Bernie - A Leicester City Legend, RIP

[FrankieADZ]

RIP Bernie 

[Stadt]

Rest in peace, a legendary Leicester fan if there ever was one. I remember hearing he’d walked to Coventry away once, whether it’s true or not, it’s something you want to believe. I’m glad his final few years have been restful and he’s been cared for. 

[norwichfox]

R.I.P. Bernie

[VLC86]

RIP Bernie, more sad news.

[manders86]

One of our own. 

 

Sat next to him at Burnley away when he sang 'you're only famous for your pies' for 90 minutes. Legend.

[urban.spaceman]

Rest Peacefully Bernie. What a character. I think I speak for all Leicester City fans when I say AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[dayday]

Met him a few times, crazy funny guy, Sheff Wednesday at home about 12 years did make me laugh 

 

R.I.P Bernie 

[ealingfox]

RIP King

[thegaffa]

RIP Bernie, a true Leicester fan.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I'm one of the lucky ones to have had a chat with Bernie while queuing for a burger at The Den. Eccentric yes, but clearly loved the club.

 

I'll also never forget another Bernie encounter during a shit game at Hillsborough in 2010. 1-0 down and lucky to have nil, a few City fans decided to deal with the stress by turning the men's toilets into a smoking area. Bernie walked in and remarked "It's like Tesco's in 'ere!"

 

What a bloke.

[CosbehFox]

16 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Rest in peace, a legendary Leicester fan if there ever was one. I remember hearing he’d walked to Coventry away once, whether it’s true or not, it’s something you want to believe. I’m glad his final few years have been restful and he’s been cared for. 

Walked/cycled to a lot of games at his fittest. 

When I was a kid, I once seen him down the A6 leaving Loughborough, I assume back to his home. 

Edited 11 February 2022 by Cardiff_Fox

[Max Power]

Having a piss next to him at Rotherham away as a kid truly a formative experience as a young Leicester city fan. RIP. 

[Unabomber]

RIP. I remember when I was uni and would get the train to away games in league one and would always see Bernie. Back then I was amazed that he managed to find his way to the likes of Huddersfield. 

[An Away Move]

RIP Bernie. Fan legend. Not many of us can claim that.
 

On a related note - my anxiety shows up in weird places. I always dreamed of getting a season ticket and it being next to Bernie. I wondered how I’d have coped with that. 

[GlennyFox55]

Build the statue.

[Gamble92]

Went to Preston with a lad who doesn't support us and he was quickly taken aback when Bernie sat on our table and I had to explain the legend to him.

 

Literally 2 days later me and the same mate had to go to Loughborough. Low and behold Bernie is across the street with 2 carrier bags shouting WE HATE NOTTINGHAM to a bunch of lads across the road.

 

Been with us through it all. So glad he got to see us do the impossible. RIP you legend. 

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

RIP Bernie

 

I met him twice:

- once when I worked at Budgens, Mountsorrel (18-19 years ago), I served him at the checkout while he was sober. I was amazed at how well-spoken he was, and also how he was able to carry things with such incredibly stumpy fingers

- several weeks after, I was walking up Leicester Road from Mountsorrel into Quorn with my ex. He was walking past us, and the whole time he was yelling (at the TOP of his lungs) "FVCK OFF FOREST!! FVCK OFF DERBY!!! FVCK OFF FOREST!! FVCK OFF DERBY!!!"

 

...it wasn't a match-day  

[Jackubu]

RIP Bernie, unbelievable character for sure. 

[Voll Blau]

I suspect some of us look back on encounters we had with him, when we were a bit younger and dafter, and perhaps feel a bit of guilt or shame about whether how we acted around him was the right way to behave. The fact is though, that his presence created an excitement - on a train, in a pub, in a concourse - and when he was shouting, it stirred something in everyone there. A collective spirit that he embodied. Most of the time I think people's reactions to that weren't meant maliciously.

 

It was always heartening to see him at games in more recent times, and it's great that his carers did all they could to indulge his passion for the club.

 

RIP Bernie - The True Spirit of Leicester.

[rico]

What a character he was....

 

RIP Bernie

[Kegworthfox]

To many to mention but Peterborough away Bernie Witherspoons we had just won a lot of non footy fans security trying to tell him to take is hat off Bernie just kept blowing his trumpet blower the funniest thing was he was eating chirps and they were going all over the place.

the man was a true legend 

[Saxondale]

RIP Bernie.

 

Lots of myths surrounding the man and it’s difficult to know which were true. I know he used to walk a lot, and I never saw him not wearing his LCFC gear and jester hat.

 

My first experience of him was him walking up Belton Road in Loughborough full on chanting at the traffic lights something to do with Charnwood Borough Council.

 

He used to work at Sandicliffe in Loughborough an assistant in the workshop. He used to wind up the mechanics by throwing their tools in the skip (harsh). One day, a few of the mechanics decided to get revenge. They had a shower on site, which Bernie used to use at the end of his shift. They filled the shower head with blue dye. Bernie took his daily shower and came out looking like a Smurf.

 

One thing is for sure: he was a true LCFC legend.

Edited 11 February 2022 by Saxondale
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[ealingfox]

Best memory was on the train back to Manchester after Preston away in 09/10 when we confirmed a play-off place - Bernie staggering around the vestibule shouting 'We're gonna get you Arabs!!! We're gonna get you Arabs!!!' (presumably referring to Man City). Everyone in a packed carriage looking at the floor in embarrassment hahaha

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

5 minutes ago, Saxondale said:

They had a shower on site, which Bernie used to use at the end of his shift. They filled the shower head with blue dye. Bernie took his daily shower and came out looking like a Smurf.

 

One thing is for sure: he was a true LCFC legend.

 

And he never showered again!

[Voll Blau]

Just remembered him getting his own two-man police escort off the train at Loughborough after the Clive Clarke incident at Forest away.

 

He'd been at his best in the Notts County club before that game.

Edited 11 February 2022 by Voll Blau