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Football writer to pen account of club’s ‘fairytale’ season

A regional daily journalist’s diary following a football club’s “fairytale” Premier League season is set to be published this summer.

Icon Books has announced it will publish 5000-1: The Leicester City Story, by Leicester Mercury football writer Rob Tanner.

The book will follow the fortunes of City during the 2015-16 season, which finishes in May.

While they haven’t won any silverware yet, the club currently sit top of the league with seven games left to play, having been given odds of 5000-1 to win the title prior to the season starting.

Rob, right, interviews Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri

Rob, right, interviews Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri

The book promises “unrivalled” access to players, staff and fans, as Rob charts Leicester City’s “remarkable” turnaround from facing relegation in March 2015 to the “most unlikely” of title challengers in 2016.

Icon has described the book, due to be released on 7 July, as a ’21st century Fever Pitch’, a reference to Nick Hornby’s 1992 autobiographical account of his relationship with football.

Said Rob: “The last year has been unreal for Leicester City. To move in 12 short months from likely relegation to – dare I whisper it – sight of victory and billing amongst the greatest clubs in Europe – is the stuff of fairytales.

“‘Rollercoaster ride’ doesn’t come close. I’ve been writing about football and about Leicester for years and I’m thrilled that, with Icon’s help, this story which I’ve followed from kick to kick, will make it onto bookshop shelves.”

Icon Books sports editor Michael Sells said: “Leicester City’s story has captured the imagination of football supporters everywhere. The widespread feeling of goodwill towards their cause has grown week on week, as has the belief that this might just be about to happen.

“I’ve loved following Rob’s coverage of this bizarre season and I’m delighted that we’ll be publishing his wide-eyed yet insightful account of Leicester’s campaign.

“This is a very welcome reminder that even big-money football can still produce the shocks that keep fans of clubs outside the traditional top-four coming back each year in hope.”

4 comments

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  • March 23, 2016 at 9:12 am
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    Doesn’t Rob do shorthand? That looks like a recorder in his hand. Good luck with the book. The Foxes deserve it.

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  • March 23, 2016 at 10:57 am
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    Great idea, but hope to God this doesn’t prove the kiss of death as City enter the final run-in.
    Thought my love of football had long since died, but now I’m desperately hoping these rank outsiders can last all the way to the winning post.
    Up The Foxes!

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  • March 23, 2016 at 11:48 am
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    Whether or not Leicester City stun the football world by lifting the title, or blow up spectacularly in the home straight…it’s a great story either way!
    Great that Rob gets the chance to tell the tale from the insightful point of view of a local journalist – which is usually the most insightful journalistic viewpoint of all.
    Good luck Rob.

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  • March 23, 2016 at 2:58 pm
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    I used to work with Rob, so can vouch for the fact that it’ll be a good read, whether you’re a Foxes fan or not. Rob’s got a great turn of phrase and I hope he saves me a signed copy!

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