Students and staff from De Montfort University (DMU) have been given the chance to stand alongside the world’s most famous football trophy and celebrate Leicester City becoming Premier League champions.
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was offered to 50 students and staff to enjoy as DMU continues as Official Higher Education Partner to LCFC, a close association which has been running since 2012.
Many of the crowd were decked out in the famous Leicester City blue as they patiently waited to have their picture taken next to the trophy, which was handed to Foxes' captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri after the home game against Everton last Saturday.
Many took close-up snaps of the trophy base where “2016 Leicester City” is engraved alongside the names of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Grace Morgan, 22, a second year Journalism student, from Glenfield, wore her City shirt as she stood next to the trophy. She will be captain of the DMU women’s football 1st XI next season.
Grace said: “This is something I never thought I would ever see. It is just insane. I watched the match last Monday with my dad and I was shaking. It is unbelievable and I don’t think I will get this close to the trophy ever again.”
Team mate Charlotte Batey, 21, a Creative Writing and Drama student, said: “It is brilliant to be able to be part of a success story that has united the whole city. It is so good for students to be so involved with the club.”
Anass El Oualidi, a DMU Business and Management student from Milan, Italy, was excited about seeing the trophy and telling all his friends back home. He works in Peter’s Pizzeria in the city centre, which famously hosted Claduio Ranieri and the team after he promised them pizza if they kept a clean sheet.
He said: “It is unbelievable. I moved to Leicester in 2014 and we all know about that season. Now Leicester City are champions. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. When I get older I can tell my son and my son’s son about my time in Leicester.”
Ben Cosgrove, a 21-year-old DMU History third year from Narborough Road, is a season ticket holder at the King Power and wore his No5 Morgan shirt to see the trophy.
He said: “I never thought I would get a chance like this.”
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Inderjit Sidhu, 22, a DMU Business and Marketing student, also wore his colours to see the trophy and said he felt really lucky to be there. But there was a downside to Leicester City’s incredible victory in the Premier League.
He said: “I just haven’t been able to revise. I seem to just have been concentrating on City. On Monday, when we became champions I just had to leave the library and head for the King Power, I just had to be here. Now the open top bus parade is happening this Monday and I have an exam on Tuesday morning!”
Professor Shellard said: “When we became the Official Higher Education Partners of Leicester City, nobody could have possibly envisaged the opportunities that this magnificent club could provide for our students.
“Some sporting partnerships may appear to benefit just a few. This one is permitting the university to open an office in Bangkok, allowing our DMU football teams to hold their trials in Freshers’ Week at Leicester City’s training ground and now 50-plus students and staff have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be pictured next to a trophy that the whole world is talking about.
“But it doesn’t end there. We will soon be informing students and staff of another exciting occasion that they will be able to enjoy thanks to this partnership so do look out for the details.”
Posted on Friday 13 May 2016