This old notice of a football match played on Loughborough’s Athletic Ground in 1894 was brought to light when a wall was uncovered during alterations to the Cattle Market premises of George Hill in 1958, opposite the Town Hall passage. Note that it was printed by H. Wills, later to become Wills & Hepworth of Ladybird Books fame
The Leicestershire & Northants League (LNL) was formed nearly three years after the collapse of the Leicestershire Football League in 1891. Of the eleven clubs that joined the League in its first season – three were from Northamptonshire – Kettering, Wellingborough and Finedon. As eight Leicestershire clubs – Fosse Rovers, Hinckley, Hugglescote Robin Hoods, Leicester YMCA, Loughborough Athletic, Melton, Sileby and Shepshed entered, two thirds of the matches took place in that county. A ninth Leicestershire club – Castle Donington – unfortunately withdrew from the proposed League in May 1894 due to issues with the local train service. Attempts to induce other Northamptonshire clubs, in particular Kettering Hawks, to enter, failed.
Leicestershire & Northants League 1894-95
Leicester Fosse Rovers (Leicester Fosse Reserves) won the inaugural Leicestershire & Northamptonshire League, winning 17, drawing one and losing 2 games. It was clear from the first weeks of the season that the Fosse were the best team and topped the table throughout the whole season. They won their opening 14 LNL games, dropping their first points in a draw against Wellingborough at home in late March 1895. Both defeats took place in the final two weeks of the season – YMCA at home and away at Wellingborough. Five points behind were Finedon Revellers. Melton Town claimed the wooden spoon winning just 2 of their 20 League games, conceding on average 5 goals per game.
Fosse Rovers also won the second and final LNL in 1896. The Leicestershire Senior League was formed after the collapse of the League at its AGM in May 1896 following the resignation of 6 of the 9 clubs.