davieG Posted 7 October 2005 Posted 7 October 2005 Reminiscence From the Fox Fanzine "When Leicester were Table Toppers" The origins of modern football can be traced back to Filbert Street in the Season of 1963, yet Matt Gillies and Bert Johnson were never given credit. Howard Riley put it this way "Gillies and Johnson made us think about Football for the first time, we started rehearsing set pieces and routines,until then coaching was just a kickabout and a few sprints". The masterstroke was to encourage McLintock and Graham Cross to switch positions during the game and opponents were continually flummoxed by it. Even the great Bill Shankly pioneering the revolution that was about to transform Liverpool had Leicester spied on and reported on the season before Liverpools promotion "Theres only one team to beware of and thats Leicester City" That year on August 31st at Filbert Street we trounced Arsenal 7-2 This is courtesy of an old article from the Daily Telegraph Kendalfox For the record I was around in 1963 and I vividly recall the McLintock-Cross interchange, which was made (I think) for the first game of 1963 when Jimmy Walsh was dropped in favour of Crossy and we beat Leyton Orient 5-1 at Filbo. (That's from memory, btw - I haven't consulted F and F so the detail may not be absolutely correct.) The team then went on to go something like 18 games unbeaten, a run which took them to the top of the League. That remains the best City XI I have seen play and I can still name them: Banks, Sjoberg, Norman, McLintock, King, Appleton (capt.), Riley, Cross, Keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow. Some things you never forget.
Thracian Posted 7 October 2005 Posted 7 October 2005 Reminiscence From the Fox Fanzine Thanks for the memories DavieG. I certainly remember Bert Johnson. I used to race down from Wyggeston to train at City on Tuesday/Thursday nights on the old car park outside Filbert Street and Bert was there with another trainer George Dewis. We also did sprints around the pitch on the shale running track before going on to small-side football in the gym under the main stand and extra shooting practice with Shilts to finish. Banksie was making the name for himself that led to the familiar comment at the time"safe as the Banks of England" and eventually earned him a World Cup winner's medal but Peter Shilton, then a 14/15 year old was already starting to make a big impression. Pete and I were coincidentally both sixers at the time in the same scout troop (The 60th Leicester's) and it was obvious even then and before he would be a top international player. His dedication was legendary and he was also a more than useful centre-forward. I knew nothing of Bill Shankly studying our tactics but Liverpool certainly had a healthy respect for City who always excelled against them, home or away. It was such a well balanced side. Crossy was a terrific all-action sports all-rounder (outstanding at cricket and football where he served principally at inside right and, later right half ), Richie Norman one of the best attacking left-backs, if not the best, ever to play for the club and the half-back line of Frank McLintock, Ian King and Colin Appleton were as good in the domestic game as any at the time. The left flank of Davie Gibson and Mike Stringfellow (both £25,000 or so each as I recall) instantly clicked to become legends within the club but the lesser known right winger Howard "Puffer" Riley, so called because of the way he blew his cheeks out as he ran, and heading maestro Ken Keyworth were, like right back John Sjoberg consistently impressive performers in their own right. There were no weaknesses and the 7-2 against Arsenal, 6-0 against Manchester United, 8-4, I think against Manchester City emphasised their attacking prowess. Many on this forum, being of the younger generation, understandably quote MON as City's greatest manager but really that title belongs to Gillies who oversaw the most successful and most attacking side ever to wear Leicester shirts. I've mentioned Richie Norman as best left back, I'd certainly name Ian King as best centre-half I've seen in a City side, McLintock as the best attacking wing-half an Davie Gibson as the the virtuoso supreme. I'm just waiting now for our new heroes to start matching some of the scores of the past...and they can if Lewvein has the nerve to take the brakes off.
Alexikokopops Posted 8 October 2005 Posted 8 October 2005 I think I've aged about 10 years just reading this
davieG Posted 8 October 2005 Author Posted 8 October 2005 Great post, but why did he drop Ken Leek? Gillies daughter or drink were the rumours I heard
Thracian Posted 8 October 2005 Posted 8 October 2005 No. I only trained there for a couple of years as a 14/15-year-old.
Thracian Posted 9 October 2005 Posted 9 October 2005 Oh i see How come? Abundance of reasons but cannot remember precisely.
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