Market lends support to Backing the Blues campaign
Posted by Tom Munro, 28th April 2016
LEICESTER’S historic market will be Backing the Blues tomorrow (Fri 29) as it joins the city-wide celebration of Leicester City Football Club’s amazing season.
The campaign will see buildings in the city turning blue, people wearing blue for the day, offices and shops being decorated and fans using the hashtag #backingtheblues on social media.
Backing the Blues has been organised by the Leicester Mercury and Radio Leicester, and is supported by Leicester City Council. Leicester Market will be covered in Leicester City flags and blue and white bunting for the day, with traders encouraged to wear their City kit or blue clothing.
From 11am in the market square, there will be a football skills challenge led by council sports staff. Visitors to the market between 11am and 12pm will also be able to sample local foods such as Stilton blue cheese, Walkers pork pies, Sparkenhoe Red Leicester and to keep with the blue theme, blueberries!
Shaun Miles, head of markets at the city council, said: “It’s been such an exciting season for Leicester City and really nothing like this has ever happened in our modern footballing history. So many of the traders are big fans of Leicester and we really just wanted to show the boys that we are supporting them and wish them all the best.”
City council staff will also be joining in the Backing the Blues campaign by wearing something blue on Friday and selling blue cakes for charity. Football club flags will fly at City Hall and the Town Hall, which are among the buildings that will be lit up in blue.
City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “For too long, Leicester people have been modest about their achievements and the city they live in. Now, thanks to the Foxes’ phenomenal season, it’s our time to step into the international limelight. We are rightly proud of our football club and our city – and by Backing the Blues, we’ve got the chance to show it.”
From dusk on Friday, buildings including City Hall, Town Hall, the Clock Tower, John Lewis, the spire of the Cathedral and New Walk Museum will be lit up in blue to support Leicester City. They will remain that way until the end of the season.