Fans  laid  dow n  hundreds  of football  scarves, shirts  and  flowers outside Leicester City's stadium on Sunday, a day after the club's Thai billionaire owner died in a helicopter crash just outside  the  ground.

Dozens of candles and flowers were laid out among the tributes at Leicester City's stadium, as well as an image of Ganesh -- a Hindu god often found at Thai Buddhist temples

Fans  laid  down  hundreds  of  football l  scarves, shirts  and  flowers  outside  Leicester City's stadium  on  Sunday, a  day  after  the  club's Thai  billionaire  owner  died  in  a  helicopter  crash just  outside  th e  ground.
Among  the se  of  tributes  to  Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha -- the  funder  behind  the club'  s epic 2016 Premier  League  victory -- was  also  an  image  of  Ganesh, a  Hindu  god  of  ten  seen  at Thai Buddhist  temples.
As  emergency  vehicles  passed  back  and  forth  from  the  scene  of  the  crash, a  steady  stream of  people  came  to  express  their  gratitude: a  man  on  crutches, a  father  consoling  his teenage  son, a  woman  carrying  a  bouquet  of  blue  and  white  flowers -- the  colours  of the football  club.
"He's  put Leicester  on  the  map. He's  made  us  big, we're  not just  a  little  club  anymore," said one supporter, 55-year-old Cathy Dann, speaking before Srivaddhanaprabha's death was confirmed.
John Welford, 68, said: "What a fantastic man! I've been a supporter 60 years and personally I think he's  the  best  ever  owner  w e've  eve r  had".
Fans  streamed  to  the  stadium  to  express  their  gratitude  long  before  official  confirmation that  the  60-year-old  businessman, who  frequently  flies  to  and  from  Leicester's  home  games by  helicopter, was  aboard  the  aircraft.
Four  other  people  on  the  helicopter, including  two  members  of Vichai's  staff, were  also  killed in  the  crash.
A man and a girl add to flowers and football scarvess left as tributes outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium

Residents remembered a determined and charismatic figure who was the driving force behind a footballing feat when the club rose through the ranks to win the top spot two years ago.
Many also remembered the owner's generosity to fans -- free breakfasts at away matches and free beers on his birthday -- as well as to the city, including a donation to the local hospital.
"They're sort of around like supporters, they're like us. They believe in what the club is and they've bought into that," said Mahendra Mistri, 59.

'He made us champions'

Kanti Patel, one of the first supporters to come to pay tribute in the early hours of Sunday, told AFP: "It means a lot to me, he did a lot for the club.
"I can't get over it. Since him being with the club the club has done well, and I don't know what's going to happen now."
Another fan, Tom Lievers, arrived with a "Champions" scarf to pay tribute to Vichai.
"Well you know where we were when he bought the club -- we were absolutely nowhere. So I brought down my 'Champions' scarf because he made us champions."
Andrew Aldwinckle said: "He was more like he was a supporter, a proper supporter, rather than a money man. He was one of the crowd. As far as we're concerned, that's it."
Steve Walton, who wore the club's blue hat, said: "I think there's a lot of Leicester fans around the world -- not just in Leicester, but around the world -- who I think will be devastated and he meant a lot to the fans."
Many in the city in central England and in Vichai's homeland already feared the worst for the man they credit with the club's against-all-odds Premier League title victory in 2016
Vichai also brought Thailand greater recognition in the international sporting world, developing the Southeast Asian country's football scene.
At a football game in central Bangkok, Leicester City fan Apichart Jitratkavee said he was an important person who "raised the bar of Thai football further.
"There were projects by Leicester City to select Thai teenagers to train in the club's academy. They will have a chance to serve the nation in the future."
Another fan, Nathavut Sirimontaporn, said Vichai had brought "benefits" to Thai football.
"I think having him as an owner of the Leicester City made people know Thailand more," he said.