Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

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Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

To mark the launch of Leicester City's 1992-94 Retro range earlier this winter, LCFC.com recalls a memorable game from the era.

2022-03-07T13:01:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

07 Mar, 2022

Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

To mark the launch of Leicester City's 1992-94 Retro range earlier this winter, LCFC.com recalls a memorable game from the era.

Sam Jones

2022-03-07T13:01:00.000Z

Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

To mark the launch of Leicester City's 1992-94 Retro range earlier this winter, LCFC.com recalls a memorable game from the era.

Sam Jones

2022-03-07T13:01:00.000Z

Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

To mark the launch of Leicester City's 1992-94 Retro range earlier this winter, LCFC.com recalls a memorable game from the era.

Sam Jones

2022-03-07T13:01:00.000Z

Tranmere Triumph Remembered To Celebrate Retro Shirt Launch

To mark the launch of Leicester City's 1992-94 Retro range earlier this winter, LCFC.com recalls a memorable game from the era.

Sam Jones

2022-03-07T13:01:00.000Z

Leicester had come close to reaching the newly-formed Premier League on two occasions since the division was established, shortly after the turn of the decade.

There was initial heartbreak as they missed out on a place in the inaugural Premier League season following a 1-0 reverse against Blackburn Rovers in the First Division Play-Off Final at the old Wembley Stadium in May 1992.

Losing 4-3 to Swindon Town the following year, City came back for a third crack at promotion via the play-offs at the end of 1993/94. Finishing fourth during the regular season, with 73 points collected from their 46 games, set up a two-legged semi-final against Tranmere Rovers, who had placed fifth, just one point behind the Foxes.

With little to separate the sides across the campaign, drawing 1-1 in the fixture at Filbert Street after a narrow 1-0 success for Rovers earlier in the season, it was always likely to be another closely fought match-up this time around.

Leicester City had qualified for the play-offs despite winning just two of their last 12 league games, hit by injuries to key players which marred their run-in.

The first leg, played at Tranmere’s Prenton Park on 15 May 1994, ended in a goalless draw, though Gavin Ward had to produce a fine stop to keep out former Liverpool forward John Aldridge.

Three days later, the return fixture took place at Filbert Street, with talismanic defender Steve Walsh returning to the side for his first start since September 1993, providing a boost to Brian Little’s side.

As half-time approached in the second leg, there was finally a breakthrough, and it was City, wearing the now iconic all-blue home kit, with it’s v-neck shirt design, who found it, courtesy of Ian Ormondroyd, who converted from close range after Mark Blake’s effort came back off the upright.

However, it was not a lead Leicester held for long. Scotland international Pat Nevin equalised just one minute after the interval, turning home Ged Brannan’s cross.

Then, with four minutes to go, substitute and City’s joint-top scorer David Speedie headed home Blake’s free-kick to restore the Foxes’ advantage.

More drama was to follow in stoppage time as Speedie and Rovers ‘keeper Eric Nixon were both sent off, but it mattered little to the result as the hosts secured a 2-1 aggregate success in front of a raucous Blue Army crowd of 22,593 to reach the showpiece final for the third season running.

Midlands rivals Derby County were the opponents for the landmark fixture at Wembley Stadium, played on 30 May, 1994. Some 73,671 fans were in attendance, and it was Rams' supporters who were celebrating first, courtesy of Tommy Johnson’s first-half goal.

Walsh, who had recovered from an ACL injury to play a part in the play-offs, headed in a leveller shortly before half-time and, incredibly, then came up with the winner with 84 minutes on the clock.

Simon Grayson’s cross was headed towards goal by Ormondroyd, with his effort saved by Martin Taylor, but only into the path of Walsh, who poked home the rebound. Cue pandemonium in the Leicester half of the ground.

Once again wearing the 1992-94 home shirt, the Foxes had broken their play-off curse to reach the Premier League for the very first time, etching the players' names and that now iconic kit into Foxes folklore.

To shop the latest addition to the Club's Retro range, the 1992-94 home shirt, click HERE.

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