Hungry and Homeless Historian

[kushiro]

OK, so I'm neither hungry nor homeless. And I'm not a historian either (not a professional one anyway). 

 

But this is a begging letter. 

 

I hope you've been enjoying the old stories I put on here. Our club really does have the most extraordinary history. Researching it and writing about it are so rewarding. It's a bit like gazing at the night sky - the deeper you look, the more dazzling it gets. But living 10,000 miles away from home means I run into trouble sometimes. 

 

When I moved over here permanently I had to dump or sell 90% of my old stuff - programmes / magazines / books / videos. The cost of shipping it all over was just too prohibitive. Of course, in the internet age there are a host of wonderful resources just a click away, but still, there are times when I really wish I had access to all my old stuff, or to Leicestershire library archives.

 

There are two things I'm really desperate for:

 

1) The history of Filbert Street is an ongoing project, and there's one book that I've been after for years, with no luck. It's called Mile Straight, by Roger Hutchinson.

 

 

It's a fairly short publication, and it's very rare. If anyone has a copy and is willing either to sell it, scan it, or lend it (I'll pay all the costs of course) it would be a massive help.

 

2)  Leicester City 1 Aston Villa 0, League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg February 2000.  The Martin O'Neill years are another ongoing project and this game was really the climax - 90 minutes in which a team and manager under siege in the media ('Boring, boring Leicester!) gave an unforgettable display of spirit and character to reach Wembley again. The last truly historic Filbert Street occasion. 

 

There's no footage of the whole game online, just brief highlights. I really need the whole 90 minutes. If anyone has an old VHS and could either upload it to youtube, or sell or lend me the cassette then once again, it would be like gold dust to me.

 

Chances are I'll be sacked from my job soon for checking old newspaper archives and obscure footy websites when I should be working - then I really could be out on the streets.

 

In the meantime, please reply here (or PM me) if you can help out.

 

Cheers.

Edited 31 July 2023 by kushiro

[LaCiudad]

Good luck with this. I'll ask around.

[Plastik Man]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2008/05/07/birthplace_of_leicester_feature.shtml

 

The above article states many copies were given to local libraries. A quick check on Leicester City libraries website shows they still have plenty of copies.

 

I'm not a member but have just signed up. Not sure when I'll get a chance to visit a library to complete the application process but will let you know when I do. Should be easy enough to get a copy and scan it?

[kushiro]

4 minutes ago, Plastik Man said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2008/05/07/birthplace_of_leicester_feature.shtml

 

The above article states many copies were given to local libraries. A quick check on Leicester City libraries website shows they still have plenty of copies.

 

I'm not a member but have just signed up. Not sure when I'll get a chance to visit a library to complete the application process but will let you know when I do. Should be easy enough to get a copy and scan it?

Wow - that's very kind of you. That's made my day already (and Japan have just gone 3-0 up against Spain too).

 

[LaCiudad]

Have you seen the address in this article?

 

https://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2008/05/the-mile-straig.html

 

... it's also on sale (at £6) at the Tourist Information Shop in Every Street, Tin Drum Books, Kings Lock Tea Rooms, and Leicester Museums. 

 

Or you can buy by post, sending a cheque for £6.50 (inc p&p, payable to Mac Associates (Leicester) Ltd) to 39 Hazel Street, Leicester, LE2 7JN.

Edited 31 July 2023 by LaCiudad

[Guest Lako42]

Or you can buy by post, sending a cheque for £6.50 (inc p&p, payable to Mac Associates (Leicester) Ltd) to 39 Hazel Street, Leicester, LE2 7JN

[LaCiudad]

3 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

Or you can buy by post, sending a cheque for £6.50 (inc p&p, payable to Mac Associates (Leicester) Ltd) to 39 Hazel Street, Leicester, LE2 7JN

NB that was 15 years ago, but worth phoning up

[kushiro]

11 minutes ago, LaCiudad said:

Have you seen the address in this article?

 

https://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2008/05/the-mile-straig.html

There's something online that suggests the author resigned from the company in 2010, but yeah, worth trying.

[Plastik Man]

33 minutes ago, kushiro said:

There's something online that suggests the author resigned from the company in 2010, but yeah, worth trying.

I saw those grannybuttons articles. The author died in 2010.

[kushiro]

2 minutes ago, Plastik Man said:

I saw those grannybuttons articles. The author died in 2010.

I suspected as much. The articles mention a follow up book he was planning called Navigation Leicester, which never appeared.

 

Thanks again.

[Uncle Monty]

I'm glad to see people supporting you. Your articles are always so well-written, so it's no surprise that people are willing to help.

[Guest Lako42]

1 hour ago, kushiro said:

I suspected as much. The articles mention a follow up book he was planning called Navigation Leicester, which never appeared.

 

Thanks again.

I found this phone number for the director of the place where it says you can get a copy 

 

03332224080

[kushiro]

6 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

I found this phone number for the director of the place where it says you can get a copy 

 

03332224080

Thanks. Can I just clarify -  is the 'where it says you can get a copy' a recent reference you've found, rather than the one from 2008 cited above?

[LaCiudad]

Was there a video from this semi final game?

[kushiro]

4 minutes ago, LaCiudad said:

Was there a video from this semi final game?

 

Not officially. I taped it off Sky - I really wish I still had it, but it was among the stuff I got rid of when I moved. I'm hoping someone else still has an old VHS with the Sky coverage,

[kushiro]

This is the full mtach from the SF a year earlier when we beat Sunderland.  It's this kind of thing I'm after. 

 

 

That Sunderland 2nd leg was another massive occasion. Not just getting to Wembley, not just our plans for the new stadium getting the go-ahead on the same day. Also the match when Robbie Savage found his true calling - as a third central midfielder alongside Lennon and Izzet.

[LaCiudad]

Have you contacted Sky?

[Guest Lako42]

52 minutes ago, kushiro said:

Thanks. Can I just clarify -  is the 'where it says you can get a copy' a recent reference you've found, rather than the one from 2008 cited above?

No it's the same place although the lady referenced is still an active director of the business and that's the number given. 

Edited 31 July 2023 by Lako42

[Plastik Man]

I now have a library copy of The Mile Straight! Will have a go at scanning it tonight. As mentioned elsewhere, it's in a magazine format.

 

I'm the first person to borrow this particular copy since March 2015. Pre Great Escape!

[kushiro]

Just an update. @Plastik Man has scanned all the files and sent them to me by email, so massive thanks to him (and the other people who were on the case). 

 

Looks like the Villa video might be a bit harder to find. 

[kushiro]

Time to get the begging bowl out again.

 

I mentioned above that I had to get rid of all my old progammes and fanzines when I moved to Japan. I'm still trying to finish this book about Jon Holmes and the history of Leicester, and there are a couple of things that would really help. I need:

 

1) The programmes for the latter part of the 2002/03 season - especially the home game v Sheffield Wednesday in March.

2) Fox fanzine from March to June that season.

 

If anyone has these and is willing to make a few scans I would be eternally grateful. PM me if you can help. Thanks.

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, kushiro said:

Time to get the begging bowl out again.

 

I mentioned above that I had to get rid of all my old progammes and fanzines when I moved to Japan. I'm still trying to finish this book about Jon Holmes and the history of Leicester, and there are a couple of things that would really help. I need:

 

1) The programmes for the latter part of the 2002/03 season - especially the home game v Sheffield Wednesday in March.

2) Fox fanzine from March to June that season.

 

If anyone has these and is willing to make a few scans I would be eternally grateful. PM me if you can help. Thanks.

I will ask Fox Leisure Files on instagram who has a lot of material.

[trickytrevbenjamin]

10 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I will ask Fox Leisure Files on instagram who has a lot of material.

Hi there, thanks for flagging Ric

 

I use that account on insta

 

@kushiro I’ve got a copy of the Sheff Wed home programme from the 8th March 03. Is there any specific pages/elements you’re after.? I can scan them and email them across tomorrow 

[kushiro]

6 minutes ago, trickytrevbenjamin said:

Hi there, thanks for flagging Ric

 

I use that account on insta

 

@kushiro I’ve got a copy of the Sheff Wed home programme from the 8th March 03. Is there any specific pages/elements you’re after.? I can scan them and email them across tomorrow 

 

Thanks a lot. Two things from that Sheff Wed programme would be very useful .There should be a Jon Holmes column, and also, any reports on the 'Fosse or City'supporters  ballot.

[FOTS]

Ironically, was doing some research on the Fosse/City vote a few months ago. This is from the Fox Fanzine, March 2003. I’ll try and dig out the full issue again if it would help.

 

Struggling to attach the screenshots but it reads;

 

Friday 21st February 2003

On the eve of the Fosse/City name change vote Jon Holmes, in his first message on the official site as Chairman, put the case for Fosse:

"I personally feel that the club would benefit in several ways by a change of name. We are making a fresh start. The concept of a Club 'owned’ by the community is not new but it is important that we get the consultation process right.

This is an important decision, with long-term financial implications for the club. We are by no means a rich club. We have been saved from the abyss but there is much work to be done to establish the club amongst the elite of the game.

We need every commercial advantage we can get - a unique name, and the re-branding process - a common concept in modern business marketing - could give us that edge necessary.

There are those who think changing the name will cost us money. This is incorrect.

Whilst any change needs the support of the majority, and the decision is not principally a financial one, a new unique name will give us a great new marketing opportunity here in Leicester, in England generally, and in the burgeoning world market. I know change is difficult for some to accept but I do urge you to think it over seriously." At the Wimbledon game, which could see possibly the largest amount of City fans inside the ground to date with Wimbledon bringing a tiny band of followers, supporters would be asked to hold cards aloft at half time to show their preference.

'Observers' from the club and Foxes Trust would then try and accurately assess which name was the most popular.

 

 

The Foxes Trust had already persuaded the club to abandon the official poll when it passed 66,000 (!) and it became obvious that people were either multiple voting, or other team's fans were voting.

Communications Officer for the Foxes Trust, Nigel Ritchie explained why it was important for the Trust to be involved: "We have been discussing with the club how they intended to gauge fans opinions.

We were particularly concerned about the use of polls - which can be subject to abuse and are difficult to validate. On such an emotive issue for fans it is vital that any vote is as open as possible and we welcome the opportunity to observe the vote and pass on those observations to

The inevitable debate about this matter appeared to have become more and more heated between the Citizens and the Fossils as the time for decision making approached.