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Whoops! The Moodie Report’s adoption of Leicester City Football Club as our official English football team went a little awry at the weekend as we paid our first visit to the King Power Stadium.
As reported, Leicester City is owned by Asian Football Investments, a Thai consortium led by Vichai Raksriaksorn, Chairman of one of Asia’s leading travel retailers, King Power International Group (whose Senior Executive Vice President Susan Whelan also doubles as Chief Executive of the football club).
In August we announced that The Moodie Report would donate US$50 to charity for each goal Leicester scores during its 46 Championship games this season. If the team wins promotion to the Premiership, we’ll add a bonus of US$5,000. As our cause, we’ve chosen The Moodie Report Foundation, dedicated to funding cancer research.
Since then, all has gone amazingly well. Prior to Saturday’s visit by London club Crystal Palace, Leicester were top of the league and looking good for promotion. With six wins out of six at home and with the support of a sizable (as well as diminutive – see below) Moodie team, plus several luminaries from the travel retail industry, surely the ‘Foxes’ would bring the high-flying ‘Eagles’ of Crystal Palace to ground, right?
Wrong. Despite the presence of young Moodie Report-lets Ali Moodie (12) and Samira Moodie (10) as Mascots, the Foxes’ run came to a disappointing end as Palace scored two early goals and dominated the game throughout. The only consolation came with an injury-time goal to Leicester which at least meant another US$50 for charity (bringing the season’s total to US$1,000).
[Young Moodie Reporters cover a story on Fox News]
The result could not take the gloss off a superb day, attended by The Nuance Group CEO Australia Derek Larsen and his wife Floyd; Jonathan and Eleen Holland of Jonathan Holland & Associates; Sunil Tuli of King Power Group Hong Kong; Rodger Craig of ii-wines; Robbie Gill of The Design Solution; and the kindest of hosts, Susan Whelan and Vichai Raksriaksorn himself.
The contingent had the fantastic opportunity to go behind the scenes at a top football club; to meet the manager and players; and of course to visit the retail store which would put many a duty free offering to shame.
Saturday was no doubt just a temporary form blip and anyway, Leicester City remain in an automatic promotion place. Will Manager Nigel Pearson strengthen the team when the transfer window opens? Who knows, but rumours reach us that he may be looking to sign two new mascots.
[Ali Moodie shows a good touch on the ball but has he done enough to hold his place?]
[Vichai Raksriaksorn, sixth from right, and Susan Whelan, fourth from left, host a great day out at the King Power Stadium]
Hello Martin
We have just read the article about your visit to the King Power stadium. Glad you enjoyed it and were well looked after.Next time you come maybe we could meet up, on Saturday we are off to Watford looking for a better result and referee! Foxes Never Quit.
Regards Val & Gary Pawson