Cheer City to victory safely - even if you have own pub!
SUPPORT THE FOXES THIS WEEKEND - BUT PLEASE STICK TO COVID RULES SAYS DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
LEICESTER City fans are being urged to support the club safely when the Foxes play in their first FA Cup final in more than 50 years tomorrow.
Professor Ivan Browne, a life-long Leicester fan and Leicester City Council director of public health by day, is hoping that the FA Cup will be in City’s hands on Saturday night – but whatever happens at Wembley, he is also hoping that a huge occasion for the city does not result in a spike in Leicester’s coronavirus rates.
With many restrictions still in place, and with Leicester’s Covid-19 rates still higher than the national average, he is urging fans to enjoy the occasion responsibly.
He said: “This is a massive day for Leicester City and its fans, and naturally we all want to make the most of the occasion, but let’s not forget that coronavirus hasn’t gone away yet.
“After the incredibly difficult year we’ve had in Leicester, a cup final is a brilliant tonic that will give us all a boost, but what no-one wants is for something so positive to turn into something negative for us all. “Set up your TV in your garden, and you can even invite up to five friends round to join you. Book a table in a beer garden and watch the game with your mates, or just get the snacks in and enjoy the game with your family at home. “However tempting it is to break the rules, please don’t.
“Show your love for your team and your city by supporting City safely. “Respect the rule of six, refrain from mixing indoors with people you don’t live with, and remember that Covid loves a crowd, so keeping your distance can really help keep you safe. “Wearing a face covering, washing your hands regularly and staying apart from anyone you don’t live with can help protect you from the virus and its variants.
“The result at Wembley will obviously mean a lot to me as a City fan, but what’s important is that, in the days following the match, the data continues to show that the infection rate in Leicester is coming down.”
While Ivan – like most of the city – will be watching the match at home, 6,250 Leicester fans will be heading to Wembley for the battle.
Each fan lucky enough to have a ticket has had to take a test at a rapid testing centre before they travel to prove that they are not carrying coronavirus.
To make it easy for fans to get the test, the city council extended the opening hours at its six rapid testing centres in the run-up to the big day. As well as supporting the testing programme, the city council is working with Leicester City Football Club to ensure their transport plans run smoothly on the day.
With most fans travelling to Wembley by official club coaches, the council has arranged for coaches to park in Raw Dykes Road prior to departure, and it has made its Park & Ride site at Enderby available as a further coach pick-up and drop-off point.
The council is also providing the Saffron Lane stadium as a drop-off point for returning coaches.
Officers from the city council’s Licensing Enforcement team are involved in the pre-match preparations too.
They will be contacting licensed premises in Leicester to provide guidance and information that will help them operate safely on cup final day.
The team will do a number of previsits to pubs and bars and will also jointly monitor venues with the police throughout the day to ensure they are operating safely.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “It’s been a long time since Leicester enjoyed an FA Cup final, so understandably there’s a lot of excitement in the city.
“I want to wish the team the very best of luck. Whatever happens at Wembley, Brendan Rodgers and the players have made us very proud. And the best thing we can do to show our appreciation is to support them safely.”
However tempting it is to break the rules, please don’t... remember that Covid loves a crowd
Ivan Browne
A COUPLE who have spent 10 months creating a Leicester City FC themed pub in their back garden will be using it to watch the FA Cup final this weekend, writes Finvola Dunphy.
Adrian Morgan, 46, and his wife Jamie, 43, are Leicester City season ticket-holders and have sorely missed going to matches and the pub due to lockdown restrictions.
The Foxes will take on Chelsea tomorrow in their first FA Cup final for 52 years.
The match kicks off at 5.15pm. They weren’t among the lucky 6,250 City fans to be allowed to follow their team to Wembley, but already had a great back-up plan in place.
Adrian admitted: “I’m a real pub person and during lockdown I felt lost without going to the pub.
“A friend of mine had built one in his back garden, so me and my wife decided to do the same.”
On matchday, close family will gather for a barbecue and few pints as they cheer on their beloved team.
Adrian added: “Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to fill the garden and have everyone round but obviously we’re still restricted.”
The family has been Leicester City season ticket-holders for 10 years and are looking forward to going to matches again.
“We’re big fans and we were gutted that we couldn’t get tickets to Wembley.
“I can’t wait for the day when we can go to matches again - it’s been a long time.”
The bar has been christened “JT” after his wife, who came up with the pub’s design.
With a load of help from his fatherin-law, Keith Truslove, the bar is now complete and ready for action.
Adrian added: “To be honest my father-in-law has done most of the work and I helped him out. He’s the brains behind most of it.”
The pair from Barwell have spent almost £10,000 on the project so far but they have also up-cycled some of the club’s old memorabilia.
A video, available on the Mercury’s website, shows the fully kitted-out bar, with the club badge prominently displayed on the bar.
Walls are decked out with the club’s merchandise including framed football shirts and blue and white scarves, while the attention to detail even stretches as far as Leicester City beermats.
A big flat screen TV is mounted ready for Adrian’s father, mother, brother and sister-in-law to gather round tomorrow.
The couple have even recycled old football tops which have been made into cushions and a dart board has been added to complete the pub-feel. ■■Leicester City’s allocation of tickets for the FA Cup Final quickly sold out, but those lucky enough to have secured one will still have to jump through a few more hoops, needing to produce a negative lateral flow test before taking their sociallydistanced Wembley seat.
A statement on the club’s website said: “All supporters attending the final will be asked to complete a consent form confirming their acceptance to participate in the government’s Events Research Programme (ERP) and comply with all relative protocols.
“If consent forms and the ERP’s admission requirements are not completed, access to Wembley Stadium will be denied.”