ultrafox

Who knew then eh?

I wrote an article in 2003 (?) for the Fox Fanzine about the match. Just for you...here a reprint. Enjoy! October 2003 marks a lesser known football anniversary. It will be the 30th anniversary of the day that Ferenc Puskas came to play a match at Filbert Street. On a particularly freezing cold night on 16th October 1973 a charity match between Old England and The Rest of Europe brought some of football’s greatest players to Leicester for an occasion of pure nostalgia. I have dubbed this game the forgotten match, because nowhere in my many books on the history of Leicester City Football Club, and Filbert Street is it ever mentioned. Even when I referred it to a colleague of the authors of ‘Of Fossils and Foxes’, (before the 2nd edition was printed), he said they had no recollection of the game. I was beginning to think I had dreamt it up, along with my countless fantasies of Leicester actually winning the FA Cup or the Premier League. In spite of this, a recent chance finding on Ebay of the actual matchday programme, and then a little help from the Leicester Mercury confirmed that the match really did happen. It was all in aid of Goaldiggers – a charity set up to help struggling clubs and to develop football at grassroots level. Whatever happened to that?. Sadly the game only attracted an attendance of 3,181, possibly because of the bizarrely harsh sub-zero conditions on the night. But I was there with my dad all those years ago and to be honest the match was a dream come true. It may have been only an exhibition match, but the chance of seeing and possibly meeting the legendary Ferenc Puskas aka the ‘Galloping Major’ meant a lot to both me and my Hungarian-born father. While growing up in Leicester and nurturing my devotion to LCFC my late father, a refugee from the 1956 Hungarian uprising, made me aware of Hungary’s great football tradition. Up until 1978 Hungary had had a good record against England. They had a 100% record against Brazil in several World Cup matches and had appeared in the World Cup final twice in 1938 and 1954. For me at the time, being an impressionable football crazy 10 year old, Hungarian football was something to be proud of. Unfortunately, since then, Hungarian football has taken a serious nose dive, but we won’t go into that. Hence I couldn’t believe my eyes when on the way home from school one day in 1973 I saw a Leicester Mercury billboard that had the headlines ‘Banks and Puskas to play at Filbert Street’. Unbelievable! Why Leicester? Maybe it had something to do with our then famous hot-air balloon that kept the pitch playable all year round. But who cares? It was my good fortune, and I knew it would mean another rare trip to Filbert Street for me (my parents were generally reluctant to let me go to Filbert Street in those days on account of the reported hooliganism). The Old England team was made up of some of England’s 1966 World Cup winners. They included Jack Charlton, George Cohen, Roger Hunt and Gordon Banks in what must have been his first return to semi-competitive football since the car crash that caused him to lose sight in one eye. Making up the rest of the England team was Bill McGarry, Bobby Robson and a quartet of Jimmys’. Jimmy Greaves, Jimmy Armfield, Jimmy Hill and the then current Leicester manager Jimmy Bloomfield. With Puskas in the Rest of Europe team was his former Real Madrid partner, Francisco Gento, the only man to have played in 8 (yes, EIGHT) European Cup Finals and have 6 winner’s medals. Also in the team were World Cup Finalists of 66 , Uwe Seeler and Willi Schultz, as well as the Welsh “gentle giant” John Charles and Gyula Grosics, the great Hungarian goalkeeper of the 1950s. It promised to be a very interesting encounter. The score on the night was 4-2 to Old England. Goals from Hunt, Greaves, a 30 yard strike by Charlton and a late goal by Jimmy Hill completed the scoring for England, while Puskas and Charles netted for Europe. But the result was of little significance. What was more important was the occasion, and the sheer theatre of the individual performances. As the Leicester Mercury recalled, “ A superstar show was put on by the heaviest there – the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who warmed the crowd with a skilful display of old fashioned ball play.” They also described how Gordon Banks… “displayed all his old agility and sound positional judgement and came out on top in a personal duel with Spain’s Francisco Gento, the great winger of Real Madrid’s heyday” My own recollection of the match recalls Puskas gamely trying to explain to his wingers where he wanted the ball delivered, right down to pointing to the spot on the ground. On several occasions the portly Puskas would follow through on crosses that had passed by him seconds earlier, just to demonstrate to the appreciative crowd his dazzling intentions. At the full time whistle I ran onto the pitch (oooh err) to collect some autographs in the autograph-book my mum had bought me especially for the occasion. Amazingly even then, stewards were at hand to shepherd stray fans off the pitch (or maybe I was picked on as an easy target). Consequently I left the field empty handed. A further attempt at some autograph hunting later on at the players’ entrance ended up with only two paw prints. One from Jimmy Armfield, the other, Lord knows! It could have been the steward that had earlier ushered me off the pitch; such was my desperation to return home with something in my brand new autograph book. As for meeting Puskas himself? Well, all the players were treated to a huge banquet after the match that went on until the early hours. My dad and I waited outside a dimly lit Filbert Street for over an hour, listening to the feast that was obviously going on within and freezing to death in the process. In the end two factors determined my fate. I had school in the morning and Puskas is renowned for his love of food, so I suppose our meeting was never to be. Still, I was there and enjoyed this rarely mentioned historical event at Filbert Street. Therefore now, exactly 30 years later I feel compelled to echo the sentiments of the song that was played out as the teams left the field that cold and wintry October evening back in 1973. “Thanks for the Memory”.

Correct on both accounts! Still got the programme!

Did you know that Gento played a match at Filbert Street? Can you name the match and when? I was there!

Respect where it's due, but no other player has won six European Cups. Real Madrid and Spain legend Francisco 'Paco' Gento has died aged 88. Gento, who spent 18 years with Real from 1953-1971, is the only player to have won six European Cups. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60037044 The left-winger made 600 appearances for the club and scored 182 goals as he also helped them to 12 league crowns, two Copa del Rey titles and one Intercontinental Cup. He won 43 caps for Spain and represented his country in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His club record of 23 trophies, which stood for over 50 years, was equalled on Sunday by Real captain Marcelo when he came on as a substitute in the club's Spanish Super Cup-winning victory. Gento started his career at Racing Santander before his move to the Spanish capital. "Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and its love and affection to his wife Mari Luz, his sons Francisco and Julio, his granddaughters Aitana and Candela and all his relatives, colleagues and loved ones," Real said in a statement. "He will always be remembered by Madridistas and all football fans as one of their greatest." RIP Paco

Let's stop with the C team bit. It was a Liverpool B team. But so was ours in the second half. In fact I'd say ours was more of a B team than theirs when the Saints duo came on.

If we can keep it down to 3-0, it'll be a good result for us.

He's just not bothered anymore. He has a contract, and already won PL, CL...and will just sit the rest of his career out. I thought we'd stopped being a club that acted a retirement home for seasoned professionals. Obviously not.

Winning this would not top winning the FA Community Shield. Waste of time. Nice for U23s and Development squad. Are we allow to send Leicester city women's team?

There a TV guide app "Live Soccer TV" that gives all the international channels for all games. Been using it for years.. https://m.livesoccertv.com/competitions/

Would anybody want to be in the Europa Conference? It's an awful idea. I can only see PL teams put out their 3rd teams for such an insignificant competition. Maybe it's a sign of how far we've come, but I would be embarrassed if Leicester were in the Europa Conference, and I'd only want us to use our development squad for it if we were.

The nerves are kicking in. Trying to keep myself busy..putting up flags and scarves around the house. I can't keep calm.

I ordered mine from a dealer, the day after we won the semi, and received nothing yet..and we don't have post on Saturdays in Luxembourg. Does anyone know whether there will be an online edition?

It really is!! We use to go to 2 pubs in Harrow on the Hill, (Moon on the Hill, and The Fat Controller). Not sure if they will be open though.

There are several reputable football programme dealers who can supply the programme. Albeit above face value. e.g. https://www.onlineshop.footballprogrammes.com/2021-fa-cup-final-chelsea--v-leicester-city--official-match-programme--exclusive-1921-final-reprint-417-p.asp I ordered mine the day after the semi-final. It hasn't arrived yet. 😕

Never trust Google

Looks like the programme is ready. Anyone got one yet?

When I watch Perez play I always get very frustrated. When he loses the ball (and anybody can lose a ball) he never looks very interested in trying to get it back. He simply trots behind his opponent. His stats in the first half yesterday showed he made only 4 sprints. His opposite number made 12. As I said to a friend last night, he's just a Trotter. He obviously believes that "Only Fools and Horses work!!" He should not play in the Final.

I had this. Though my email was the unsuccessful one. It was in my webmail Spam folder that's online.... i.e....it never made it into my desktop Outlook folders. Just an idea. Good luck

Actually, reminding me of Chelsea's 2-5 home defeat to West Brom in April has softened the blow somewhat. One month later they ripped through Real Madrid. Funny ol' game, eh Saint?

...and Leicester City 2019/2020 Premier League Champions.

Exactly.....he's a man of principle and integrity. No way will he join this greedy circus! .and especially as the German FA along with Bayern and Dortmund are against Super League.

It seems the Cup Final programmes are already available to pre order https://www.onlineshop.footballprogrammes.com/2021-fa-cup-final-chelsea--v-leicester-city--official-match-programme--exclusive-1921-final-reprint-417-p.asp Not sure how trust worthy this site is...but I've gone and ordered one. I'm still buzzing. It's the nearest I'll get to being at Wembley this year.

Man U Jan 1998....the last time we won at Old Trafford, and against a formidable Utd line up. https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-leicester-city-31-january-1998-23170/ What a feeling leaving Old Trafford against a sea of silent home supporters looking like they'd just come from a funeral....and me with the biggest smile in Manchester.

The programme can still be found on ebay occasionally. Here's one ..https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OLD-ENGLAND-V-REST-OF-EUROPE-1973-INTERNATIONAL-CHARITY-FRIENDLY-PUSKAS-CHARLES-/293999349754 I still don't know why this match is never mentioned in any edition of "Of Fossils and Foxes"