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Bozman

Rodney Fern

By Bozman, in Leicester City Forum

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NewquayFox

NewquayFox

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Great memories of Rodney in my early years of visiting Filbert Street, always put a shift in wearing a City shirt and scored some cracking goals...

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kushiro

kushiro

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His debut for Leicester (v Leeds) was on MOTD. Great footage. In the very first minute, Norman Hunter gives him a real whack, and we score from the resulting free kick.

 

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kushiro

kushiro

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Here's more about the game:

 

His debut against Leeds was a baptism of fire for the young Rodney. He played up-front alongside the redoubtable Frank Large. Rodney remembers the game vividly. He said: “Leeds were on a run of eight successive wins. The first thing that happened to me, in the very first minute, was that Norman Hunter kicked me up in the air on the half way line when I was no danger to anybody! Stringy (Mike Stringfellow) scored from Bobby Roberts’ free kick. Their midfielderJohnny Giles was small but he was hard and vicious. He was worse than big Jack Charlton.He was a good player but he would top you!”

 

Rodney was also at the centre of Leicester’s most dangerous moment in the first half when he put Davie Gibson away who then beat the Leeds fullback Terry Cooper and nearly scored. Fern also almost extended the City’s lead when he raced down the pitch with Large in support and with only Paul Madeley in his way, but he shot wide. He also had another half chance, before Johnny Giles equalised for Leeds in the 62nd minute. Ten minutes later, Davie Gibson’s high floating centre went into the goal, but three minutes after that Paul Madeley scored another equaliser for Leeds. The final score was 2-2. Rodney had definitely justified his selection.

 

He quickly established himself as a first team regular. His next two games helped to cement his reputation as a crowd favourite. These were the two FA Cup Fourth Round games against Manchester City, who were to become League Champions that season. Remembering these games, Rodney recalled: “The 1968 Cup tie was a week after my debut against Leeds United. “I was only 19. We drew 0-0 at Maine Road in front of over 50,000. I remember our trainer David Jones had a heart attack at half time (from which he fortunately recovered). Two days later we won the replay 4-3 after being 2-0 down. I scored a left footed half volley which went into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. It was my first goal for the first team. Then Frank Large, who was a very hard man, scored two and David Nish also scored. There were 40,000 at Filbert Street. It was a night game and a great atmosphere. The fans loved their cup games. Then, the following Saturday I scored at Anfield in the league and the week after that I also scored against Sheffield United. We had good players in the team, and many were local.”

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notnow john

notnow john

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49 minutes ago, Crinklyfox said:

The original towering centre forward.  Watched him play, a presence in front of goal.  RIP.

Think you're getting him mixed up crinkles,he was about 5.9 and very skill full.

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ChrisJager

ChrisJager

Posted
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He was a real favourite because he was completely unpredictable.  The cup replay against Man City mentioned above was one of the best matches I have ever attended.  We were 2-0 down approaching half time and seemingly down and out.  The ball came to him on the edge of the penalty area and showing great composure he fired it into the back of the net.  It completely changed the course of the match.  15 minutes into the second half we were 4-2 up and spent the rest of the match with our backs to the wall, just managing to hold on for a win.

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enmac

enmac

Posted
Posted
Here's more about the game:
 
His debut against Leeds was a baptism of fire for the young Rodney. He played up-front alongside the redoubtable Frank Large. Rodney remembers the game vividly. He said: “Leeds were on a run of eight successive wins. The first thing that happened to me, in the very first minute, was that Norman Hunter kicked me up in the air on the half way line when I was no danger to anybody! Stringy (Mike Stringfellow) scored from Bobby Roberts’ free kick. Their midfielderJohnny Giles was small but he was hard and vicious. He was worse than big Jack Charlton.He was a good player but he would top you!”
 
Rodney was also at the centre of Leicester’s most dangerous moment in the first half when he put Davie Gibson away who then beat the Leeds fullback Terry Cooper and nearly scored. Fern also almost extended the City’s lead when he raced down the pitch with Large in support and with only Paul Madeley in his way, but he shot wide. He also had another half chance, before Johnny Giles equalised for Leeds in the 62nd minute. Ten minutes later, Davie Gibson’s high floating centre went into the goal, but three minutes after that Paul Madeley scored another equaliser for Leeds. The final score was 2-2. Rodney had definitely justified his selection.
 
He quickly established himself as a first team regular. His next two games helped to cement his reputation as a crowd favourite. These were the two FA Cup Fourth Round games against Manchester City, who were to become League Champions that season. Remembering these games, Rodney recalled: “The 1968 Cup tie was a week after my debut against Leeds United. “I was only 19. We drew 0-0 at Maine Road in front of over 50,000. I remember our trainer David Jones had a heart attack at half time (from which he fortunately recovered). Two days later we won the replay 4-3 after being 2-0 down. I scored a left footed half volley which went into the roof of the net to make it 2-1. It was my first goal for the first team. Then Frank Large, who was a very hard man, scored two and David Nish also scored. There were 40,000 at Filbert Street. It was a night game and a great atmosphere. The fans loved their cup games. Then, the following Saturday I scored at Anfield in the league and the week after that I also scored against Sheffield United. We had good players in the team, and many were local.”

Thanks for that - brings back some great memories. I was at both the Leeds and Man City games, the latter being my favourite City game of all time.
IMO, there were at least 42 000 at that game, probably a lot more!
Rodney will always be remembered by me and every City fan of that era.
A genuine cult hero!

Sent from my Fusion5_108 (16GB) using Tapatalk

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Countryfox

Countryfox

Posted
Posted
30 minutes ago, notnow john said:

Think you're getting him mixed up crinkles,he was about 5.9 and very skill full.

 

Probably thinking of Frank Large ...   who was much larger.    RIP Rodney ...   another old favourite gone.   :(

SuperMike

SuperMike

Posted
Posted

Such sad news. Great entertainer. Scored a cracking goal against Birmingham City in a 3-1 win in the first match one season. I was busy slating his performance when he scored with a brilliant overhead kick - shut me right up! Seem to remember him scoring with a stunning header in a cup replay game at Highbury - was anyone else there? Can't remember seeing any other city fans that night (midweek).Also can't remember if the goal stood. Referees loved north london sides even in those days.

RIP Rodney.

fuchsntf

fuchsntf

Posted
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Never got the appreciation he deserved.

quietly skillfull didnt get the plaudits like K.Weller 

Delfe with the ball, could receive and drop a ball like Mahrez/Weller/Wortho

could twist around players like , Mahrez or Weller.

Then 2 minutes later calamity....Not defensively, just blew great self created chances,

not really that often, but made him a jekylle hyde cult player, for the fans.

If you ever read my posts on the past, a quiet underrated legend, he was a favourite of mine.

Godbless .Rodney Fern..RIP  nickname..Gerson.

Many fans just endeared to him, actually hurt when he moved on to Luton...

 

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fox in the sox

fox in the sox

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, kushiro said:

His debut for Leicester (v Leeds) was on MOTD. Great footage. In the very first minute, Norman Hunter gives him a real whack, and we score from the resulting free kick.

 

What was he doing? Why didn't he roll around for 2 minutes and make out he had a career threatening injury?

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