no. You are meant to sing about his wife being a grass, we'll sing about him winning more than you which in inaccurate (actually the same domestically) and all will be well with the world.

 

Applauding him messes the whole thing up. Applaud Wout Faes instead.

Won't be inaccurate as he will have won more than every one of those Ipswich fans.

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-jamie-vardy-ipswich-10191173

 

Ipswich Town hail 'brilliant' Jamie Vardy ahead of Leicester City clash - but warn 'it's our day'
Leicester City news from LeicestershireLive as Ipswich boss and his players pay glowing tribute to Foxes legend ahead of his final game at King Power

ByAndy Turner
11:15, 17 MAY 2025

Jamie Vardy is one goal away from 200 Leicester City goals (Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Imag)

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna and his players have paid a glowing tribute to “inspirational” Jamie Vardy - but that isn’t stopping them wanting to spoil his big Leicester City send-off on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Foxes legend is held up as a role model for players up and down the country, proving that if you have the talent and work hard enough you can bridge the gap between the lower leagues and the Premier League.

Having started out in non-league, Vardy didn’t make his top-flight debut until the age of 27. Incredibly, he’s gone on to score 144 goals at the highest level, win both the Premier League and FA Cup, plus earn 26 caps for England.

 

 

 

He announced last month that he would be leaving the Foxes at the end of this season, with it subsequently revealed that he’ll be signing off in Sunday’s game against Ipswich at the King Power Stadium.

He’ll go into the match on 499 appearances and 199 goals for the club. One more goal would move him clear of Robin van Persie into outright 14th on the all-time Premier League goalscorers’ list. Two would draw him level with Teddy Sheringham in 13th.

“It’s obviously a fantastic journey he’s been on and he’s someone very well regarded there and by everyone in English football,” said McKenna, speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times.

“We’ve got our motivation going into Sunday and it’s going to be very different than Leicester’s, so we’re going to try and do everything we can to make it our day.”

Asked if Vardy had been an inspiration to many of his squad, given so many of them have climbed the pyramid, the Blues boss replied: “Yeah, I think he has been. I think I became a little bit more aware, dropping down to League One for the first time, how much players use seeing others who’ve gone through the leagues at whatever age as motivation. It helps them keep believing that you can climbing if you keep working on your game, keep improving and keep on top of your condition.

“He (Vardy) has probably been the best in terms of his journey and then the longevity that he’s had at the top level. Credit to him for that. I know he’s someone who the boys will have looked up to. But I also know they’ll be really keen to stop him getting any success on Sunday. We wish him well after that. Yeah, and it’s also got motivating factors for this game.”

Tractor Boys’ star Sammie Szmodics, meanwhile, revealed the personal touch and lengths Vardy went to in congratulating him on his own personal journey, revealing: “I had a good chat with him at the end of last season after we played against Leicester. He gave me a bottle of champagne, said congratulations for the season I had (at Blackburn), which is something he doesn’t need to do. I don’t really know him on a personal level but it just shows the sort of character that he is.

“It’s quite a similar story, maybe he’s a bit later than me, but he’s worked up and he’s doing it week in, week out in the Premier League now. That’s something that I ultimately want to achieve. This is my first season in the Premier League and our journeys are probably very similar so I can look at aspects of his game and the way he’s done it.”

Sam Morsy also paid tribute to the veteran striker, adding: “What he’s done is a remarkable achievement. He’s come through the leagues and made a lot of people dream. He’s opened the path for people to do it. Because of what he’s done people now look at non-league and lower-league players more.

“He should have played more for England in my opinion, had an amazing career and, without being an incredible professional, he wouldn’t have done that. I know he’s got the reputation for the Red Bulls and whatever, but I guarantee he’ll be one of the best professionals around to be competing and playing at his age at the level.

“It’s going to be a sad day for Leicester, I don’t know what he’s going to do next, but he’s still playing at a really good level and could continue for a number of years if he wanted to.

“It’s his tenacity, his work rate and he’s got great quality as well – great finishing ability and great movement. I look at the winner in him – he’s a winner, he’s tenacious, he’s intense, he can carry the team up the pitch because of his willingness and his pressing. I think he’s been a brilliant Premier League striker.”

 

[damolcfc]

Souvenir program £4

 

DHL delivery £5 🫣🤔 ffs really🤯

[foxile5]

6 minutes ago, damolcfc said:

Souvenir program £4

 

DHL delivery £5 🫣🤔 ffs really🤯

Yes but it's the world famous Goat programme bought to you by the jvgoat luxury range.

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/open-letter-jamie-vardy-greatest-10187535?int_source=nba

 

An open letter to Jamie Vardy, the greatest player in Leicester City history
Leicester City news as Jamie Vardy ends his 13-year journey with the football club on Sunday against Ipswich Town

ByJosh HollandFootball Writer
09:00, 17 MAY 2025
Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy leaves Leicester City as their greatest-ever player (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Dear Jamie Vardy, a letter to you, Leicester City's greatest-ever player before you bid farewell.

On Sunday afternoon, Vardy will say goodbye to the football club 13 years to the day he arrived from Fleetwood Town. A £1million signing from non-league, the game with Ipswich Town is his final outing for the club, marking his 500th appearance.

Emotions inside the King Power Stadium will be at a high, something most supporters would never have experienced before. In previous years, club legends have either left at the end of their contracts (Danny Simpson, Shinji Okazaki, Christian Fuchs, for example) or been sold in the transfer window to other clubs, occasionally leaving a bad taste.

 

 

 

Last summer, Marc Albrighton's exit touched thousands. The winger wore his heart on his sleeve, put everything into every fixture and left the club a legend. In the last game of the season, fans cried as Albrighton said goodbye. But this weekend, unparalleled emotions will creep out.

Vardy leaving Leicester isn't something to be surprised about. Despite the emotions of him leaving, there's been an argument for the 38-year-old to depart in the past two summers. For me, returning the club back to the Premier League would have been the perfect farewell, but the "****show", Vardy's words not mine, of this season has left a horrible taste in the mouth.

Remarkably, Vardy has still bagged nine goals this season. After hitting six in the first 15 Premier League games this season, his form, through no fault of his own, has coincided in one of the worst City runs in history. I've been his biggest critic, albeit him starting and someone else not getting a chance isn't his fault. That's been forgotten about ever since he announced his decision to leave the club.

Before Vardy arrived, my love was Matty Fryatt. His League One endeavours made me fall in love with a classic number nine, albeit he wore 12 at City, after Iain Hume left me devastated to join Barnsley following relegation from the Championship. Before them, Elvis Hammond, Mark de Vries, DJ Campbell, Yann Kermorgant and many others all failed to inspire as strikers at the club. I'm sure I've not named a few.

Fryatt, like Hume, left and by then David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford had arrived. But in 2012, when Vardy was signed, things changed and not a single person in football would have been able to predict what went on to become the greatest individual journey in football.

I'll always remember meeting Vardy at the end of August 2012. After scoring on his debut against Torquay United in the EFL Cup, Vardy started the first three league games of the season before being rested for the shocking 4-2 defeat to League Two side Burton Albion in the cup.

As the players warmed up, summer signing Vardy was pitchside and came around to take photographs and sign autographs. I got my photo and it was my profile picture on Facebook for the year. I got banter at school for having a photo with a striker no-one had heard of. Four years later, I had a photo with the best Premier League striker.

In the Championship-winning season under Nigel Pearson, Vardy started to show his quality. A rapid striker who formed a formidable partnership with Nugent. I always felt he was better on the wing, like he was used in the 2014-15 Premier League campaign.

The world started to notice the striker in 2015-16. The season began with Vardy breaking the record for the goals scored in consecutive goals game, beating Ruud van Nistelrooy's record, and ended with him as an iconic figure in football.

A message to congratulate Jamie Vardy of Leicester City on the new Premier League record of scoring 11 consecutive games
Jamie Vardy holds the record for scoring in 11 straight Premier League games (Image: Getty Images)
Even when he was 'the man' at Leicester, he was, and still is, the most down-to-earth person. Before my route into journalism, I worked part-time at the car park at the King Power Stadium on matchdays and occasionally patrolled the player car park.

As a huge Leicester fan, meeting any of the players was unreal. Adrian Silva, Vicente Iborra, Andy King and Kasper Schmeichel were all so welcoming. But on the one or two times I got to meet Vardy, I was starstruck. It's not hard to be polite but so many people struggle to do the basics. Not Vardy.

Red Bull, Skittles and vodka and the blue wrist wrap all became popular. He even gave Leicestershire a sense of pride following England at the European Championships in France that summer.

By then, he could have easily left for Arsenal for better money and the opportunity to take his career to the next level. Unlike the many others that did jump ship, Vardy stayed and fans will be grateful for that forever. As the chant goes, which we'll hear hundreds of times against Ipswich: "He could've gone to Arsenal, but he didn't fancy that."

The Champions League, big goals against the 'Big Six' and constant ****housery against opposing fans have continued his legacy. After being pushed out a little by Claude Puel in hope of injecting young blood into the team, there's an argument that the best of Vardy came under Brendan Rodgers between 2018 and 2022.

Vardy scored 75 Premier League goals between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 season. Above all, he helped the club win the FA Cup and that picture of him holding the trophy in front of the Foxes faithful will always be a favourite of mine.

Since then, two relegations and a promotion have followed. The club have got so much wrong in that period and some would argue that the decision-making has moulded a downbeat ending for Vardy, but this isn't about the state of the club. Vardy's farewell should and will be no reflection of things away from him.

Every single Leicester City supporter has their favourite memory of Vardy. His celebration in front of the Sheffield United supporters (which by the way, is a strong contender for me to be his statue outside the King Power Stadium), his record-breaking goal against Manchester United, his volley against Liverpool, or his goal against West Brom in the great escape.

But on Sunday, if Vardy gets on the scoresheet against Ipswich, it could top it. On his 500th appearance, the striker could mark goal number 200, 13 years to the day that he signed for the club. That will be special. But if it doesn't happen, it takes no shine off his career.

Tears will flood the King Power Stadium at the full-time whistle with the club confirming a series of activities will follow full-time. Vardy and his family will take it in and say their farewell around the pitch. His chant, cardboard cut-outs and a display in the stands will all pay tribute to the club legend in what is expected to be a truly emotional afternoon.

Whatever comes next for Vardy, it's going to be incredibly tough to see him in other colours. He still wants to play in the Premier League. Everyone has their own preference but please not Leeds.

By no means did Vardy alone bring success to the club, Leicester and the people. But he has been a huge part of the journey from start to finish and leaves a generation of Leicester City fans with a specific name they’ll tell their grandchildren about in years to come.

So, to Jamie Vardy. Thank you for sticking around. Thank you for putting Leicester City on the map. Thank you for the Premier League and FA Cup. And thank you for scoring 199 goals, there will never be enough thank yous. Here's to Sunday and making it 200.

[leicesterseddon]

22 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Won't be inaccurate as he will have won more than every one of those Ipswich fans.

In theory fans in their mid-seventies would be old enough to remember them winning the league in the early sixties.

 

Those in their mid-fifties would remember them winning the FA and UEFA cups.

 

It’s a dangerous song anyway though because most fans will interpret the “you” to mean “your club”, rather than them personally (which is reasonable). 

[promised land]

I get the feeling KPFC are bigging this up to gloss over the fact we are relegated from the league.

 

A celebration when we are going down, beyond words.

Edited 17 May 2025 by promised land

[Bourbon Fox]

On 16/05/2025 at 10:32, ramboacdc said:

Damned if they do or don't in this case though. 

If they didn't mention anything or do anything to acknowledge it people would be kicking up a fuss. All they are saying here is their mid fan zone will be open, the shop is open, you will get a flag and to stay after the game. Hardly forced fun to have the players do a lap at the end of the season, this is just the same but will have something for Vards.

It's the snubbing of the fan-made tifo in favour of a bunch of king power flag waving that annoys me 

[Corky]

3 hours ago, Ted Maul said:

I don't think anyone had an issue in utilising him like Maresca did- 18 goals, best goals per minutes ratio in the Championship. No reason he couldn't replicate that again next year.

This is a big part of it. He was used properly last season- fairly sporadic until March when it got serious and his experience counted.

 

He is our best finisher and can still provide lovely assists and touches  but overall doesn't impact the game. We basically need a Vardy of 10/11 years ago- the snarling, energetic terrier who linked brilliantly with the team.

[Chelmofox]

Goal in the 9th minute. It has to be.

[WorcesterBlue]

8 hours ago, leicesterseddon said:

In theory fans in their mid-seventies would be old enough to remember them winning the league in the early sixties.

 

Those in their mid-fifties would remember them winning the FA and UEFA cups.

 

It’s a dangerous song anyway though because most fans will interpret the “you” to mean “your club”, rather than them personally (which is reasonable). 

That will be me then. 

I was an 9 year old there when we beat the Villa 2-0 to be the Champions, 1-0 against Arsenal to take the FA Cup in '78 in scenes similar to today's and there when we won the UEFA Cup in '81. Remind me when the Foxes won in Europe ? Ha, ha.

 

But that is not important tomorrow.

The match is not important tomorrow. We all know that except the accountants.

 

I will be happy to clap for a Vardy goal as long as Chappers has scored two first !

I'll clap him at the start and the end. That is what tomorrow is about.

See you there.

COYB

 

 

[Foxes1]

9 hours ago, leicesterseddon said:

In theory fans in their mid-seventies would be old enough to remember them winning the league in the early sixties.

 

Those in their mid-fifties would remember them winning the FA and UEFA cups.

 

It’s a dangerous song anyway though because most fans will interpret the “you” to mean “your club”, rather than them personally (which is reasonable). 

What you have to remember though is football only started with the advent of the premier league.😯

[Guest Lako42]

Sack the board

 

Tomorrow should still keep the pressure on, it's not about jacking off for 90 minutes. 

 

Club are loving it

[WorcesterBlue]

5 minutes ago, Foxes1 said:

What you have to remember though is football only started with the advent of the premier league.😯

Did it though ?

All those years watching something and I did n't know !

Ha, ha.

I thought that was when it ended.

[Md9]

Can we ask Ipswich just to let him walk it in from kick off then we can let them do it back then just let Vardy get the vodkas in on the pitch. No one really wants to watch either of us play 😂

[Lineker's Left Foot]

Please cheer Vardy but slate those rat bag charlatans that have taken my club away from me when they walk around expecting praise.

[WorcesterBlue]

2 minutes ago, Md9 said:

Can we ask Ipswich just to let him walk it in from kick off then we can let them do it back then just let Vardy get the vodkas in on the pitch. No one really wants to watch either of us play 😂

Agreed.

[UniFox21]

 

 

 

[OnlyOneCity]

Brilliant!

[whetstonefox]

I know it’s all about Vardy tomorrow but I would love it if there could be at least one ‘there’s only one Nigel Pearson’ rendition sang by the WHOLE crowd. Such an important figure in our history and with all he has gone through fully deserves a good old cheer