Leicester City Family Say Goodbye In Emotional Burnley Stalemate
In an expression of gratitude for our late Chairman, we paid respect to Khun Vichai in the only way we know how – with the values of love that he instilled in us.
An overwhelming day for everyone associated with the Football Club started, for many, in Jubilee Square, where thousands of supporters gathered for a march across the city of Leicester, ending at the floral tributes which have consoled and comforted us all.
Others came from further afield. There were tales of fans travelling from Australia, the United States and South Africa. Some didn’t even have match tickets. They just wanted to be there to say a final goodbye to a man who transformed the Club beyond all recognition.
Following two weeks of mourning, after a helicopter accident at King Power Stadium which claimed five lives, the Club has forged an unbreakable togetherness in such tragic circumstances.
“Without him, none of it would have been possible,” said Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall, our Club Ambassador, stood in the centre of the pitch, referring to Leicester's stunning 2016 Premier League title.
As the players - wearing tribute t-shirts - completed their preparations amid the privacy of the dressing room, the Blue Army, scarves aloft, held back tears as a beautiful tribute video played on the big screens.
There were tears for the people we lost and cheers for the memories we shared. As Khun Top wrote in his programme notes: "Together, we’ll help each other come to terms with this."
City's players - in shirts embroidered with 'Khun Vichai: Forever In Our Hearts' around the Club's crest - emerged soon after to the familiar tune of the Post-Horn Gallop.
Then came a two-minute’s silence, in honour of Khun Vichai, his four on-board companions, and the sacrifices of servicemen and women in conflicts past and present.
It was beautifully observed by both Leicester City and Burnley supporters. For two minutes, the football family put old rivalries aside in respect of a man who changed the landscape of English football.
The match which followed, a 0-0 draw, saw City’s players battle their emotions to deliver a performance of spirit and courage that Khun Vichai would have been immensely proud of.
Jamie Vardy went close early on, forcing Matt Lowton to clear off the line, while Rachid Ghezzal was unfortunate to send a header onto the bar. At half-time, the squad returned to the action with poppies on their shirt, as part of the Club's annual Remembrance Fixture tributes.
On 60 minutes - to mark Khun Vichai's age when he died - all four stands took to their feet once again. 'Champions of England, you made us sing that,' they sung.
Ultimately, Sean Dyche's Burnley, who were defensively excellent, did enough to stop the home side from scoring.
There may not have been a goal to celebrate, but Saturday 10 November was about more than football. The images of Leicester which have been broadcast across the world - of the Club and the city - is proof of that.
At full-time, Khun Top appeared from the tunnel, first as a silhouette, before emerging in full to thank the Leicester City family for their words of comfort.
He was followed by Claudio Ranieri, Nigel Pearson, Craig Shakespeare, Steve Walsh, Robert Huth and Esteban Cambiasso, six people who need no introduction to anyone with Leicester City in their hearts.
The sight of them alongside the modern day squad, an exciting, young collective which Puel is guiding into a new era, was yet another expression of the family Khun Vichai built.
He was a family man and a father to four loving children; Aiyawatt, Apichet, Voramas, and Aroonroong, and husband to Aimon.
In 2010, he welcomed us into that family. This weekend, that extended family said goodbye.
Thank you, Khun Vichai. You will be forever in our hearts.
