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