LIVERPOOL 1 LEICESTER 2 (31st Jan 1981)

[pudsey_911]

Was anybody at this game who would be happy to discuss memories of the day?

 

As a 9yr old at the time, despite begging my Dad he said it was a waste of time as we would be thrashed and it went down to a toss of a coin which I lost.

 

I always feel like I missed out on what I regard as Leicester's most improbable victory in there entire history.

 

Any help most appreciated. 

[NAKC20]

I can just about remember it i was 12 at the time. Me and my dad went with my friend with his dad driving up to Liverpool in his Cortina with scarfs hanging out the back windows (as you did) and feeling on top off the world. I cant remember much before the game but remember standing on the terraces with my Dad lifting me onto one of the rails for me to sit and get a better view of the match. We were probably only 3-4 meters away from the Liverpool supporters along side us separated by guard rails. As the game went on and Leicester not being walked over like everybody expected the home support got more intimidating with the odd thing being thrown into us away fans and lots of shouting and naughty words being aimed or way.

 

i Cant remember if it was at the end of the game or after City had scored their 2nd me being dragged of the rail by my Dad as a barrage of coins, bottles lighters etc.. and people spitting over us seemed relentless, we just ducked down and waited for it to end.I cant remember any Leicester fans retaliating think were all just too busy trying to avoid the constant bombardment.

 

After the match had finished I seem to remember the away fans were locked inside the ground for a good while to allow the home fans to leave and get away before we were allowed out. Once we were, we were surrounded by Police and walked towards the coach parks but as we had gone by car we had to leave the group and were told in no uncertain terms by a police officer DO NOT show any colours on the way to your car and DO NOT put any scarfs or flags etc.. on show until you are well away from the City as we cannot be responsible for what could happen. 

 

Needless to say we didn't and my friends dad was very concerned about his brand new car that had been left in a side street. We did get out and home ok and i'm sure we were on cloud 9 for days.

[Spudulike]

Was this the one 3-4days after the Exeter FA Cup defeat? I went down to Devon for the mid week match but not Liverpool. 

[NAKC20]

I did look into it first to make sure it was the same match (I didn't want to look a fool)

 

 

 

https://www.lcfc.com/news/434481/the-week-in-history-anfield-conquered

[RumbleFox]

Year I was born. Sorry, not that that helps. X 

[Izzy]

In a bizarre coincidence, 31st Jan 1981 was my first ever game - but it wasn't Leicester at Liverpool..

 

My Dad was an Everton fan and he took me to see them play at the City Ground. Forest still had a decent team them with MON, Shilton, Francis, Robertson etc. and they won 1-0 with a Kenny Burns screamer from 30 yards.

 

All I remember is climbing over the railings and pissing about rather than watching the game. I eventually persuaded my Dad to take me to Filbo the year after for my first Leicester game v Newcastle where we drew 2-2- and Lineker and Keegan scored and after that there was no looking back 

[boots60]

1 hour ago, NAKC20 said:

I can just about remember it i was 12 at the time. Me and my dad went with my friend with his dad driving up to Liverpool in his Cortina with scarfs hanging out the back windows (as you did) and feeling on top off the world. I cant remember much before the game but remember standing on the terraces with my Dad lifting me onto one of the rails for me to sit and get a better view of the match. We were probably only 3-4 meters away from the Liverpool supporters along side us separated by guard rails. As the game went on and Leicester not being walked over like everybody expected the home support got more intimidating with the odd thing being thrown into us away fans and lots of shouting and naughty words being aimed or way.

 

i Cant remember if it was at the end of the game or after City had scored their 2nd me being dragged of the rail by my Dad as a barrage of coins, bottles lighters etc.. and people spitting over us seemed relentless, we just ducked down and waited for it to end.I cant remember any Leicester fans retaliating think were all just too busy trying to avoid the constant bombardment.

 

After the match had finished I seem to remember the away fans were locked inside the ground for a good while to allow the home fans to leave and get away before we were allowed out. Once we were, we were surrounded by Police and walked towards the coach parks but as we had gone by car we had to leave the group and were told in no uncertain terms by a police officer DO NOT show any colours on the way to your car and DO NOT put any scarfs or flags etc.. on show until you are well away from the City as we cannot be responsible for what could happen. 

 

Needless to say we didn't and my friends dad was very concerned about his brand new car that had been left in a side street. We did get out and home ok and i'm sure we were on cloud 9 for days.

From a football point of view it was a memorable day. nobody, myself included, expected us to win & destroy Liverpool's unbeaten home record. I was so proud of our team that day.

Unfortunately, after the game there was mayhem around the away buses & my new Levi jacket received special attention from Stanley. Honestly believe I was lucky to come away without serious injury. Made our win all the sweeter though.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

1 hour ago, Spudulike said:

Was this the one 3-4days after the Exeter FA Cup defeat? I went down to Devon for the mid week match but not Liverpool. 

Yep.  

Me too - It was either go to Exeter or Liverpool.  

In those days the FA Cup was more important than any league game ... so Exeter it was.

Bad decision........................

[UpTheLeagueFox]

1 hour ago, Izzy said:

In a bizarre coincidence, 31st Jan 1981 was my first ever game - but it wasn't Leicester at Liverpool..

My Dad was an Everton fan and he took me to see them play at the City Ground. Forest still had a decent team them with MON, Shilton, Francis, Robertson etc. and they won 1-0 with a Kenny Burns screamer from 30 yards.

That was a week before my first ever game, Leicester 1 Man Utd 0

[st albans fox]

I’m pretty sure I went to a Liverpool Leicester game In the early eighties 

 

I recall standing in the corner of the ground and travelling back to Leicester in the back of a small van ..... apart from that it’s all a bit weird ..... I can’t even remember the result ..... perhaps it was a dream ??  I’m going to message the guy I think drove us for some info ! 

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, worth_the_wait said:

Yep.  

Me too - It was either go to Exeter or Liverpool.  

In those days the FA Cup was more important than any league game ... so Exeter it was.

Bad decision........................

How times have changed....

[nnickn]

I too went the Exeter game, seem to remember a tree in the middle of the terrace. Think I was in the away end.

[smudger63]

9 hours ago, NAKC20 said:

I can just about remember it i was 12 at the time. Me and my dad went with my friend with his dad driving up to Liverpool in his Cortina with scarfs hanging out the back windows (as you did) and feeling on top off the world. I cant remember much before the game but remember standing on the terraces with my Dad lifting me onto one of the rails for me to sit and get a better view of the match. We were probably only 3-4 meters away from the Liverpool supporters along side us separated by guard rails. As the game went on and Leicester not being walked over like everybody expected the home support got more intimidating with the odd thing being thrown into us away fans and lots of shouting and naughty words being aimed or way.

 

i Cant remember if it was at the end of the game or after City had scored their 2nd me being dragged of the rail by my Dad as a barrage of coins, bottles lighters etc.. and people spitting over us seemed relentless, we just ducked down and waited for it to end.I cant remember any Leicester fans retaliating think were all just too busy trying to avoid the constant bombardment.

 

After the match had finished I seem to remember the away fans were locked inside the ground for a good while to allow the home fans to leave and get away before we were allowed out. Once we were, we were surrounded by Police and walked towards the coach parks but as we had gone by car we had to leave the group and were told in no uncertain terms by a police officer DO NOT show any colours on the way to your car and DO NOT put any scarfs or flags etc.. on show until you are well away from the City as we cannot be responsible for what could happen. 

 

Needless to say we didn't and my friends dad was very concerned about his brand new car that had been left in a side street. We did get out and home ok and i'm sure we were on cloud 9 for days.

This, and also boxing day game in 84 when we won 2-1 at Anfield, when they attacked our coaches and smashed the windows of one of the City suppporter coaches after the game, was all before the Heysel stadium deaths in 1985, which was when the media finally had to wake up and see what the every day football fan had known for donkeys years, that Liverpool fans were some of the nastiest fans in the game.  While what happened at Hilsborough in 1989 was a terrible tragedy, and is rightly commemerated every year, the deaths at the Heysel stadium caused by some Liverpool fans 4 years earlier just doesn`t seem to ever get mentioned, and since Hilsborough the Liverpool fans have managed to turn themselves back into the media darlings again, despite still having some of the nastiest fans in the game.

[Hollyfox]

I remember being about 13, in tears after the Exeter defeat and, with all the Liverpool 'supporting' people at school, was dreading the game and the absolute shit Monday morning that followed. 

 

How wrong I was😄

 

Didn't go to Liverpool but was at the Man U game the week after (I think) like UpTheLeagueFox and I think the programme featured Alan Young with his Motm hamper and photos of Jim Melrose celebrating after the win on Merseyside. 

 

I think after Utd we lost to those around us at the bottom and went down. 

 

Could be wrong though, such a long time ago. 

[Hollyfox]

16 minutes ago, smudger63 said:

This, and also boxing day game in 84 when we won 2-1 at Anfield, when they attacked our coaches and smashed the windows of one of the City suppporter coaches after the game, was all before the Heysel stadium deaths in 1985, which was when the media finally had to wake up and see what the every day football fan had known for donkeys years, that Liverpool fans were some of the nastiest fans in the game.  While what happened at Hilsborough in 1989 was a terrible tragedy, and is rightly commemerated every year, the deaths at the Heysel stadium caused by some Liverpool fans 4 years earlier just doesn`t seem to ever get mentioned, and since Hilsborough the Liverpool fans have managed to turn themselves back into the media darlings again, despite still having some of the nastiest fans in the game.

Couldn't agree more👍

[Trav Le Bleu]

We were somewhat Liverpool's bogie team back in the day. Weren't we the first team to do the double over them for several seasons?

[Guest bss9401]

I went to both 2-1 wins. The second was more comfortable as they'd somewhat lost their air on invincibility by then. 

 

We had softened them up nicely for everyone in 1981 .

[49er]

• - Liverpool lose at home for the first time in three years, a run of 85 games without defeat in all competitions has ended.

[49er]

• - Average age of the Leicester City starting lineup: 22.6

[Paninistickers]

Not many of the Oadby Asian Scouse fanatics will recall this match. 

 

 

[49er]

In the days leading up to the match, as if to underline the City’s lowly predicament, Jock Wallace had put Bobby Smith and Martin Henderson up for sale. These were two of the stalwarts of the team that had won the Second Division title the previous season. The Directors had decided to place financial security above retaining the Club’s place in the top division.

[everton carr]

12 hours ago, 49er said:

In the days leading up to the match, as if to underline the City’s lowly predicament, Jock Wallace had put Bobby Smith and Martin Henderson up for sale. These were two of the stalwarts of the team that had won the Second Division title the previous season. The Directors had decided to place financial security above retaining the Club’s place in the top division.

Martin Henderson must have been worth about a Fiver

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Whilst we're talking about Liverpool and the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters, it's worth remembering the other football stadium disasters that occurred in Britain with terrible loss of life:

 

 1st Ibrox Park disaster (1902) - stand collapse (25 died)
 Burnden Park disaster (1946) - terrace crush (33 died)
 2nd Ibrox Park disaster (1971) - staircase crush (66 died)
 Valley Parade disaster (1985) - fire (56 died)

 

It's sometimes easy to just remember the most recent one, but the older ones were all terrible for the affected families.

[sylofox]

4 hours ago, everton carr said:

Martin Henderson must have been worth about a Fiver

You got more money than sense

[Stoopid]

I was at this match, and remember it somewhat differently - I didn't find the home fans particularly nasty. By the standards of the time I thought they took it pretty well. I was in my mid 20s, and remember a couple of them even stood me a pint in The Albert afterwards (I was wearing a blue & whote scarf and had no trouble).

As for the game itself we were stood in the corner of the Anfield Rd end and could hardly believe our eyes - specially after Alan Young gave them an o.g. down the other end ('I'd always wanted to score in front of the Kop!'). From memory Paddy Byrne & Jim Melrose scored our goals to scenes of madness in the Leicester end, Our fans were great that day and the noise was fantastic.

Crazy win, totally unexpected made even sweeter by the fact our van was driven by a plastic Scouser who took dogs' abuse on the joyful journey back home.

For years after there was a piece of graffiti on the Swain St bridge that said simply '31/1/81'. Made me smile every time I saw it...