This is the history of Leicester City Football Club, based in Leicester, England.
Leicester Fosse (1884–1919) The club was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse, so named because the team played on a field by the Fosse Road. Before moving to Filbert Street in 1891, the club played at five different grounds. The club joined the Football Association in 1890. It joined in the Midland League in 1891, and after finishing second was elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1894. The first ever league game was a 4–3 defeat at Grimsby, but a week later at Filbert Street the club recorded its first league win against Rotherham. The club's largest win to date, 13–0 against Notts Olympic in a FA Cup qualifying game, was also recorded in that season.
In 1904, the club successfully re-applied for membership of the Football League. In 1908, the club finished as Second Division runners-up and reached the First Division but was relegated again after just one season. In 1909, the club recorded its worst ever defeat, a 12–0 drubbing against Nottingham Forest.
Leicester City is born (1919–1939) The club was re-elected to the Football League for the last time to date in 1915, when the League was suspended for four years due to a financial scandal and World War I. Leicester were playing in a regional league organised for Midlands clubs in this period. Due to financial problems, Leicester Fosse had ceased to exist when the League resumed in 1919. The club was reformed as Leicester City Football Club, particularly appropriate as the borough of Leicester had recently been granted city status.
In 1925, the club were champions of the Second Division under the management of Peter Hodge. Hodge's signings included Arthur Chandler, one of City's most famous players from this period, scoring a club record 273 goals between 1923 and 1935 and Adam Black, who has the club record for league appearances, 528. In 1929, the club recorded its highest ever finish in the Football League, finishing second to The Wednesday. The club's highest ever attendance was in 1928, 47,298 against Tottenham Hotspur into the FA Cup fifth round. The 1930s were less successful, with the club being relegated in 1935, although finishing first in the Second Division in 1937, only to be relegated from the First Division again in 1939. In 1939, the Football League was suspended due to the war, and just like in 1915–1919, City were forced along with other clubs to play in regional leagues.
In and out of the top division (1949–1958) City reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history in 1949, losing 3–1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club, however, was celebrating a week later when a draw on the last day of the season ensured survival in the Second Division. The 1950–51 season saw the signing of one of Leicester's greatest ever strikers, Arthur Rowley, from Fulham, who would become the club's top scorer in eight consecutive seasons. Rowley equalled Arthur Chandler's then club record of 38 goals in one season in the 1951–52 season, then broke it the following season, scoring 41 times. Thirty-nine of these came in the league, where he won the Second Division golden boot for the first time. Leicester won the Second Division championship in 1954 as Rowley netted 36 more. Although a woeful defensive record, conceding 86 goals, saw them relegated straight back down from the First Division the next season, they returned two years later in 1957, with Rowley breaking his own club record and scoring 44 goals in one season (this remains the club record still today) claiming the Second Division top scorer accolade once again. Although Leicester survived in their first season back in the First Division, Rowley was sensationally sold, just seven goals shy of Arthur Chandler's all-time record as the club's top goalscorer, to Shrewsbury Town at the end of 1957–58 season. The decision to sell him led to fan unrest and ultimately the sacking of David Halliday in November 1958.
Matt Gillies (1958–1968) Former player Matt Gillies took over from Halliday with the Foxes lying in the relegation zone of the First Division and would go on to become arguably the club's most successful ever manager. Gillies became well known for his ability to spot a good player during his time at Filbert Street bringing through the ranks future FWA Footballer of the Year winners Gordon Banks and Frank McLintock and future PFA Player of the Year Peter Shilton, as well as club favourites Dave Gibson, Lenny Glover and Graham Cross. Leicester reached the FA Cup final twice under the stewardship of Gillies in 1961 and 1963. In 1961, they were on the losing side to double winners Tottenham, and as a result were England's representatives in the 1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup, in which Leicester were knocked out by eventual winners Atlético Madrid in the first round. In 1963, Leicester chased the double. The coldest winter for decades meant Leicester were forced to play a backlogged fixture list on ice, then went on a then club record 18-game unbeaten run, culminating in the club sitting atop the First Division on 16 April 1963, causing the press to label Leicester as the "ice kings". However, injuries (possibly feigned in light of the upcoming FA Cup final) eventually took their toll and Leicester took just one point from their final five games, seeing them fall to fourth position, though this was still the club's best post-war finish up until the 2015–16 season, where Leicester won the Premier League. They then lost the 1963 cup final 3–1 to Matt Busby's Manchester United.
Gillies finally won silverware though in 1964. Leicester beat Stoke City 4–3 on aggregate to win the League Cup for the first time. Leicester also reached the League Cup final the following year, losing to Chelsea. In 1966, one of the club's most famous players, Gordon Banks, who played for eight years at Leicester, represented England at the FIFA World Cup, where he helped England become world champions and was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or, for European Football of the Year, still to this date, the only Leicester player to be nominated for that award.
Leicester toured Zambia in the summer of 1968, playing six games and winning them all, including three games against the Zambian national team and three games against representative XI sides. City's visit was described as "probably the greatest occasion in the history of association football in Zambia" by Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda.
After a bad start to the season and a bout of illness, Matt Gillies resigned in November 1968. His successor, Frank O'Farrell, was unable to prevent relegation, but the club reached the FA Cup final, losing 1–0 to Manchester City. Their relegation in 1969 ended a twelve-year stint in the top flight, the club's longest to date.
Jimmy Bloomfield (1971–1977) In 1971, Leicester were promoted back to the First Division, and won the Charity Shield for the first time against Liverpool. Unusually, due to Division One champions Arsenal's commitments in European competition, Second Division winners Leicester were invited to play FA Cup winners Liverpool, beating them 1–0. Jimmy Bloomfield was appointed for the new season, and his team remained in the First Division for his tenure. It included popular players such as Keith Weller, Frank Worthington and Alan Birchenall, who continues to play a role at the club today, particularly well known for presenting half-time entertainment. Leicester reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1974. No period since Bloomfield has seen the club remain in the top division for so long.
Up and down (1978–1991) Frank McLintock, a noted player for seven years for Leicester successful period from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, succeeded Jimmy Bloomfield in 1977. Due to City's relegation in at the end of the 1977–78 season and McClintock's subsequent resignation, he is regarded as one of Leicester's worst managers. Jock Wallace resumed the tradition of successful Scottish managers (after Peter Hodge and Matt Gillies) by steering Leicester to the Second Division championship in 1980. Unfortunately, Wallace was not able to keep Leicester in the First Division, but they reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1982. Under Wallace, one of City's most famous homegrown players, Gary Lineker, emerged into the first team squad. Leicester's next manager was Gordon Milne, who achieved promotion in 1983. Lineker helped Leicester maintain their place in the First Division but was sold to Everton in 1985 and two years later Leicester went down, having failed to find a suitable replacement. Milne had left in 1986 and was replaced by in 1987 David Pleat, who oversaw one of the club's most unsuccessful periods in its history. He was sacked in January 1991 after a defeat that left City fourth from bottom. Gordon Lee was put in charge of the club until the end of the season. Leicester won their final game of the season which guided them clear of relegation to the third tier of the Football League.
The play-off battle (1991–1994)
Brian Little, who had just taken Darlington from the Conference to the Third Division with successive promotions, was given the manager's job at Leicester and in his first season they qualified for the promotion playoffs. Leicester beat Cambridge United 6–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, but lost out on a place in the new Premier League after a 1–0 defeat in the playoff final to Blackburn Rovers – the only goal of the game was scored by Blackburn's Mike Newell, a former Leicester player. The goal, a penalty, came after a much-disputed foul by Steve Walsh on David Speedie. Speedie became the subject of much hatred amongst Leicester City supporters but signed for the club a year later.
Leicester suffered another playoff final defeat at the end of the 1992–93 Division One campaign. They managed to draw level with Swindon Town in the second half after trailing 3–0, only to concede another controversial penalty. In 1993–1994 it was third time lucky for Leicester as they beat East Midlands rivals Derby County 2–1 in the final to secure promotion to the Premiership after seven years outside the top division. Striker David Speedie was suspended for the final, having been sent off in the semi-final.
Relegation and promotion (1994–1996) Brian Little quit as Leicester manager the following November to take charge at Aston Villa, and his successor, Mark McGhee, was unable to save Leicester from finishing second from bottom in the 1994–95 Premiership campaign with just six wins from 42 league games. Leicester were flying high at the top of Division One when McGhee left the club unexpectedly in December 1995 to take charge at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
McGhee was replaced by Martin O'Neill, who prior to his brief six-month spell as Norwich City manager had taken Wycombe Wanderers from the Conference to Division Two with two successive promotions. Under O'Neill, Leicester qualified for the 1995–96 Division One promotion playoffs and beat Crystal Palace 2–1 with a last-gasp Steve Claridge goal which secured an immediate return to the Premiership. O'Neill was recognised for both his ability in the transfer market, signing players like Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet, Tony Cottee and Matt Elliott, and the performances he elicited from the team.
Success in the top flight (1996–2000)