Euphoria for fans of Foxes (+ video)

Leicester City fan and Dunedin teacher John Hayden celebrates his side’s English Premier League...
Leicester City fan and Dunedin teacher John Hayden celebrates his side’s English Premier League victory yesterday. Photos by Stephen Jaquiery.
Natalie Evans made a $3 bet which turned into $3003 after backing Leicester City to win the...
Natalie Evans made a $3 bet which turned into $3003 after backing Leicester City to win the English Premier League.

Dreams do come true. Just ask John Hayden and Natalie Evans.

The Dunedin duo were among a small bunch of Leicester City fans in the South yesterday walking around with mile-wide grins.

Their team, nicknamed the Foxes, won the English Premiership League, a victory which seemed about as likely at the start of the season as Pakistan winning the Rugby World Cup.

But it did happen, much to the pleasure of a clearly emotional Mr Hayden.

The Columba College teacher has supported the club all his life. His family comes from the city and all of them, apart from him, were born in the Midlands town.

‘‘It is just remarkable. I just can't believe it really. I welled up when it happened,'' Mr Hayden (35) said.

‘‘It is such a great story. Words can't describe it. Just all those years of not winning a trophy. To be honest, at the start of the season I would have hoped for 14th. Just to stay up.''

The remarkable triumph came from a side which almost got relegated last season. Victory on the final day kept it in the premier league last year.

From there the team turned its fortunes around and when Spurs - the only club which could have finished ahead of Leicester City - drew yesterday morning with Chelsea, the title was Leicester's.

‘‘The first thing I did was ring my dad [Terry]. He's been a lifelong Leicester City fan, been to Filbert St and all that. It was quite emotional talking to him.''

‘‘It is really a remarkable victory for the underdog.''

Winning the league came a close second to having a child - Maia - for him and would tie with getting married, he joked.

Mrs Evans, an administrator at Student Health, also has family from Leicester.

At the start of the season she put $3 on Leicester City winning the league.

At odds of 1000 to one, she pocketed $3003 from yesterday's title win.

‘‘As it got nearer to winning the title the bet didn't take over. To me it was more about my family and just knowing how much pleasure it would give them.

‘‘It has been surreal. I've just had phone calls all day.''

Mrs Evans (27) said she would spend the money on her honeymoon trip to Port Douglas next month with husband Shea.

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