MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

 

It is going to be hard to choose two midfield players from the ones I have seen perform over the many years I have been watching Leicester City, and once again there is a lack of recent players from my list of contenders.

Andy King from today’s squad would have been a contender as I really rate him; but his lack of not competing in the top flight of English football has gone against him. His ability and vision is top class and he is still young enough to become a true Leicester legend if he chooses to stay with us. So unfortunately the contenders for the two places up for grabs come from the archives of Leicester City.

 

The first two contenders are both capable and worthy of being in the team and they played alongside each other many times during the 60’s and I used to idolise these two – Bobby Roberts and David Gibson. I can see Bobby Roberts now, with his sleeves rolled up and battling away for the cause. Bobby was a tough tackling energetic midfielder who also liked to get forward and he made 275 full appearances for City and scored 36 goals. One game in particular that stands out in my memory and typified Bobby’s fighting spirit and leadership was against a star studded Chelsea team on October 25^th 1967. City were 2-0 down and eventually drew 2-2 with both goals coming from captain Bobby Roberts, a true leader.

David Gibson oozed class and is still considered to be one of the finest ball players ever to grace a Leicester shirt. He was one of the most skilful players I have seen and playing on the left side of midfield he struck up a great understanding with winger Mike Stringfellow. Gibson left City for Aston Villa in the 70’s and he accumulated 333 full appearances for City scoring 53 goals.

Paul Ramsey was one of those versatile midfielders who were just as comfortable at full back and after helping the City reach the heights of the first division by gaining promotion; my memories of him mainly consist of him playing in an indifferent team under David Pleat. Ramsey played 308 full games for Leicester scoring 14 goals. A memory  for me with Paul was at a supporters club award night at Coalville and Paul had won player of the season, I was standing near him at one point and he asked me to hold on to his trophy while he went to the gents. One trusting City player and one star struck fox! 

Ian Wilson was a gem of a find by Jock Wallace and he typified the battling skilful qualities that we like to see at Leicester and Ian helped City gain two promotions under Wallace and Gordon Milne respectively. Ian played behind the dynamic duo of Smith and Lineker and for an unknown plucked from the Scottish highland league he quickly established himself as a foxes favourite with his displays. Ian made 309 full appearances for City scoring 19 goals.

Gary McAllister arrived at Filbert Street in a joint transfer from Motherwell alongside Ali Mauchlen. Gary established himself as a skilful midfielder and Ali was the more aggressive ball winner. McAllister went on to play 222 full games for City scoring 51 goals before moving onto Leeds Utd. Ali although a midfielder settled down at right back which is where he played most of his 270 full games for City scoring 12 goals.

Alan Birchenall MBE arrived at Leicester during the Jimmy Bloomfield era and he is still walking around the corridors of the King Power Stadium today (you can’t get rid of him!) The Birch was a cultured midfield player and notched up 176 full appearances for City scoring 7 goals, including that great goal v Leeds United which I believe the nickname ‘the claw ‘came from. Birch plied his trade at Leicester amongst the greats of Weller, Worthington, Glover etc. a worthy inclusion into the contenders list.

Another of the Bloomfield boys was Jon Sammells, he was in fact Bloomfield’s first signing. Jon made his name at Arsenal before moving to Leicester and he quickly established himself as a vital cog in the machine under Bloomfield’s reign.  Sammells first game for City was in the charity shield when Leicester beat Liverpool 1-0 at Filbert Street. Sammells played 265 games for City scoring 25 goals.

We have to jump forward now to the days of Martin O’ Neill and no less than three players who are all contenders to be included in the all-star Leicester team. Robbie Savage. Neil Lennon. Muzzy Izzet.

Robbie Savage is described as being like marmite, you either love him or hate him and I loved him at Leicester. Savage loved winding up opponents and supporters alike and his tough tackling never give up attitude endeared him to me. He could play a bit as well. Savage gained a losers medal and a winner’s medal in the League Cup while at Leicester and he played 189 full games scoring 15 goals.

Neil Lennon was also a tough tackling midfielder who could also play football and he struck up a telling partnership with Muzzy Izzet. Lennon won two league cup medals at City and one runner up medal. Neil played a total of 207 full games for City scoring 9 goals.

A main contender for a place in the line-up is Muzzy Izzet. Muzzy arrived at Leicester on loan initially and his performances soon persuaded Leicester to sign him for a fee that rose to £800,000 and it turned out to be a bargain. Izzet blossomed at Leicester after being an unknown at Chelsea and his intricate midfield style suited the more dogmatic style of Lennon and they formed a formidable midfield partnership. I could write loads about Izzet but I hope that most people know all about him! One moment that sticks in my memory (apart from a goal against Grimsby that was incredible) is when Muzzy was picked for the Turkish national team and he ran around the stadium with the Turkish flag, a great emotional moment. Muzzy also won league cup winners medals a runners up medal and a promotion while at Leicester. He played 312 full games scoring 47 goals. Muzzy can still be seen at the King Power Stadium watching the City.

Some other midfield players who I have seen play at Leicester and are worth a mention include, Ian Banks, Steve Kember, Gary Parker and Kevin Macdonald.

If I have missed any of your favourites out, please don’t hold it against me!

The two players who are taking their place in my all-time greatest Leicester team are Bobby Roberts and Muzzy Izzet. I hope you agree that they are more than worthy of their places.

The team now looks like this so far   

 

                                            SHILTON

                  WHITWORTH - WALSH - CROSS - NISH

                    WELLER - ROBERTS - IZZET - GLOVER

 

Next time I will be choosing the two strikers, until then

Leicester till I die

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

 

In this blog I am continuing with choosing my favourite all time Leicester City team and I will be choosing the wide men or wingers as they used to be known.

The team I am choosing is in a 4-4-2 formation but unfortunately the role of the wide man has changed dramatically over the years.

When I first started going to Filbert Street many years ago, the first winger I can recall is Howard Riley. But to be honest I remember the rosette sellers and the wooden rattles and looking forward to a game of cards with my Dad at half time sitting in the double decker stand more than I can remember the football. I do know that every time Riley had the ball there would be a resounding buzz in the stands! And a wave of excitement and expectation seemed to fill the ground.

As I got older and appreciated football more I could see what all the excitement was about. There was no finer sight than watching a winger take the ball down the touchline turning a defender inside out and delivering a cross into the box that hopefully would result in a goal! And at City we had two of the finest in the early 1960’s in Jackie Sinclair and Mike Stringfellow.

Playing in a forward line that read Sinclair, Goodfellow, Dougan, Gibson, Stringfellow excitement was the order of the day at Filbert Street and Sinclair and Stringfellow would tear many defences apart before setting up the ‘Doog’ and they were also prolific goal scorers themselves. Sinclair scored 53 times from 113 appearances and the ‘mighty String’ scored 97 goals from well over 300 appearances.

So a good introduction to the wide men and the next wingers who would light up Filbert Street for me were John Farrington and Lenny Glover.

Farrington arrived from Wolves for a modest £30,000 and Glover arrived from Charlton for an £80,000 fee. I remember John Farrington as a speedy winger with a pin pointing cross! And Lenny Glover as a tricky winger, who with the drop of his shoulder would leave a defender on his backside.

Glover would become a cult legend at Leicester and he went on to become part of the Bloomfield era that was littered with star names and eventually the man who used to play on the opposite wing to Glover in that era also became an iconic figure whose name still reverberates around The King Power Stadium today - Keith Weller.

Weller was bought from Chelsea for £100,000 and he treated City supporters to many displays of brilliance with the ball, and in a cup tie v Norwich where he will be remembered for wearing white tights in the game. Weller was unique and today there are still calls for a statue to be placed at The King Power Stadium to remember the great man.

In the early 1980’s Steve Lynex took up the mantle of the next winger that exited the Filbert Street faithful and he would play a big part in helping Gary Lineker adding to his total of goals scored for Leicester.

Gary Mills was another player who could play on the wing or inside and he was a cultured footballer!

As out and out wingers go Lee Phillpott and Tommy Wright did a job for City but never exceeded the excitement of their predecessors neither did Julian Joachim or Levi Porter who were both destined to be the next great wingers at Leicester, but it never really happened for them. For me the next player that would excite the crowd  as a winger was Steve Guppy who gave many a stirring performance in the O’Neill era and Max Gradel looked as though he was going to be another one that would go down as a great winger, but his promise never showed and he moved on to Leeds.

A difficult decision to make picking wide men because of the changing role that is now expected of them, gone are the days of the winger hugging the touchline and taking on defenders. Today they are expected to defend as well as attack and you will see full backs taking on the role of the player running down the wing.

I miss the days of wingers and here at Leicester we had some good ones, I miss the excitement of a marauding winger taking on players with flair and skill. Will Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockaert live up to their expectation – I hope so. In the meantime those of us, who were lucky enough to see the likes of Sinclair, Stringfellow, Glover and Weller, rejoice! We may never see the like of them again.

The choices I have made for the two to take their place in my all-time greatest team are Keith Weller who played a total of 295 appearances for City (plus two as substitute) and scored a total of 43 goals. Weller just had to make it as on his day he was one of the most exiting players I have ever seen and it was a sad loss when he passed away a few years ago. His memory lives on at Leicester with a lounge at the King Power Stadium named after him. A fitting tribute to another Leicester legend

On the opposite flank it just has to be Lenny Glover. I can remember many happy times standing on the kop at Filbert Street watching Lenny tear opposition defences apart, and the kop-ites singing his praises. Happy days!

So the team so far looks like this:

Shilton

Whitworth   Walsh   Cross   Nish

        Weller                                                                                    Glover

Until the next time -- Leicester till I die

 

 

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

Continuing with my all-time favourite Leicester City team and in this blog I will be choosing the centre back positions.

Once again I will be delving into my memory bank to try and choose the two centre backs who can take their place in my favourite team chosen from players I have seen play at Leicester over the past fifty years (am I really that old!) You may not all agree with my selections but here goes.

I can remember watching Ian King and Colin Appleton play at the heart of our defence in the early 1960’s also Frank McLintock, who was to return to City as manager for one disastrous season in the mid-seventies. (But more on that one in a later blog) But the first centre back partnership I can remember with distinction is the pairing of John Sjoberg and Graham Cross. These two played at the heart of City’s defence for many years and to my mind were probably the most successful centre backs I have seen play at Leicester City.

‘Big John’ Sjoberg and the ‘Tank’ Graham Cross were the ideal partnership and complemented each other well and they served for many years together in City’s defence.  Sjoberg has the distinction of being the only Leicester player to score two own goals in a game and Graham Cross has the distinction of making most appearances in a Leicester shirt. I watched these two for many years and it would be easy to name them both in my ‘dream team’

Next up as a serious contender would be John O’ Neill who played for Leicester during 1997/1987 and was given a debut by Jock Wallace. John played well over 300 games for City during his time with the club

Another contender is a player I always looked forward to watching at Filbert Street Russell Osman. Osman always appeared to have loads of time on the ball and was a classy centre back. He made his name at Ipswich playing alongside Terry Butcher but he also played over 100 games for City.

Tommy Williams is another one who has to be considered. Tommy was given his debut in the ill-fated 1977-78 season when City were relegated from division one! Tommy spent his time at City fluctuating between centre back and full back and he played over 260 games for City.

Matt Elliott is another player who will go down as a legend at City and when he arrived from Oxford for a club record fee I guarantee that a few eyebrows were raised, but Matt went on to be a key player under the guidance of Martin O’Neill and was worshipped at Leicester, and I may add he still is. Elliott formed a key partnership with Steve Walsh and he went on to play 281 games for City plus 9 as substitute. Elliott was also a prolific goal scorer and scored 33 times for City. When O’ Neill went to Celtic he made a bid of over three million pounds to try and secure Matt Elliot’s services, a bid that failed! That was how high O’Neill rated him.

Steve Walsh, what can you say about this man? ‘Captain fantastic’

Steve is one of the players who I will feature in a blog just for him, because it would take a lot of pages to write about this guy.

Walsh arrived from Wigan signed by his former manager Brian Hamilton for £100,000 and went on to become an enigmatic figure at Leicester playing 430 games for City with a further nineteen substitute appearances. Walsh also has the distinction of accumulating nine red cards while at Leicester.

Steve Walsh epitomises everything you would want in a player and his never say die spirit and his loyalty to Leicester has earned him a place as one of the biggest legends ever to play for City ( I have to say all these nice things because I see him every game at Leicester!). Walsh apart from being a prolific central defender also knew where the opposition net was, scoring a total of 62 goals for Leicester during a career that spanned fourteen years.  A true  legend.

Alan Woollett is another player that deserves recognition, he played 245 games for Leicester and if it was not for Sjoberg and Cross he would have played many more. Alan Woollett was under rated and at times not appreciated by the supporters but whenever he played he gave 100%

Tony James will go down in history as the man who scored the winning and only goal against Oxford at Filbert Street in the final game of the season of the 1990/91 season ensuring City kept their place in the second division. A feat that they couldn’t prevent in 2007/08. James played 107 games for City

It has not been easy to choose the central defenders because over the years I have seen so many, to many to mention them all, but others who deserve a mention are.

Larry May who played 200 games for City. Colin Hill played 167 games. Gerry Taggart played 117 games. Patrick Kisnorbo 126 games. Richard Smith 98 games.

Once again highlighted is the fact that for me, not since Steve Walsh and Matt Elliott have we had a commanding pair of centre backs that were going to form a long and fruitful partnership. I suppose in days gone by players were more loyal to the shirt.  Perhaps Wes Morgan and Sean St Ledger will be the next starring pair of centre backs to carry us forward.

I could name two pairings that would be worthy of a place in my dream team Sjoberg and Elliott would certainly be worthy of the places but the two that stand out for me and take their places are

STEVE WALSH and GRAHAM CROSS  

So we now have the defensive line up

Shilton, Whitworth, Walsh, Cross, Nish.

I wonder how many agree with me so far.

Until the next time.

Leicester till I die

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

 

This week in the ‘‘Meashamfox’’ all-star Leicester team I am looking at the left back position and once again I have to dig deep into the memory banks to find worthy contenders.

In recent years full backs are a position I feel we have struggled with and looking at today’s team it looks as though that situation is not going to change!

I had high hopes that when Paul Konchesky signed for us he would take the opportunity to emerge as a left back worthy of the status of legend but as of yet I think he is a long way off of achieving that status.

Just reverting back to the right back position for a moment, I do believe that Liam Moore has the quality and the look about him to achieve the status of being a Leicester legend if he is played in that position, and if we can keep him at Leicester long term.

The list of contenders for the left back position are my own choices based on players I have seen at Leicester over the years and once again you will all have your own opinions.

Looking back over the years and my shortlist is:

David Nish, Dennis Rofe and Richie Norman

Bobby Smith was in contention as was Mike Whitlow. Smith was signed by us as a midfield player but was eventually moved to the left back spot and he made the position his own for a few seasons under the guidance of Gordon Milne. I always thought Bobby Smith was an exciting attacking full back and he was a worthy contender to be included in my short list. Unfortunately Bobby passed away in 2010 a sad loss. Bobby played 181 games for Leicester scoring 21 goals.  Mike Whitlow was signed from Leeds United and soon established himself as a tough tackling defender and at City he played a total of 147 games scoring 8 goals.

The first contender for a place in my team is Richie Norman. When Richie broke into the first team in 1959-60 season he made the position his own for many seasons until 1967-68 when he made just 14 appearances before ending his long Leicester career and moving on to Peterborough. Richie has the distinction of never missing a game for Leicester from April 18^th 1960 to the end of February 1964, something that would be unheard of these days. Richie was a steady no frills full back and made a total of 365 league and cup appearances for Leicester scoring 5 goals.

I remember Leicester playing a friendly against Glasgow Rangers in 1966-67 at Filbert Street (which we won) the Rangers fans were in the east stand and following Derek Dougan’s goal an outbreak of hooliganism occurred with Rangers fans throwing bottles onto the pitch, and I am sure I can recall Richie Norman picking one up and throwing it back at them! A true Leicester legend - Richie Norman.

 

Contender number two is another local prodigy of Leicester, David Nish. David played for the local Measham side when he was spotted by Leicester and while he was still at school he was named as a substitute for the City first team.

Nish was an inspiring midfielder before moving position to play as an attacking left back, and he became the youngest player to lead out a team at Wembley when he captained Leicester in the 1969 FA Cup Final. David Nish was a classy footballer and won honours for England at under 23 level while at Leicester and went on to win five full caps when he was at Derby. David Nish played a total of 272 games for City scoring 31 goals. David Nish was a quality player and it proved to be when the then League champions Derby County prised him away from Leicester with a British transfer record of £250,000.

The final contender is the man Leicester bought to take the place of David Nish. And he did that so admirably, Dennis Rofe. he wasn’t the classy footballer that Nish was, but he was a competent full back and became part of the Bloomfield era at Filbert Street that served us supporters with some of the best football ever seen at Leicester. Rofe was signed from Orient and soon established himself with the Leicester supporters in a star studded team. Dennis made a total of 324 appearances for Leicester and he notched 6 goals.

A difficult decision to make for the left back spot and disappointing that I have to go so far back in the memory bank to find anyone who I think is good enough to fill the position.

My choice is ------- DAVID NISH

And so far we have three local lads taking up the first three positions - Shilton, Whitworth and Nish.

Next time I will be choosing one of the centre back positions, until then keep on giving Nigel and the team your full support.

 Alan “meashamfox” Bennett

Leicester till I die

 

 

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

 

I have to mention how pleased I was with the response the lads showed against Blackpool following the disastrous performance against Burton Albion, taking nothing away from Burton though well done to them. It was good to hear the supporters getting behind the team from start to finish. We have to remember that this is a tough league and we have to earn our right to win and to keep our expectations realistic.   

 

 

In my last blog I started to choose my all-time favourite Leicester City team and Peter Shilton took his place in the side at Number 1 as goalkeeper. It was a close call between Shilton and Gordon Banks with Mark Wallington coming third. I also mentioned a few other keepers who deserved recognition as servants to Leicester City and shame on me for not giving a worthy mention to Kevin Poole. Poole was goalkeeper at Leicester between 1991/1997 and made a total of 163 appearances.

Today I am choosing the right back position. This position has changed over the years from the days when teams would line up in a 2-3-5 formation, to the modern game and its different variation of formations that must baffle even the best coaches, let alone the players and us mortal supporters!

I have decided to choose the team as a 4-4-2 formation and so my choice at number 2 is ------- you will have to hang on to find out as I look at the contenders.

In all the years I have been following Leicester City I would have to say that full backs is a position that has caused us problems, especially in recent years and there is no one I can honestly say has been great in that position for many years, obviously you may have your own opinions.

When I first started going to Filbert Street many years ago our right back was Len Chalmers and I remember John Sjoberg and Graham Cross playing there as well, until we signed a player from Cardiff City who established himself as a permanent fixture at right back, Peter Rodrigues.

Rodrigues was a Welsh international and City paid a fee of £42,500 for him and he became a permanent fixture at right back from when we signed him in 1965 until he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday in 1970. Rodrigues was renowned for his attacking style of play and he was a master of the sliding tackle and very quickly became a fans favourite.

Rodrigues played in the 1969 FA Cup Final and probably missed our best chance to score, but I won’t hold that against him. He made a total of 140 appearances for City scoring six goals.

Contender number two is the player that stepped into the boots of Peter Rodrigues at Leicester and he made his mark in the Charity shield final in 1971 at Filbert Street scoring the only goal of the game, and as far as I can recall his only goal for Leicester. I give you – Steve Whitworth

Like Rodrigues, Steve Whitworth loved to get forward and he also became a stalwart at right back for Leicester. Steve was born just up the road at Coalville and Whitworth was a product of the youth set up at Leicester and so he was a true Leicester lad. He was a regular in the side from 1970 until he was sold to Sunderland in 1979. Whitworth also played six times for the England under 23 team and he played seven times for the full England team.

On the 7^th August 1971 Leicester as second division champions were invited to play league champions Liverpool in the charity shield final that was played at Filbert Street. I remember Whitworth breaking forward, and crossing the ball for Fern to send a tame shot towards goal and Whitworth steamed in to make sure the ball crossed the line. I believe his only goal for Leicester but he made a total 353 appearances for us, a Leicester legend.

Contender number three is a player who was signed from Leeds U nited -- Simon Grayson.

Grayson was an unknown player when he signed for Leicester a steady and committed player and always gave his all. He played a total of 229 matches for Leicester between 1992 and 1997. In 1997 Grayson helped City win the league cup and was voted the player of the season and in the same year was transferred to Aston Villa.

Other players that deserve a mention at right back are Ali Mauchlen and Paul Ramsey although I consider them to be midfield players and also Andy Feeley, Alan Woollett, Tommy Williams, Simon Morgan and Pontus Kamark.

I did have high hopes for Richard Stearman who I rated highly at right back until he departed for Wolverhampton.

In recent years we have struggled in that position and so again the position is filled by a legend from the past and taking his place in my all-time favourite Leicester team is --------------------------------------------

STEVE WHITWORTH

Just a reminder that the team is being picked from players that I have watched over the years at Leicester City.

Until the next time-- Leicester till I die 

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE LEICESTER CITY TEAM

After a hectic and wet summer the long awaited football season kicked off last Saturday and at last we could get back onto the roller coaster watching our boys in blue take on Peterborough.

After all the hype and expectation the first half was a bit of an anti-climax and the team struggled to find any fluency to break down Peterborough. Although in the second half we did enough to secure the points without looking troubled and a typical Andy King scorcher sealed the win after good work from Jamie Vardy. And a fine display from Wes Morgan sealed with a good goal. All round a good three points to set us up for what we all hope will be an exciting season ahead.

Watching from the stands I cast my mind back to previous opening day seasons (and believe me there has been a lot of them) and thought I would do my next few blogs trying to pick my all-time best Leicester City side. Easier said than done because I have seen so many players over the years and to pick just eleven players plus subs is going to be difficult. So here we go starting off with Number 1

I will only be picking my team from players the club signed so any loan signings will not be considered.

My first visit to Filbert Street was way back in the late 1950’s and I can remember Dave McLaren being in goal, since then I have seen some good goalkeepers at Leicester and even a couple of great ones.

The first goalkeeper that I can truly remember is Gordon Banks, a true great and Leicester legend. Banks made goalkeeping look easy and his positioning sense and agility made him England’s Number one goalkeeper, and he was Leicester’s keeper when England won the world cup in 1966. Gordon Banks played 293 league games for Leicester 34 FA Cup games (including two finals) 25 League Cup games and 4 European Cup Winners Cup games. Banks eventually moved to Stoke City in 1967 because of the emergence of a young keeper that was to replace him in the Leicester City and England team.

Peter Shilton. Shilton was 16 years old when he made his Leicester City debut and he went on to play 286 league games, 33 FA Cup games, and 20 League Cup games for Leicester. Shilton was a master between the sticks and was probably one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, but I remember him at Leicester making a breath taking save only to concede a goal with a right howler. But he was that good that you just had to forgive him. And how can we forget Shilton scoring direct from a kick at Southampton in a 5-1 win. Anyone of you that can remember watching Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton play for Leicester City are truly blessed. It was ironic how Shilton replaced Banks at City and replaced him in the England team and then replaced him in the Stoke City team.

Mark Wallington. Wallington can also stake a claim as a City legend; he replaced Peter Shilton as Leicester’s number one in the 1974 - 75 season after Jimmy Bloomfield sold Shilton to Stoke. Wallington was signed from Walsall and became number one at Leicester for many years and made 412 league appearances, 25 FA Cup and 23 League Cup.

There have been many other good goalkeepers at Leicester City over the years but I feel that the best keeper I have seen at Leicester is one of those three.

Tim Flowers, Ian Walker, Paul Cooper, Kasey Keller and Ian Andrews, all deserve a mention and Kasper Schmeichel will hopefully be up there with the greats one day.

A difficult decision to make but taking his place as goalkeeper in the “meashamfox” all-time greats Leicester City team is -------------------------------------------           PETER SHILTON

The new season is now under way and let us hope that everyone gets behind Nigel Pearson and the boys and we have an exciting season ahead. Leicester till I die

LEICESTER CITY 1969-70 SEASON

LEICESTER CITY 1969-70 SEASON

     

Following the disappointment of losing to Manchester City in the F.A. Cup Final and getting relegated to Division 2 after losing 3-2 at Manchester United on the final game of the season ( incidentally I actually stood in the Stretford end that day) the new season began with a new optimism, and could City go straight back up.

This is the season that I started to travel to more games home and away. Travelling to games in those days wasn’t easy for me and to get to home games I would have to catch a midland red bus from Dordon to Leicester and then catch another bus from the city centre to Filbert Street. I didn’t mind doing this but it was a bit of a drag having to get back home. I was only eighteen years old and money was tight and any spare cash I had was spent on watching Leicester (not much has changed over the years really!)My eldest brother Mick would travel to games with me whenever he could (he lived in Lichfield) and we would sit in the double decker stand. It used to cost us 8/- for a ticket up there, but what a view. As the season went on our Mick stopped going with me to Leicester because of the cost and travelling for him, but my younger brother Roy would join me and he still goes with me to Leicester

We still used the midland red from Dordon to Leicester until we found that Wainfleet coaches from Nuneaton travelled to Leicester matches and so for many years we would travel to games using Wainfleet. We still had to catch a midland red bus to Nuneaton but it was a lot easier and better and we made lots of new friends from Nuneaton and Hinckley. We also moved from the double decker to the spion kop

On the football pitch Leicester started well with a 3-1 win at home over Birmingham and following a 2-1 away defeat at Middlesbrough and a 2-2 home draw with Bolton I attended my first game of the season at home v Norwich City on August 23rd. I sat in the double decker stand and I was one of the 26,716 who saw Leicester win with goals from Lochhead, Sjoberg and a Duncan Forbes own goal

My first away game of the season followed and at Aston Villa I saw the best display from anyone ever to wear a Leicester shirt in a 1-0 away win. The goal was scored by Len Glover but the accolades went to Rodney Fern who produced a superb man of the match display.

Leicester would be battling it out at the top of the table all season but unfortunately we fell just short of our target of automatic promotion by finishing in 3^rd place (no playoffs in those days).Some of my personal highlights of this season were: Travelling to games with my brothers, seeing that awesome display at Aston Villa by Rodney Fern. Travelling to more away games although going to Hull and seeing us lose 4-1 was not a highlight! But travelling to Birmingham, Blackburn and Oxford and seeing us win were.

One of the memorable away games from that season was travelling to Charlton Athletic and the old valley, I have never seen terracing so steep and what a massive ground. In those days there was little segregation and I remember Charlton fans making their way to where we were standing and they were at the top of the terracing throwing coins at us. We had the last laugh because we won 5-0 and I actually went out of the stadium with more money than I had when I went in.

Another highlight was at home on April 4^th a Saturday evening kick off and we beat Aston Villa 1-0 and that was enough to send Villa down to the third division.

In the cup competitions we had decent runs. In the League Cup we went out in round five losing 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion after drawing 0-0 at home. At West Brom I was there and we played well and in one attack both Sjoberg and Cross hit the crossbar but it wasn’t to be

In the F.A. Cup we also went out in round five. In the third round I was sat in the double decker with our Roy it was January 3^rd and our kids birthday I remember he had a dedication played over the tannoy. We beat Sunderland 1-0 with a Bobby Roberts goal. In round four I had a lift with work mates to Southampton and John Farrington scored for us in a 1-1 draw. In the replay at Filbert Street I stood in the Filbert Street end(don’t ask me why!) and it was a thrilling match with City winning 4-2 Lochhead 2, Farrington and Nish scoring. In round five a trip to Liverpool and Anfield, and a memorable day out and a credible performance drawing 0-0. In the replay at Leicester I remember standing in the Kop and the crowd were packed so tight you could lift your feet of the floor and the crowd would be holding you up! 42,100 was the attendance that night, and things were going well on the pitch until Liverpool introduced there substitute Alun Evans and he scored twice to seal a Liverpool 2-0 victory.

Fond memories for me from that era and I often look back at my programmes to reminisce, some great memories. I still enjoy my football and still love Leicester just as much as I always have, but there was something magical about those days. Until the next time - Leicester Till I Die

         

FA CUP

FA CUP 

So on Sunday 18^th March 2012 Leicester City travel to Stamford Bridge to take on the might of premiership Chelsea and to hopefully get us a place at Wembley in the semi-final of the FA Cup(when some of you read this our fate will have been sealed)

In past years Leicester have been known to be a good cup team and indeed in the 1960’s we reached the final three times to add to our 1949 appearance but unfortunately never got the chance to bring the cup back to Leicester having lost  all four finals we appeared in.

In 1949 which was just a little before my time Leicester started their cup campaign away at Birmingham in round 3 and Don Revie scored for Leicester in a 1-1 draw. In the replay at Filbert Street the score finished 1-1 again, with Griffiths scoring for us, and so the tie went to a second replay (unheard of these days) and Harrison and Revie saw us through to the 4^th round in a 2-1 win. Preston was the visitors to Filbert Street in the 4^th round and goals from a Lee penalty and Griffiths gave us a 2-0 win to earn us a 5^th round tie at Luton. At Luton there were goals galore with the game ending 5-5 Lee scored four and Griffiths again for Leicester. In the replay there was another goal fest at Filbert Street and Lee 2 Griffiths 2 and Chisholm scored the goals that saw us through 5-3. In the 6^th round we were away at Brentford and they were swept aside 2-0 Lee and Griffiths the scorers. The semi-final against Portsmouth was played at Highbury and City won 3-1 with goals from Revie 2 and Chisholm. Sadly at Wembley we lost 3-1 to Wolverhampton with Griffiths our scorer.

Leicester had to wait until 1960 before they reached Wembley again and the cup run started at Filbert Street with a 3-1 win against Oxford (Walsh, Leek, Riley) setting up a 4^th round home tie against  Bristol City and Leicester were comfortable winners 5-1 ( Wills, Leek 2 , Walsh2 ). We travelled again to Birmingham in round 5 and drew 1-1 ( Riley) and once again as in 1949 a replay was needed to see Birmingham off (only one this time though) and Ken Leek scored both Leicester goals in a 2-1 win. In round 6 Barnsley were the visitors to Filbert Street and drew 0-0 but in the replay at Oakwell goals from Riley and Leek earned City a 2-1 win and a semi-final place. At Elland Road - Leicester faced Sheffield United and the game ended 0-0 taking the tie to a replay at Nottingham Forest’s City ground, where the score once again finished 0-0 and so to a second replay at St Andrews and Leicester finished the job 2-0 with goals from Jimmy Walsh   and Ken Leek. And so to Wembley and yet another heartbreak as we crashed 2-0 to Tottenham.

Leicester didn’t have to wait long before returning to Wembley to try again to win that elusive trophy and in 1963 we set off in round 3 with a 3-1 win at Grimsby( Gibson 2, Keyworth) and in round 4 another 3-1 win this time against Ipswich at Filbert Street ( Cross, Keyworth 2 ) Leyton Orient were the hosts in round 5 and a goal from Ken Keyworth was enough to earn Leicester a quarter final  tie away at Norwich which Leicester won with goals from Stringfellow and Gibson. The semi-final beckoned again and at Hillsborough Mike Stringfellow scored the only goal of the game to send Leicester to their third Wembley appearance. The final saw Leicester have the honour of being favourites with Manchester United still rebuilding their team and also being involved in a relegation battle all season. Unfortunately on the day Leicester froze and United blossomed and the cup went to Manchester with United winning 3-1. Keyworth scored for Leicester

And so to 1969 and Leicester’s fourth and to date, last FA Cup Final appearance. The foxes also had the distinction of getting relegated to division 2 as well as reaching the FA Cup Final.

The road to Wembley started at Barnsley with a 1-1 draw and Lenny Glover scored the Leicester goal. In the replay at Filbert Street City won 2-1 with Fern and Glover scoring. Millwall away in round 4 and Glover scored again in a 1-0 City win. In round 5 Leicester played Liverpool at Filbert Street and the score ended 0-0 but in the replay at Anfield Andy Lochhead scored the only goal of the game to put Leicester into the 6^th round. Mansfield away beckoned and Rodney Fern scored the only goal of the game to put City into the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough and Alan Clarke scored the winner for Leicester in a 1-0 win. Unfortunately in the final it was once again a case of what might have been as Leicester crashed to Manchester City 1-0

On Sunday 18^th March I will be one of the 6000 foxes making the trip to Chelsea hoping to see us progress to the semi-final of the FA Cup and you never know- it just may be 5^th time lucky.

I am sure that we all have our own memories of the FA Cup with Leicester over the years; I know I have loads of them. And I am sure that whatever the outcome at Chelsea we will have some more memories to treasure with Leicester City and the FA Cup

Leicester till I die