TWIH: City Go Top For The First Time

Eighty-seven years ago this week, on 18 September 1926, Leicester City made history. For the first time in their history, the Club went to the top of the Football League. They achieved this feat by beating Everton at Goodison Park in a match so exciting and pulsating that the Leicester Mercury’s headline proclaimed that for sheer skill and excitement, that the game would ‘long be remembered’.

As a result of going to the top of the table for the first time ever, Leicester City were finally recognised nationally as a true force in the land.

When considering the match at Everton, which took Leicester City to this pinnacle, the football writers on the national dailies were almost at a loss for words and had to settle for such accolades as ‘amazing’, ‘almost incredible’ and  ‘a revelation.’

The game was played on a warm Saturday afternoon. A pleasant breeze blew across Goodison Park and Leicester, playing in white shirts, were given a splendid reception by the 30,000 strong crowd.

At half time Leicester City were losing 3-0.They pulled two goals back through Arthur Chandler but six minutes from time they were still losing 2-3. Two minutes later the City (or the ‘Knuts’ as one newspaper report called them!) were 4-3 up following late goals from Ernie Hine and Johnny Duncan. Even then, the drama was not over. Two minutes from the end, Everton were awarded a penalty. When the ball crashed against the post, the Toffees’ chance of equalising disappeared. Leicester City had won a famous victory and went to the top of the league.

The national newspapers were impressed.

The main paper for football news, the ‘Athletic News’ reported, “That Leicester are a clever side was fully demonstrated after they had reduced the 3-0 leeway. They play really good football. They were faster, man for man, and had good knowledge of each others’ requirements.

In midfield operations they were very effective, crafty footwork and clever control often unhinging the opposing plan of defence.

The forwards, always swift-moving, generally contrived to keep the ball on the turf. No-one could desire to see a better combination”.

The ‘Daily Chronicle’ was also impressed.

“It was an amazing match. After the change of ends, the City attack took the game in hand. The credit for the victory goes to the City forwards and to Campbell. The Scottish international kept goal splendidly in the first half. The half-backs likewise improved, with Duncan backing up his forces cleverly. Adcock and Bell were fine wingers but Hine and Chandler were outstanding.”

The ‘Daily Dispatch’ was also impressed by Leicester’s performance and achievement.

“The nippy Leicester forwards literally bombarded Baker. Hine, Chandler and Duncan were prolific shooters. Leicester played splendid football in the second half and the Everton defence was bewildered by the speed, body swerves and ball control of their forwards.”

The ‘Daily Mail’ agreed.

“It was an extraordinary and thrilling struggle in which the Leicester forwards gained the day. In the opening half Everton were quite good while the City backs were not too certain at times, but afterwards, Everton failed against a forward line that excelled in every phase of attacking work. Hine and Chandler were especially good but all five forwards maintained a high standard. Duncan behind them also did fine work while Campbell kept goal splendidly.”

The ‘Daily Express’ wrote that Leicester, “played confident football and refused to be hustled in any way. When they assumed the upper hand they made the Everton defenders look like novices.”

Reports in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ and ‘Daily Herald’ were equally complimentary.

The consensus of opinion nationally was the Leicester City thoroughly deserved their newly won position at the top of the League.

It was left to the ‘Leicester Mercury’ to point out the true significance of Leicester City’s victory over Everton 87 years ago this week.

“Leicester City made history on Saturday. In a game that will live long in the memory, they not only lifted themselves to the top of the first league for the first time in their history, but their dramatic win gave them their first ever victory against Everton on the spacious Goodison Park enclosure. Never in the whole history of the Club have the City held undisputed top position at the head of Division One. Here’s hoping that they may hold onto their position until the curtain comes down on the season.”

The following week, Leicester City consolidated their top position by an emphatic 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers but in the end they only achieved a final position of 7th.

However, the foundations of a very successful period had been laid.

The following season the City finished third in the League and the season after that they finished 2nd, only missing out on being crowned League Champions by one point.

There have been other occasions when Leicester City have been top of the League, the most recent being when they topped the Premier League in October 2000, but it could be argued that none of those subsequent occasions quite matched that heady day 87 years ago this week when the Club first achieved that feat.

Pics:

Header: Johnny Duncan, who scored the fourth.

1. Arthur Chandler, scorer of the first two goals against Everton.

2. Ernie Hine, who scored the third goal. 

3. Hughie Adcock who starred on the wing against Everton with fellow future England international Ernie Hine.

4. The Leicester City team that topped the table in 1926.