This Week In History: Fosse's Debut, Crackers Beat Derby & League Cup Woe Ends
During a week which also included debuts for John Sjoberg (1960) and Andy Lochhead (1968), Muzzy Izzet's birthday and the appointment of Craig Levein in 2004, the following three events took place...
At the Freemasons' Tavern on Great Queen Street in London, a bible class at the now-demolished Emanuel Chapel on New Park Street, Leicester, contemplated forming a new football club.
Once created, Reverend Lewellyn H Parsons and his bible class spoke of an exciting future for their fledgling club and they played their first-ever fixture on Saturday 1 November, 1884.
Leicester Fosse’s maiden fixture was held in front of a modest crowd on a private field off Fosse Road South, as the new club ran out 5-0 victors over Syston Fosse.
The average age of their line-up was just 16 as braces from Arthur West and Hilton Johnson, as well as a solitary goal from Sam Dingley, secured victory.
In October of 1891, meanwhile, an opportunity arose to base the Club on Filbert Street at a venue which was then known to the public as the Walnut Street Ground.
The Fossils’ first full season in the Midland League proved difficult and, despite attracting crowds of up to 4,000 spectators on Filbert Street, it would take them three years to fully settle.
All three goals were scored from outside the 18-yard box as Leicester City's excellent start to the 2000/01 season continued with a 2-1 victory over Derby County on Saturday 28 October, 2000.
The Rams actually went ahead at Filbert Street in the 12th minute through an unstoppable low drive from 30 yards, but it wasn't long before City restored parity on the scoresheet.
Peter Taylor's men, who started October occupying top spot in the Premier League, made it 1-1 on the half-hour mark, courtesy of a lovely half-volley from Foxes favourite Muzzy Izzet.
A fraught clash with Derby was settled with just 14 minutes of normal time to play, meanwhile, and it was a moment of pure magic from a specialist in scoring extraordinary goals.
Up stepped Icelandic forward Arnar Gunnlaugsson who, after cutting inside from the right wing, curled a perfect effort beyond Mart Poom and into the far corner to seal all three points.
Despite their impressive start to the season, though, the Foxes eventually fell to 13th place in the Premier League at the end of Taylor's maiden campaign at Filbert Street.
City ended a six-year wait to win a League Cup tie on Wednesday 28 October, 1981 during a second round second leg tie against Preston North End at Filbert Street.
Following a 1-0 reverse in the first leg, it wasn't looking good for Jock Wallace's men, who went into the clash following a 2-0 reverse to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
However, a sterling display from the Foxes, who eventually finished eighth in the old Second Division, ensured that their League Cup heartache was finally about to come to an end.
Keith Robson opened the scoring for Leicester after 28 minutes before Steve Lynex doubled their lead on the day before the interval, while an own goal added to their tally shortly after it.
Jim Melrose finished City's scoring late on to send the home side into the next round, where they would eventually be beaten by Aston Villa over two legs.
Despite that disappointment, the Foxes fared far better in the FA Cup during the 1981/82 season, reaching the semi-finals by beating Southampton, Hereford United, Watford and Shrewsbury Town.