Leicester City In 100 Players: Sid Bishop

He became the first Leicester City outfield player to be capped for England and the first to be selected as captain for his country. He was also a key member of the Foxes side which finished third in the old First Division in 1928. 

Brought up in east London, Stepney-born Bishop played for London Schools and then for the RAF during the First World War, before signing for West Ham United in May 1920. In 1923, he was in the Hammers side which was promoted to the top flight and which played in the first-ever FA Cup Final at Wembley, the famous ‘White Horse’ Final. 

Bishop signed for Leicester in November 1926 during the Club’s second season back in the top flight. This was at a time when the team was on its way to becoming one of the best sides in the land. 

He won four England caps in April and May 1927, against Scotland, Belgium, Luxembourg (when he scored) and France. He took part in international trials in January and February 1928 and was chosen to represent the Football League against the Scottish League in March 1928. 

Later that month, Bishop was selected as England’s captain for the match against Scotland at Wembley, but he was ill and did not play in England’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of the ‘Wembley Wizards’. 

However, despite his success at Leicester, Bishop’s time at Filbert Street was drawing to a close. A month later, the directors’ minutes record that he was determined to live and train in London on the grounds that ‘Leicester did not agree with his health’.

The Club wanted Bishop to commit, in writing, to living in Leicester but, the next month, Second Division Chelsea signed him for £3,800, having had an earlier offer of £2,500 rejected. 

The following season, Leicester finished runners-up in the old First Division. Chelsea finished ninth in the Second Division. Bishop never played for England again, although he was selected as England’s captain against Ireland in October 1928.

Once again, however, he had to withdraw from the match through illness. Bishop went on to play over 100 games for Chelsea, helping them to promotion in 1930, before retiring in 1933.