Leicester’s tribute is a class act
SOMETIMES it takes tragedy to bring out the best in football.
Leicester’s response to the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others has reeked of class and respect.
For 32,000 people in the congregation on Saturday, a breathtaking kaleidoscope of rainbows, raw emotion and remembrance will live in the memory as long as Leicester’s 5,000-1 title miracle in 2016.
The fringe of replica shirts from clubs far and wide lining the entire pitch perimeter – with the Leicester squad in numerical order beneath the directors’ box – was the players’ idea.
When ‘Top’ led a VIP lap of honour to thank the people of a proud city for their support, the dark skies were weeping with them.
Ex-bosses Nigel Pearson, Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare – architects of the greatest football story ever told – were all sacked by Srivaddhanaprabha but joined the parade to pay their respects.
And former England striker Jamie Vardy’s auction of his private box for the day raised £20,000 for Vichai’s charitable foundation.
In a 100-page brochure, a matchday programme like no other, ‘Top’ pledged to carry the torch for his father’s empire.
To a man, the Leicester players have been immense in both their statesmanlike conduct and digging out four points, with two clean sheets, either side of a 12,000-mile round trip to Thailand for Vichai’s funeral.
Winger Marc Albrighton said: “We’re drained, mentally and emotionally, just drained.
“Everyone looks at the players because we’re the ones who are out there, but it applies to the whole club as a family.”
The game was goalless but at times like this, who cares about football?