LE4 Old Fart

I hope you will forgive my blatant attempt at promoting a book – but it is for a good cause. Pig-Bladders & Moustaches – a miscellany of nineteenth century Leicester Fosse & Leicestershire football is a unique and engaging miscellany that delves into the vibrant and often chaotic origins of football in Leicestershire during the 19th century. This book will transport readers to a time of pig bladder balls, magnificent moustaches, and the raw, unfiltered passion that fuelled the early game. Presented in a deliberately random, time-hopping order, this collection of trivia, facts, anecdotes, stories, profiles, and lists offers a captivating and unique unpredictable journey through a forgotten era of local sporting history. How to Order: The book is £12.50 (including postage) and can be ordered here: https://shorturl.at/aBpZ6 The Cause: Every penny of the proceeds goes directly toward maintaining and enhancing the not-for-profit Leicestershire Football Archive. You can learn more about our work at www.leicestershirefootballarchive.com

The team might be facing a tough spell right now, but our history is something to be proud of. Let's celebrate our incredible past together! Please share any Leicester football memorabilia you have.

Blame Noottingham for everything After the Match At the Loughborough Assizes, Frank Ainsworth, a labourer from Kegworth, entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of being drunk and disorderly in Kegworth on Saturday, March 27th 1897. Police Constable Hartshorne testified that he encountered the defendant in a highly intoxicated state in the Market Place around 10:15 PM, surrounded by a crowd. PC Hartshorne noted that Ainsworth appeared to have been involved in a fight. After being escorted home, Ainsworth was found shortly thereafter near his residence, again behaving aggressively. In his defence, Ainsworth stated he had attended a football match in Donington and consumed only two half-pints of beer there, followed by a bottle of hop bitter at the Three Cranes pub in Kegworth upon his return. He claimed that upon leaving the pub, two unknown young men inquired about lodgings from his sister and a young lady. When he intervened, one of the men struck him in the jaw. Ainsworth maintained he was not intoxicated. Eliza Wakefield corroborated his account of the assault. The strangers reportedly stated they were from Nottingham. The Bench ultimately found Ainsworth guilty and imposed a fine of five shillings. Leicester Mercury 10 April 1897

Letter to the Leicester Mercury editor May 1897 Nearly 130 years later little has changed! If you have any old football images or memorbilia or simply want more football nostalgia visit us: www.leicestershirefootballarchive.com

The end of season awards could be interesting – perhaps we need a change for 2024-25 1. Worst player of the season 2. Worst performance of the season 3. Shittiest individual piece of defending 4. Most sideways passes 5. Highest number incomplete passes 6. Most shots off target 7. Danny goalkeeping “aWard” Certain you think of others

Which records can we break this season? Fewest league points in a season (3 points for a win) – 28 (from 38 games), Premier League, 2001–02) Fewest league wins in a season – 5 (from 42 games, First Division (old), 1977–78) and (from 38 games, Premier League, 2001–02) Most consecutive league defeats – 8 (17 March 2001 – 28 April 2001) Most consecutive league home defeats – 5 (3 January 1959 – 18 March 1959) Worst Director of Football in Premier league history?