This Week In History: City's 111 Years At Filbert Street Come To An End

Heritage
17 May 2020
2 Minutes
Leicester City marked several key landmarks, including the final game of their 2015/16 season and bidding an emotional goodbye to Filbert Street, over 11-17 May in the Club's history.

Twenty-eight years ago, on 13 May, 1992, Brian Little's Foxes secured their place in the first of three successive second tier play-off finals with a stunning victory over Cambridge United.

Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Leicester entertained the U's at Filbert Street for what most expected would be a tense and fraught 90 minutes of dramatic play-off action.

However, a brace from Tommy Wright, plus solitary goals from Steve Thompson, Kevin 'Rooster' Russell and Ian Ormondroyd saw City run riot, winning 5-0, and 6-1 on aggregate.

The final, though, was a different affair as Little's men suffered a 1-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers, made worse by the fact that former Fox Mike Newell scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Despite upgrading Filbert Street with the new 9,500-capacity Carling Stand, replacing the 72-year-old Main Stand in 1993, Leicester left their home of 111 years on 11 May, 2002.

The magnificent era of Martin O'Neill's tenure in charge was a distant memory and a season which included three managers - Peter Taylor, Dave Bassett and Micky Adams - ended in relegation.

City were to move into the 32,000-capacity King Power Stadium, previously called Walkers Stadium, that summer, but they nonetheless signed off the 2001/02 campaign with a rare victory over Tottenham.

Following Teddy Sheringham's penalty, Paul Dickov and youngster Matt Piper scored the goals in a 2-1 win for the Foxes - and they were able to secure an immediate return to the top-flight a year later.

Fourteen years after leaving Filbert Street, King Power Stadium was the venue as City lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time - and their final game of the season came on 15 May, 2016.

After receiving the trophy a week earlier on Filbert Way, Claudio Ranieri returned to Stamford Bridge as his Foxes fought out a 1-1 draw with Guus Hiddink's Chelsea to wrap up Leicester's best-ever season.

Danny Drinkwater's stunning effort from distance, following Cesc Fàbregas' spot-kick, sealed a point for the visitors, meaning they had lost just three games all season, winning the title by a margin of 10 points.

The day will perhaps be best remembered, however, for the gracious congratulations afforded by City's hosts, with both the squad and Ranieri being the recipients of a Guard of Honour at Stamford Bridge.