Its not a game, its more than that.
I was born in 1981 in Leicester, an industrial town in the centre of England. Leicester has a Rugby Union team, a football team and a county Cricket team. I grew up in a household that watched sports. Football, Formula 1 and Rugby Union where constants in our house growing up, although my dad often watched a sport where someone threw a ball, yet it was called Football? The NFL was just starting to be broadcast in the UK. I watched F1 with my dad (when the remote control wasn't flying at me) and football seemed to be on alot. One of my earliest memories was of the Hillsborough disaster. It was the days of the old 1st Division and ITV had the big match on every Sunday. Then the world cup happened, in 1990, I was 8 during the world cup. I remember England playing Ireland, my Dad and my mum's friend husband watching England draw with Ireland. The World Cup went on, I was enthralled by England's game against Cameroon. England won! We were through to the semi finals of the World Cup, I wasn't sure what this meant but the excitement grew in England. Gazza, Lineker, Platt, Waddle and Pearce all stared for England, it was amazing. England had won the World Cup in 1966 but since then had failed to recover those heights. 1970, the team had aged and the Mexican heat didn't help their cause. The 1974 and 1978 World Cups, England didn't qualify for them. In 1982, England qualified and advanced to the second group stage but two nil-nil draws eliminated them. Then came Mexico 1986, England had a decent team, Gary Lineker's goals dragged them through to the quarter finals, Lineker himself was from Leicester and played in probably the best kit we've ever had (the 1983-85 Admiral kit) but in the Quarter finals England faced Argentina. All the political tensions engulfed the game, it was only 5 years since the UK had beaten Argentina in the Falklands war but England were robbed when the hand of god happened. But now in 1990 the semi final happened, the West German side was a machine, efficient and organized. But since the 1950's when had the West Germans not been good? But England had promise. Paul Gascoigne was the spark, the creative force and will power behind England. If we could beat West Germany, Argentina awaited in the final. In the game itself West Germany they took an lucky lead from a deflection off Paul Parker which looped over Peter Shilton (another Leicester youth graduate). But Lineker pulled England level with a lovely left foot finish. But then penalties happened, England lost on penalties. The Germans celebrated and England cried but the seed of football had been planted.
In Leicester, we had a team called Leicester City, originally started as Leicester Fosse in 1884. They had bounced around the top 2 leagues but had never done much really, except win the League Cup in 1964. The League Cup is not a league title but a competition for teams that are only in the Premier League and 3 english football league divisions, or in 1964 all 4 english football league divisions. In 1990, they were in Division 2 of the english system, they were managed by David Pleat and for whatever reason City couldn't defend in 1990/1991. As the season wore on and Leicester struggled with survival, the prospect of Division 3 football loomed. It was a terrible thought for Leicester City, as long as Leicester Fosse/City had been in existence they had never been down that far but as 1990 turned in to 1991. January saw the axe drop on Pleat. Gordon Lee kept City up that season, as luck had it that season, the FA had decided to increase the size of Division 1 to 22 clubs and only 2 clubs went to Division 3. City finished third from the bottom the previous season and the season after, City would have been relegated but this season City survived by the skin of their teeth.
In 1991 Brian Little was appointed Leicester City's new manager. The Premier League was around the corner built off England's success in the 1990. The new TV deal meant money was going to increase dramatically. It was a jackpot City needed, the Taylor report required all clubs to have all seater stadiums. City's Filbert Street was in need of some work and the Premier League TV money would surely help. Brian Little had done well with Darlington, despite not being able to save them from being relegated out of the football league. Successive promotions had seen them promoted back to Division 3. The offer to take over at Leicester though was too much for the then 37 year old to turn down. As the season went on Leicester blew the automatic chance to be promoted in typical City style, they blew it and had to go through the playoffs. It was this season that I started to learn a few of the players, Kevin "Rooster" Russell, who I imagined to have red hair but in fact was bald. Tommy Wright, a winger who was deadly. Steve Walsh, the Leicester captain, big burly and liked to score the odd goal. As City blew the chance for automatic promotion they had to enter the playoff's, a one one draw against Cambridge was followed by a 5-0 win for City at Filbert Street in the second leg. The play offs normally sees the 3rd to 6th place teams playing a two legged opening round of games, followed by a final at Wembley on a bank holiday. Lee Dixon (not the Arsenal right back) at school explained the new League to me. But why was it being called the Premier League? What was wrong with Division 1? Sibbo and his family went. Sibbo's mum wore a blue dress, it's the only time I remember Vonnie going to a City match to be honest. Lee Dixon likely also went but I watched it with Manil Mystery. Towards the end of the first half, Blackburn's David Speedie ran into the box, Steve Walsh made light contact with his arm and Speedie hit the floor. Mike Newell stepped up and converted the penalty, Leicester tried and tried but just couldn't score. Carl Muggleton even saved another Newell penalty but the final whistle blew and Leicester had lost so they faced another season in the newly named First division. It was honestly the first time I remember a football match hurting me, in the grand scheme of things, its a rather silly thing to say and emtionally I wasnt't that invested in Leicester but that was my home team. I was so looking forward to them playing in the newly named Premier League, even if it did sound like the Scottish Premier Division.
Two more trips to Wembley followed. In 1993 Leicester returned to Wembley to play Swindon. Leicester were the favorites, Swindon were small, Leicester had played at Wembley the season before surely they had the experience to win? City found themselves 3-0 down to Swindon but remarkably drew level with Swindon. Then as the game came to a close Swindon were awarded a penalty. Swindon won and were promoted to the Premier League. For the next season when they were on match of the day, I sat there thinking that should have been City. In 1994, City went back yet again, this time they played Derby County, can you hate a football club? I think you can, I hate Derby. I didn't watch the game. Blackburn was really the first time football had hurt me, I missed the Swindon game some how and didn't want to watch them lose again at Wembley. I had another reason, sometime in 1991, we decided we should pick other football clubs, most chose Liverpool, a couple chose to be just Liverpool fans but I chose Arsenal. I still watched Leicester when ITV would show them (which was always seemingly against Peterborough) Leicester weren't much in my thoughts but beating Derby and Steve Walsh scoring the winners was something I loved. Dubbed the silence of the Rams, seeing the joy on Steve Walsh's face as he rolled away after missing basically the whole season cause of a knee injury earlier in the season. Walsh who was at City when they nearly were relegated, who had given the penalty away in the Blackburn game had now broke the Wembley curse (City had lost 4 Wembley FA Cup finals and 2 Play off finals).
Leicester went up, struggled and came back down. At the time City didn't have finances like they have today, whilst Mark Draper and later on Mark Robbins where brought in for 1.25 million and 1 million pounds respectively, the squad needed some major work. Mid way through that season, Little left for Villa. Big Ron Atkinson couldn't get Villa going that season and Deadly Doug Ellis dropped the axe on him. He looked to the east midlands. Little had spent his entire playing career at Villa (which ended early at 26 when a knee injury forced his retirement), going to Villa was understandable, it was annoying and for Little, it was horrible first game as he came back to Filbert Street but stood in the away dugout in the Carling Stand. City in turn took Readings manager, Scotsman Mark McGhee joined City. But the writing was already on the wall, City were doomed already. Despite Mark Drapers efforts and Kevin Poole playing earning player of the season.
I was going to town, it was a Sunday, City where playing on telly but for some reason I was going to town. City were playing Norwich at home, David Nish was in charge, Nish had been placed in charge after McGhee had finally left for Wolves. For the second season running City had lost another manager. Wolverhampton Wanderers had found themselves bottom of the league. Graham Taylor resigned and Wolves looked to McGhee. The process was protracted, City suffered because of it. The slick football that they had been playing, faded away to scrappy football. It was hurting City's promotion chances. Norwich City's manager had resigned, his name was Martin O'Neil. O'Neil played for Nottingham Forest and won the 1st Division and European Cup with them, he was an Northern Irish International. As a manger he had brought Wycombe into the league, then got a second successive promotion and only narrowly missed out on a third play off chance of promotion. When Brian Little left in 1994, O'Neil was approached to be the Leicester manager but wanted to stay at Wycombe. This time though he said yes to Leicester. It didn't start well for O'Neil, poor form from City caused near riots from the fans but eventually City scrapped into the playoff's. Stoke awaited in the playoff's. In the second leg Garry Parker scored with a left foot volley. City were off to Wembley again. For the fourth time in five seasons, City were taking part in the play off final for a trip back to the Premier League. In the final awaited Crystal Palace. Palace had been relegated like City the season before, to be fair they came into the final in better form, finishing 4 points ahead of City in third. A mid season change in manager, new style of play and new players had affected City. Palace scored first and then Parker stepped up and took a penalty to equalize the game. Garry Parker, was a brilliant penalty taker. At 90 minutes the game went into extra time, it seemed the game would finish in a penalty shoot out. O'Neil even swapped goal keepers in expectation of the shoot out. But the shin of Steve Claridge changed everything, Nigel Martyn (the Palace keeper) stood helpless as the ball flew past him. Claridge ran off head in hands, City where back in the Premier League.
I was at Julian Glover's house, his dad came out and told us of the result. I was surprised but City where back. In 1996 City played in the Premier League, the Coca-Cola Cup though offered a chance to win a major competition for the first time since 1964 and offered European football. City had played in Europe during the 1961-62 season after losing the FA Cup final to double winners Tottenham Hotspur. Being the losing finalists of the FA Cup, City were allowed into the Cup Winners Cup. They lost to Altetico Madrid in the First round. City's season back in the Premier League went well. Despite being odd's on favorites to go straight back down. City showed fight at times they did get some beatings but often punched above their weight. In the League Cup final they played Middlesborough, Steve Walsh led Leicester out and future Leicester manager Nigel Pearson led Boro out at Wembley. City's home from home. Boro had beaten them in the preceding weeks before, 3-1 at home with Juninho tearing City to shreds. In the final however O'Neil deployed Pontus Kaamark to be Juninho's man marker. Where ever Juninho was Kaamark followed. This nullified Boro's attack which had ripped City apart. It was a classic case of O'Neil best using his squad to nullify the other team, Kaamark was usual a right back. Boro scored first in extra and then Emile Heskey (a youth team player, who had emerged during City's first season in the Premier League) equalized in what was a classic goal mouth scramble. In those days, there was a League Cup Final replay and at Hillsbrough, 10 days after the original game. Steve Claridge again scored the winner. For the second time in City's history they had won a major cup competition.
O'Neil was the start of my love for City, his teams didn't play the prettiest of football at times. I remember a game in 1997 when we played Bolton at home was 90 minutes of my life I will never get back. But they did play effective football. See Kaamarks role in the League cup success of 1997. In the mid to late 90's. It was common for english teams to play with 3 at the back. This system may have extended the life of Steve Walsh as a Premier League footballer. Walsh IS a club legend strong, tall and could play as a striker if needed, my dad often said if you cut him in half it would say Leicester City. I think my Dad may have been right. Matt Elliott was brought in during that season. He was much like Walsh, a bit more refined but could score the odd goal when needed. City's cheap and cheerful team included the sublime Muzzy Izzet a nine hundred thousand pound signing from Chelsea. Neil Lennon, a simple yet effective midfielder. Steve Guppy, a man who's crossing was second to none. Steve Claridge, the man who looked like a pub footballer, always had his socks lower than most but ALWAYS scored in the big games. Ian Marshall, another pub looking footballer, he was a forward but every now and then would play at centre half. Then there was Heskey, big, fast and tall. He was nick named Bruno after Frank Bruno, the boxer that fought Tyson twice and won the World heavy weight title. He came thru from the youth system so knew City and the fans. Other players followed. Robbie Savage, a class of 92 member who never made it at Manchester United but made it at Crewe Alexandra. Tony Cottee, a West Ham legend, who had played for Everton for a few seasons.
It was around this time I persuaded my Dad to take me to Leicester games, we started with Arsenal. Growing up Arsenal had been my team, mainly cause the other lads in my class chose Liverpool. I hate Liverpool so choosing another team was easy. Arsenal were at that point league champions and Liverpool whilst they didn't know it had come to the end of their league championship run. We sat in the Double Decker, it was above the Kop, we had a pole slightly in our view and the touch line was straight ahead of us. Arsenal scored early, Bergkamp stroked a shot in from a corner, my dad said what a player. Bergkamp wasn't done. In the second half Bergkamp added a second goal, Arsenal were now 2-0 up. Emile Heskey scored for City. A David Season mistake allowed Heskey and a easy finish for Leicesters first goal. Then Matt Elliott who was operating more as a forward than a defender shot from the top of the box. It took a deflection and went in 2-2. City were level but then Bergkamp finished his hat-trick with what can only be described as a piece of sublime skill. David Platt chipped a ball in from the right flank, Bergkamp controlled it with his left foot and as Spencer Prior came across to defend Bergkamp he beat him. Then calmly and cooly finished past Kasey Keller. Its the best goal I've ever witnessed and always will be. BUT City weren't done, in a phrase that has often been repeated and wrose to fame during the O'Neil years, Foxes never quit. Steve Walsh equalized with the last kick of the game, or head of the game. Filbert Street erupted, Walsh had scored so many goals for City. But that goal may have been his most important, it likely made me a Leicester fan that night. That season I went to a few other games, Blackburn when City drew 1-1. Bolton, when in one of the most boring non-Puel games, City drew nil nil. At Christmas, someone lent me their season ticket. So I got to see more games. Sheffield Wednesday, I stood in the Kop. The Kop had long been all seater but people still stood, especially in the crazy corner. Wednesday was also a draw but what stuck in my mind was a sub being subbed. He wasn't injured, Ron Atkinson thought he should come off. Then there was Everton on Boxing Day, I was brave and stood in the Crazy Corner. I seen Liam Carver and Lee Dixon. Liam Carver stood behind me and put his arm round my neck like he was gonna beat me up. I shit myself! It was cool though. City lost that 1-0. Gary Speed scored a penalty in a bit of drab game. Then the final game I went to that season was Northampton in the FA Cup. City won 4-0! I should have found a way to keep going but I guess I was always skint and always managed to spend my money and everything I should have.
Two more league final visits to Wembley happened. A one nil loss to Spurs in 1999 and a 2-1 victory over Tranmere in 2000. In the summer of 2000, John Barnes and Kenny Dagleish where relieved of their duties at Celtic. Martin O'Neil had been linked with many jobs, Leeds had offered him the job when George Graham left in October 1998. But O'Neil stayed at City but Celtic was a team he couldn't refuse. His father told him, if they offered him the job he should walk there to sign the contract. O'Neil left on good terms. Like Little you couldn't blame him and unlike McGhee he left with class and dignity. Being an Irish catholic it was too hard for him to turn down. That left City without a manager, Peter Taylor was chosen to be Leicester's manager. Taylor had a pedigree with England's Under 21 side. They had qualified for the European champion finals in 2000 without conceding a goal. But the FA in their wisdom decided to replace him with Howard Wilkinson, Taylor in the mine while returned to club management with Gillingham achieved promotion to the top two divisions for the first time in their history. It started off well, City even sat on top of the Premier League for 2 early weeks, albeit when results went their way. But by the end of the season, City had tailed off. losing 9 of their final 10 games. But what was worse was in the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Leicester lost to Wycombe, Roy Essandoh, a Belfast born striker scored the winner. Before Wycombe he had been piling his trade in the Finish league and before that the Scottish lower leagues. Wycombe desperate for a striker used the internet to find him. Wycombe took the lead, Izzet equalized for City and then in the 90th minute. Essandoh, wrote his name in FA Cup lore. City fell apart from the point on. They finished the season in a desperate state. In 01-02 they started with a 5-0 home mauling by Bolton. By the 30th of September rooted to the bottom of league. City fired Taylor. During 01-02, City had 4 managers, Taylor, who was fired on the 30th of September 2001, Garry Parker was care taker for a short time, then Dave "Harry" Bassett came in. Bassett best known as being the man that put together the Wimbledon team that beat Liverpool in the 1988 Cup final to deny them a second double in 2 years. He was also the manager that City had defeated when they got promoted under O'Neil. He was soon pushed aside once relegation was settled and Micky Adams, who had been brought in as Bassetts assistant was installed as City's 4th manager of the season. Bassett moved into a Director of Football roll. Despite the negativity City had a new stadium, the Walkers Bowl. Though it didn't stay named that for long, an uproar from the fans quickly saw it renamed the Walkers Stadium. The final game of the season saw City beat Spurs 2-1 at home with Matty Piper scoring the final league goal at Filbert Street. For all things Filbert Street was, it was always a great place to watch a game.
The 17th of September 2002, Sibbo, his Dad (Pete), his brother, brothers mate Maisey (who's brother had been in the first Premier League squad) and I crammed in Pete's Peugeot 206 and went to town. We parked at Pete's work and went to the new Walkers Stadium. I remember walking in and being awe stuck. Filbert Street was an adapted stadium. Built during a time when football wasn't the sport it had become and built during the time of standing. The Taylor report put an end to standing in English football stadium but now I was stood in a bowl stadium. All one level, not one massive stand and the bus shelter opposite but all one size. It was really really nice. City played Bradford that night in front of 24000 fans, an easy 4-0 win happened. Despite being promoted back to the Premier League at the season nothing much was easy about this season. City finished runners up to Portsmouth. City though inadvertently caused a major rule change to football finances. City suffered relegation after the 2000-2001 season, the Football league was not part of the Premier League due to the split in 1992. Therefore the TV contracts between the Premier League and English Football League were two different contracts and two very different monetary values. In June 2000 the Football League agreed a new major deal with ITV Digital, for £350 million pounds. ITV would now show the Football League. Mainly the 1st Division but the impact of relegation in a financial sense for Leicester would be less. ITV Digital collapsed and the majority of clubs in the English football league in 2002 struggled. Sky, the previous broadcaster stepped up with £95 million pound deal but this was crippling to not just relegated Premier League clubs. Clubs all around the English football league were cutting costs. Leicester also had a couple of other major issues. When times were good, Leicester had money, when O'Neil was pulling Leicester into the top 10 and winning cups. Prize money was aplenty. Players got rewarded for their efforts. But no thought was given to relegation, in some ways why should have it? But then Peter Taylor happened, Taylor then made his own purchases chief amongst them Ade Akinbiyi, who was probably the worst striker you could ever hope to see in the Premier League. A record £5 million was laid out for him, for all his effort, for his muscles. He just couldn't score. In those days £5 million pounds for Leicester was an awful lot of money. Ultimately, the new stadium (£37 million), the ITV Digital failure, the unbreakable player contracts and poor spending by Taylor resulted in City going into administration. Gary Lineker led a consortium buy the club and reform the club. In a way it was like when Leicester Fosse because Leicester City. The new Leicester City though forbid Micky Adams signing any players and Micky Adams really did an admirable job getting City back up at the first chance. These days a club would be docked 10 points for going into administration but back then Leicester were the prototype. I was working at Triumph at the time and the guy that would supply our parts we needed on the line was a Coventry fan. He was not happy that Leicester took the administration route of solving their issues. Then again nor was the Football League. Luckily City avoided the 10 point penalty.
In and among the turbulence of the post O'Neil years, City gave the fans her chance to decide whether or not change the team name from Leicester City back to the original Leicester Fosse. The fans rejected the chance but an interested chance had been passed upon. There are alot of football club named City. Manchester City, Coventry City, Cardiff City to name a few. Being called Fosse would made City stand out from the crowd but we'd al known City as City. I'm sure at that point there was very fans that ever knew City as Fosse.
City where back in the Premier League, but with limited resources CIty came straight back down. Micky Adams essentially signed any one he could that was in budget. Most of these players where in the 30's. Les Ferdinand, who is one of the best ever Premier League strikers was signed. Steve Guppy, was brought back and along with a few O'Neil glory hold outs (chiefly Izzet and Elliot) City just couldn't hang on. City went down and most of those players were released or contracts where cancelled.
In the years that followed I went every now and then, I don't think I paid for any of the games. In between Sibbo's Leicester Mercury tickets, Walkers tickets (I worked for Walkers from 2003 to 2007) and Andy Sharpes parents tickets. I went and still enjoyed the games but the kop wasn't signing for the manager to give them a wave. Martin O'Neil was constantly being asked by the kop to "give us a wave" during the glory years, and when he did the Kop would roar in appreciation. The club poor on money were stuck in the middle to lower reaches of the Championship. At this point, Leicester City had my heart it was hard watching those games but it was Leicester so it didn't matter. At this point, I'd watch Leicester play in any division as long as it was Leicester. Sibbo's tickets did afford me one chance, to stand on the pitch at the Walkers Stadium. I stood down there while he chatted to someone in a corporate position. I'm on the pitch I thought! The bloody pitch. The grass felt amazing, it seems so silly to make such a fuss about that but I was never gonna play for Leicester so this was brilliant.
By 2007, the hardships caused by the Premier League years had taken their toll on the playing squad. None of the O'Neil glory years team remained. A succession of managers followed. Milan Mandaric took control of the club in 2007, I remember being optimistic about it, I remember calling Roger the supplies guy at Walkers and asking him about what he'd heard. It took forever for him to take over the club, I wanted him in part cause of what he'd done with Portsmouth. But with Portsmouth he'd left them in a lot of debt and Portsmouth still haven't recovered from those debts till this day. Mandaric's first full season as the owner in 2007/08. Martin Allen was appointed manager but after 4 games had left the club. Gary Megson was appointed manager only to leave not long after he'd been appointed, then came Ian Holloway. Ian Holloway, who had been linked with Leicester City before, which had cost him his job at Queens Park Rangers. Despite Holloway's efforts a nil nil draw against Stoke City on the final day of the season had left consigned City to the third division for the first time in their history. In 124 years, Leicester had never been in the third division of the english league system. No matter what it was called, at this point it was called League One for some reason. I sat there looking at the computer screen refreshing the web browser over and over again. Come on City score! But City didn't, allied to a Sheffield Wednesday victory, City were down.
In League One, Leicester appointed Nigel Pearson, who had been part of the Middlesbrough team that City had defeated in the League Cup final in 1997. City romped to the title setting records for wins, and the amount of losses. In spite of playing 46 games City only lost 4 times. Winning League 1 by 7 points over local rivals Peterborough United. This however started the lost years, 4000 miles away from Leicester and TV coverage that was non-existent for lower league football. How could I watch City, I guess I could have attempted to stream matches but for a time I became a NFL fan. Yes, the NFL can be entertaining but it wasn't football. No matter what any american tells me, football doesn't involved a ball being thrown to another man. So I lost touch with Leicester, I followed them on the BBC website, got the odd shirt, went back in 2011 for Sibbo's wedding. Made a trip to the newly renamed King Power Stadium. Spent far to much but it was worth it. All during this time I realized that where ever I lived I was a Leicester fan and need to watch them. I found ways, streamed games on the proxy, the love for football was returning.
For Leicester City though things where about to take a remarkable change for the good.....
In Leicester, we had a team called Leicester City, originally started as Leicester Fosse in 1884. They had bounced around the top 2 leagues but had never done much really, except win the League Cup in 1964. The League Cup is not a league title but a competition for teams that are only in the Premier League and 3 english football league divisions, or in 1964 all 4 english football league divisions. In 1990, they were in Division 2 of the english system, they were managed by David Pleat and for whatever reason City couldn't defend in 1990/1991. As the season wore on and Leicester struggled with survival, the prospect of Division 3 football loomed. It was a terrible thought for Leicester City, as long as Leicester Fosse/City had been in existence they had never been down that far but as 1990 turned in to 1991. January saw the axe drop on Pleat. Gordon Lee kept City up that season, as luck had it that season, the FA had decided to increase the size of Division 1 to 22 clubs and only 2 clubs went to Division 3. City finished third from the bottom the previous season and the season after, City would have been relegated but this season City survived by the skin of their teeth.
In 1991 Brian Little was appointed Leicester City's new manager. The Premier League was around the corner built off England's success in the 1990. The new TV deal meant money was going to increase dramatically. It was a jackpot City needed, the Taylor report required all clubs to have all seater stadiums. City's Filbert Street was in need of some work and the Premier League TV money would surely help. Brian Little had done well with Darlington, despite not being able to save them from being relegated out of the football league. Successive promotions had seen them promoted back to Division 3. The offer to take over at Leicester though was too much for the then 37 year old to turn down. As the season went on Leicester blew the automatic chance to be promoted in typical City style, they blew it and had to go through the playoffs. It was this season that I started to learn a few of the players, Kevin "Rooster" Russell, who I imagined to have red hair but in fact was bald. Tommy Wright, a winger who was deadly. Steve Walsh, the Leicester captain, big burly and liked to score the odd goal. As City blew the chance for automatic promotion they had to enter the playoff's, a one one draw against Cambridge was followed by a 5-0 win for City at Filbert Street in the second leg. The play offs normally sees the 3rd to 6th place teams playing a two legged opening round of games, followed by a final at Wembley on a bank holiday. Lee Dixon (not the Arsenal right back) at school explained the new League to me. But why was it being called the Premier League? What was wrong with Division 1? Sibbo and his family went. Sibbo's mum wore a blue dress, it's the only time I remember Vonnie going to a City match to be honest. Lee Dixon likely also went but I watched it with Manil Mystery. Towards the end of the first half, Blackburn's David Speedie ran into the box, Steve Walsh made light contact with his arm and Speedie hit the floor. Mike Newell stepped up and converted the penalty, Leicester tried and tried but just couldn't score. Carl Muggleton even saved another Newell penalty but the final whistle blew and Leicester had lost so they faced another season in the newly named First division. It was honestly the first time I remember a football match hurting me, in the grand scheme of things, its a rather silly thing to say and emtionally I wasnt't that invested in Leicester but that was my home team. I was so looking forward to them playing in the newly named Premier League, even if it did sound like the Scottish Premier Division.
Two more trips to Wembley followed. In 1993 Leicester returned to Wembley to play Swindon. Leicester were the favorites, Swindon were small, Leicester had played at Wembley the season before surely they had the experience to win? City found themselves 3-0 down to Swindon but remarkably drew level with Swindon. Then as the game came to a close Swindon were awarded a penalty. Swindon won and were promoted to the Premier League. For the next season when they were on match of the day, I sat there thinking that should have been City. In 1994, City went back yet again, this time they played Derby County, can you hate a football club? I think you can, I hate Derby. I didn't watch the game. Blackburn was really the first time football had hurt me, I missed the Swindon game some how and didn't want to watch them lose again at Wembley. I had another reason, sometime in 1991, we decided we should pick other football clubs, most chose Liverpool, a couple chose to be just Liverpool fans but I chose Arsenal. I still watched Leicester when ITV would show them (which was always seemingly against Peterborough) Leicester weren't much in my thoughts but beating Derby and Steve Walsh scoring the winners was something I loved. Dubbed the silence of the Rams, seeing the joy on Steve Walsh's face as he rolled away after missing basically the whole season cause of a knee injury earlier in the season. Walsh who was at City when they nearly were relegated, who had given the penalty away in the Blackburn game had now broke the Wembley curse (City had lost 4 Wembley FA Cup finals and 2 Play off finals).
Leicester went up, struggled and came back down. At the time City didn't have finances like they have today, whilst Mark Draper and later on Mark Robbins where brought in for 1.25 million and 1 million pounds respectively, the squad needed some major work. Mid way through that season, Little left for Villa. Big Ron Atkinson couldn't get Villa going that season and Deadly Doug Ellis dropped the axe on him. He looked to the east midlands. Little had spent his entire playing career at Villa (which ended early at 26 when a knee injury forced his retirement), going to Villa was understandable, it was annoying and for Little, it was horrible first game as he came back to Filbert Street but stood in the away dugout in the Carling Stand. City in turn took Readings manager, Scotsman Mark McGhee joined City. But the writing was already on the wall, City were doomed already. Despite Mark Drapers efforts and Kevin Poole playing earning player of the season.
I was going to town, it was a Sunday, City where playing on telly but for some reason I was going to town. City were playing Norwich at home, David Nish was in charge, Nish had been placed in charge after McGhee had finally left for Wolves. For the second season running City had lost another manager. Wolverhampton Wanderers had found themselves bottom of the league. Graham Taylor resigned and Wolves looked to McGhee. The process was protracted, City suffered because of it. The slick football that they had been playing, faded away to scrappy football. It was hurting City's promotion chances. Norwich City's manager had resigned, his name was Martin O'Neil. O'Neil played for Nottingham Forest and won the 1st Division and European Cup with them, he was an Northern Irish International. As a manger he had brought Wycombe into the league, then got a second successive promotion and only narrowly missed out on a third play off chance of promotion. When Brian Little left in 1994, O'Neil was approached to be the Leicester manager but wanted to stay at Wycombe. This time though he said yes to Leicester. It didn't start well for O'Neil, poor form from City caused near riots from the fans but eventually City scrapped into the playoff's. Stoke awaited in the playoff's. In the second leg Garry Parker scored with a left foot volley. City were off to Wembley again. For the fourth time in five seasons, City were taking part in the play off final for a trip back to the Premier League. In the final awaited Crystal Palace. Palace had been relegated like City the season before, to be fair they came into the final in better form, finishing 4 points ahead of City in third. A mid season change in manager, new style of play and new players had affected City. Palace scored first and then Parker stepped up and took a penalty to equalize the game. Garry Parker, was a brilliant penalty taker. At 90 minutes the game went into extra time, it seemed the game would finish in a penalty shoot out. O'Neil even swapped goal keepers in expectation of the shoot out. But the shin of Steve Claridge changed everything, Nigel Martyn (the Palace keeper) stood helpless as the ball flew past him. Claridge ran off head in hands, City where back in the Premier League.
I was at Julian Glover's house, his dad came out and told us of the result. I was surprised but City where back. In 1996 City played in the Premier League, the Coca-Cola Cup though offered a chance to win a major competition for the first time since 1964 and offered European football. City had played in Europe during the 1961-62 season after losing the FA Cup final to double winners Tottenham Hotspur. Being the losing finalists of the FA Cup, City were allowed into the Cup Winners Cup. They lost to Altetico Madrid in the First round. City's season back in the Premier League went well. Despite being odd's on favorites to go straight back down. City showed fight at times they did get some beatings but often punched above their weight. In the League Cup final they played Middlesborough, Steve Walsh led Leicester out and future Leicester manager Nigel Pearson led Boro out at Wembley. City's home from home. Boro had beaten them in the preceding weeks before, 3-1 at home with Juninho tearing City to shreds. In the final however O'Neil deployed Pontus Kaamark to be Juninho's man marker. Where ever Juninho was Kaamark followed. This nullified Boro's attack which had ripped City apart. It was a classic case of O'Neil best using his squad to nullify the other team, Kaamark was usual a right back. Boro scored first in extra and then Emile Heskey (a youth team player, who had emerged during City's first season in the Premier League) equalized in what was a classic goal mouth scramble. In those days, there was a League Cup Final replay and at Hillsbrough, 10 days after the original game. Steve Claridge again scored the winner. For the second time in City's history they had won a major cup competition.
O'Neil was the start of my love for City, his teams didn't play the prettiest of football at times. I remember a game in 1997 when we played Bolton at home was 90 minutes of my life I will never get back. But they did play effective football. See Kaamarks role in the League cup success of 1997. In the mid to late 90's. It was common for english teams to play with 3 at the back. This system may have extended the life of Steve Walsh as a Premier League footballer. Walsh IS a club legend strong, tall and could play as a striker if needed, my dad often said if you cut him in half it would say Leicester City. I think my Dad may have been right. Matt Elliott was brought in during that season. He was much like Walsh, a bit more refined but could score the odd goal when needed. City's cheap and cheerful team included the sublime Muzzy Izzet a nine hundred thousand pound signing from Chelsea. Neil Lennon, a simple yet effective midfielder. Steve Guppy, a man who's crossing was second to none. Steve Claridge, the man who looked like a pub footballer, always had his socks lower than most but ALWAYS scored in the big games. Ian Marshall, another pub looking footballer, he was a forward but every now and then would play at centre half. Then there was Heskey, big, fast and tall. He was nick named Bruno after Frank Bruno, the boxer that fought Tyson twice and won the World heavy weight title. He came thru from the youth system so knew City and the fans. Other players followed. Robbie Savage, a class of 92 member who never made it at Manchester United but made it at Crewe Alexandra. Tony Cottee, a West Ham legend, who had played for Everton for a few seasons.
It was around this time I persuaded my Dad to take me to Leicester games, we started with Arsenal. Growing up Arsenal had been my team, mainly cause the other lads in my class chose Liverpool. I hate Liverpool so choosing another team was easy. Arsenal were at that point league champions and Liverpool whilst they didn't know it had come to the end of their league championship run. We sat in the Double Decker, it was above the Kop, we had a pole slightly in our view and the touch line was straight ahead of us. Arsenal scored early, Bergkamp stroked a shot in from a corner, my dad said what a player. Bergkamp wasn't done. In the second half Bergkamp added a second goal, Arsenal were now 2-0 up. Emile Heskey scored for City. A David Season mistake allowed Heskey and a easy finish for Leicesters first goal. Then Matt Elliott who was operating more as a forward than a defender shot from the top of the box. It took a deflection and went in 2-2. City were level but then Bergkamp finished his hat-trick with what can only be described as a piece of sublime skill. David Platt chipped a ball in from the right flank, Bergkamp controlled it with his left foot and as Spencer Prior came across to defend Bergkamp he beat him. Then calmly and cooly finished past Kasey Keller. Its the best goal I've ever witnessed and always will be. BUT City weren't done, in a phrase that has often been repeated and wrose to fame during the O'Neil years, Foxes never quit. Steve Walsh equalized with the last kick of the game, or head of the game. Filbert Street erupted, Walsh had scored so many goals for City. But that goal may have been his most important, it likely made me a Leicester fan that night. That season I went to a few other games, Blackburn when City drew 1-1. Bolton, when in one of the most boring non-Puel games, City drew nil nil. At Christmas, someone lent me their season ticket. So I got to see more games. Sheffield Wednesday, I stood in the Kop. The Kop had long been all seater but people still stood, especially in the crazy corner. Wednesday was also a draw but what stuck in my mind was a sub being subbed. He wasn't injured, Ron Atkinson thought he should come off. Then there was Everton on Boxing Day, I was brave and stood in the Crazy Corner. I seen Liam Carver and Lee Dixon. Liam Carver stood behind me and put his arm round my neck like he was gonna beat me up. I shit myself! It was cool though. City lost that 1-0. Gary Speed scored a penalty in a bit of drab game. Then the final game I went to that season was Northampton in the FA Cup. City won 4-0! I should have found a way to keep going but I guess I was always skint and always managed to spend my money and everything I should have.
Two more league final visits to Wembley happened. A one nil loss to Spurs in 1999 and a 2-1 victory over Tranmere in 2000. In the summer of 2000, John Barnes and Kenny Dagleish where relieved of their duties at Celtic. Martin O'Neil had been linked with many jobs, Leeds had offered him the job when George Graham left in October 1998. But O'Neil stayed at City but Celtic was a team he couldn't refuse. His father told him, if they offered him the job he should walk there to sign the contract. O'Neil left on good terms. Like Little you couldn't blame him and unlike McGhee he left with class and dignity. Being an Irish catholic it was too hard for him to turn down. That left City without a manager, Peter Taylor was chosen to be Leicester's manager. Taylor had a pedigree with England's Under 21 side. They had qualified for the European champion finals in 2000 without conceding a goal. But the FA in their wisdom decided to replace him with Howard Wilkinson, Taylor in the mine while returned to club management with Gillingham achieved promotion to the top two divisions for the first time in their history. It started off well, City even sat on top of the Premier League for 2 early weeks, albeit when results went their way. But by the end of the season, City had tailed off. losing 9 of their final 10 games. But what was worse was in the quarter finals of the FA Cup. Leicester lost to Wycombe, Roy Essandoh, a Belfast born striker scored the winner. Before Wycombe he had been piling his trade in the Finish league and before that the Scottish lower leagues. Wycombe desperate for a striker used the internet to find him. Wycombe took the lead, Izzet equalized for City and then in the 90th minute. Essandoh, wrote his name in FA Cup lore. City fell apart from the point on. They finished the season in a desperate state. In 01-02 they started with a 5-0 home mauling by Bolton. By the 30th of September rooted to the bottom of league. City fired Taylor. During 01-02, City had 4 managers, Taylor, who was fired on the 30th of September 2001, Garry Parker was care taker for a short time, then Dave "Harry" Bassett came in. Bassett best known as being the man that put together the Wimbledon team that beat Liverpool in the 1988 Cup final to deny them a second double in 2 years. He was also the manager that City had defeated when they got promoted under O'Neil. He was soon pushed aside once relegation was settled and Micky Adams, who had been brought in as Bassetts assistant was installed as City's 4th manager of the season. Bassett moved into a Director of Football roll. Despite the negativity City had a new stadium, the Walkers Bowl. Though it didn't stay named that for long, an uproar from the fans quickly saw it renamed the Walkers Stadium. The final game of the season saw City beat Spurs 2-1 at home with Matty Piper scoring the final league goal at Filbert Street. For all things Filbert Street was, it was always a great place to watch a game.
The 17th of September 2002, Sibbo, his Dad (Pete), his brother, brothers mate Maisey (who's brother had been in the first Premier League squad) and I crammed in Pete's Peugeot 206 and went to town. We parked at Pete's work and went to the new Walkers Stadium. I remember walking in and being awe stuck. Filbert Street was an adapted stadium. Built during a time when football wasn't the sport it had become and built during the time of standing. The Taylor report put an end to standing in English football stadium but now I was stood in a bowl stadium. All one level, not one massive stand and the bus shelter opposite but all one size. It was really really nice. City played Bradford that night in front of 24000 fans, an easy 4-0 win happened. Despite being promoted back to the Premier League at the season nothing much was easy about this season. City finished runners up to Portsmouth. City though inadvertently caused a major rule change to football finances. City suffered relegation after the 2000-2001 season, the Football league was not part of the Premier League due to the split in 1992. Therefore the TV contracts between the Premier League and English Football League were two different contracts and two very different monetary values. In June 2000 the Football League agreed a new major deal with ITV Digital, for £350 million pounds. ITV would now show the Football League. Mainly the 1st Division but the impact of relegation in a financial sense for Leicester would be less. ITV Digital collapsed and the majority of clubs in the English football league in 2002 struggled. Sky, the previous broadcaster stepped up with £95 million pound deal but this was crippling to not just relegated Premier League clubs. Clubs all around the English football league were cutting costs. Leicester also had a couple of other major issues. When times were good, Leicester had money, when O'Neil was pulling Leicester into the top 10 and winning cups. Prize money was aplenty. Players got rewarded for their efforts. But no thought was given to relegation, in some ways why should have it? But then Peter Taylor happened, Taylor then made his own purchases chief amongst them Ade Akinbiyi, who was probably the worst striker you could ever hope to see in the Premier League. A record £5 million was laid out for him, for all his effort, for his muscles. He just couldn't score. In those days £5 million pounds for Leicester was an awful lot of money. Ultimately, the new stadium (£37 million), the ITV Digital failure, the unbreakable player contracts and poor spending by Taylor resulted in City going into administration. Gary Lineker led a consortium buy the club and reform the club. In a way it was like when Leicester Fosse because Leicester City. The new Leicester City though forbid Micky Adams signing any players and Micky Adams really did an admirable job getting City back up at the first chance. These days a club would be docked 10 points for going into administration but back then Leicester were the prototype. I was working at Triumph at the time and the guy that would supply our parts we needed on the line was a Coventry fan. He was not happy that Leicester took the administration route of solving their issues. Then again nor was the Football League. Luckily City avoided the 10 point penalty.
In and among the turbulence of the post O'Neil years, City gave the fans her chance to decide whether or not change the team name from Leicester City back to the original Leicester Fosse. The fans rejected the chance but an interested chance had been passed upon. There are alot of football club named City. Manchester City, Coventry City, Cardiff City to name a few. Being called Fosse would made City stand out from the crowd but we'd al known City as City. I'm sure at that point there was very fans that ever knew City as Fosse.
City where back in the Premier League, but with limited resources CIty came straight back down. Micky Adams essentially signed any one he could that was in budget. Most of these players where in the 30's. Les Ferdinand, who is one of the best ever Premier League strikers was signed. Steve Guppy, was brought back and along with a few O'Neil glory hold outs (chiefly Izzet and Elliot) City just couldn't hang on. City went down and most of those players were released or contracts where cancelled.
In the years that followed I went every now and then, I don't think I paid for any of the games. In between Sibbo's Leicester Mercury tickets, Walkers tickets (I worked for Walkers from 2003 to 2007) and Andy Sharpes parents tickets. I went and still enjoyed the games but the kop wasn't signing for the manager to give them a wave. Martin O'Neil was constantly being asked by the kop to "give us a wave" during the glory years, and when he did the Kop would roar in appreciation. The club poor on money were stuck in the middle to lower reaches of the Championship. At this point, Leicester City had my heart it was hard watching those games but it was Leicester so it didn't matter. At this point, I'd watch Leicester play in any division as long as it was Leicester. Sibbo's tickets did afford me one chance, to stand on the pitch at the Walkers Stadium. I stood down there while he chatted to someone in a corporate position. I'm on the pitch I thought! The bloody pitch. The grass felt amazing, it seems so silly to make such a fuss about that but I was never gonna play for Leicester so this was brilliant.
By 2007, the hardships caused by the Premier League years had taken their toll on the playing squad. None of the O'Neil glory years team remained. A succession of managers followed. Milan Mandaric took control of the club in 2007, I remember being optimistic about it, I remember calling Roger the supplies guy at Walkers and asking him about what he'd heard. It took forever for him to take over the club, I wanted him in part cause of what he'd done with Portsmouth. But with Portsmouth he'd left them in a lot of debt and Portsmouth still haven't recovered from those debts till this day. Mandaric's first full season as the owner in 2007/08. Martin Allen was appointed manager but after 4 games had left the club. Gary Megson was appointed manager only to leave not long after he'd been appointed, then came Ian Holloway. Ian Holloway, who had been linked with Leicester City before, which had cost him his job at Queens Park Rangers. Despite Holloway's efforts a nil nil draw against Stoke City on the final day of the season had left consigned City to the third division for the first time in their history. In 124 years, Leicester had never been in the third division of the english league system. No matter what it was called, at this point it was called League One for some reason. I sat there looking at the computer screen refreshing the web browser over and over again. Come on City score! But City didn't, allied to a Sheffield Wednesday victory, City were down.
In League One, Leicester appointed Nigel Pearson, who had been part of the Middlesbrough team that City had defeated in the League Cup final in 1997. City romped to the title setting records for wins, and the amount of losses. In spite of playing 46 games City only lost 4 times. Winning League 1 by 7 points over local rivals Peterborough United. This however started the lost years, 4000 miles away from Leicester and TV coverage that was non-existent for lower league football. How could I watch City, I guess I could have attempted to stream matches but for a time I became a NFL fan. Yes, the NFL can be entertaining but it wasn't football. No matter what any american tells me, football doesn't involved a ball being thrown to another man. So I lost touch with Leicester, I followed them on the BBC website, got the odd shirt, went back in 2011 for Sibbo's wedding. Made a trip to the newly renamed King Power Stadium. Spent far to much but it was worth it. All during this time I realized that where ever I lived I was a Leicester fan and need to watch them. I found ways, streamed games on the proxy, the love for football was returning.
For Leicester City though things where about to take a remarkable change for the good.....
Great story and wonderful read well done (Joey)
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