LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK - LIVERPOOL

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

LIVERPOOL DECEMBER 2^ND 2014

LOOK FORWARD - I think I would probably need to write a book to justify writing a blog about our next visitors to The King Power Stadium because games against Leicester and our visitors are always special, welcome Liverpool.

Liverpool put in a serious challenge for the Premier league title last season and it was mainly thanks to the exploits of Luis Suarez. I am positive that if Suarez could have curbed his cannibalistic tendencies‘! he would still be a Liverpool player and they would be competing for the title again this season. However Suarez has moved on and Liverpool have done some rebuilding, but unfortunately they have lost their way a little and are struggling to make an impact as dramatic as last season.

Following the departure of Suarez, Liverpool splashed the cash to bring in Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana from Southampton and Emre Can from Bayern Leverkusen and they have also recruited Mario Balloteli to the ranks. Unfortunately the gamble of Lambert and Balloteli hasn’t paid off so far, with Lambert being stuck on the bench and Balloteli looking far from impressive in a Liverpool shirt. But you can never right off Liverpool and they have enough quality and strength in depth to turn things around, plus although Steven Gerrard is getting on a bit!!! He epitomises everything about Liverpool Football Club with his never say die spirit.

LOOK BACK- Football matches between Leicester and Liverpool always seem to have something special about them ( for me anyway! ) and over the years we have had some fantastic games against them. My memories go back to the days of Bill Shankly and it was Shankly who was manager of Liverpool when I made my first visit to Anfield all the way back to the 7^th February 1970. City were playing in the second division following relegation the previous season and were enjoying another FA Cup run; and after disposing of Southampton at Filbert Street in a fourth round replay winning 4-2, the reward was a tie at Liverpool in round five. I remember standing with the large contingent of Leicester supporters in the away end, and just looking across at the famous kop at Anfield was awesome! And despite Liverpool being favourites to progress to the next round City gave a good account of themselves and the game finished 0-0

Liverpool were still fielding some of the famous names I grew up with being a football supporter, Tommy Lawrence, Chris Lawler, Ron Yeats, Ian Callaghan, Peter Thompson and Ian St John to name a few of them, a memory I will always cherish.

In the replay at Leicester I remember standing in the kop at Filbert Street and there was so many packed in to see the game, without a doubt the biggest crowd I have ever been in at Leicester 42,100 were crammed into Filbert Street that night; and once again City gave a good account of themselves and it took Alun Evans to come on as substitute for Liverpool to score two goals past us to end our cup run. But great memories.

 

We faced Liverpool again in the FA Cup in 1974 and once again following a 0-0 draw City lost in the semi final replay 3-1 at Villa Park.

More memories for me was seeing Keith Weller score a hat trick in 1972 as we won 3-2 at Filbert Street, John Toshack scored both Liverpool goals; and when Jock Wallace got us promoted in 1980 we enjoyed one season in the first division before being relegated again but we managed to beat Liverpool home and away that season, who could forget Andy Peake’s screamer at Filbert Street and Alan Young’s own goal at Anfield!

Probably though one game in particular stands out in my memory, the day Leicester won the charity shield for their first and only time.

Saturday 7^th August at Filbert Street and Leicester played Liverpool in the charity shield final. Arsenal had won the league and FA Cup double in 1970/71 and declined to take part in the charity shield, and so with Liverpool being beaten FA Cup finalists and City being second division champions it was Leicester v Liverpool in the charity shield final. I was one of the 25,104 crowd that saw a Steve Whitworth goal win the charity shield for Leicester. Good times and great memories.

LOOK FORWARD - Hopefully Leicester can re-ignite the passion I saw many years ago in Leicester v Liverpool games and we can witness another memorable night at The King Power Stadium

Shout loud for the foxes

Alan ’ meashamfox ’ Bennett

Leicester Till I Die

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK - SUNDERLAND

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

SUNDERLAND - NOVEMBER 22nd 2014

LOOK BACK- Since our last home game and a disappointing defeat to West Bromwich Albion, that incidentally caused me some grief! More misery followed with another disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southampton that had fickle supporters questioning Nigel Pearson’s tactics and ability to manage in the top flight.

I am not going to jump on the Pearson out bandwagon because to me he has nothing to prove and although I have concerns why we have suddenly forgot how to shoot at the goal never mind score. I believe that Nigel Pearson is still the right man for Leicester City.

LOOK FORWARD - Next up at The King Power Stadium is Sunderland who themselves have been finding life tough recently. And with us bemoaning that 2-0 defeat at Southampton let’s not forget how good Southampton are as they put 8 past our forthcoming visitors! Sunderland appear to have steadied the ship a little in their last two fixtures with an impressive 3-1 win at Crystal Palace followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Everton.

Looking at the Sunderland team they have some quality players and I personally thought that they would be ok this season under the guidance of Gus Poyet. In goal they can call on Vito Mannone who I rate highly, but who no doubt had his confidence rattled after conceding eight at Southampton. If Mannone is still feeling shell shocked, then Costel Pantilimon will be on hand to step up to the plate.

In defence Sunderland have the Manchester United connection with former reds Wes Brown and John O Shea at the heart, and also former fox Patrick Van Aanholt may be included. Van Aanholt spent a loan period at The King Power Stadium from Chelsea when Sven was manager!.

In midfield Sunderland have some quality with Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson and Lee Cattermole all in contention and Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham, Jozy Altidore and Danny Graham will be vying for a place up front.

LOOK BACK - Once again my first game looking back is to the 1969/70 period, as you are probably aware this is one of my favourite times being a fox, and on January 3^rd 1970 Leicester who were playing in the second division following our relegation in the previous May, were at home to first division Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup. Once again I was sitting in the double decker stand (what a great view that was ) and my brother Roy was with me and he was celebrating his sixteenth birthday on that day, he even had a request played on Richard Thompsons ‘sound off ’ before the game. I remember it being Susan Maughan singing Bobby’s Girl and fittingly it was captain Bobby Roberts who scored the only goal of the game that day to send us into round 4. We enjoyed a decent cup run until being knocked out in the fifth round after a replay by a star studded Liverpool team and unfortunately we just missed out on an instant return to the first division by finishing third in the table that season.

Fast Forward to March 5^th 2000 and Leicester were playing Sunderland at Filbert Street in the days of Martin O Neill, and one Stan Collymore was making his home debut.

City were still basking in the glory of winning the Worthington Cup against Tranmere Rovers as they faced Sunderland that day and Collymore could only have dreamt how his debut would unfold.

Leicester were kicking toward the family stand as we won a free kick well inside our own half, and following a headed flick on from Heskey, Collymore superbly smashed the ball home from outside of the box to make it 1-0. City went 2-0 ahead when Neil Lennon won a challenge on the half way line and sent a precise pass into Heskey who scored from the edge of the area. Sunderland pulled a goal back with a superb finish from Kevin Phillips ( who we hope will now be plotting the downfall of our visitors ) but Leicester restored their two goal advantage when Collymore scored his second with a powerful header from seventeen yards out. Niall Quinn scored another brilliant goal to make the score 3-2 but Stan Collymore stole the show when he scored from close range from a superb Emile Heskey cross. Oakes completed the scoring by lashing home a free kick from from some distance that was deflected into the Sunderland net. An impressive performance by City and in particular from Stan Collymore.

Unfortunately Stan broke his leg against Derby County and only played a few games for us when he returned from injury before moving on to Bradford City.

Let us hope that we can put an end to the illness that has swept through The King Power Stadium and after being diagnosed with ‘ post traumatic Manchester United disorder ‘ the foxes will rise to the challenge and get us back to winning ways.

Shout loud for the Foxes

Alan ‘ Meashamfox ‘ Bennett

Leicester Till I Die

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK-WEST BROMWICH ALBION

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

WEST BROMWICH ALBION - 1^st NOVEMBER 2014

　

LOOK BACK - And once again another disappointing result this time at home to Burnley, only managing a 2-2 draw in a game we really expected to win. Is it post traumatic Manchester United disorder or are our expectation levels really to high. Following excellent results at home so far, we were expecting to see off a Burnley side that were missing strikers Vokes and Ings and in their previous game leaked four goals against West Bromwich Albion. Following the international break we ventured on a trip to an out of sorts Newcastle United and I bet they wasn’t expecting us to be more out of sorts than them, and we fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat. Even worse was to follow at Swansea last Saturday and all of a sudden it seems that the foxes have forgotten that they are supposed to never quit! A 2-0 defeat and now we need a win against West Bromwich Albion to get back on track

LOOK FORWARD - Boing Boing and West Bromwich Albion are next up at The King Power Stadium. Albion have also had mixed results so far this season but they appear to be finding some form with an away win at Spurs an unlucky 2-1 defeat at Liverpool and good home results against Burnley and Manchester United. ( United again! )

Albion have some entertaining players in their ranks and one player that is receiving some good reviews is Saido Beharino who has so far scored six times in the premier league ( before their trip to Crystal Palace ) and is a player I am looking forward to seeing at The King Power Stadium. I just hope that Morgan and Moore can keep him in check. Albion have two competent goalkeepers in Ben Foster and Boaz Myhill ( I don’t think they will both be playing though! ) and with Jonas Olsson, Chris Baird and Joleon Lescott forming part of their defence it is not going to be easy to score goals past them! Craig Gardner and Chris Brunt will be hoping to supply the ammunition for Beharino, Anichebe and co!

LOOK BACK - I have seen many encounters against West Bromwich Albion over the years and Albion are a team I used to like watching in the days of Bobby Hope, Clive Clarke, Tony Brown and Jeff Astle. One of Jeff Astle’s daughters lives just down the road from me here in Measham so bragging rights will be at stake on this game.

Going back to the 1969/70 season we drew West Bromwich Albion in the league cup 5^th round at Filbert Street and the tie attracted a crowd of 35,121 of which I was one, I sat in the double decker stand that evening and I witnessed a superb game of football that saw memorable displays from Peter Shilton and Graham Cross against a star studded Albion team. And despite the game finishing 0-0 it was a game I remember vividly with both teams playing good attacking football.

The replay was played at The Hawthorns on Wednesday November 5^th 1969 and once again I was there to see City put on another superb display against Albion but unfortunately we lost 2-1 with Astle scoring twice for Albion and Cross scoring for City, it was another entertaining game that saw us go close especially from one attack where both Sjoberg and Cross managed to hit the bar in the same attack. It was revenge for the Albion after City beat them only a few months earlier at Sheffield in the FA Cup semi final.

I was back at the Hawthorns on October 23^rd 1971 to see City who had got back into division 1 record a fine 1-0 win and a superb goal from Keith Weller who was now part of the changing set up at Leicester that would see Jimmy Bloomfield bring us some of the most exiting football to be seen at Filbert Street.

One more game I have to mention was again played at The Hawthorns in 1995 and although I was in West Bromwich on November 5 ^th I wasn’t at the game. I was with my future wife Theresa ( now my wife!) visiting her sister and her husband, at the time. they are mad Albion fans and missed the game to entertain myself and Theresa for dinner. The game was live on TV though and a television was duly set up in the kitchen so we could watch the game over dinner. I was wearing a favourite white shirt of mine that day and I was in my element as Iwan Roberts scored another goal for City in a 3-2 win, when Steven, the beleaguered Albion fan offered me another beer! I couldn’t refuse, but when I opened the can beer sprayed all over my best white shirt and I was drowned in lager !. The can had been deliberately shaken, obviously he was a bad loser!. I had the last laugh though as we won promotion that season beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Wembley.

Theresa’s family are avid Albion supporters so it is another reason why I am desperately hoping we can turn them over at The King Power Stadium next Saturday.

Shout loud for the Foxes

Alan’meashamfox’Bennett

Leicester Till I die

LOOK FORWARD - -LOOK BACK -- BURNLEY

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

BURNLEY 4^th OCTOBER 2014

　

LOOK BACK --- May 4^th 2008 was the darkest day in my time as a Leicester City supporter and without doubt the darkest day in the history of our football club as we slipped out of the championship to the depths of league one for the first time in our history.

Who would have dreamt, as we stood on the terraces at Stoke City watching Stoke celebrate promotion to the premier league; what a roller coast of a ride the next few seasons would bring, to us faithful foxes.

LOOK FORWARD --- Wind the clock forward to September 21^st 2014, and I am looking around the King Power Stadium at a full house, and our beloved football team are taking to the field of play to face the superstars of Manchester United in a premier league fixture . And as they say “ the rest is history “

Yes what a day, and what a game; It is incredible how our Football Club has risen like a phoenix from the flames, to reach the heights they achieved in beating Manchester United last Sunday. A tremendous performance from everyone, and in particular from our supporters who were definitely the twelfth man last Sunday.

Although everything we achieve is a team effort I believe special praise deserves to go to Jamie Vardy. Vardy epitomises to me everything our Football Club is about; With his never say die attitude and his constant determination to fight for a lost cause, he certainly is a fox who never quits! Take a bow Jamie Vardy.

LOOK FORWARD --- Next up at The King Power Stadium is one of our old foes from last season, Burnley. Without being disrespectful to Burnley Football Club they are probably one of the unfashionable Football Clubs, and playing Burnley doesn’t have the same mouth watering expectation as when we play Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United; But Burnley are here in the premier league on merit and I expect them to provide another stern test for the Foxes.

Burnley are not awash with superstars but that doesn’t mean that they are going to be a push over and they arrive at The King Power Stadium still searching for their first victory in the premier league ( at the time of writing! )

 

Burnley have managed to gain three draws from their opening five games and suffered two defeats ( before their fixture on Sunday v West Brom away ) and they have only managed to score two goals so far.

Looking at the Burnley team and their most prolific players Danny Ings and Sam Vokes have both suffered injuries which hasn’t helped their cause, although they have recruited George Boyd from Hull to bolster their ranks. In midfield the likes of Dean Marney, Michael Kightly, David Jones and Matthew Taylor should keep our lads on their toes; and in defence Burnley can call upon ex Leicester loan player Ben Mee who should expect to start, and other stalwarts to choose from include Kieran Trip, Danny Lafferty, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell and Steven Reid. In goal Burnley can call upon Tom Heaton or Matt Gilks and also ex Leicester keeper Alex Cisak is in the ranks!

LOOK BACK --- Looking back at some Burnley stars of the past and some names spring to mind from my memory bank from many years ago. Jimmy Adamson, John Connelly, Alex Elder, Gordon Harris, Peter Noble, Brian Flynn, Ralph Coates and Frank Casper to name a few. But probably the one player that a lot of us will remember is Andy Locchead.

Locchead is one of many players that has plied their trade at both Burnley and Leicester but Locchead is the one who probably made the biggest impact when he joined Leicester from Burnley for £80,000 in October 1968. Locchead remains the last Burnley player to score 100 goals for the club. Andy Locchead was a bustling centre forward who took no prisoners but he could also play as well. He spent almost two and half years at Leicester and in that short time he notched a total of nineteen goals for City in fifty eight appearances. Lochhead scored a famous header at Liverpool in the F.A. Cup fifth round that helped City reach the Cup Final of 1969. But following relegation and the eventual rebuilding over the following months, Lochhead was transferred to Aston Villa.

Just for fun it is possible to name a decent team from players that have played for both Burnley and Leicester, so I had a go and came up with this team.

Gavin Ward: Joey Gudjonsonn, Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Frank Sinclair: Albert Cheesbrough, Neil Grewcock, Whinstone White, Ian Wilson: Andy Lochhead, Kevin Russell: subs Nathan Delfonso, David Nugent, Ade Akinbiyi, Alex Cisak

( Nugent is on the bench as he still plays for us and Michael Keane although a Burnley player has yet to play for them! )

LOOK BACK --- I have watched Burnley a few times over the years but the one game that will live in my memory more than others is the away game at Burnley last season; March 29^th 2014 and my first visit to Turf Moor. Leicester went to Burnley that day as leaders of the championship but Burnley were in second spot and breathing down our necks, and were unbeaten at home all season, so the scene was set for a memorable top of the table clash that would put the winner in a good position to win the championship.

Leicester took the initiative when former Burnley player David Nugent opened the scoring with a sublime curling shot that nestled into the corner of the net; and Chris Wood finished the job in the second half with an ecstatic strike in front of the blue army. It was a performance that day at Burnley that was fit for champions, and so it proved as City went on to clinch the title at Bolton. And the rest as they say , is history!

So a 2-0 defeat at the Palace and we are back down to earth, I am sure normal service will be resumed next Saturday at The King Power Stadium

Shout loud for the foxes

Alan ‘meashamfox’ Bennett

Leicester Till I Die

　

Look forward-Look back, Manchester United

 

 

LOOK FORWARD --- LOOK BACK

MANCHESTER UNITED 21 September 2014

What a cracking game that was against Arsenal at The King Power Stadium last home game. End to end exciting football and a performance that made all of us City supporters proud. Once again we just couldn’t do enough to gain all three points but we created the chances and the signs are encouraging. If the first three league games are the sign of more things to come this season, then bring it on

And what a tremendous result at Stoke which is no easy place to go, respect to the lads for a fantastic start to the season.

Our next home game is another mouth watering encounter, with Manchester United arriving in Leicester. United are going through a transition period having what was by their standards a poor season last term and they have stuttered again so far this season, recording a home loss to Swansea on the opening day and following that up with away draws at Sunderland and Burnley. Also suffering an embarrassing 4-0 deficit at the hands of MK Dons in the league cup.

So everything is not rosy at Old Trafford at the moment.

New manager Louis Van Gaal will want to turn things around quickly and he has been busy in the transfer window bringing in some new faces and letting some players leave.

Coming in to Old Trafford is Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo to add to the star names already assembled and I’m sure need no introduction. But to see world superstars just mentioned alongside Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata and you can see that we are in for another exciting afternoon at The King Power Stadium.

 

Looking Back, Manchester United have always been crowd pullers and I have been fortunate enough to see some of the great United players in my time watching football. Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, George Best, Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Nobby Stiles the list could go on and on and who could forget the night Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1at Wembley to lift the European Cup way back in 1968.

In those days United were ambassadors for English football but now they appear to be the team everyone loves to hate!

The earliest I can remember seeing United at Filbert Street was 13^th November 1965 and we were totally destroyed by United’s stars who handed us a 5-0 thrashing with goals from Herd (2) Best, Charlton and Connolly. In fact the one thing that sticks out in my mind from this game is when a black dog ran onto the pitch Gordon Banks dived to try and stop it, but the dog evaded the dive of Banks, just as United’s five goals did. United were a magical team to watch though!

United didn’t have it all their own way and I remember Saturday 23^rd November 1985 standing in the spion kop at Filbert Street and we completely tore United apart in the first half with a blistering display that was fuelled by our loan signing former United player Laurie Cunningham. Cunningham was making his debut for City that day and was instrumental in the game, and we ran out convincing 3-0 winners with two goals from Alan Smith and one from Gary McAllister. A win that helped us stay up that season. I also believe that was the last time we beat United in a league game at Leicester although we did beat them 2-0 in a league cup game in 1996.

The one game that stands out in my memory probably more than any other was my first visit to Old Trafford, Saturday 17^th May 1969, I was 18 years old and Leicester had just lost in the FA Cup final 1-0 to Manchester City and because of a fixture pile up this game was played after the Cup Final. It was the last game of the season and City had to win the game to avoid relegation and stay in the 1^st division. It was also Matt Busby’s final game as manager and the last game in a City shirt for our then record signing Allan Clarke. It was also memorable because I must have been the only Leicester supporter standing in The Stretford end that day! Went to the game with a friend who was a regular visitor to Old Trafford and so I ended up standing with him in The Stretford end, no colours on but I was wearing a Leicester pin badge!

Needless to say when City took the lead in the opening minutes with a David Nish penalty I didn’t make too much noise!

The joy was short lived for myself and the other travelling City fans as United took control of the game and stormed into a 3-1 lead with goals from Best, Law and Morgan. We weren’t disgraced though and went down fighting as Rodney Fern made the score line 3-2.

Lots of memories from clashes with United over the years and hopefully next Sundays game will be another memorable affair

Shout out loud for the FOXES

 

Alan’meashamfox’Bennett

Leicester till I die

 

 

　

LOOK FORWARD-LOOK BACK- ARSENAL

LOOK FORWARD -- LOOK BACK

 

LEICESTER CITY v ARSENAL 31 August 2014

　

We had a good start to our premiership campaign against Everton on the opening day of the season and although we never managed the win we would have liked, we had to be happy with a 2-2 draw. And taking all things into consideration I thought the day went really well and there were a lot of encouraging signs.

Our next visitors to the King Power Stadium in the premier league are Arsenal, it doesn’t get any easier! And we will have to be up for the task against probably the best footballing team in the premiership ( my thoughts anyway )

Following our difficult away game at Chelsea yesterday we now face a tough but exiting fixture at home to Arsenal next Sunday.

Arsenal have a star studded team that just oozes quality and no doubt they will be chasing honours again this season to add to the Community Shield that they won convincingly against Manchester City in August. They have also splashed the cash to add to there star studded team and in Alexis Sanchez they have acquired a deadly striker for the poultry sum of £30 million, also signed were Mathieu Debuchy ( Newcastle) Calum Chambers (Southampton ) and goalkeeper David Ospina (Nice )

Add to the mix names like Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshire, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud and you have one hell of a football team!

Let us hope that our boys in blue are up to the task and contribute to a memorable entertaining game.

Looking back on past fixtures with our visitors I have chosen two matches the first was on November 24^th 1994 our first season back in the premiership following our promotion under the guidance of Brian Little. It was a difficult baptism for us back in the top flight and prior to this fixture we had only managed to win two games. Little had done a brilliant job getting us promoted but the tag of relegation favourites was looking a certainty, especially after Brian Little resigned before the Arsenal game and his assistant John Gregory also leaving, fuelling speculation that Little was about to take over at Aston Villa. Allan Evans another Villa old boy took charge of the team for the Arsenal game under difficult circumstances.

I remember standing in the Spion Kop as always, and against all odds the Foxes put up a spirited fight and managed a 2-1 win. David Lowe and a David Seaman own goal were our scorers, but I remember Nicky Mohan playing a big part in the goal Seaman was credited with ( my memory though isn’t what it used to be J ).

A spirited win against all the odds and indeed Evans also left City after this game and Little and his staff did take over at Aston Villa and yes City were relegated back to league one.

The second game took place on August 27^th 1997. 1997 was a good year, it was the year I married Theresa. The year I started a new job and the year that I saw possibly the best hat trick ever scored by anyone, the incredible Dennis Bergkamp.

No one could have predicted the events that would unfold that evening but sure enough it was to be a superb game of football full of twists and turns and an incredible performance from Bergkamp who for me was one of the greatest players ever to star in the premier league.

Incredibly after 83 minutes Leicester were losing 2-0 and all seemed lost but the fighting spirit of that team under the guidance of Martin O’Neil was unquestionable, and so it proved.

Denis Bergkamp gave Arsenal the lead with a sublime strike from outside the box that nestled into the top corner of the net, and he added a second when he ran through the middle, received the ball and his goal bound effort looped into the City net, and then came those crazy last few minutes.

Emile Heskey reduced the arrears before Matt Elliot produced a good finish from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-2 and then came Dennis Bergkamp to produce a piece of pure magic that culminated into one of the greatest goals of our time.

David Platt had spotted Bergkamp’s run and sent over a raking pass towards Bergkamp, he then killed the ball with his right boot, flicked it passed Matt Elliot with his left and placed a sublime shot into the top corner, the whole movement seemed to happen in one pure moment of genius and it is a goal that I will always remember. It was a goal fit to win any football match but it was not to be. As the Arsenal players were getting ready to celebrate a memorable win, City won a corner deep into stoppage time. Gary Parker sent the ball over, Steve Walsh headed it back across goal, Spencer Prior headed it back again, and Steve Walsh headed a dramatic equaliser 3-3

A brilliant game of football.

Over the years Arsenal have fielded so many super stars and the currant crop of players seem destined to carry on playing the Arsene Wenger style of attractive flowing football. Lets hope that the match can produce the excitement of 1997

Shout loud for the Foxes

Alan’meashamfox’Bennett

Leicester Till I Die

LOOK FORWARD-LOOK BACK

LOOK FORWARD--LOOK BACK

LEICESTER CITY v EVERTON  16th August 2014

At last the football season is upon us again and following our record breaking season in the championship last term, we now look forward to Premier League football at The King Power Stadium for the first time in 10 years. Our last Premier league game at Leicester was on May 8^th 2004 and we recorded a 3-1 home win against Portsmouth with goals from Dickov, Scowcroft and an own goal in front of 31,536 spectators.

Next week we kick off against Everton with a sell out stadium guaranteed and a wave of optimism and excitement that has carried over from our record breaking season and the encouraging results that we have obtained in our pre-season games.

Everton will be no strangers to our players as we have recently played them in Thailand in a friendly game that had the added incentive of a trophy for the winners to celebrate 25 years of King Power. It was only fitting that Leicester won the game and the trophy, but it will have no bearing on our meeting next Saturday.

Everton have a team of talented players that has been strengthened by the permanent signings of Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku ( who incidentally I believe is one the best strikers in the premier league) and they have also signed Bosnian world cup midfielder Muhamed Besic. Add to the mix USA goalkeeper Tim Howard England internationals Baines, Jagielka and Barkley plus Mirallas and Pienaar, an impressive array of talent to feature in our first game back in the top flight.

 

Of course it is all about Leicester on the day and we have some new additions to our team, we welcome Marc Albrighton, Matthew Upson, Ben Hamer and Leonardo Ulloa to the ranks and we wish them well at our football club.

Looking back at past results against Everton I have chosen two games that stick in my memory, one was way back on September 10^th 1977 when Everton came to Filbert Street and tore us apart with some devastating football, and one man in particular that day ran riot. Duncan McKenzie. I remember McKenzie giving us a torrid time and although we were well and truly hammered you had to admire the sheer class of the opposition and in particular McKenzie.

It has to be said that, that particular season was for me the worst football I have ever seen Leicester play ( and I include our relegation to league 1 in that statement) It was the infamous Frank Mclintock season that saw us relegated with the lowest points tally (22) the record for least wins (5) most defeats (25) most home defeats(10) It was a season that tested our endurance as Leicester supporters and I hope our supporters who can’t recall those dark days will never witness football that bad at Leicester again.

Gary Lineker was and probably still is the best striker we have ever had at Leicester and so it was sad times when we sold him to Everton in June 1985 for £800,000. Alongside Alan Smith, Lineker was deadly and I still think they were the best striker partnership I have seen at Leicester.

Following his move to Everton it was ironic that the first game of the 1985/86 season saw Everton travel to Filbert Street for the opening day fixture, complete with our Gary!

The task of filling Gary Lineker’s boots fell on Mark Bright and it was strange standing in the kop seeing Gary lining up for the opposition in what was a star studded Everton team. Southall, Stevens, Van Den Hauwe, Ratcliffe, Mountfield, Reid , Steven, Lineker, Sharp, Bracewell, Sheedy

The Leicester line up was. Andrews, Ramsey, Smith, Kelly, Osman, O’Neill, Lynex, Bright, Smith, Wilson, Banks

Everton swept into the lead with a goal from Derek Mountfield before Bobby Smith pulled one back just before the break. In the second half it was the Mark Bright show as he scored two brilliant goals to give City a 3-1 win, and he stole the headlines from our Gary!

The attendance that day was 16,932. I think there will be a few more than that inside the King Power Stadium for next Saturdays opener against Everton.

The last time Everton visited Filbert Way in the Premier League was March 20^th 2004 and the game ended 1-1 with Bent scoring for Leicester and Rooney scoring for Everton but unfortunately the day will be remembered for the tragic freak accident that saw Everton supporter Bernard Murphy lose his life on the Upperton Road. Another sad occurrence where a football supporter never returned home, R.I.P. Bernard.

There is still a plaque dedicated to Bernard’s memory situated in our garden of remembrance at the King Power Stadium

All that remains now is to bring on Saturday and The Premier League. Shout loud for the boys and enjoy

Alan’meashamfox’Bennett.

LTID

Season Review 2013/14

LEICESTER CITY SEASON REVIEW 2013/14

The final day of the 2013/14 season and after finishing a twelve hour night shift I dash home to try and get at least two hours sleep before picking my grandson Jack up and driving to Leicester for our final home game of the season and our championship winning party.

It was a bitter, sweet day for me as my brother Roy who has been by my side for many years has to miss out because he’s not well, but it was fitting that Jack was with me, as he was with me at Stoke on that horrible final day of the season on May 4^th 2008 when we were relegated to league 1, How far we have come since that dark day!

It was a carnival atmosphere outside the stadium and even more so inside and what an awesome sight to see an almost capacity crowd waving blue flags and creating a crescendo of noise welcoming the team to our own theatre of dreams.

Unfortunately it wasn’t the best game of football, but it was all about the occasion and the day.

You could have been forgiven for not realising that it was also a massive day for Doncaster Rovers who had to win to guarantee staying in the championship, or hope that they could equal or better Birmingham’s result at Bolton.

All appeared to be going to plan as news of Birmingham losing at Bolton filtered through and Donny fans were having a party. But when Rihad Mahrez produced a piece of magic that resulted in Leicester getting a penalty that was despatched by David Nugent, the atmosphere changed a little!. Even Leicester supporters were singing let them score hoping to secure Doncaster’s championship place, but alas as the day unfolded Doncaster were relegated and Leicester had their party.

It all seems so log ago since almost twelve months to the day on May 4^th 2013 when we were winning at Nottingham Forest to secure our play off place and then a few days later experiencing the heart ache of losing in dramatic and bizarre fashion at Watford. And now twelve months later we hail our team as Champions of the Championship and premier league football now awaits.

The season started of well with a 2-1 away win at Middlesbrough and we could look forward to our first home game of the season against Leeds with optimism, but an uninspiring 0-0 draw brought us back to earth and I remember saying to my brother that the most I expect this season is to finish in the top half of the table. No one could really predict what was to follow and how we took the Championship by the scruff of the neck and gave it a damn good hiding, breaking numerous records along the way, scintillating stuff.

Looking back over this record breaking season I will just choose some of my highlights along the way.

For me every game is special, but for Liam Moore on September 14^th scoring his first goal for his club v Wigan was extra special. And just seeing the look on his face as he ran towards our supporters in L1 was priceless, and even more so getting tangled up with the advertising boards, Liam Moore he’s one of our own!

My first away game of the season was the away trip to Watford on November 2^nd and to see us exorcise the demons of last season by thrashing them 3-0 was awesome, and seeing Knockaert score a divine goal put the icing on the cake.

The away win at QPR was also a magic day and what an important win, winning 1-0 with a fine Jamie Vardy goal, we even had squirrel gate! Watching David Nugent chase the squirrel off the pitch was hilarious.

Following the 1-0 win at QPR we never really took our foot of the gas and continued to take the championship by storm, and did it in some style culminating in away wins at Burnley to end their title aspirations, and the win at Bolton that sealed our fate as champions. And who will forget the stunning strike from Lloyd Dyer that settled the game.

Loads of memories along the way especially away from home and meeting old and some new friends from social media sites, the power of the internet is awesome!

A superb and unbelievable record breaking season that culminated in that final game of the season against Doncaster Rovers who probably brought along the best away support of the season, loud, proud and sportsmanlike, even in the event of their relegation. A credit to football.

As we saluted our team and captain Wes Morgan holding aloft the Championship trophy we have to remember that without our illustrious owners Vichai and Aiyawatt none of this would have been possible and what an inspired move getting Nigel Pearson and his team back at Leicester, the future looks bright with them at the helm, 

As I looked across at the spion kop last Saturday I could picture the old kop at Filbert Street with the double decker stand sitting proudly above it and I am sure I could see my Dad, bless him, smiling down at me, it is times like this that I am so glad and proud that my Dad took me to my first game over 50 years ago. Leicester Till I Die

CHAMPIONS

I would just like to say a final word for two supporters who went to the King Power Stadium this season and never made it home R.I.P. City supporter Roger Evans and R.I.P. Doncaster supporter Ray Dunning.

Alan’meashamfox’Bennett

Leicester till I Die