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Leicester City FC chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha paid for 75 hotel rooms after a group of fans became stranded in Calais.

The group of fans had all won a trip to watch Leicester's sister club OH Leuven play at home against Lommel United on Saturday, February 8.

In total 75 season ticket holders and members were selected to go on the all-expenses-paid trip, which included two nights in a hotel with breakfast and free entry to the match with hospitality included.

The fans were also treated to a tour of the Stella Artois brewery and a meet and greet with the OH Leuven players.

Matt Lucas, 47, from Whetstone has been a season ticket holder for eight years and was one of those selected to go on the trip to Belgium.

He said: "We left on Friday morning at 5am from the King power and got the ferry from Dover.

"The club paid for drinks, food, coaches, the ferry and all the hospitality which was only meant to be two days but ended up being three.

"Their hospitality was absolutely incredible."

But the "trip of a lifetime", as Matt described it, soon became a bit of a nightmare with storm Ciara battering the English channel on Sunday - the day they were meant to return.

Because of the weather, their ferry was cancelled, leaving the 75 fans stranded in Calais.

But what happened next has been indicative of the "family-feel" the owners have brought to the club, and the way they have treated the foxes faithful since Khun Vichai became chairman in 2011.

Matt added: "Within about half an hour they had found 75 hotel rooms which Top had paid for.

"The chairman had made the decision to pay for them himself as well as meals for us and drinks.

"I can't think of any other club that looks after their fans as well as they do."

The next day there were fears the fans may miss their ferry again.

Matt claims that as they were due to leave the hotel in Calais an asylum seeker was found underneath the bus.

And as they reached the port Matt said a further three or four asylum seekers were found, delaying them even further.

Thankfully, because of the relentless bad weather, the ferry was also delayed and after reaching the ferry on time they were allowed to depart for home.

However, the trip that should take an hour and a half took them around three hours, and when they arrived back in Dover the coach door, which releases the handbrake when it closes, wouldn't shut meaning they could not move off of the ferry.

"It was unbelievable," said Matt.

"People started to accept it as a bit of a life experience.

"We were all joking on the ferry saying 'what else can happen' and at one point we thought we would be stuck going back to Calais.

"But most of us took it all in our stride and were in high spirits."

Eventually, they managed to get the coach door shut, symbolising the end to a journey full of unexpected and unfortunate events.

None of those events were the fault of the Leicester City FC staff.

(Image: LCFC/Plumb Images)

The fans heaped praise on the staff and stated that they made them feel "at ease" throughout the journey, even when things got tough.

"All of the staff played a part and made the trip special," he said.

"All 75 of us said to each other 'what a club'.

"Season on season they give us so much, whether it be pies, scarves, mince pies, beers, they are just so giving.

"A lot of my friends are United fans and they are jealous of the fans at Leicester.

"It was just fantastic and made more so by the staff. They made it so easy for everyone."

A Leicester City spokesman said: "The Football Club would like to thank every supporter who travelled to Leuven over the weekend as part of the King Power football family. Each person helped to make it a very special visit for both clubs and further strengthen a growing bond between the two sets of supporters.

“Unfortunately weather conditions meant travel back to Leicester on Sunday wasn’t possible and the Football Club were of course happy to be able to provide additional accommodation and food for every supporter.

“Although the return journey wasn’t straightforward, our supporters remained in good spirits throughout. Their patience and understanding was greatly appreciated in the circumstances.”