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 25th
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
