Sunday 15th May is a date etched into the diaries of even those who were previously indifferent to the trials and tribulations of the English Premier League, as the day on which this momentous and unprecedented season concludes. This season, of course, has elevated underdogs Leicester City from relegation fodder to potential champions, and seen the remarkable fall of previous champions Chelsea, not to mention the sad decline of Aston Villa, who will drop into the Championship next season.

The drama of the final day, though, is set to take place at the very top of the table, as the nation and even the world (a sentiment normally firmly rooted in hyperbole but one that holds true here) watches to see whether Leicester or Tottenham will win the Premier League for the first time ever. What is extraordinary, however, debatably even more so than Leicester’s surge up the table or Tottenham’s transformation from top-four challengers at best into potential winners, is the cruel manner in which history will only remember one of these two teams, both of which have demonstrated so many admirable qualities over the course of the campaign.

History, lest anyone need reminding, is a fickle beast at the best of times. The truism (attributed by folklore to none other than Winston Churchill) that “History is written by the victors” perfectly expresses the delight that will await the eventual winners of the 2015/2016 Barclays Premier League, at the expense of the runner-up who will be consigned to a footnote in the annals of the so-called ‘beautiful game’. History glorifies the winners at the loser’s expense – just ask the Manchester United team of ‘11/’12, whose valiant efforts that season were forgotten in a heartbeat when Sergio Agüero netted the ball in added time in the final game of the season to hand City their first ever Premier League title. So what, then, will be the headline in this climactic year?
One would hope that, whatever the outcome may be mid-May, Leicester get the plaudits they deserve for a truly outstanding season that has put the teams that usually inhabit the upper echelons of the league table to shame. This is a club that has a fraction of the resources of its competitors, and one that has had to rely on prudent financial decisions in the transfer market to rocket up the table.

More important than savvy moves regarding transfers, however, is the spirit Leicester have shown in their success. Their manager, Claudio Ranieri, has remained firmly grounded all season, playing down his team’s chances in the face of constant media hype, and has refrained from resorting to criticising referees or other teams’ tactics that we have seen so many a title-chasing manager do before him. Even on Sunday afternoon against West Ham, when Leicester had star player Jamie Vardy sent off in a controversial decision that dramatically affected the outcome of the match, Ranieri steered clear of castigating the referee, stating his desire to “stay calm and speak about football” when asked about the incident.

Off the pitch, Leicester too have made a refreshing change to the steely eyed determinism of the bigger teams. Ranieri’s innovative rewards for hard-fought victories have included ordering pizza for the whole team and allowing players a beer on the triumphant bus ride back – acts that may seem relatively unimportant but, in this age of scientifically counting each and every calorie to gain an imperceptible advantage, are a rarity. The fans, too, have played their part in the camaraderie, memorably staying in the stadium after a tight win over Crystal Palace for a good 15 minutes after the final whistle to serenade the team and onlooker. Again, nothing too radical – except when compared with the empty seats and early leavers of the fans of grander teams. The club itself has responded to the fans’ spirit, treating them to free doughnuts and beverages at a recent game as a thank you for their ardent support.

No one, of course, would wish to denigrate Tottenham’s success if it transpires that they manage to do the unthinkable and usurp Leicester’s position at the top just because of Leicester’s admirable qualities. It would, however, be a shame if all Leicester’s hard work on and off the field is forgotten – or worse, mocked – if they slip up in these closing stages.

Both the media and ‘Twitterati’ have been none too kind to failed title challengers in recent years, with Steven Gerrard’s all too literal slip-up that cost Liverpool a first ever Premier League title being mocked incessantly in national newspapers and internet forums alike. One can easily imagine them dragging an unfortunate Leicester player, or even the whole team, through the mud should they fail to provide a fairy-tale ending to what has been the rags-to-riches story to eclipse all others. This is a team that deserves praise and remembrance whatever the outcome – one just hopes history will be as kind to them if they fail as it will be if they succeed.