This year’s English Premier League season ended not so much with a bang as a whimper, with Chelsea already having been confirmed as champions, and the three relegation spots decided well in advance.
Compare that with the scene 12 months earlier, when Leicester City became such unlikely champions that a Hollywood film was commissioned about the team and its star striker, Jamie Vardy, and it is easy to understand why the end of this season felt rather underwhelming.
But what does this have to do with a column about residential property? Well, the very home in which Leicester City’s players gathered to celebrate that title win has just been placed on the market for £1.25 million (Dh6m).
Cloughmore House, an eight-bedroom property in the rural market town of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was bought by Mr Vardy and his wife, Becky, in 2015.
The pair have described it as “the perfect home for our family, inside and out”. The three-storey property has been completely refurbished and includes a billiards room, a bespoke staircase, a designer kitchen with a curved island and American walnut suite and a smart home integration system. The vast master suite takes up the entire second floor and has its own dressing room, walk-in wardrobe and an en suite bathroom.
The house sits on a 2,832 square metre plot that also includes front and rear lawns, a greenhouse, children’s play area, a hot tub and a sauna. There is also a thatched garage block on the corner of the plot.
The couple said that the house holds many special memories for them.
“We planned our wedding from our kitchen. It’s where the team came together on the night Leicester City history was made,” they said. “It’s a big part of history for us, but it’s the right time to move to a home with more space for our family and where we can enjoy a sense of privacy.”
Trevor Kearney, an agent with Savills’ specialist sports services division, says Cloughmore House could appeal to either a local buyer or a sports professional.
Q&A: Trevor Kearney, an agent with Savills, tells Michael Fahy plenty of buyers would like to secure a move to Cloughmore House:
Who would move into a premier footballer’s home?
The market town of Melton Mowbray is sought after as a hub for regional commuters. The strong road, rail and airport links via Birmingham, Stansted and East Midlands airports make the house ideal for someone whose occupation necessitates domestic and overseas trips. Cloughmore House could also interest a sports professional, as it has a variety of aspects that appeal such as privacy, security and games rooms.
What is the surrounding area like?
Melton Mowbray is a well-serviced market town and has specialist independent shops and high street stores. The town is also regarded as “The Rural Food Capital of England”, thanks to Stilton and Red Leicester cheeses.
What does a typical footballer want from their home?
A home offering privacy and security is hugely important. Once they’ve found it, they will often go about installing high-level security, including cameras, lasers and iPhone monitoring. Technology is also high on the wish list. Among the must-haves are state-of-the-art sound and media systems as well as sophisticated media rooms for gaming. In terms of architectural style, contemporary homes and new-build properties tend to be favoured for to their clean lines and modern finishes. Finally, being close to work is a must.
mfahy@thenational.ae
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If you go
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Started: 2020
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Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Sector: E-commerce
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Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
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Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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