LEICESTER CITY SEASON REVIEW 2013/14
The final day of the 2013/14 season and after finishing a twelve hour night shift I dash home to try and get at least two hours sleep before picking my grandson Jack up and driving to Leicester for our final home game of the season and our championship winning party.
It was a bitter, sweet day for me as my brother Roy who has been by my side for many years has to miss out because he’s not well, but it was fitting that Jack was with me, as he was with me at Stoke on that horrible final day of the season on May 4th 2008 when we were relegated to league 1, How far we have come since that dark day!
It was a carnival atmosphere outside the stadium and even more so inside and what an awesome sight to see an almost capacity crowd waving blue flags and creating a crescendo of noise welcoming the team to our own theatre of dreams.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the best game of football, but it was all about the occasion and the day.
You could have been forgiven for not realising that it was also a massive day for Doncaster Rovers who had to win to guarantee staying in the championship, or hope that they could equal or better Birmingham’s result at Bolton.
All appeared to be going to plan as news of Birmingham losing at Bolton filtered through and Donny fans were having a party. But when Rihad Mahrez produced a piece of magic that resulted in Leicester getting a penalty that was despatched by David Nugent, the atmosphere changed a little!. Even Leicester supporters were singing let them score hoping to secure Doncaster’s championship place, but alas as the day unfolded Doncaster were relegated and Leicester had their party.
It all seems so log ago since almost twelve months to the day on May 4th 2013 when we were winning at Nottingham Forest to secure our play off place and then a few days later experiencing the heart ache of losing in dramatic and bizarre fashion at Watford. And now twelve months later we hail our team as Champions of the Championship and premier league football now awaits.
The season started of well with a 2-1 away win at Middlesbrough and we could look forward to our first home game of the season against Leeds with optimism, but an uninspiring 0-0 draw brought us back to earth and I remember saying to my brother that the most I expect this season is to finish in the top half of the table. No one could really predict what was to follow and how we took the Championship by the scruff of the neck and gave it a damn good hiding, breaking numerous records along the way, scintillating stuff.
Looking back over this record breaking season I will just choose some of my highlights along the way.
For me every game is special, but for Liam Moore on September 14th scoring his first goal for his club v Wigan was extra special. And just seeing the look on his face as he ran towards our supporters in L1 was priceless, and even more so getting tangled up with the advertising boards, Liam Moore he’s one of our own!
My first away game of the season was the away trip to Watford on November 2nd and to see us exorcise the demons of last season by thrashing them 3-0 was awesome, and seeing Knockaert score a divine goal put the icing on the cake.
The away win at QPR was also a magic day and what an important win, winning 1-0 with a fine Jamie Vardy goal, we even had squirrel gate! Watching David Nugent chase the squirrel off the pitch was hilarious.
Following the 1-0 win at QPR we never really took our foot of the gas and continued to take the championship by storm, and did it in some style culminating in away wins at Burnley to end their title aspirations, and the win at Bolton that sealed our fate as champions. And who will forget the stunning strike from Lloyd Dyer that settled the game.
Loads of memories along the way especially away from home and meeting old and some new friends from social media sites, the power of the internet is awesome!
A superb and unbelievable record breaking season that culminated in that final game of the season against Doncaster Rovers who probably brought along the best away support of the season, loud, proud and sportsmanlike, even in the event of their relegation. A credit to football.
As we saluted our team and captain Wes Morgan holding aloft the Championship trophy we have to remember that without our illustrious owners Vichai and Aiyawatt none of this would have been possible and what an inspired move getting Nigel Pearson and his team back at Leicester, the future looks bright with them at the helm,
As I looked across at the spion kop last Saturday I could picture the old kop at Filbert Street with the double decker stand sitting proudly above it and I am sure I could see my Dad, bless him, smiling down at me, it is times like this that I am so glad and proud that my Dad took me to my first game over 50 years ago. Leicester Till I Die
CHAMPIONS
I would just like to say a final word for two supporters who went to the King Power Stadium this season and never made it home R.I.P. City supporter Roger Evans and R.I.P. Doncaster supporter Ray Dunning.
Alan’meashamfox’Bennett
Leicester till I Die
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