1,000 hours of work – Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy tribute that said it all

“I absolutely love the Leicester fans. I’ve been here 12 years now and it definitely has a place in my heart.”

Those were the words of Jamie Vardy after the final day of the 2023/24 Championship campaign on Saturday. Despite losing 2-0 to Blackburn, Leicester City lifted the league title and Vardy was embraced in an emotional tribute by the King Power Stadium faithful.

‘190 Thanks will never be enough. Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s best’, it was painted on the two banners in the East Stand and Kop Stand alongside a sea of ​​foil that read: ‘Vardy 9’. A full picture of Vardy celebrating his goal against Southampton in May 2022 made the tribute from the Kop Stand into Union FS’s ‘biggest Tifo ever’.

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The entire tribute was a sight to behold. The group worked tirelessly to create the vision behind the tribute before more than 1,000 hours of work together to give one of the club’s greatest players the perfect recognition.

In March, the group confirmed they would show their appreciation to Vardy with an appeal to supporters to raise funds for the material. It’s important to remember that when we talk about Union FS, they handcraft every Tifo and banner displayed over the years.

The target was set at £3,000. Not much later the goal was achieved. Amazingly, a generous supporter donated £1,000, meaning Union FS was able to make the show better than ever. Ahead of the 2-1 win over West Brom in April, the Blackburn game was confirmed as the date for the tribute, meaning the hard work began then.

Friday, Leicestershire Live’s football writer Josh Holland joined the group at the King Power Stadium to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating these Tifos. And for someone who never sat back and appreciated the process, every member of the group deserves immense credit.

The three stretched banners were placed across the hall in G1 and G2, with several individuals laying endless strips of tape to keep the fabric and poles mounted together. Some had been at the stadium for about an hour before I arrived, and the tape had already finished.

Some had been to the stadium Thursday night to place the wrapped sheets of plastic in the individual seats. Around 14,000 seats inside the King Power Stadium required coverage as part of the show. Most were blue, with sections of black, gold and white sprinkled in to form the tribute in the stands.

Fortunately, I had time to speak with several members of the Union FS group, who will remain anonymous at their request. Speaking to them, it became pretty clear, if it wasn’t already to most, why the decision was made to recognize Vardy’s extraordinary 12-year spell at Leicester.

The main reason was his incredible loyalty and actions on the field. Since signing from Fleetwood Town in 2012 for £1m, the 37-year-old has scored 190 goals for the club – winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Championship (twice) and Community Shield.

His contract is set to expire on June 30 and although there have been strong hints through reports and Enzo Maresca himself, a new deal has yet to be agreed. If the decision to part ways this summer is to be made, Union FS wanted to make sure they gave him the best possible send-off.

Earlier, club legend Andy King missed a tribute due to Covid-19 and Kasper Schmeichel’s shock exit in 2022 under Brendan Rodgers meant he didn’t even get the send-off he deserved. But there was no stopping Vardy from receiving the perfect accolade.

Two things stood out to me on Friday as I watched the group take their time preparing for Tifo. The first thing, perhaps the most impressive, was the amount of actual work each member of the group put into making the product by hand. Supporters’ groups at clubs such as Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, who have made Tifos big in the past, do not make their screens by hand, instead paying a premium for a printed version.

To give some context, Sunderland fan group ‘The Spirit of 37’ set a target of £17,000 for the full stadium show against Newcastle earlier this year in the FA Cup.

The second impressive part of the work behind Tifo was how many like-minded fans came together to help the group. On my arrival there were a few members of the group at the stadium doing the work before the supporters started to filter into the venue after 5pm to spend their Friday nights playing their part.

It was a truly impressive moment and a testament to the work the group has done in its 10 years of existence. The entire display was an emotional one for a club legend but also a tiring event for the group. A member texted me later in the evening: “I’m done now” after a day of celebration and hard work.

After Saturday’s tribute to Vardy, Union FS offered a full reception of the final cost. £3,259 was the final price (£1,715 foil sheets, £594 surfer and banner materials, £338 paper sheets, £175 paint, £305 tape and £132 various), i.e. the remaining 4,859 pounds collected. will go towards next season’s plans.

Despite all the negativity and concerns on the pitch from supporters towards the club over the Fair Play financial issues and the decision to increase season ticket prices as well as charge a £25 premium to keep a physical card, Union FS remain so grateful for club football.

Not only have they embraced their fans and displays over the years, but allowing them into the stadium ahead of one of the busiest games of the season takes trust. Without the kindness of the club, the Tifo would have been difficult to form.

I’m sure every Leicester City supporter inside the stadium or watching at home would agree that the Vardy Tifo was a majestic sight. One member joked that he wasn’t sure how they would top a two-stand show for one of the biggest clubs. After meeting with several members of the group and understanding their thinking. I have no doubt they will continue their monumental effort to support the team.

If you know or have information about possible rooms that Union FS can use in the Tifos creation process (gyms, school rooms, etc.), please contact them on account X. You can find them,
Here.