Leicester fans to show support for club ambassador Alan Birchenall
during Chelsea clash as 71-year-old recovers from a heart attack.
Leicester supporters plan to show solidarity with much-loved club ambassador Alan Birchenall after the 71-year-old suffered a heart attack by uniting to shine mobile phone lights in the 10t
Birchenall is recovering in hospital in a stable condition after collapsing while attending an awards function at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium on Thursday night and will be absent from Saturday's Premier League encounter in an extremely rare occurrence over the past decades.
Birchenall's rallying calls before games have been synonymous with Leicester for years – he only previously missed a match as a result of a hip operation – but he took to Facebook on Friday to offer a typically upbeat message to those fans who feared the worst when news broke.
'To everyone that sent me good wishes, thank you!!!' wrote Birchenall. 'Hopefully op tomorrow and with a bit of luck be out next week. Sorry I can't reply to everyone but your love and best wishes have been overwhelming!!!! To all them that know me you know one of my favourite songs, Staying Alive!'
Birchenall became a legendary figure at Leicester as a player over six seasons in the 1970s, having earlier played for Chelsea, where he is also held in high regard.
He was one of the first players to transfer clubs for £100,000 and is famous for kissing Tony Currie in 1975 after the pair fell together in pursuit of the ball. A photograph of the pair caused a stir on national news.
Birchenall, who has an office at Leicester's training ground, was representing the club at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards when he collapsed needing urgent medical attention. Leicester praised the swift response of those close by and arriving paramedics.
Supporters have begun a campaign to have everybody hold up mobile phone lights in the 10th minute of Saturday evening's encounter against the Premier League leaders in tribute to Birchenall, who wore the No 10 when playing.
h minute of their match against Chelsea.
Leicester supporters plan to show solidarity with much-loved club ambassador Alan Birchenall after the 71-year-old suffered a heart attack by uniting to shine mobile phone lights in the 10t
Birchenall is recovering in hospital in a stable condition after collapsing while attending an awards function at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium on Thursday night and will be absent from Saturday's Premier League encounter in an extremely rare occurrence over the past decades.
Birchenall's rallying calls before games have been synonymous with Leicester for years – he only previously missed a match as a result of a hip operation – but he took to Facebook on Friday to offer a typically upbeat message to those fans who feared the worst when news broke.
'To everyone that sent me good wishes, thank you!!!' wrote Birchenall. 'Hopefully op tomorrow and with a bit of luck be out next week. Sorry I can't reply to everyone but your love and best wishes have been overwhelming!!!! To all them that know me you know one of my favourite songs, Staying Alive!'
Birchenall became a legendary figure at Leicester as a player over six seasons in the 1970s, having earlier played for Chelsea, where he is also held in high regard.
He was one of the first players to transfer clubs for £100,000 and is famous for kissing Tony Currie in 1975 after the pair fell together in pursuit of the ball. A photograph of the pair caused a stir on national news.
Birchenall, who has an office at Leicester's training ground, was representing the club at the Leicester Mercury Sports Awards when he collapsed needing urgent medical attention. Leicester praised the swift response of those close by and arriving paramedics.
Supporters have begun a campaign to have everybody hold up mobile phone lights in the 10th minute of Saturday evening's encounter against the Premier League leaders in tribute to Birchenall, who wore the No 10 when playing.
h minute of their match against Chelsea.
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