Hi All,
I'll try to write a quick post about the reason of our trip to the Foxes.
As you all know Wasyl is a former Anderlecht player. He became quite popular in Anderlecht by scoring 2 goals in his first match for Anderlecht and for his encouragement and mentality during the games, but he gained even more respect after his comeback from the horrible leg injury he suffered from a tackle made by Axel Witsel in an Anderlecht - Standard game. For those who don't, here's a video of it but beware, horrible to see... (Available on YouTube)
Anyway on a human level you have to give Wasyl infinite respect, because he needed to learn to walk a gain after that tackle. It wasn't even sure if he would ever play football on a top level again. He worked hard to get back, and never commented about the event ever again, only with 1 sentence he released to the media 1 week after the event: "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger, I'll be back on the field one day". He also did receive a new contract from the club during his revalidation, stating that the club believed in his comeback. At the age of 33 he didn't got a new contract anymore due to his age an controversial style of playing in Belgium - he used his elbows a little bit too much from time to time
Back to yesterday's story, we have few of our fans travelling to UK games on a regular base. They came up with the idea to set up a trip to the foxes to meet Wasyl again. Few lads became more, and in the end a coach could be chartered and 70 of us would make the trip.
I started the journey at 6 AM in Antwerp. We picked up some more guys in Gent and close to the border with France we were all complete. Due to the fact we were on a thight schedule we arrived minutes after kick-off near the stadium. We saw the 1-0 down in the stands when we gathered up to make our way to our seats. I can understand that it might have been odd to see about 70 guys entering the stands about 15 minutes in the game, but I felt very welcome and immediately started to talk with the people behind me about the reason of our trip. BTW we're all speaking English quite well
It was great hearing you guys asking us to "keep up the noise boys" during half time down in the stands, and I must admit it was a great feeling having you peoplle giving us applause when we went down the stands near the end of the game. Also I think the anti Millwall songs were much appreciated by you guys
The club informed us in advance that Wasyl would greet us after the game, so when he came up to us things got a bit out of control, apologies for that - and also for standing up that much during the game. But we had fun after all
After the game, Wasyl asked us to meet him outside the main entrance for a photo shoot, which we did. About 2 hours after the game we went to our coach to head back home.
I arrived again at 5 AM this morning at home, but the trip was all worth it.
So yes, we did travel about 16 hours by coach to support Wasyl at his new club, and we'll be back 29th of December!
I must thank a few people who made this trip happen:
- The 3 guys setting up the trip
- LCFC ticketing office for arranging the tickets
- LCFC Media team for setting up the meet & greet
- LCFC Stewards who let us celebrate with Wasyl after the game without beiing agressive at all - such thing wouldn't be possible in Belgium
- LCFC Supporters for the warm welcome and respect to us. Not all teams would be happy with 70 "strangers" in their stands singing, shouting and standing up all time.
- DJ Danny for the excellent house music on the coach
PS: sorry for my English, it isn't 100% at all
