#LCFCParade – My Return to Leicester

Here’s a rare blog for PunkFootball where I’ll be talking of my own personal experience. The Social Media Manager, as an individual.

I was given the opportunity from work to go to Leicester this past Monday, celebrating the Foxes’ fairytale Premier League title success – having gone to De Montfort University from 2009-2012, it was a chance to once again visit my “home from home”… but unlike any other time I’d been before.

Having lived in the city for the aforementioned years, Leicester is a busy place. Obviously not to the scale of London, Manchester or Birmingham, but still hectic at times. One thing I’ve been able to say about the place is the atmosphere is always a pleasant one – you’re hard pressed to find anything negative to say about Leicester.

But visiting on Monday, with over 250,000 people out to celebrate the title glory of the Foxes was truly something else. More than three quarters of Leicester’s population (although the figure would’ve included the likes of myself, who had traveled from out of the city) descended on to the streets and Victoria Park – and being involved in that, being virtually unable to move – was incredibly fun.

Ranieri Hope Poster T-Shirt, Leicester City badge & King Richard placard. Blue enough?

Before getting in to the crowds, a friend of mine collected up a placard from the King Richard III Visitor Centre just away from the middle of the city, with the King adorned in a Leicester City t-shirt. Sure enough, it proved quite popular as we walked around – many fans taking photos as we went past, or even stopping to have their photo with it.

As the buses made their journey, we placed ourselves near the Clock Tower, where the media had located themselves on balconies just above. The volume of noise was consistently loud – but sure enough – it was deafening when making their way around the corner they appeared – Ranieri, Vardy, Mahrez and co. along with the Premier League title. The horns, the whistles, the cheers… definitely unlike any experience I’ve ever had before.

Victoria Park, where the party continued.

Exit left, and down the long street to Victoria Park at this stage. A sea of blue as far as the eye can see – many Leicester City tops, celebratory t-shirts (and even a fair few of our own designs I noticed along the way, too!). Passing more media like BBC Leicester, ITV and Sky – the journey took a while from the volume of people, stopping for more photos with King Richard but no one was bothered. The songs kept going, the chants kept going, and so did the smiles.

“Championes” rang out often, but the most creative chant? “We’re All Going On A European Tour, A European Tour, A European Tour”, to the chorus of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” (also with the verse “Dilly Ding, Dilly Dong, Dilly Ding, Dilly Dong”).

Well over 100,000 crowded in to the park where, one more time, the team lifted the title up to a firework celebration, before a surprise performance from Leicester’s own Kasabian.

Once all the fun and festivities were over, it was a long walk and wait at the train station to come home. However, the party atmosphere continuing even on the platform (along with picking up a badge and celebratory scarf) certainly helped the fact the train was a quarter of an hour late.

If it’s to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment, I’m certainly glad I went.

Ashley Redman
Won’t be sent by work for a European Tour