Randers FC is embarking on the great European adventure.
The club qualified, with the cup victory over Sønderjyske, for the first time ever for a European group game, and it even ended with promotion at the expense of Romanian Cluj and Czech Jablonec.
Now it applies to Leicester in the knockout phase of the Conference League, and of course it has not gone unnoticed in Kronjysk.
550 Randers fans have tickets to the brawl against Leicester, and a good number of them gathered before the match at the pub ‘Walkabout’ in central Leicester to feel the ‘away’ atmosphere.
Among these TV 2 host Christian Degn, who has been declared a Randers fan.
– It is the only right place to sit today, there is a big football match if you are a Randers fan. It’s the biggest fight in history and a bit of a life event. I’m not a FCK fan, so it’s a bit unique to experience the European atmosphere as a Randers fan, says Christian Degn, who does not hesitate to join in on the percussion along with the other Danish fans at the pub.
The TV host is impressed with the support for Randers FC in the UK.
– It’s like walking in Gråbrødrestræde at home in Randers. Everywhere there are people you know here in Leicester, and what has been a fantastic cozy atmosphere where you can sense it is something special for people.
– I can only speak for myself, and I think it’s mega cool to be allowed to experience. I think we have all longed to get out and experience something again. For me, it’s the first journey since corona.
– It’s great to have some beer with some good friends, and I’m excited about how long I can say something sensible. But there must also be room for that in life, it sounds from the TV host, before he rolled back towards the hotel to take a beer break.
Several of the traveling Randers fans are completely in line with Christian Degn. Randers FC is not a club that is in Europe every year or meets Premier League opposition every season.
– It’s huge. It’s the biggest match in the club’s history. Then it’s just a cool away trip with lots of Randers FC fans, says Joachim Krüger.
– I think it’s big for both the club and the fans. Commercial for the club and an experience for the fans. Feeling you are here. Randers has played in Europe before, but we have never been so far or in a group game. I think there are many who would like to join this trip, also because there has been corona in the autumn and it has not really been possible to get away in the group game, it sounds from sideman Jakob Glud.
– Of course, it has a huge significance that it is precisely Leicester that we have drawn. It creates a huge interest in the club and the fans. I also think that is why there are SO many Randers fans in place, says Rasmus Klitte.