Riding the GCR Football Specials into History
The summer of 1900 offered Leicester residents an array of exciting and affordable railway excursions, a testament to the burgeoning competition among railway companies at the turn of the century.…
Town Football
Delving into the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this captivating 1959 article offers a brief yet comprehensive history of football in Melton Mowbray:- A MELTON TOWN Football Club was in…
Alf Shelton: Loughborough’s Link to an England & FA Cup Winning Legend
Alfred “Alf” Shelton (1865-1923) was an English international footballer who, amongst other notable clubs, played for Loughborough. Born on Tuesday, September 12, 1865, in Sneinton, Nottingham, he was baptised on…
Nottingham Forest’s Pioneering Home and Its Fosse Farewell
Nottingham’s Town Ground, Nottingham Forest’s first home, hosted its final competitive match in April 1898: the Burford Cup Final between Forest and Leicester Fosse. Opened on October 2, 1890, with…
More Than Just Gold: The Enduring Legacy of Dai Jones and His Prized Medal
In 2023, a piece of Leicester City history changed hands, commanding a price exceeding £5,000 at auction. It was the nine-carat gold Football League Division Two Champion’s medal from the…
Filbert Street’s Fateful Afternoon: The 1895 Test Match That Defined Fortunes
On April 27, 1895, the professional football world turned its gaze to Leicester. Not for a local derby or a cup final, but for a high-stakes “Test Match” at the…
A Century Ago: Rare Aerial Photo Captures Leicester City in Action at Filbert Street
Historic England has made available a fascinating aerial photograph taken in January 1923, offering a unique view of Leicester City’s Filbert Street ground. This image captures the stadium before significant…
Nineteenth Century Football Tactics
The development of Association Football tactics in the nineteenth century was a gradual process, initially characterized by a more rudimentary and less structured approach compared to the sophisticated strategies seen…
What’s in a Name? Unpacking the 19th-Century Origins of Leicestershire Football Clubs
As we look out at the modern football landscape, it’s easy to take club names for granted. But cast your mind back to the 19th century, when the beautiful game…
Hugglescote Robin Hood FC (1877-1900)
Founded in the late 1870s (probably 1877), Hugglescote Robin Hood FC were pioneers of football in Leicestershire, predating the formal establishment of competitive leagues. For their first decade, matches were…