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