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…
Highbury: The “Home of Football” and its Unexpected Links to Leicester
For 93 years, from 1913 to 2006, Arsenal’s beloved Highbury Stadium stood as a bastion of English football. Its iconic Art Deco stands, the famous Marble Halls, and the beloved…
Fosse Fiasco: Why They Finished With Five Men
Satirday 6 January 1912, wasn’t just another away fixture for Leicester Fosse; it was a day etched into the club’s history as a harrowing, almost unbelievable ordeal. Their visit to…
Johnny Duncan and The Turks Head: A Leicester Legend’s Unconventional Legacy
In the annals of Leicester City Football Club, few names resonate with the same enduring reverence as John “Johnny” Duncan. Dubbed “Tokey” by his peers, Duncan is rightfully described as…
Tommy Clay: Leicester’s First England International
In the rich tapestry of English football, some names shine brighter, while others, though foundational, reside in quieter corners. Thomas “Tommy” Clay is one such figure – the first player…
ACTION MAN FOOTBALLERS
The iconic Action Man Footballer, a beloved part of the “Sportsman” range, didn’t just reflect the UK’s passion for football; it was deeply rooted in Leicestershire’s manufacturing prowess and had…
Select a Team from City Stars
In 1938, the Leicester Mail captivated its readers with a series of talent competitions, one of the most popular being a challenge to select Leicester City’s most ‘skillful’ XI. Readers…
The Man Who Defined Goal-Scoring: Joe Bradford, Coalville’s Footballing Legend
Without doubt, the most successful footballer ever to have come from the Coalville District was Joe Bradford, a man who didn’t just play football, he defined it. Born on January…
Whitwick Disaster 1898
The piercing alarm that shattered the pre-dawn quiet of north west Leicestershire on Tuesday, April 19, 1898, heralded one of Leicestershire’s most devastating industrial tragedies: a raging “gob fire” deep…