FA Cup dream comes true thanks to County Press and pharmacy

It has been quite a rollercoaster ride for Foxes season ticket holder Andy Windram over the past week, after he qualified for one of a limited number of Wembley tickets available to see his team play Chelsea — but then found himself in a blind panic when he couldn't find anywhere on the Isle of Wight able to give him a lateral flow Covid test, with proof of his result, within 48 hours of the match kicking off.

Leicester City fan Andy Windram with Day Lewis pharmacist manager, Helen Young, at the Shanklin branch after his Covid lateral flow test.

Andy was delighted when he was one of the club's 6,250 fans able to get a prized ticket for the Wembley showcase, due to Covid rules restricting numbers.

But the euphoria of beating so many fellow fans to a ticket soon wore off for the 65 year old, of Redcliff Close, Yaverland, when his options quickly ran out.

"After being so happy about getting a ticket, after 30 attempts phoning the ticket hotline, I was then in a panic when I rang around everywhere and couldn't get a Covid test, with a fast result," said Andy, who runs a travel business in Sandown, the Opal Travel Group.

Leicester City fan Andy Windram, of Sandown on the Isle of Wight, is on his way to Wembley following his negative Covid test.

Thankfully, for Andy, the County Press was able to get in touch with a pharmacy able to remedy the situation — the Day Lewis branch in Regent Street, Shanklin.

Luckily, for Andy, the pharmacy was getting asymptomatic lateral flow testing equipment in this week and they agreed to make him their first customer yesterdsay (Thursday) afternoon.

Great news for Andy — he had a negative result, and even got his Wembley ticket confirmation.

Andy Windram's text confirming his negative Covid test result.

Andy can now achieve his dream of seeing Leicester play in their first FA Cup final since 1969.

Leicester-born Andy said: "I'm over the moon — and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I received the negative Covid result.

"I got the result about 45 minutes after taking the test. It was sorted really quick. I'll be able to sleep tonight now and dream about Leicester making history. 

Andy Windram's FA Cup final ticket for Leicester v Chelsea.

"When I couldn't get the test I needed, my wife, Gill, then decided, as a last resort, to get in touch with the County Press — and they came up trumps. Brilliant. I'm so happy the paper could sort it out for me. It will be the biggest game of my life.

"Thank you to the County Press and the Day Lewis pharmacy in Shanklin. It means everything. I'm absolutely thrilled to bits.

"Leicester will be up for it because we could make history, having never won the cup. But there could be a shock on the cards. For me, winning the cup would top winning the Premiership.

Wembley Stadium.

"But as I said to Gill, it's just great to be able to go to a football game and just totally enjoy it."

Day Lewis's Shanklin branch pharmacist manager, Helen Young, said: "I feel chuffed to be able to help. We like to do our bit for the local community.

"It was our first pharmacy-based lateral flow test and Andy tested negative and he is all set for Wembley.

"We were both nervous, but once all the details for test and trace were set up on his phone, it was all plain sailing. 

Andy urgently needed a Covid lateral flow test and immediate negative result to be able to watch the FA Cup final at Wembley.

"I am so pleased to be of help and am excited to be part of the fight back against Covid-19.

"I am also glad there are now no barriers to Andy having the perfect day — as long as Leicester perform."

Helen, a Saints fan, who saw Leicester knock her team out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals, joked: "It should have been Southampton (my home town) playing at Wembley, of course, but I am still more than happy to help a member of the 'opposition'."

The match kicks off at 5.15pm tomorrow (Saturday).