Carolina Panthers return the love to English soccer team
A week after the Carolina Panthers received some support from another pro team overseas, the team has returned the love.
The Panthers sent four of their jerseys to England’s Leicester City Football Club (soccer, not American football) as motivation to “keep pounding”. It’s the same gesture Leicester City made ahead of the Panthers’ playoff game Jan. 17 against the Seattle Seahawks.
The good luck gestures seem to be working. The Panthers defeated the Seahawks Sunday 24-31, and Leicester City, No. 1 in the Premier League, defeated Stoke City Saturday 3-0.
Before their game, the English team posted a photo Friday of four of its players – Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Christian Fuchs and Wes Morgan – donning #1 Carolina Panthers jerseys and practicing American football.
After a special delivery from our @Panthers friends, the #lcfc boys couldn't resist a little @NFL training... ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/SUsVkK959U
— Leicester City (@LCFC) January 22, 2016
The Panthers replied to the soccer team on Twitter: “You’re No. 1 in our hearts.”
Leicester City has compared its surprising success to that of the Panthers, a fellow “underdog” that advanced to become the winningest team in the NFL this season.
Will the long-distance bromance heat up if the Panthers defeat the Arizona Cardinals Sunday in the NFC Championship game?
Katherine Peralta: 704-358-5079, @katieperalta
This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 1:42 PM.