Adam Redfern’s love for football will be remembered in the third memorial tournament held in his name

By Molly Lee

The third Adam Redfern Memorial Tournament in memory of De Montfort University (DMU) graduate and colleague, Adam Redfern, will be taking place on Saturday, May 20.

2022 Winners of the Memorial Trophy, Leicester Futsal Club.

The tournament will start at 12noon and finish at 5pm at DMU’s Beaumont Park venue, Bennion Road, Leicester.

All money raised from the football teams’ entry fees and donations from spectators will go to The Adam Redfern Memorial Fund.

The fund was set up after Adam tragically died from a cardiac arrest, aged 28, in March 2021.

This year, 38 football teams will be taking part in the tournament, with players of all types of abilities.

Ian Redfern, Adam’s father, said: “We want to make it inclusive for all abilities. Nobody is excluded.”

Amongst the teams, there will be three all-ladies teams, as well as, a few mixed teams with participants of all ages.

Adam Redfern, who died at the age of 28

The tournament will consist of three separate competitions: the Adam Redfern Memorial Trophy for serious footballers, the Community Cup for non-regular footballers and the Walking Football Tournament for people aged 50+.

The Memorial Trophy will have participants from DMU’s male and female football teams, as well as, DMU alumni who were in the same academic year as Adam.

De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU), DMU faculties and Leicester City Community Groups will be amongst the teams participating in the Community Cup.

During the day, the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund will be promoted to continue to raise money for the cause.

Refreshments, a BBQ and a raffle to win different prizes will also be available during the tournament.

Adam’s parents encourage spectators to come to the event to enjoy some football, contribute to the day and to support Adam’s legacy.

Scene from last year’s tournament

Adam was an avid football lover and player.

Mr Redfern added: “Ultimately, Adam’s love for football means that there is no better way to celebrate Adam.”

If you would like to donate to the Adam Redfern Memorial Fund, visit : https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/adamsfund

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From Philly to Leicester – an American fan’s perspective on supporting the Foxes

By Jayden Whitworth

For most, travelling to the football to watch their favourite football team entails a short train journey, or drive. But for Ben Ferree, he travelled into the future, and across the Atlantic to watch his favourite team, Leicester, take on Leeds United. Jayden Whitworth talks to Ben about what it’s like supporting from America and where he sees the game going.

THE FRESH PRINCE OF LEICESTER: Ben Ferree pictured outside the fanstore before the game against Leeds.

Leicester. The heart of the East Midlands. The creators of the Walkers Crisp. Gary Lineker. Red Leicester. Pork Pies. David Attenborough. Home to the Foxes and the Tigers. 

Leicester has produced some of England’s finest pleasures.

But few Americans would have been able to tell you exactly where Leicester is. They may not have heard of Leicester before. 

That changed in 2016.

Eden Hazard’s stunner for Chelsea meant Leicester City Premier League were crowned champions. An achievement that no-one thought possible. 

More than 3,000 miles away in Philadelphia, Leicester City were about to take on a new fan, among thousands of others, as a love and passion had been sparked for Philadelphian Ben Ferree.

Philly Cheesey-Grin: Fans gathered at a watchalong

Ben, 24, who lives in Philadelphia, has been following Leicester City since 2016. 

He journeyed across the Atlantic and through time zones to watch Leicester take on Leeds United. 

Supporting the Foxes from the USA proves to be difficult at times, but Ben loves it.

“It is honestly a great experience supporting Leicester City from the USA,” he says.

“Premier League fanship is very different from here in the UK, in the sense that you’re not born into a team, it’s not based on where you live, so it’s a chance for people to pick teams to try and find a connection. A lot of people end up being ‘big six’ fans and it’s a little solace in that aspect.

“One of the best things about being a Leicester fan, even in the US, it does feel like a tight-knit community, it feels like a family as cliché as that is. When you get to the pub at 10am for a 3pm kick-off, we’re all talking to each other, we’re all discussing how everyone has been over the last week,’ he says.

In his time supporting the Foxes, he has joined the rollercoaster of emotions that being a Leicester fan entails, with Ben watching Leicester lift the FA Cup for the first time, from the States.

“So, for the FA Cup, I was in my senior year of college, and I decided that I wasn’t going to go to the pub, I don’t want to be around other people, I want to watch this alone in my living room,” he says.

“I was on the edge of my seat for all 90 minutes, and I will never forget Tielemans’ goal, it was incredible, but I’ll also never forget seeing Wes Morgan get subbed on and being so excited and thinking this is a great way to see out this game,” he says.

HopePhils: Ben (right) pictured with LCFC fans

“Seeing what it meant to everyone and how big of an accomplishment that was, is something that I will remember forever and honestly, even today, first day being like in Leicester itself, I think it put in perspective just how much that means,” he says.

The biggest problem that American fans have with watching Premier League football is the difference in time zones, early starts and late nights are sometimes on the agenda. 

“We’re on the East Coast, so I have to say it’s not the worst thing in the world 3pm kickoffs in England are 10am kick-offs in Philadelphia,” he says.

“The night games are a 3pm kick-off generally, so that’s not too bad, you can usually slide out of work a little early.”

“The ones that are not great are the 12.30pm kick-offs, that’s a 7.30am kick-off for us, but I will say on the West Coast they’re three hours behind the East Coast so 3pm kick-offs are at 7am for them,” he says.

Ben is part of a supporter group in Philadelphia called the Phillyfoxes, allowing he and other Leicester fans meet to watch the Leicester games. 

This is one of many supporter groups in the USA, with fan groups in New York and San Diego.

Rocky Horizons: LCFC fans in Tir na nOg Irish Pub

“The San Diego Foxes have a pub out on the west coast that opens up at 4:30 in the morning, there are always probably five to ten of them out there that early so honestly, it’s not the worst thing in the world,” he says.

“It’s kind of fun to go out at 10am, have a pint, see some friends, watch the match, and sing a few songs.”

There is much debate surrounding the idea of playing Premier League football overseas at the moment. Some suggest that it would bring in a huge amount of money that would help clubs, but some argue that it would lose the essence of the game. The NFL in America has begun branching out and playing matches in England as well. 

“So obviously football in America is a big topic at the moment, I don’t doubt that there will be competitive games played in America, it’s bound to happen,” he says.

“I think it will raise some issues, one of the great things about football is that you have 38 games, one home and one away, so it’s balanced in that sense.”

“If you play competitive games in America, that balance will get thrown off. I think money-wise it’s going to happen at some point I just hope we continue to respect where it came from, and the fans, and not sell out too much to it, but the game is growing rapidly in America, so we will see,” he says.

Some people find the Leicester City project hard to describe. Hard to put into words. Unbelievable. But Ben sums it up in just one word. 

“The simplest word I can give you, to sum up, Leicester City is a community,” he says.

“It’s something you just don’t get with other clubs, especially in the States. I feel that when I’m here as well, going to the pubs in town, everyone knows each other.

“There is just such a great, community feel here,” he says.

For Leicester fans, the rollercoaster will continue. There will be ups and downs. 

But that’s the thrill of it and American fans seem to love it too. 

Leicester is no longer an unknown, it is a city known for its never give up attitude.

Rare Leicester City FA Cup Final memorabilia goes under the hammer

By Charlie Hawes

An extraordinary collection of vintage Leicester City FA Cup memorabilia is to be sold at auction in Market Harborough next week.

Three lots from the personal collection of Howard Riley, who was a winger for LCFC between 1955 and 1965, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 38 goals, are up for auction. 

Items include the player’s runner-up medal and tracksuit top and jersey from the 1963 FA Cup final, along with his jersey from the 1961 FA Cup final.

Will Gilding, Director at Gilding Auctioneers in Market Harborough, where the items are to be sold said: “Having recently sold a 1969 FA Cup final tracksuit top belonging to Leicester player Bobby Roberts for £600, which was double its upper estimate, we’re expecting great interest in these memorabilia.

“The 1961 jersey is estimated at £200 – £300 and the pair of tops from 1963 is expected to realise between £400 and £600.

“The 9-carat gold runner-up medal, which is offered in its original box and engraved with ‘The Football Association,’ has two players and the Three Lions emblem on the front and the player’s name on the back.

“This should be particularly sought after on the day and is estimated at £1,500-£2,500.”

Born in Wigston in 1938, Howard Riley made over 200 appearances for Leicester City, joining the club straight from Kibworth School only four days after his 17th birthday, before army service called.

The only Leicestershire-born player in City’s 1961 FA Cup final side, his moment of cup glory came in 1964 when he scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Stoke.

The jersey from the 1961 FA Cup final vs Tottenham Hotspur is lot 125 and includes the squad number 7. It was made by Bukta, is a size 38 and includes an embroidered club badge.

The track suit top and jersey from the 1963 FA Cup final is lot 126 and was made by Redmayne and Todd. It’s embroidered ‘Howard Riley’, it includes the club badge with banner ‘Wembley 1963’ below and to the back ‘Leicester City FC’, 

The 9-carat gold FA Challenge Cup final 1963 runner-up medal is lot 127, and it was awarded after the match against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 1963.

The medal is engraved with ‘The Football Association’ and includes two football players and the Three Lions emblem. The reverse side is engraved ‘The Football Association Challenge Cup Runners-Up H. Riley 1963’.

The medal has a diameter of 32mm, weighs 23g and is accompanied by its original fitted box.

The items are being auctioned at Market Harborough-based Gildings Auctioneers’ Christmas Art and Antiques Auction on Tuesday at 11am.

For further information about the items and the sale, visit the auction house website.

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