LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK
BURNLEY 4th OCTOBER 2014
LOOK BACK --- May 4th 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 21st 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 29th 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
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