FANTASY COME TRUE!
It has been a lifetime of waiting for City fans to see their beloved team lift the FA Cup. Adrian Troughton caught up with some of them – including two with special connections to City’s previous finals – while photographer Andy Baker captured the scenes outside the King Power Stadium after the Foxes’ stunning victory over Chelsea at Wembley
LEICESTER City fans are on top of the world today after their team won the FA Cup.
About 6,000 City supporters were lucky enough to get to Wembley to see the the 1-0 victory.
But thousands of others watched the match glued to TV set across the city – and around the world.
And for all, whether at the ground, the pub or in their living room, there was joy as their beloved Foxes lifted the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
A stunning goal from man of the match Youri Tielemans sent the fans into raptures before VAR ruled out a Chelsea equaliser and the final whistle sealed the deal.
Dedicated City fan Wembley Lester said the cup win has made her name “a happy memory”.
Wembley Lester Harrup’s dad Jack Dwick came up with the name for his daughter when she arrived days before City played in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in 1963 – and he had enjoyed several drinks in the pub.
City lost the match, so for the past 57 years, Wembley has lived with a name that is a memory of a stinging defeat for the club she has supported all her life.
But now the Foxes have finally lifted the trophy, she hopes her name will have a much happier connotation for her fellow fans.
She said: “Now we have won the FA Cup I feel it can remind everyone of a happy occasion for Leicester City.
“I had a good feeling as I was born on the 21st and it’s 2021 so that was a good omen for me. I knew VAR would rule their goal out.
“Sadly, we could not really celebrate as my partner Simon was on lates that night and went straight to bed after the end.
“He had been in bed earlier then got up watched the match then went back to bed.
“It’s my birthday soon so we will celebrate in style in the pub then.”
A couple from Barwell watched the match in the Leicester Citythemed pub in their back garden that they took 10 months to create.
Adrian and Jamie Morgan spent almost £10,000 on the bar, which they created by upcycling some club memorabilia.
Walls are decked out with club merchandise, including framed football shirts and blue and white scarves, along with a big TV mounted on the wall where the couple, Adrian’s father, mother, brother and sister-in-law gathered on Saturday to watch the match.
“What can you say,” said Adrian. “It was absolutely brilliant.
“Youri’s goal, Kasper’s saves and Ben Chilwell being denied the equaliser by VAR. It does not get much better than that.
“Our pub stayed open late and last orders were about 1am for us. “To see Top crying when he lifted the cup was very emotional.” Lifelong Leicester City fan, 90-year-old Raymond ‘Pop’ Walker, believed he had become a jinx to his club as he had been at all the other FA Cup finals – in 1949, 1961, 1963 and 1969 – only to see the Foxes lose.
He was not able to go to the 2021 final, so watched the match at home.
He told the Mercury he could not be happier to see City lift the trophy.
“The jinx has been well and truly broken,” said the great-great-grandfather.
“I watched the game at home with my wife Doreen and could not have been happier.
“I had a little gin and tonic and settled in to see the lads beat Chelsea. It was lovely.
“If we get to the Champions League and somehow I got offered a ticket I would go as the jinx is gone.”
His son Stephen, from Groby, said: “Amazing. What a game. What a goal.
“Now the pubs are opening we can have a proper celebration for Dad’s 90th birthday and toast the FA Cup win. Perfect.”
Emma and Franco Calitri also took in the match in their own