Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

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Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

Emile Heskey is the latest former Fox to appear on Leicester’s The Place, discussing his time as part of an iconic period of Leicester City history.

2025-07-03T09:16+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

03 Jul, 2025

Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

Emile Heskey is the latest former Fox to appear on Leicester’s The Place, discussing his time as part of an iconic period of Leicester City history.

Sam Jones

2025-07-03T09:16+01:00

Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

Emile Heskey is the latest former Fox to appear on Leicester’s The Place, discussing his time as part of an iconic period of Leicester City history.

Sam Jones

2025-07-03T09:16+01:00

Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

Emile Heskey is the latest former Fox to appear on Leicester’s The Place, discussing his time as part of an iconic period of Leicester City history.

Sam Jones

2025-07-03T09:16+01:00

Three Things We Learned From Heskey’s Podcast

Emile Heskey is the latest former Fox to appear on Leicester’s The Place, discussing his time as part of an iconic period of Leicester City history.

Sam Jones

2025-07-03T09:16+01:00

As ever, Matt Elliott and Gerry Taggart were tasked with hosting the pod, inviting decorated former England international Heskey to join them for an enthralling hour-long chat, revisiting cup final heroics and plenty of other unforgettable moments, as well as some of these lesser-known stories from their times together at the Club…

Celebrating the Cup Final triumph

ภาพแห่งความทรงจำ! เฮสกีย์ซัดประตูสุดดราม่าในนาทีท้าย พาเลสเตอร์ยื้อเกมนัดชิงลีกคัพ 1997 กับมิดเดิลสโบรห์ไปรีแมตช์ แฟน ๆ เฮสนั่นเวมบลีย์!

The forward's first major accolade of his senior career, the League Cup Final in 1997 was certainly one to remember as Heskey's last-gasp goal at the old Wembley took the game to a replay at Hillsborough, which Martin O'Neill's side won in extra-time to secure the trophy for a second time - and a third would follow three years later.

Elliott, cup tied having played for Oxford United earlier in the competition prior to moving to City, travelled back from Sheffield on the team coach and celebrations lasted long into the night, though Heskey, only 19 at the time, was not exactly used to the big drinking culture that was around the squad.

He explained: “They decided to hand me a bottle of champagne, so I drank that, then gave me a beer when I got into the changing rooms and then another bottle on the coach for the drive back. I remember going into the toilet at the back thinking I don’t feel great and I was sick. I came off the bus and there was a party back at Filbert Street.”

Claridge’s training hijinks

Claridge scored the 1997 League Cup Final winner in extra-time.

Steve Claridge formed an effective partnership with Heskey on the pitch, particularly during the aforementioned League Cup Final success over Middlesbrough, but it was his antics at Belvoir Drive which became memorable to Heskey and co.

“When Martin [O’Neill] came, we didn’t have a time to turn up, it was just to be on the pitch,” the striker remembered. “At Belvoir Drive, the first pitch we used to play on with the net, he (Claridge) used to drive right up to that, get out with all his kit on and boots, jump on the pitch and then get straight back in his car and drive off. In the end, the gaffer said you had to be in 30 minutes before. He changed it for Claridge.”

An early bloomer

The trio back together for the podcast.

Many a manager remarked on his natural ability and physical traits from a young age, with Manchester United centre-back Gary Pallister being given the run around by Heskey early on in his career, as Sir Alex Ferguson later told Martin O’Neill.

Heskey commented: “I thrived in that environment because I wanted to put myself up against the best and I wanted to see if they could handle what I’ve got. The funny thing is, I remember going to Liverpool, I would have been 22 and Stephane Henchoz said he always thought I was 28, 29. It was the way that I played as well.”

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