Leicester fans revell in historic triumph
Leicester fans weigh in on their team's amazing rise to reach the summit of British football.
IT’S a story that has captured the football and sports world’s imagination, a story of the underdog triumphing.
It was something that seemed improbable, nay, impossible, at the beginning of the season, but against all odds Leicester City were crowned the the Premier League champions. It was a moment many thought would never come, but the Foxes beat all the odds to claim a first top-flight crown in the club’s 132-year history.
It’s a season that has given us phrases like ‘dilly ding, dilly dong’, and a season where the odds were 5000 to one of Leicester winning the league. Leicester celebrated their coronation as champions with victory over Everton two weeks ago on a day of elation at the King Power Stadium. Thousands of supporters surrounded the stadium simply to take part in the carnival to mark Leicester’s achievement.
Not only were there wild celebrations in the county, supporters worldwide rejoiced in their team’s triumphant and defining moment. The mood was no different in Durban as local residents and former Leicester natives, Paul and his son, Gareth Trotman, celebrated the win.
Paul, who has supported the team for more than 45 years, watched the first half of the season at the King Power Stadium and gave up his season ticket when he moved down to Durban.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but I’ve come to realise what a fantastic achievement this is. The DNA of a Leicester supporter is one of doubt, we’ve often had a stigma of being the team that choked, but seeing them lift the trophy was magnificent. Leicestershire is a very parochial county, and we are incredibly loyal. I think this is just the beginning of a golden era for the club, we are in the Champions League, which no one could have imagined.
“I’m very proud of the team, of the city, of everyone. Everyone in that team earned that title. Mahrez is the PFA Player of the Year, Jamie Vardy is the Football Writers’ Association Footballer Of The Year and – so much more significantly – we are champions with 80 points from 37 games,” Paul said.
His son, Gareth, also expressed his joy at the team’s win.
“It has been a rollercoaster of emotions watching Leicester this season. I’m just simply happy and proud of what they achieved. I’m really happy my dad got to witness it. It’s such a perfect story. Our manager was disregarded and ridiculed in England and our players had so much to prove, and I can honestly say this title was earned, not bought,” Gareth said.
