Why Do Leicester City Play In Blue & White?

[davieG]

https://www.lcfc.com/news/1656840/why-do-leicester-city-play-in-blue--white

 

Leicester City supporters young and old would be forgiven for thinking the Club's traditional colours of blue and white have been in place for the entirety of 136 years of history.

 

More on this story...The Fabric Of Leicester City: The Evolution Of Foxes Shirts - https://www.lcfc.com/news/1646471/the-fabric-of-leicester-city-the-evolution-of-foxes-shirts

 

However, there have been clues over recent seasons to the contrary, usually in the form of away shirts, designed with several nods to bygone eras from the Club's rich heritage.

Formed, initially as Leicester Fosse, in 1884 by the members of a bible class at the now-demolished Emanuel Chapel on New Park Street, the Club was naturally quite different in its formative years.

Leicester Fosse's first-ever match, featuring a team with an average age of 16, was a 5-0 victory over Syston Fosse and included a shirt which would return to prominence 119 years later.

Unfortunately, despite the wealth of material in the Club's archives, there are no pictures of the kits which Leicester Fosse adorned in the years between 1884 and 1886.

However, in 2003, using drawings and first-hand accounts, the Club made the decision to mark the year of their 120th anniversary with an away kit which replicated that maiden shirt design.

 

Cambridge Blue sash

No images exist in Leicester City's archives of the original Fosse kit, but it was replicated in 2003/04 and later in 2009/10.

An all black kit, featuring a striking Cambridge blue sash, running from the right shoulder down to the left hip on the shirt, was a modern twist on the Club's first-ever home strip.

During Fosse's time adorning these colours, they played at Victoria Park, but a move to the Belgrave Road Cycle & Cricket Ground was curtailed when the Leicester Tigers Rugby Club outbid them in 1888.

Indeed, the presence of Leicester Tigers on the local sporting scene, in a time when association football was seldom viewed as a public spectacle, may have played a key role in the decisions taken by the Club.

It is speculated that Leicester Fosse's continual switch in primary colours could, at least in part, be put down to the Club's desire to always be easily distinguishable from their rugby counterparts.

As a result, in 1886, two years after the Club's formation, Leicester Fosse began to run out onto the field in an entirely new - and decidedly unique - set of colours.

 

Chocolate brown and blue halves - Bowler hats, moustaches, early shin pads and Fosse's chocolate brown and light blue home kits.

 

It was around this time that Leicester Fosse elected to wear shirts with chocolate brown and Cambridge blue halves, with white shorts, or as they were called at the time, 'knickers', with dark 'stockings'.

This is a version of Leicester's colours which has never been returned to or replicated, even in the era of more elaborate away shirt designs, but it nonetheless coincided with several key landmarks.

In 1890, the kit's final year of use, Fosse defeated Coalville in the Leicestershire County Cup final in Loughborough and, the following season, they were introduced to the FA Cup for the first-ever time.

For the next nine years, running until 1899, Leicester wore white shirts with black shorts and, for reasons difficult to explain definitively, some players had Leicester Town's coat of arms sewn into the fabric.

The white shirts were also the first to be adorned at Filbert Street in 1891, before spending the next 111 years there, as the 'Fossils' embarked on their first full season in the Midland League.

 

Sep Smith, wearing a royal blue home shirt, alongside two brothers and opponents ahead of an FA Cup tie against Portsmouth.

 

A major moment in the Club’s history arrived in 1894, meanwhile, as a AGM granted Fosse with enough votes to earn election to the recently-formed Division Two within the Football League pyramid.

By 1899, however, the Club had taken the notable decision to play in the Cambridge blue and white palette which is vaguely recognisable today, but it would take Leicester Fosse 14 years to earn promotion to the top tier.

Their spell in 'light' blue and white lasted just two seasons, though, as the Club changed its colours again, to dark blue shirts, with light blue sleeves, white shorts and dark socks in the 1901/02 season.

From 1902 until 1919, a year after the conclusion of the First World War, Fosse were back in blue - a darker shade than previously - and white as players not in conflict represented the Club in wartime regional competitions.

By the time football began to get back in order, the Club was in a dire financial situation and, in the same year Leicester regained city status, the Club was registered as Leicester City Football Club in 1919.

 

Light blue sleeves

The Club's first use of a darker blue, with lighter sleeves, featured between 1901 and 1902.

Their inaugural season as 'City' saw the team run out with blue and white vertical stripes across the home shirt, alongside white shorts and blue socks, but this design would remain for just three years.

Thus, finally, after 38 years of existence, Leicester City returned to the blue and white strips which remain in place in the present day, later finishing within one point of winning the top title in 1929.

In blue and white, Leicester City have won the second tier title a record seven times, been to four FA Cup finals, won the League Cup three times, and competed in four European campaigns, most notably in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League, when the Club reached the quarter-finals.

They were in all blue, meanwhile, on the day they ended a 132-year wait to be crowned as English champions in 2016, with Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri lifting the Premier League trophy. 

Throughout that passage of time, on the other hand, the Club has been distinguished by an array of crests, ranging from the fox's head within a shield for the 1949 FA Cup Final to the one used today.

 

Glory in blue

The Club's crowning glory in 2016, wearing an all-blue PUMA kit.

Between 1949 and 1983, a crest featuring a sideways fox's head, replicated by the Club's retail brand Fox & Crop was used, while the 'running fox' emblem featured on shirts until 1992.

Across the Club's entire history, Leicester City have also appeared in a wide variety of away shirts, with colours ranging from shades of white, green, yellow, red, gold, black and, this season, pink.

Indeed, for one season only, in 1972/73, the Club did deviate from their traditional home colours, electing to wear an all-white kit for one season, inspired by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Players and fans alike, though, rebelled against the decision, making it the only year since 1922 in which Leicester's football team wore anything other than a blue home shirt.

 

One year in white

A brief flirtation with a white home kit in the early 1970s.

Despite this, there have been occasions when outside influences have forced the Club to briefly break from tradition, largely due to the growing demand to broadcast fixtures on television.

Before the advent of colour TVs, FA Cup Finals were broadcast in black and white, but when two teams in dark colours confronted each other in the showpiece event, measures had to be taken.

In the days leading up to 1963 final defeat by Manchester United, for instance, a coin toss decided that Leicester would have to wear white shirts, to avoid a clash with United's red shirts.

Those occasions are rare in City's history, however, meaning the Club's association with its current colour palette, especially following 2016, is one recognised by fans of all teams around the world.

[Corky]

That black shirt with the blue sash is fantastic, if we were to ever change from blue I'd go for that.

 

Blue and white or all blue is fine by me either way.

[1972 Fox]

I can name almost everyone on this photo. Can anyone name the others (?) that I can't put a name to? Or correct any that I might have got wrong?

 

Back L to R: Alan Woollet, John Sjoberg, Steve Yates, Mike Stringfellow, ?, Malcolm Munro, Malcolm Manley, Paul Matthews.

 

Middle L to R: David Coates, Malcolm Partridge, Alan Birchenall, Carl Jayes, Peter Shilton, Mark Wallington, Graham Cross, George Dewis, ?, John Smith.

 

Front L to R: Steve Whitworth, Dave Tomlin, Jon Sammels, Len Shipman, Keith Weller, Jimmy Bloomfield, Len Glover, John Farrington, David Nish.

[Collymore]

Describing light, royal blue chocolate brown etc doesn't really work with a black and white photo!

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Blue Fox 72 said:

I can name almost everyone on this photo. Can anyone name the others (?) that I can't put a name to? Or correct any that I might have got wrong?

 

Back L to R: Alan Woollet, John Sjoberg, Steve Yates, Mike Stringfellow, ?, Malcolm Munro, Malcolm Manley, Paul Matthews.

 

Middle L to R: David Coates, Malcolm Partridge, Alan Birchenall, Carl Jayes, Peter Shilton, Mark Wallington, Graham Cross, George Dewis, ?, John Smith.

 

Front L to R: Steve Whitworth, Dave Tomlin, Jon Sammels, Len Shipman, Keith Weller, Jimmy Bloomfield, Len Glover, John Farrington, David Nish.

Is it Jobling?

 

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

Is it Joblin?

 

 

[1972 Fox]

46 minutes ago, davieG said:

Is it Jobling?

 

 Yes could be Joe Jopling on back row. Know the name but never saw him play.

[davieG]

24 minutes ago, Blue Fox 72 said:

 Yes could be Joe Jopling on back row. Know the name but never saw him play.

Yeah Jo Jopling found the same photo with names in the OF&F book.

 

Second row is Cross, Preston (Physio), Dewis (Coach)  Smith.

 

So you did well.

[The Mixer]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

Is it Jobling?

 

 

[The Mixer]

7 hours ago, Blue Fox 72 said:

I can name almost everyone on this photo. Can anyone name the others (?) that I can't put a name to? Or correct any that I might have got wrong?

 

Back L to R: Alan Woollet, John Sjoberg, Steve Yates, Mike Stringfellow, ?, Malcolm Munro, Malcolm Manley, Paul Matthews.

 

Middle L to R: David Coates, Malcolm Partridge, Alan Birchenall, Carl Jayes, Peter Shilton, Mark Wallington, Graham Cross, George Dewis, ?, John Smith.

 

Front L to R: Steve Whitworth, Dave Tomlin, Jon Sammels, Len Shipman, Keith Weller, Jimmy Bloomfield, Len Glover, John Farrington, David Nish.

The physio is George Preston not George Dewis.

[SpacedX]

Leicester Fosse, chocolate brown ...and light blue home strips!!! And for years I've lampooned Cov supporters, particularly for this monstrosity...

 

[Stadt]

On 19/04/2020 at 13:17, Line-X said:

Leicester Fosse, chocolate brown ...and light blue home strips!!! And for years I've lampooned Cov supporters, particularly for this monstrosity...

 

I don't like the scummy c unts but that's a storming kit

[SpacedX]

6 hours ago, Stadt said:

that's a storming kit

Are you insane?

[NaijaFox]

 

That willy puller in the middle row (his names escapes me) was such a headless player, and can’t believe we didn’t get rid of him ASAP.* As for Sep Smith...

 

 

*Almost certainly guaranteed that the great great grandad (or great grand) of a couple of FTers expressed these sentiments back in the day! 
 

 

 

[The_77]

OK, so what’s the answer? 

[Spudulike]

11 hours ago, The_77 said:

OK, so what’s the answer? 

I thought it was just me. 

 

Why do we play in Royal Blue? 

[davieG]

11 hours ago, The_77 said:

OK, so what’s the answer? 

As is often the case the Merc headline has very little to do with the actual content, it's just there to tempt to in. Never the less a history of the when and how of our kit was worth a view.

[Spudulike]

I think we have the best looking kit in football (or any other sport). If I could choose, Royal blue is the one I'd have gone for. Stadiums also look better in blue and, luckily, it fitted seamlessly with the King Power corporate colour. 

 

My missrs has often said thank God you don't support the likes of Wolves, Watford, Hull or the awful nondescript ManC or Cov. All white is the only other colour (or is it a shade?) that comes close to the smartness of Royal blue. Could never wear anything red. As for stripes and hoops, in the bin. 

[Jacnah]

On 18/04/2020 at 14:40, Blue Fox 72 said:

I can name almost everyone on this photo. Can anyone name the others (?) that I can't put a name to? Or correct any that I might have got wrong?

 

Back L to R: Alan Woollet, John Sjoberg, Steve Yates, Mike Stringfellow, ?, Malcolm Munro, Malcolm Manley, Paul Matthews.

 

Middle L to R: David Coates, Malcolm Partridge, Alan Birchenall, Carl Jayes, Peter Shilton, Mark Wallington, Graham Cross, George Dewis, ?, John Smith.

 

Front L to R: Steve Whitworth, Dave Tomlin, Jon Sammels, Len Shipman, Keith Weller, Jimmy Bloomfield, Len Glover, John Farrington, David Nish.

Those barnets!!!!!!...christ on a bike what were they thinking!!!!

[davieG]

3 minutes ago, Jacnah said:

Those barnets!!!!!!...christ on a bike what were they thinking!!!!

Don't know but you can be sure they'll return in one form of another just like today's cut is reminiscent of the short back and sides of the 40s and 50s. There's nothing really knew in fashion.

[Silebyfox_89]

if Leicester city were never to play in blue/white/gold ever again what colours/pattern would you opt for?

 

[Stoopid]

6 hours ago, Jacnah said:

Those barnets!!!!!!...christ on a bike what were they thinking!!!!

They were probably thinking - just like the overwhelming majority of people do nowadays - 'I want to look more or less like everybody else. Basically I'm a conformist and I don't want to stand out.'

Hope that clears it up for you.

[Corky]

1 hour ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

if Leicester city were never to play in blue/white/gold ever again what colours/pattern would you opt for?

 

Black shirt with blue sash, as we had with the away kits 2003-2004 and 2009-11