Game Seventy One - Crewe away

2 May 2009

And so here we are, the final leg of the league one tour. Nine months of hard work following the club around the country and I'm one step away from completing the acheivement of having attendance every step of the way in the 2008/09 season. Something that I have to say even I didn't think would happen when I set for the first game against MK Dons but here we are and what a season it has been too! Champions of league one, unbeaten for half a season, only one home defeat and a record number of away wins. I know it's "only" league one but which ever way you look at it, it's been one hell of an acheivement to bounce back in the way that we have. Just look at Leeds, Forest, Sheff Weds and even Man City who all struggled to get back to a more suitable level of competition but here we are, returning at the first time of asking having blown the competition out of the water. I won't go as far as to say that it has been easy but lets face matters, over the course of the season only one team has taken four points from us this season and it's hard to recall any teams that have outplayed us. What a year.

And what a way to finish the league one season off but with a day out in fancy dress away at Crewe. All the real milestones this season have been away from home so it seems fitting that that is how we will be finishing things.

I met up with Jodie at Leicester train station, her dressed up as a school girl and drawing funny looks from all those around us. I had wimped out though and had the change of clothes in my bag to sort out on the train. We quickly jumped on the train to Nuneaton and then while I got changed in the toilets ( a lovely experience I can tell you), she waited for the second train of the day to Crewe. In my hawaiian get up with the loudest shirt in the world and her as a school girl we had every pointing us out along the way.

We arrived in Crewe in plenty of time and whilst getting some more strange looks and getting my hand shaken by some random guy for my outfit, we waited for Helen, Colleen, Chloe and Bert to arrive. The Cators in Filbert Fox outfits and Chloe as a schoolgirl like Jodie but Bert stole the show in his complete Spiderman get up.


We went for a wander around Crewe watching everyone stare at us as we walked and headed into a random pub which drew laughter as we looked for Maybes and co to get the tickets for the others.

With plenty of time still to spare and the lack of decent watering holes in the near by area, we headed into the ground for the final time at a Leicester game this season.

With City fans taken up two of the four stands, we knew we would be in for a good day out, the only down side being that the odds were heavily stacked in favour of Crewe getting relegated today with them needing to win and have results go their way.

At least we looked cool though....

Oh yes that is an epic shirt!

Jodie seemed rather insistant on blowing up my beach ball (I don't think she gets that priveledge in Anstey!) and what seemed like four hours later, my outfit was complete.

... and just in time for Jimmy Bullard to arrive and get a snap of us for the Leicester website - ending the season as media whores. Happy days.

We hung around at the front watching the players warming up and getting the final few snaps of the season.... Maxi Gradel who has been a revelation in recent weeks.

More photos were taken as well.... what do that pair look like with their Weasel costumes. Mwahaha!

We made sure that Alan and Ken joined in the fun too if only for a few seconds but we were all in good spirits and very relaxed about things for the final game.

The players came out to a party atmosphere with the usual inflatables and stuff being thrown around the place. It was a good place to be, even if we did look like idiots!

Crewe started quite positively and looked to be up for the game as they knew nothing short of a win would be good enough to help them stay up. A long range free kick was the first effort they could muster but it didn't come close to troubling Stockdale in the Leicester goal. On ten minutes, Leicester created their first effort with a ridiculously impressive effort from Morrison from fully 30 yards had to be turned round the post by the Crewe keeper - since when could defenders shoot like that???

Howard also came close midway through the first half when King pulled the ball back from the byline but Big Steve lifted the ball clean over the bar with the goal gaping. Two minutes later and he came close once more with what can only be described as a "blockbuster" of an effort from 30 yards that just curled away from the top corner at the last second when we were already celebrating.

At half time, Smuts in his pirate gear and Lisa as Lara Croft popped over to say hello.... Foxestalk fancy dress is a bizarre experience!

Just after the second half, Crewe came closest to breaking the deadlock as a deflected effort struck the Leicester cross bar and from the replay, the ball was played back in and volleyed home only for the linesman to flag for a clear offside and we were let off.

A few minutes later and Crewe were made to pay for that miss when Bruno Berner picked the ball up 25 yards out and smashed a shot into the corner leaving the keeper with no chance. I don't know what he was doing shooting from that distance but fair play to the lad... even though he will probably never score a goal like that again.

On 65 minutes, it was 2-0 and game over for Crewe. Dyer saw his initial shot from the edge of the area blocked but he reacted quickest to toe poke the ball into the top corner for his 11th of the season - a fine return from a winger and probably equals every goal scored by a winger for about 10 years.

Three minutes later and City were in free for all mood. Fryatt was played in and he drew out the keeper before slotting it neatly between his legs and into the centre of the goal. A fine finish and it capped a brilliant season for the striker with an incredible return for the season.

Gradel came close with a free kick but from then on it was just a case of finishing the season off in comfort. There were no more goals to come and we were happy just to keep possession for time until the referee called a halt on our record breaking, championship winning season.

We made our way down the front to show our appreciation to the players on a lap of honour which even the Crewe fans joined in the applause on. They have taken their relegation with grace and been a real inspiration to how teams should be.

We responded in kind and waited for the Crewe players to come out again and gave them a round of applause for their efforts which was clearly appreciated. Such a contrast to how the Stoke fans had behaved when were relegated last season... and they wonder why we hate them so much now?

All that was left now was for a few photos of people in their fancy dress:

Ben / Lil' Dave - the cause of swine flu:

Katy as another school girl, I'm spotting a theme here. She clearly wasn't impressed that the season had finished!

Raj (as a twat) and Fez (as a Mexican):

And that was that. We made our way out, and applauded the Crewe fans that walked past the coaches, and me and Jodie made our way back to the train station and headed on home. Tired and still looking like fools but happy fools.

So that was league one. We were scared of it but there was nothing to fear in the end as no matter what was thrown at us, we dealt with it brilliantly and came out on top. The players have returned the faith to the fans and for the first time in many years, we are proud to be Leicester fans again. It feels like our team again, whereas the last few seasons have left us pretty flat and in some respects, ashamed of those players in blue.

Well.... that's that for the league one tour. There are still a few random games to report on that I will be adding in the next few days hopefully but if you're only interested in the Leicester games then I hope you've enjoyed reading my take on things and looking at the random pictures I've taken throughout the season. I never really expected to make it to every single game but it's been a brilliant ride and I wouldn't change anything about it (although my bank manager probably would!) A quick mention of thanks to everyone who has been a part of this brilliant experience, from the players and manager to the people that I have been priveledged to enjoy the ride with. The friends I've made are what I will remember this season for most and I have some amazing photos to look back on and remember a time of my life when things seemed to finally be going right in every aspect. In the past few months, I don't think I have ever been so happy thanks to the football and aspects in my personal life which have come about since the new year. 2008/09 - what a season.

For those departing the tour, I'm sure I will see you at some games next season, and I will write a season review on here at some point. For those still onboard, stay seated for Alfreton Town v Tamworth - I know how excited that will make you.....