Sadness and celebration as Leicester say goodbye to Khun Vichai

Leicester City 0:0 Burnley

The Leicester City family said farewell to Mr Chairman on an emotional day at the King Power which saw City draw 0-0 with Burnley…

At 12.45, a police-estimated 50,000 fans, with Harry Maguire, James Maddison, Andy King, Hamza Choudhury and Matty James, set off from Jubilee Square on the Walk for Vichai. An inspired idea by Megan Elliott and her sister Casey, who had originally hoped that 5,000 would join the tribute.
Although the heavens opened, soaking the procession, a vivid rainbow appeared as those at the front arrived at the King Power Stadium.

Many fans then made their way down to Raw Dykes Road to view the sea of tributes that have now been carefully relocated to Car Park E, poignantly close to the crash site.
Most of the crowd were in the ground by 2.30, to watch a tribute video on the big screens. The first half of the film was viewed in complete silence, until applause rang out when we saw the League Championship trophy and then the Premier League trophy appearing on the screens.

Before kick-off wreaths were laid by Top and Leicestershire service people, and two minutes’ silence was observed for Khun Vichai and the other victims of the crash, and to mark the centenary of Armistice Day, with the white scarves left on each seat being held aloft.
And then there was football to watch…

Claude Puel made two changes to his line-up with Evans and Ghezzal in for the injured Maguire and Maddison.
Despite going through such a difficult week, with many players attending the funeral in Thailand, City got off to a strong start.
As City pressed forward a low, long-range shot from Ndidi was guided round the post by Hart. A minute later a clear-cut penalty was missed by Mike Dean, as Taylor leant towards an Albrighton cross and it hit him on the upper arm.
In the 14th minute Hart failed to gather a cross and the ball fell for Vardy who fired goalwards, but Lowton was well-placed to block on the line.
Burnley’s first chance came in the 17th minute, but with Wood in on goal Ricardo did just enough to put him off and Schmeichel saved a tame effort.
Another chance passed City by in the 21st minute when Ghezzal got a thumping header to an Albrighton cross, but hit the bar.
Albrighton then had a shot blocked, before a good run into space from Gray saw him one-on-one with Hart who blocked the near-post effort with his leg.
After this lively start the game calmed down towards the break and the chances dried up.
In the 39th minute Gudmundsson’s 30 yard free-kick was tipped round the post by Schmeichel and then Ndidi sent a header wide from a corner.

Half-time saw the traditional Armed Forces parade around the pitch and for the second half the players exchanged their Vichai Tribute shirts for those bearing poppies.
Burnley took the initiative early in the second half, Morgan managed to intercept a dangerous ball to Vokes, before picking up a harsh yellow card for a robust but fair challenge on Wood.
As City broke upfield Albrighton then had a shot deflected into Hart’s chest as City’s luck in front of goal didn’t improve.
Evans, having his best game to date in a City shirt, and Morgan were kept busy, both making vital clearances as Burnley pressed.
Claude Puel made his first change on the hour, with Iheanacho replacing Albrighton.
As a round of applause broke out to mark the 60th minute Gray sent Vardy in on goal, but he miscued his shot and missed out on a perfect tribute goal.
Evans tested Hart with a header, and then the ball sat up for Wood in the area, but he sliced his effort and it span over the bar.
Not surprisingly City began to look tired in the closing stages. Iheanacho gave the ball away in midfield and then raced back to foul Barnes, getting a yellow card. Thankfully the free-kick came to nothing.
The 84th minute saw Okazaki on for Gray and he gave the side renewed impetus, sending Vardy down the left for a cross to Iheanacho who was denied by a well-timed challenge from Taylor.
Okazaki then got his head to a Chilwell cross in injury time but sent it narrowly over.
City had to be content with a point on a day that was about much more than football.

The vast majority of fans remained in the ground after the final whistle which saw the playing and coaching staff, former managers Claudio Ranieri, Nigel Pearson and Craig Shakespeare, and Estaban Cambiasso accompanying Top on a lap of the pitch. It was a hugely emotional moment, and by the time Time to Say Goodbye came over the tannoy there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

It was a day we will never forget. Leicester City have had a fraught two weeks, still managing to get 4 points from 6 in the process, and have carried themselves impeccably in such trying times.
They now have the international break to rest and regroup before the process of continuing Vichai’s legacy gets underway.

“Champions of England, you made us sing that.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Evans (Söyüncü 90), Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Albrighton (Iheanacho 60), Ghezzal, Gray (Okazaki 84), Vardy.
Substitutes: Simpson, Söyüncü, Iheanacho, Ward, Okazaki, Iborra, Fuchs.
Burnley: Hart, Lowton, Long, Mee, Taylor, Lennon, Defour (Hendrick 55), Cork, Berg Gudmundsson (Brady 65), Vokes (Barnes 73), Wood. Substitutes: Heaton, Westwood, Bardsley, Vydra.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 32, 184.

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The next issue of The FOX will be dedicated to the memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh and the others who died on that day.

Please send your thoughts and images to: garysilke@sky.com

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Battling performance earns Leicester a victory for Vichai at Cardiff

Cardiff City 0:1 Leicester City

On an afternoon of raw emotion a Demarai Gray goal edged City to victory at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday…

Just one week after the tragic accident at the King Power Stadium that claimed the lives of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Nusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz, Claude Puel’s side took to the field again.

Cardiff were hugely considerate hosts, and the home fans passed round their own tribute flag to match the one in the away corner, before an impeccably observed minute’s silence.
Puel made five changes to his starting XI with Morgan, Vardy, Ricardo, Mendy and Gray all returning to the side.
With many of the players visibly moved during the pre-match tributes the game got off to an understandably tentative start, but with both sides desperate for a win for very different reasons a competitive game soon began to unfold.

City’s first decent move came in the 21st minute when Abrighton’s fine first touch saw him feed Ricardo down the right. Although he beat his man a cut-back into the area went behind the in-rushing Vardy.
A minute later Maguire’s challenge on Paterson, who was in on goal, led to the England man landing heavily on his right knee. Although he returned to the game after some treatment it was soon clear that he couldn’t carry on, and Maguire limped off looking disconsolate as Evans replaced him.
Soon after this Gray went down clutching his ankle, but play didn’t stop until Ndidi chose to give away a free-kick on the edge of City’s area so he could get treatment.
Gray was fit to proceed, and Camarasa thumped the crossbar with his 25 yard effort.
After this, the tide turned a little and City had a strong period up to the break.
Ndidi rose like a salmon to get a head to Maddison’s corner, but his contact was poor and the ball drifted wide.
Mendy then had a fierce shot blocked by Arter when it looked goalbound, before Bamba put in a fine challenge on Ndidi as he shaped to shoot inside the area.
In the final minute of the half Bamba was involved again in an incident that had the City players roaring for a penalty. Etheridge saved a Maddison shot and the ball fell for Vardy who jabbed the ball goalwards, but Bamba’s outstretched arm diverted it up onto the bar. Referee Lee Probert turned the appeals down and Bamba breathed a sigh of relief.

City continued their good spell into the second half. Maddison sent a shot high and wide and then delivered a corner which Evans nodded down to Gray but his attempted flick was blocked by Gunnarsson.
Cardiff then broke upfield and Murphy cut in from the left, but Schmeichel got down well to his near post effort.
City took the lead in the 55th minute, a fine cross was delivered by Chilwell from the left flank and Gray was in the right place to send a measured side-footed half-volley beyond the reach of Etheridge.

This sparked emotional scenes as all eleven City players raced to the away corner to share the celebrations with the travelling support. Gray removed his shirt to reveal a ‘For Khun Vichai’ message and Lee Probert looked suitably regretful when he had to show him a yellow card.
Five minutes later there was another outpouring of emotion in the away corner as the City fans sang  ‘When You’re Smiling’ in the 60th minute, to mark Vichai’s age.
Cardiff went desperately in pursuit of a point, and Bamba prodded one effort wide, before attempted a spectacular overhead kick was also missed the target.
Puel responded with a substitution, bringing on Danny Simpson for his first appearance of the season, moving Ricardo forward and sending Albrighton to the left wing.
City went close to a second when a corner was nodded on by Ndidi, but Evans couldn’t quite connect with his head at full stretch.
City had some defending to do and Mendy blocked a Camarasa shot, before Paterson headed over from a corner.
With ten minutes remaining Iborra came on for Maddision and City managed to get their possession game together again.
In the 88th minute City broke upfield and Ndidi threaded a ball into Vardy’s well timed run behind the defence, but Etheridge managed to block his low shot.
City resolutely got through some Cardiff pressure during time-added-on before the referee’s whistle signalled three points for City, but more importantly, the win they wanted for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

The players and entire coaching staff went over to the Leicester corner to share a very special few moments to mark the end of a very difficult week, that had been handled superbly well by both club and fans.
The word ‘family’ has been much used this week and never did it seem more appropriate.

Although the club are still a long way away from ‘normality’ despite this return to action, the spirit shown this week bodes very well for the future.
Several players and staff went straight to Cardiff Airport after the game to travel to Thailand to attend the funeral. They will take our very best wishes with them.

Thank you Khun Vichai. R.I.P.

Cardiff: Etheridge, Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Camarasa, Gunnarsson,
Arter (Ward 79), Murphy (Madine 85), Reid (Hoilett 65), Paterson.
Substitutes: Smithies, Cunningham, Damour, Harris.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Morgan, Maguire (Evans 27), Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Albrighton, Maddison (Iborra 82), Gray (Simpson 70), Vardy.
Substitutes: Iheanacho, Ward, Diabaté, Fuchs.

Referee: Lee Probert. Attendance: 30,877.

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The next issue of The Fox will be dedicated to the memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and the other victims of last Saturday’s horrific accident.
We invite you to send your thoughts and images to us at: garysilke@sky.com

Post-match tragedy brings Leicester City’s darkest day

On Saturday evening Leicester City drew 1-1 at home to West Ham United.
The game contained moments that could be considered dramatic, when framed within the context of football. Jamie Vardy was left out of the starting eleven. Fabian Balbuena put West Ham ahead after half an hour. Mark Noble was shown a straight red before the break.
The crowd roared their approval as Vardy emerged as a half time substitute.
There were wild celebrations when City eventually managed a fortunate equaliser a minute from time when a wildly deflected shot from Wilfred Ndidi span up into the net. Then a subdued spell in stoppage time when it became clear that Daniel Amartey had suffered a very serious ankle injury.
All the usual ups and downs of the game that means so much to us all, and plenty to discuss as we made our way home. But we may never quite feel the same way again.
Tragedy was waiting to strike.

For those people usually left in the stadium an hour after the game, mostly the media and club employees, the sight of the owners’ helicopter landing in the centre of the pitch picking them up and then taking them away has become a well-established routine.
But this was to go horrifically wrong on this tragic night.
The helicopter took off, cleared the stands, but made it no further than the car park just to the south east of the ground.
With many members of the media still in the ground the news that there had been a major incident swiftly spread to the supporters. Film of the burning wreckage was shown on TV and we spent a gut-wrenching evening desperately trying to establish some facts amid all the speculation.

By Sunday morning things were a little clearer. Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha had been on board, but his son vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha had not attended the game. It appears that five people including the pilots were in the helicopter, but official confirmation is still to come.

Throughout Sunday supporters have been going down to the King Power Stadium, adding shirts, flowers and scarves to an area outside the family stand set aside for tributes. It is very quiet down there, we’re not the most demonstrative people in Leicester, but people are struggling to hold back the tears. There are shirts and messages from many other clubs, reflecting the wave of support from all over the country via social media.

If you aren’t a Leicester City fan it may be hard to understand the depth of feeling that this loss has caused. Football owners can be a funny breed. There are good ones and bad ones, some are liked, many are hated. But what we had were the very best owners you could wish for.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha took the club from being a debt-riddled Championship side, to one that stormed into the Premier League, survived relegation from a seemingly hopeless position, then achieved the virtually impossible by winning the Premier League title. No Leicester City fan could ever have envisaged Leicester lining up for a Champions League quarter-final. But Vichai delivered, and he did it with quiet dignity, good Thai manners, a respect for our club’s tradition, and huge generosity. Not only the club, but also the wider Leicester community have benefited from this, from the millions that went to local hospitals to his donation towards the reburial of King Richard III.

The loss of such a great man has cut us deep, and our thoughts are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, and with anyone else who was involved in the tragedy.

We can only echo the words written on one of the shirts now lying outside the ground: ‘Thank you Vichai, you made our dreams come true’.

 

Özil inspired Arsenal overrun Leicester

Arsenal 3:1 Leicester City

After a great first half showing City were well beaten by Arsenal at The Emirates on Tuesday night…

Claude Puel, two days away from completing a year in charge of City, made one change to his side, with Evans in for the suspended Morgan. He also switched to a 3-5-2, Vardy and Iheanacho operating down the channels.
His side started the game on top and carried that on until just before the break.
In the 2nd minute Iheanacho sent a shot over the bar, when a square ball to Vardy might have been a better option. Four minutes later City threatened again, but Leno managed to palm away Iheanacho’s curling effort. Then a clever ball forward from Iheanacho almost sent Vardy in but Leno came racing off his line to clear.
In the 15th minute Xhaka fouled Maddison 25 yards out, but his free-kick sailed over the bar. Another foul, as Arsenal struggled to contain City, saw Holding go into the book for holding Iheanacho back.
Two minutes later Holding was very fortunate not to get a red card when he clearly handled the ball in the area. Referee Chris Kavanagh waved play on and Puel fumed in his technical area.
Maddisson then launched a free-kick into the area and Maguire’s header was tipped away by Leno.
In a rare Arsenal attack Lacazette sent a well-struck effort narrowly over, but City soon hit back, with Vardy inches away from getting his head to a Ricardo cross.
City’s pressure paid off in the 31st minute when they took the lead their play had deserved. Ndidi sent Chilwell down the left and he cut into the area before what looked like a cross deflected off Bellerin and deceived Leno. Sadly for Chilwell it had to go down as an own goal.
Arsenal had a chance for an instant reply a minute later but Schmeichel tipped Xhaka’s free-kick over the bar at full stretch.
Xhaka sent another free-kick wide as Arsenal began to get a grip on the game towards the break. Iwobi almost got onto the end of a long ball forward, but Schmeichel raced off his line to gather.
Just when City looked to have weathered this late spell of pressure, the Gunners equalised in the 45th minute. Özil, who had done virtually nothing to this point, suddenly burst into life, feeding Bellerín down the right and continuing his run into the area, guiding the return pass in via the left hand post with a sublime touch.

If ever there was a game of two halves this was it, as City spent most of the second half chasing shadows. Five minutes in, a sloppy Mendy backpass set Lacazette up with a shot that Amartey did well to block. Mkhitaryan’s acrobatic connection with the rebound flew wide.
Despite the one way traffic towards Schmeichel’s goal City went close in the 58th minute, when a Maddison corner was headed against the bar by Ndidi, but five minutes later City went behind. Özil played Bellerin in on the right and his cross provided Aubameyang with a tap in. He had been on the field for two minutes, with Albrighton replacing Iheanacho at the same time.
City, unrecognisable from the first half, were being run ragged now and Ricardo and Albrighton both picked up yellow cards before Arsenal struck again in the 66th minute.
Özil played a clever dummy, Lacazette set him up with a pass, and the German set up Aubameyang, for a second tap in in three minutes.
Puel brought Ghezzal on for Ricardo, and then Okazaki for Maddison, but it was just rearranging the deckchairs by this stage, with the game gone.
Schmeichel managed to block Lacazette from point blank range to keep the score down, but Arsenal cruised to their tenth consecutive victory with second half possession stats of 81%.
The sorry evening seemed to be summed up when City played the last six minutes without Vardy, who had jogged off down the tunnel.

As good as Arsenal were, City had once again failed to play well for a whole game.
It is 45 years since City won at Arsenal, and on the second half showing it could be another 45 before they do so again.

Arsenal: Leno, Bellerín, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner (Aubameyang 61), Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan (Guendouzi 61), Özil (Ramsey 80). Iwobi, Lacazette.
Substitutes: Welbeck, Martínez, Medley, Smith-Rowe.
Leicester: Schmeichel: Amartey, Maguire, Evans, Ricardo (Ghezzal 69), Mendy, Ndidi, Chilwell, Maddison (Okazaki 75), Iheanacho (Albrighton 61), Vardy (withdrawn 87).
Substitutes: Söyüncü, Ward, Iborra, Fuchs.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: 59,886.

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Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

The FOX – The Leicester City fanzine 209 – in the shops now

The 209th edition of The FOX – is now in the shops…

It features: An exclusive interview with former City striker Martyn Waghorn; Fully Programmed from the Mark McGhee/Spider Kalac era; Fox Diary; #lcfc on Twitter; the History of Leicester City in 100 Objects; the Foxes Trust on sit down areas; Favourite Shirts – your nostalgic nylon; Rewind – Martin O’Neill and Steve Claridge on the Wembley turf; Foxed in the Head – on clapper infestations, Frank Worthington and a soaking at Saints; We assess Claude Puel’s first year in charge; Details on our new interviews compilation book – ‘Can’t Buy That Feeling’; John Hutchinson on George Best’s first Filbert Street appearance; your letters and Bentley’s Roof, and FiftySomething goes to Bournemouth…

The most fun you can have for £2.50…

Martyn Waghorn Interview extract…

FOX: That night will always be remembered for Kermorgant’s failed chip, and your penalty miss tends to be forgotten.

MW: Yann’s miss put a lot more pressure on me. For a moment everyone was standing around going ‘What… what… what just happened?’
I thought I’d struck it well, but looking back it was a good height for the keeper, David Marshall, and he guessed right and made a good save. The season we’d had I think we deserved more and I was bitterly disappointed that it ended like that. None of the other three teams in the play-offs were better than us, so it was a chance missed. But that’s football for you.

FOX: Can you remember who said what to you after that?

MW: I had a lot of support, even from some of the Cardiff boys. And in the changing room I was surrounded by good lads, like fellow-Geordie Stevie Howard. And I was big mates with Kingy, Michael Morrison, Lloyd Dyer. Chris Powell was very good to me. I was gutted and heartbroken, it was my first opportunity in football to do something really important.
I learnt from it and it make me want to take penalties even more. I’ve taken them ever since and I get a real adrenaline rush from the pressure. And Leicester didn’t go on to do too badly, it wasn’t really a defining moment for them as it turned out.

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Or if you just wanted to buy issue No 209 click here and we’ll send it in the post: FOX 209

Sigurdsson strike sinks ten man Leicester

Leicester City 1:2 Everton

A finely balanced game was tipped Everton’s way by the dismissal of Wes Morgan in the 63rd minute at the KPS on Saturday…

Claude Puel named an unchanged line-up, displayed on the new large screens behind each goal, but City got off to a slow start.
A wayward ball from Ndidi saw Everton on the attack, but the threat was snuffed out.
However, the Toffees went ahead in the 7th minute after some woeful defending.
Bernard sent a cross over from the left that was cleared, but recycled back to him. He cut into the area and waltzed round Ricardo and Amartey as though they weren’t there before delivering a ball across the face of goal. Schmeichel got his fingertips to it, but only diverted it to Richarlison at the far post who calmly slotted home from six yards.
Soon after this another ball across City goalmouth saw a three-way collision with Sigurdsson sandwiched between Morgan and Schmeichel, but Amartey cleared as penalty claims were waved away.
City pushed forward in search of an equaliser: Maddison had a shot blocked and then Chilwell beat his man down the left before delivering a cross to the near post, but Vardy didn’t get enough contact on his header which went wide of the far post.
Schmeichel had to make saves from Walcott and Sigurdsson, before a 35th minute opportunity was wasted by City. Vardy ran onto a long ball forward, and outpaced Keane despite a tug on his arm. It is the sort of chance he usually takes, but this one was jabbed wide of the right hand post.
However, City were level five minutes before the break. After Amartey cleared from an Everton corner, a good challenge from Mendy and a precise ball from Iheanacho sent Ricardo charging down the left. He cut into the area, swerved twice to leave Kenny floundering and fired home via Pickford’s glove. On his birthday as well.
Three minutes later Ricardo delivered a good cross from the right, but Vardy’s header didn’t test Pickford. The England keeper’s drop-kick sent Richarlison in down the left, but having outpaced Morgan he was then wrestled to the ground by the City captain for an obvious yellow card.

Six minutes into the second half a clumsy challenge by Morgan dumped Richarlison onto the pitch surround near the technical area. Referee Andre Marriner opted not to show him another yellow, but he was clearly on his last warning.
City then went close to taking the lead when Chilwell intercepted a ball out of Everton’s defence and then skipped round three defenders before sending a shot narrowly wide of the left hand post.
In the 63rd minute the inevitable happened as Morgan tackled Richarlison from behind on the halfway line. Although he got some ball he also caught the Brazilian’s heel, who made the most of it. Marriner ran out of patience and Morgan was dismissed for the second time in three games.
Claude Puel brought Albrighton on for Iheanacho, leaving Vardy on his own up front and moved Amartey to centre-half.
If City had looked the more likely winners with eleven men, Everton were now running the game. Following a corner Schmeichel made two good saves in quick succession from Digne and Davies.
But he could do nothing about Everton’s winner in the 77th minute. A smart turn from Sigurdsson saw him evade Maddison, and he strode into space before launching a superb dipping 25-yarder into the top left hand corner.
Puel brought on Ghezzal for Ricardo, and then Okazaki for Maddison, which prompted some booing, but Everton were managing the game well and City were struggling to create anything.
An injury-time corner, which saw Schmeichel taking up a position at the far post, saw City’s last opportunity for a point. Amartey rose highest in a crowded box but sent his header wide and the game was up.
It was a self-inflicted defeat to a large extent, with many fans thinking Morgan should have been subbed after his let-off, just as Davies was for Everton.
Claude Puel didn’t agree: “This yellow card changed the scenario of the game because we were dominating against this team. Perhaps we started to drop deep afterwards and we conceded this fantastic goal. It was tough for us and for my players. I think Wes has a lot of experience to manage the yellow card. If we withdraw a player all the time because he has a yellow card to maintain the level and do our best. Of course we can have this feeling.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo (Okazaki 86), Iheanacho (Albrighton 67), Maddison (Ghezzal 80), Vardy.
Substitutes: Evans, Ward, Iborra, Fuchs.
Everton: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Davies (Tosun 71), Gueye, Walcott, (Calvert-Lewin 90), Sigurdsson, Bernard (Schneiderlin 90), Richarlison.
Substitutes: Holgate, Baines, Stekelenburg, Lookman.

Referee: Andre Marriner. Attendance: 32,007.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  

Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.

Comfortable Leicester win adds to Newcastle woes

Newcastle United 0:2 Leicester City

Goals from Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire saw City claim three points against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday…

Claude Puel made two changes from his last Premier League line-up, with Morgan returning from suspension for Evans, and Ricardo replacing Ghezzal on the right wing.
City soon settled into their passing game and had a couple of early half-chances: Iheanacho sending a long-range shot straight at Dubravka and Ndidi nodding a Maddison corner over the bar.
In the 10th minute Ricardo cut in from the right and fired a shot towards the bottom right hand corner, forcing a good save from Dubraka.
Despite dominating possession City did get caught out a couple of times. Joselu broke down the left channel and was shaping to shoot when Maguire slid in with a fine tackle.
Then Atsu delivered a cross from the left and Diamé’s late run saw him unmarked for a header, but he missed the target.
City then regained the initiative and forced a series of corners, all well whipped into the danger area by Maddison. As the pressure mounted City took the lead on the half hour.
A Maddison corner from the left was half cleared and Maguire hooked in a shot from 8 yards, but it was blocked by Yedlin with both arms above his head. There were few complaints as referee Simon Hooper pointed to the spot and Vardy fired it home giving Dubraka no chance even though he guessed right.
These are troubled times at St James’ Park and owner Mike Ashley’s first appearance at the stadium this season didn’t help the atmosphere, with the fans making it clear what they thought of him.
Newcastle first on target-effort arrived in the 36th minute, when Shelvey tried an ambitious 60 yarder. Schmeichel had to back-pedal a little but it didn’t ruffle his feathers unduly.
City held their lead at the break after a very satisfactory half.

Five minutes into the second half the home fans roared for a penalty of their own, when Maguire and Pérez tangled in the area, but Pérez had a handful of the City defender’s shirt and Hooper rightly waved play on.
City were putting some great moves together and Iheanacho almost sent Vardy through, but Dubravka raced off his line to clear.
Maguire then had two bites of the cherry as he lined up a volley to a dropping ball, and missed it. He had time to have another go as the ball bounced up, but punted it well over.
There were then hopes of a Maddison special after he was brought down on the edge of the area, but he sent his free-kick straight into the wall.
City went further ahead in the 73rd minute. Maddison delivered a corner from the right, and Maguire timed a late run, rising above the Newcastle defence to plant a firm header past Dubravka from six yards.
Puel withdrew Vardy, who’d earlier taken a solid whack on the shin from Shelvey, for Albrighton, and then brought Iborra on for Maddison to protect the lead.
Newcastle looked beaten long before the end and offered little by way of a comeback in the latter stages. It was a comfortable three points from a highly professional performance, that saw City up to 7th place
Claude Puel summed up: “We continued to play on the floor with quality. It is a good reward for my players and I would like to say congratulations to them. We played with fantastic discipline, with good play, structure and all the things to make a good result in a difficult away game.”

Newcastle: Dubravka, Yedlin (Manquillo 80), Lascelles, Clark, Kenedy, Ritchie (Murphy 65), Diamé, Shelvey, Atsu, Pérez (Muto 69), Joselu.
Substitutes: Schär, Hayden, Darlow, Longstaff.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo, Iheanacho, Maddison (Iborra 85), Vardy (Albrighton 74)
Substitutes: Evans, Ward, Okazaki, Fuchs, Ghezzal.

Referee: Simon Hooper. Attendance: 51,523.

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Can’t Buy That Feeling – Inside Leicester City – The Best of The Fox Interviews

We have finally got round to compiling all our interviews into one book and it is available now from Conker Editions Ltd HERE
and Amazon HERE

Also available from the Leicester City Fanstore and Waterstones in Leicester.

The FOX has been interviewing Leicester City players, managers, famous fans and board members for almost three decades, building up a body of work that takes you right into the very fabric of the club, with memories spanning the last 60 years.

As a City fan, you’ve come to know hundreds of players through their performance on the pitch, through potted career biographies and football sticker images. But what about the real characters behind the blue shirt and the back-page reports?

Can’t Buy That Feeling takes you inside Leicester City from the perspective of those who were there – behind the scenes at the long-running soap opera packed with comedy and tragedy, triumph and disaster, financial ruin and amazing title wins.