Wembley comes to Bernie for cup final
HEALTH CONCERNS SCUPPER TRIP - BUT A BIG DAY OUT IS STILL ON
A Leicester City superfan’s dreams of a long-awaited trip to Wembley have been dashed due to health concerns over the trip.
Bernie Henson, 87, had secured a ticket to the FA Cup final after his friend set up a campaign, “Get Bernie to Wembley.”
But his Loughborough care home has now made a decision that the journey and long day would “be too much for Bernie”.
The life-long fan had been desperate to get the national stadium to support the Foxes’ first FA Cup final in 52 years.
However, his friend and carer, Simon Marlow, has now pledged to make the day extra-special in any case, promising that if Bernie can’t go to Wembley, he and his family will “bring Wembley to Bernie”.
Simon started the campaign on Facebook after the government’s Events Research Programme announced that fans could attend the match as part of its road map out of lockdown.
Having managed ed to secure Bernie a ticket, the plan n was scuppered by a decision over Bernie’s health - and it is one which Simon, on reflection, supports.
Simon said: “The dream is over. ver. Having secured Bernie’s ernie’s ticket, a decision was made d b by his care home after a meeting that the journey to Wembley and the long day would have probably been too much for him.”
Simon was on the phone paying for the highlyprized ticket when he got a voicemail through with a message from the manager of Bernie’s care home.
He added: “I returned the call and the manager informed me that after a meeting with her staff, it would not have been in Bernie’s best interest to make the trip down to Wembley.
“Reluctantly, I must admit I had to agree.”
Before lockdown, Simon used to take Bernie to all Leicester City’s home games and, throughout the pandemic, has visited him every Sunday to keep him company.
Martin says he respects the manager’s decision, so has now decided to “bring Wembley to Bernie.”
Simon has invited his friend to watch the match along with his family at their home.
He said: “Fortunately, Bernie is already in a Covid bubble with me due to my visits to the care home.
“I will do my best to give him a day to remember. I’m heartbroken for Bernie but, on reflection, I fully agree with the decision.”
With help from his wife and daughters, Simon has made plans to deck out his living room to give the 87-year-old the “true Wembley experience”.
Simon now plans to return Bernie’s ticket so someone else will be able to go, and thanked “everyone who has contacted me for their amazing help and support.”