What was the best moment of 2022 for Leicester City?

As collective moments, it's the Conference League away trips for me, the rest of the year has been pretty forgettable. I'm going for what came straight to mind, which was PSV away, but Rennes, Rome and particularly Randers need an honourable mention too.

Randers set it all off to a ridiculously high standard, with highlights including the singer in the Irish pub learning Leicester songs for a fab pre-match atmosphere, one of my favourite away ends of all time, walking to the ground in the snow and all the locals being great and up for a chat.

I was suddenly happy we'd ended up in the Conference League.

By the time PSV came around, everyone was on the hype and the whole matchday had so many individual moments.

Our group had a last minute passport dash in the build up and bumped into many more faces. It just felt like Eindhoven was built for a European away day.

Matchday started with an early morning flight from Stansted to Eindhoven. Flying on the day of the game always fills me with so much stress.

My nerves were not helped by the person sat next to me on the plane telling me the last time he was on the same flight, it had been diverted to Stuttgart when the pilot had said he needed to circle until the fog cleared - which he'd just done on this one.

Luckily, we got to land safely in Eindhoven and it was the start of good outcomes for the day.

Our early arrival meant we got a good spot in the sun at the square for meeting others and being in the thick of it meant my cousin and I jumped in for a photo with Top as he strolled through with the fans.

We'd made a risky tradition of seeing how many replies to the local 'Hello' we could get walking to the grounds and we voted the Dutch far more friendly than the French in Rennes. Never in doubt, right?

This was confirmed when my cousin loudly booed an older lady because she had a PSV scarf on and, rather than causing any aggro, she simply did it right back at him and we had a photo.

Getting into the ground there was lack of communication within the group, which meant two of us went to the bar ending up with around an extra 10 pints that we soon found out weren't allowed up to the seats. We just had an island of beers and offered them out. I'm not sure any of us needed one more, let alone 10.

Being surrounded by plastic boarding in the stand was a first but just added to European away days being 'different'. Three of us ended up on the stairs battering that plastic all game.

Even at 1-0 down I remember feeling we were going to get something. That chop back from Ayoze Perez for the first goal blew my mind, I simply repeated his name or 'we'll get more chance' for the 11 minutes in between our first and second.

The whole day built up to that moment, celebrating an 88th minute Ricky P winner and getting through to a European semi-final. It felt like we were back to our old selves, becoming successful as an underdog.

I was glad to be near the bottom of the ridiculously steep away end for our safety. I still ended up laying on the stairs in disbelief at one point - it was pure carnage and I'd love to see some proper footage.

The next hour was just one big celebration. Being held in the ground didn’t seem an issue - no one wanted to leave. I just kept finding more pals (and randomers) to hug and celebrate with.

PSV playing 'When You're Smiling' over the tannoy really added to it. I go straight back to that moment every time I hear it now. A day in the sun with some of my favourite people to watch Leicester with - ending in pure joy, a new ground and another trip to look forward to.

In a year where the football has been pretty crap, it's reminded me the 90 minutes is a small part of the day. The memories that stick far more are about having a good laugh with friends and family while holding onto the carnage of celebrating goals when they come about.

Viva the Conference League - get me back there please.

Becky Taylor

The moment I'm going to pick really stands out this year. Sadly, it's not been a stellar year. However, I think it's important not to be too down. We did reach a European semi-final and we’re still in the Premier League - both felt light years away not too long ago.

So… Eindhoven... oh, what a night!

I'll start at the beginning. I wasn't sure if I'd get a ticket so I'd not jumped on the 'easy' transport options such as the direct flight from Stansted. I therefore spent the days building up to my ticket slot looking at all sorts of options including planes, trains and automobiles (well, coaches from London Victoria).

As it was, I was fortunate to get a ticket and was on my way! The route was home to parents-in-laws overnight, then a lift to Birmingham airport in the early hours, a flight to Amsterdam and then train to Eindhoven!

I was travelling alone but I was fortunate to meet some fellow City fans doing the same route. I went straight to the Queens Hotel which, as luck would have it, was on the square where all the fans were. What followed was a glorious afternoon in the spring sunshine with terrific food and one or two truly magnificent Bravia Pilsners. It really is days like these that make you appreciate how fortunate we've been to live through this era. It's hard to articulate just how amazing it feels to follow your team abroad. Eindhoven was really well set up for away fans and the atmosphere in the square was electric.

I saw the father and son I met on the train in the square and we made our way on foot to the stadium. It's a great arena once you're in but the entrance wasn't too welcoming to say the least!

Once inside, the atmosphere was the best away end I've ever been in. For the only time in 2022, our best XI was on the pitch but we started slowly and were soon behind. However, and I'm sure anyone else who was there will agree, there was a belief in the stands that transferred to the pitch. You could sense nerves in the home sections and time ticked on.

Chances came and went but when Perez did brilliantly to cut it back for Maddison, the scenes were sensational.

And then it happened. 'Brendan ball' at its best created the chance for Ricardo, who buried the winner. I had no idea whatsoever it was Ricardo as I was desperately trying not to topple down the very steep stands. I've never experienced anything like it.

The full time whistle came and we got a full hour to celebrate in the stands before walking back to the city centre. A number of PSV fans made a point of coming over to congratulate us and I was delighted they won the Dutch Cup a few days later.

I had a celebratory drink before a (very) deep sleep at the hotel.

The next day was Good Friday and the city was pretty quiet. The square looked strange when not bathed in blue.

I got the train back to Amsterdam, a flight to Heathrow, tube to St Pancras, train to Loughborough and then finally a taxi home.

It was a long couple of days but sweet dreams are made of this....

Iain Wright