POWER OF LOVE
Leicester stadium pays tribute to owner on emotional day
IT looked like the first snow of winter — as if the seats in the King Power Stadium had been covered in a soft, white blanket cast from the heavens.
The 30,000 scarves handed out to Leicester fans were being held aloft as part of an immaculate, twominute silence before kick-off.
But amid the quietness, the message was deafening. ‘Mr Chairman’ said the black stitching on one side of the fabric. ‘Forever in our hearts’ read the other.
The scene called to mind the afternoon of May 7, 2016. That day, the stands in this ground shimmered with white and blue flags. Another free gift to supporters, they were waved feverishly in anticipation of the Premier League trophy being raised. Jubilation everywhere.
Yesterday, the sense that swept over the ground was profound solemnity.
In the Buddhist faith, the colour white reminds of the end of things. And so moving was the video montage in tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, played on the big screen moments before referee Mike Dean blew his whistle to start the game, it was impossible not to feel the terrible events here a fortnight ago meant the end of something very special indeed.
Leicester will go on of course. Under the Srivaddhanaprabha family, too. But now the miracle of 2016 will forever be twinned with the tragedy of 2018. Recollections of highest pleasure tinged by deepest
pain. Underlining the point was the presence in the directors’ box of t he t hree managers who t ook Leicester to such unexpected altitudes. For the first time, Claudio Ranieri, Nigel Pearson, and Craig Shakespeare were together — although they would not have wished it be in these circumstances.
None had been back to the King Power for a match since being sacked by Srivaddhanaprabha, but each readily accepted the invitation from Aiyawatt, Vichai’s son and Leicester’s vice-chairman, to attend this emotional occasion.
In the 13th minute, Leicester fans took this unique opportunity to pay respect, singing Ranieri’s name, then Pearson’s. Each man in turn rose to his feet to offer applause. Esteban Cambiasso, loved here for his part in the great escape of 201415, and Steve Walsh, the former head of recruitment who unearthed Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante, were also present and acknowledged by the crowd. Martin O’Neill, too.
Before kick- off, an estimated 20,000 had walked from Jubilee Square in the city centre to the stadium in commemoration. Harry Maguire, James Maddison, Matty James, Andy King and Hamza Choudhury — all unavailable for this game — led the way.
Hundreds attended the huge memorial site that been shifted from behind the North Stand to beside car park E, adjacent to the site of the helicopter crash.
A significant proportion of the scarves and shirts left by mourners from across the country were placed around the perimeter of the pitch. It was an uplifting sight as the action played out, a kaleidoscope of the lives touched through Srivaddhanaprabha’s ownership.
‘The last two weeks have been the most difficult I have known,’ wrote Aiyawatt in an elegant matchday programme.
‘I’m extremely proud to have such an extraordinary father. From him I have received a very big mission and legacy to pass on and I intend to do just that.’
The team began that legacy by winning at Cardiff and here they came out of the traps racing. In the eighth minute Wilfred Ndidi had a shot tipped wide by Joe Hart, but t hen t he Burnley goalkeeper flapped at Marc Albrighton’s cross to present the ball to Vardy. He took a touch and blasted at goal but Matt Lowton cleared off the line.
Rachid Ghezzal hit the bar with a stooping header from another Albrighton cross and in the 27th minute Vardy released Demarai Gray. He eased past Kevin Long but was denied by Hart.
Into the second half, Hart saved a deflected shot by Albrighton and a far-post header from Jonny Evans. Leicester tried for a poignant victory but the energy consumed by their grief and this week’s journey to Thailand to attend Srivaddhanaprabha’s funeral seemed to take its toll.
Shinji Okazaki’s header that went just wide was the closet they came. After the final whistle, Aiyawatt led a lap of the pitch, clapping the fans who chanted his father’s name. It was like that on May 7, 2016. Except, this time, a most important man was missing.