Leicester fan Robbie Deane celebrates his team winning the Premier League
IT’S the fairytale sports story that everyone wanted – Leicester City winning the Premier League title.
Unlike the Leicester City players, Ballinamallard man Robbie Deane, one of the few Foxes supporters in Fermanagh, celebrated quietly on Monday night as the Tottenham Hotspur challenge ended with the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Leicester fan, who has supported the club since his childhood, was delighted yesterday.
“I never thought I would see this in my lifetime – Leicester as Premier League champions,” said Robbie, who has been a supporter for more than 40 years.
“It was a fantastic achievement with such limited resources. I thought at the start of the season it would be good enough to stay in the Premiership and when Claudio Ranieri came to manage I wasn’t overly impressed. I didn’t think he was the right manager for us, but it has turned out to be a great move. He has done an absolutely fantastic job.”
Robbie first started following the Foxes in the early 1970s when Gary Lineker and Alan Smith wore the Leicster City blue.
“I’ve seen them go through very bad times and I’ve watched them at Filbert Street and the King Power Stadium. This year they have played some great football and had a great run of results. I think it has surprised everybody,” he added.
Now Robbie, also a Ballinamallard fan, is hoping he can have a double celebration this weekend when Leicester are presented with the trophy after their home game against Everton and his ‘home’ team play Institute in the Danske Premiership play-off.
“It would be great to celebrate the two, but I’ll celebrate Leicester’s win anyway. It’s been just fantastic. Now though we will have to buy in a few new players to strengthen for next season,”
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