The Birch On City's Title Win: The County Exploded With Happiness & Joy

Today is a very special day in the history of our Football Club.

Four years ago, after watching the boys get a massive point at Manchester United the day before, I reserved my spot on the sofa for Chelsea vs. Tottenham on the tele.

We were all still, even then, whispering it quietly, but we all knew if Tottenham couldn’t get a win at Chelsea, Leicester City – our club – would be crowned as English champions.

I was there, with a glass or two of happy water, watching the game on tele, as Spurs got two quick goals and there was that song we'd heard before: “Leicester City, we’re coming for you!”

Fair play, they were trying to put pressure on, trying to spark a moment like Kevin Keegan in the ‘90s, but I knew Claudio and our lads would be just fine. They were 100 per cent focused.

I remember when Chelsea got it back to 2-1 in the second half, I think it was Gary Cahill who scored for them, and I just started laughing to myself – all on my own in my living room!

Sat there on the sofa, I just thought to myself: “It’s going to happen isn’t it?!” I’d left the room by the time Eden Hazard scored the equaliser. I couldn’t take it anymore!

When that full-time whistle went, I felt like a five-year-old kid! Absolutely tremendous! My phone wouldn’t stop ringing, it was like the whole county had exploded with happiness and joy.

I didn’t really know what to do with myself to be honest... I wanted to throw open my front door and just yell into the street! They were the days of our lives, they really were. I don't think I stopped smiling.

What a magnificent achievement it was. Let’s face it, if you’d have asked 100 people before the season started if they thought Leicester would win the league, not one – not a single one – would have said yes.

But we did - and we'll never for forget it. One of the biggest privileges of my job is being able to meet supporters of all ages across Leicestershire and share our memories of supporting the Club.

Of course, I can’t do that at the moment, but I’m still calling around some of our older fans (the ones who remember my playing days that is!) to see how they’re getting on through this difficult period.

Over the years, I've represented the Club at funerals where people have come up to me and said how much it meant to them that their loved ones saw Leicester win the league before they passed.

That’s how much it means. It doesn’t half make you well up when people say something like that. It’s an emotional business following a football club, isn’t it? It becomes a family.

And on that note, as we remember such a happy time in our story, I’d just like to end this letter by wishing every single one of you my very best during this terrible time.

As I’ve said in previous columns, we’ll be back together as a family one day, but for now we need to keep listening to the guidance and look after each other. That's what families do.

Stay home, stay safe.

The Birch.