Leicester are looking to bounce straight back.


For the first time in their history, which goes back to 1890, Leicester City Football Club have been relegated to the third tier of English Football.

Never before has this happened to the east midlands club, even though they have had some near misses in the past. Just eight years ago Leicester were having their most successful time in their history, thanks to Martin O’Neill at the helm. O’Neill had guided Leicester to becoming an established mid table premiership side.

In 1997 and 2000, Leicester won the league cup, which automatically qualified them to go in to the UEFA cup, something that had never happened to the club before. These glory years were not long lived though, and when Martin O’Neill moved on to Celtic there was only one way the club could go. Bad managers came and went as did bad players, until finally Leicester were in a relegation fight at the bottom of the championship at the end of 2006, although they managed to stay up. Leicester were in financial crisis but millionaire Milan Mandaric saved the club, buying it for £26 million.

Fans thought this change in luck would signal the start of the push back to the premiership. In the 2007-2008 season Leicester started the season poorly, with manager Martin Allen leaving the club and the side were in the bottom half. Gary Megson was brought in to steady the ship, but he only lasted a month and a half until he moved on to Bolton. Then in came Ian Holloway, who promised the fans he would get them out of the relegation zone. This didn’t happen however and Leicester’s fate was sealed on the last day of the season after a 1-1 draw away to Stoke City.

Leicester will be looking this season to get straight back up. They have sold only a few players and still have Matty Fryatt who has already scored 22 goals this season. They have a good manager in Nigel Pearson and everyone connected with the club will hope that this is just a one off season and they will go straight back up.

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History of Leicester City Football Club

Leicester City were established in 1890 and named Leicester Fosse. The club played their home games at Filbert Street and were in the old division 2 (now the championship). The club changed its name in 1919 to Leicester City football club as the borough Leicester received city status. In between 1920-1939 Leicester went up to the first division twice but were relegated the season after on both occasions. In 1949 Leicester made it to their first ever cup final, however they lost 3-1 to Wolverhampton wanderers. In 1957 Leicester were promoted to the first division, where they stayed for 12 years. This was thanks mainly to Arthur Rowley, who scored a record 44 goals in one season during this period.

Leicester, under the guidance of Matt Gillies, reached the F.A cup final in 1961, 1963 and 1969, but they lost all three. The club were successful in a final during this time though, winning the league cup in 1964. One of Leicester’s most famous ever players, Gordon Banks, was at the club during this time, spending seven years in all. In 1982, Gary Lineker made his first appearance for the club, eventually becoming the most famous player Leicester has ever produced.

In 1991 Leicester were in the second division, they made it to the playoff final for a place in the first season of the premiership, but they lost 1-0 to Blackburn. In 1994 Leicester finally made it to the premiership, but were relegated straight back the season after. In 1995 Martin O’Neill was appointed and took the team straight back to the premiership via the playoffs. O’Neill established the team as a premiership club, guiding the team to four top ten finishes and winning two league cups.

Winning the league cup put Leicester in the UEFA cup for the first time in their history, however they got knocked out in the first round on both occasions. Martin O’Neill then left the club to go to Celtic, and Peter Taylor became manager. He spent £23 million on players but got the team relegated the season after. Leicester then went through many managers and were in financial trouble, until Milan Mandaric bought the club in 2006. This did not change the clubs fortunes though and in 2007 Leicester were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.

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Teams Leicester have currently played this season

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History of Leicester City Football Club

The game has gone full circle.

I'll try not to make this a history lesson, but golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century when players would hit a pebble using a stick. Of course the game has come on a long way since then, but its nice to see that the country that thought up the game is still doing well at it. Similar to England with football, Scotland gave the world golf and the world got better than them at it, with America becoming dominant in the major tournaments and producing great players such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. However last year in the Golf world cup, Scotland (through Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren) won it for the first ever time. If you think of how many more professionals countries like America have at their disposal it puts this achievement in to context. Its not just on the professional side that Scotland are having success however. On Sunday, Scotland (thanks to Wallace Booth, Callum Macaulay and Gavin Dear) won their first ever amateur world title by nine shots from the United States, a monumental achievement for a country so small. I just thought I'd congratulate them on their achievement. It's nice to see a country that invented a game, still being doing so well in it, well done Scotland.

The first attempt.

So here we go with this blogging lark. I know I should have started this sooner, but its better late than never right? I'm going to be writing about golf, hopefully well but I wouldn't hold your breath on that. I enjoy golf myself, I am a member at a club in my hometown of Loughborough and used to take it very seriously when I was in my early teens but most of my weekends are devoted to playing football now. Going to uni as well has also starved how much I've been able to play, which is disappointing because I used to really enjoy it. On following the European and PGA tours, I'm not as keen. I enjoy watching the majors and the ryder cup, but of the weekly tournaments, my knowledge is limited, but this blog is going to change that! Enjoy....