Leicester City have only been in six European campaigns in their history and the last two in the Europa League have been wrecked by COVID-19, limiting the number of fans who could savour rare away days.

Even if they could take the risk of travelling, trips to Warsaw, Moscow and Naples were also fraught with other dangers, and against Napoli in December, travelling fans were taken on the bus ride from hell around the city and missed the first half of the game.

However, the Europa Conference League has brought the European dream to life once more. After trips to Randers in Denmark and Rennes in northern France, the Blue Army set off in large numbers for Eindhoven to cheer on Brendan Rodgers’ men as they looked to make history. They duly did, reaching a European semi-final for the first time in the club’s history.

They took planes, trains and automobiles — and even ferries — to make it to the Netherlands, and their efforts were rewarded by one of the most memorable nights many of the 1,600 fans will ever experience.

As the day began, Leicester fans began to gather in Eindhoven’s Market Square, near their designated pub, O’Shea’s. Soon, the local bars and restaurants were besieged by hungry — but mostly thirsty — supporters clad in blue.

Amy Ginnetta, 33, from Hamilton, Leicester: “Lei cester fans congregated in all bars and restaurants in the square from 10am, having their breakfast. They were there all day. If you moved, you weren’t getting a table, there were that many people. It was packed. You could see people milling around, chatting to each other and having photos and a sing-song.

“We had the designated Irish pub just off the square. They were happy for the fans to chant and sing, having a good time, no problems. The fans were on the tables in O’Shea’s and they had to switch the chandeliers off so they didn’t electrocute anyone.”

Early in the afternoon, Leicester fans were visited by club chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, known as Khun Top, and brother Apichet, and they got a rapturous reception as the party started.

Iain Wright, 39, East Leake: “The sq uare started filling up as the day wore on and the flags started coming out, and it was a great atmosphere. They singing started when Top turned up. That gave everyone a massive lift. Everyone was amazed he had taken the time to come out with his brother. Everyone was so pleased to see them.”

Rishi Madlani, 40, whose family are from Rushey Mead, Leicester: “Khun Top doing a walk around was amazing. We thought, ‘Is he actually doing this?’. It just summed up our club and the owners, how lucky we are. They make time for the fans. Every fan was on their feet to greet him. We are so grateful to his family. Top class from Top.”

Graeme Smith, 43, from Loughborough: “How many club owners would get that sort of spontaneous response from their own fans. Can you imagine if the Glazers walked through on Manchester United fans? Not many clubs have owners who get that sort of reaction.”

There was some drama when a piece of scaffolding from a building site near O’Shea’s, where supporters queued to get their match tickets, crashed down, striking one supporter.

Smith: “We were sat in the square and it was quite scary because we heard this loud bang, and saw lots of smoke, and all sorts of things ran through your mind then. A fan had been hit and received treatment, but he was OK.”

Wright: “I just missed the scaffolding incident by 10 minutes. It was next to where the fans were queuing for their tickets. You just saw this cloud of dust. We wondered what had kicked off but it wasn’t trouble. It was unnerving.”

Unlike in Madrid in 2017, when trouble did start as police clashed with travelling fans, there was only a party atmosphere in the square, with some former players joining the revelry.

Ginnetta: “Robbie Savage was sat there for half the day too with the fans. Matt Piper as well.”

Smith: “We had a small appearance from the PSV ultras but that didn’t last long and it was a great atmosphere. The police quickly dealt with that. Inflatables and cushions were going everywhere but it never felt like it was going to turn nasty. I had been in Madrid in the Champions League when that did turn bad.”

Wright: “PSV fans were milling around and there was a good atmosphere. Then the cushions and inflatables started flying, and there was a ball being kicked around. I think one PSV fan grabbed a flag and that caused an umbrella to crash down, but the police quickly stepped in.”

Jack Holmes, 34, from London: “The guy was wearing a PSV shirt with Izzet and No 6 on the back. He was a really nice bloke but how bizarre was that? He said he was a Leicester fan from Eindhoven. I didn’t know this but apparently, they bid for him a while ago and he got really excited, and got the shirt sorted. That’s probably the only time it will be appropriate, I guess.”

Close to kick-off, fans were given a police escort as they made the short walk to the Philips Stadion.

Wright: “I really liked Eindhoven. You could tell they were used to hosting European games because the police did a great job, just leaving everyone to it in the square. They walked us to and from the stadium, which was important. It was only a six- or seven-minute walk from the city centre.”

Holmes: “It was a palaver getting in and out of the ground but after a game like that, you don’t really mind. I really couldn’t see anything. We were miles up. It was the steepest away end I have ever been in. When the goals went in, it was bedlam, with people falling all over the place.”

Wright: “The view wasn’t great in the ground. There was a Perspex screen between us and the home fans, and there were barriers.”

Madlani: “The atmosphere was incredible and the Leicester fans never stopped singing. It was a good rehearsal for Newcastle away (on Sunday) because there were a lot of stairs. They had these old-fashioned-type seats where there is nothing in front of you. It was a little nervous if you got overexcited by a goal. It was amazing to be in such a loud Leicester end, before, during and after.”

Holmes: “I saw one fan, who had a few too many, stumbled forward, and bumped into an older fan, and knocked his hearing aids out after the second goal went in. He jumped up and said, ‘I’m 73!’, and punched him. Bizarre.”

Things weren’t going well as Leicester wasted great chances and then fell behind to a first-half Eran Zahavi goal.

Smith: “Thursday night in the stadium was probably the best away experience I have ever had. There were 1,600 fans, singing and backing the team as one. It felt like we were all working as one, the fans and the players.”

Wright: “There was belief among the fans. In the past, 1-0 down away from home, we wouldn’t have thought it possible. It would have been subdued but the fans stayed at it and believed we could get back into it. That must have fed to the players. We knew when we got the equaliser, we were going to win it because PSV had gone. They had nothing left. We had worn them out.”

Rodgers made some inspired substitutions, bringing on Ademola Lookman, Patson Daka and then Ayoze Perez. James Maddison grabbed the equaliser, then Ricardo Pereira scored to set up a famous victory.

Wright: “It was strange when Perez came on because they didn’t announce it in the stadium. He got the ball and everyone was like, ‘Where has Perez come from?’. You could say that about the whole season. It is a credit to Rodgers that you can have someone who is completely marginalised and came on and played superbly. He caused them all sorts of problems.”

Smith: “Did you see the images after Maddison scored? The chair of the disabled supporters association was sitting in with the PSV fans in the disabled area, and you can see her celebrating Maddison’s goal in the background (waving a flag in the video clip below as the Leicester players celebrate). Sandra (Fixter) was having an absolute ball celebrating on her own. It is phenomenal.”

What a strike from James Maddison!

Can they go on and win it?#UECL pic.twitter.com/HRLSZw9Vxp

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 14, 2022

Madlani: “It didn’t feel like it was going to happen. It was brave of Rodgers to make the changes. Credit to him. It came together perfectly.”

Ginnetta: “The atmosphere in the ground was electric from start to finish. There was a huge party at the end and Eindhoven were really good. They played music for us at the end, even ‘When You’re Smiling’, our club anthem, so we could celebrate. ‘Sweet Caroline’, as well.

“After the game was amazing. Everyone was up, jumping, singing and dancing, cuddling each other. We were there for 40 minutes just singing. The players came over and Maddison started dancing, so that got the fans up again. It was an amazing European night. The best I have ever had.”

Madlani: “We were locked inside for 45 minutes but we didn’t notice; we were just singing away. They obviously did their research by putting on When You’re Smiling.”

Afterwards, Leicester fans were escorted back into the city centre and they found that PSV supporters were gracious in defeat.

Holmes: “The Eindhoven fans were really good. We saw a few of them on the way back after the game and they wanted to swap scarves and chat. They complimented Leicester and wished us well. They were very pleasant. It was the most welcoming atmosphere I have been in; up there with Bruges in 2016 (after Leicester’s 3-0 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League).”

Wright: “Walking back, we had PSV fans congratulating us and wishing us luck in the next round. Dutch people are always so friendly.”

Next up is Roma in the semi-finals. The Conference League, a competition much maligned at its conception, which Rodgers said he knew very little about after last year’s Europa League defeat at Napoli, is keeping Leicester fans’ dreams alive.

Wright: “It is living the dream at the minute with Leicester. We were talking about all the days in League One, losing in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Rotherham, but then to win a European quarter-final at PSV Eindhoven was just unbelievable.”

Holmes: “They need to change the name but the Conference League is good. The final four is Roma, Feyenoord, Marseille and Leicester. They are big clubs. The Europa League was way too big. This is a decent competition and I like that if you get knocked out of one competition, you have to qualify for the next one. That is fair.

“You sort of take it for granted now, the success. I suppose now, with the team we have, it is strange we haven’t reached a semi-final before, but it also feels strange because we are not used to this as Leicester fans.

“I felt it wasn’t our night when Daka missed (midway through the first half with Leicester trailing 1-0) but to reach a semi-final, and in Rome as well, is incredible. In fact, we booked our flights straight after the game.”

Wright: “Beating PSV in any competition is amazing and now Roma next. They are giants. That will be a game for the ages at the Stadio Olimpico.

“A win against them really will be a stand-out performance — and I think we will win it.”

(Top photo: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)