Football Nostalgia

[LE4 Old Fart]

Letter to the Leicester Mercury editor May 1897

Nearly 130 years later little has changed!

If you have any old football  images or memorbilia or simply want more football nostalgia visit us:

www.leicestershirefootballarchive.com

[Newcastle_Fox]

Just OCR'd it so people could read:

 

FOSSE FOOTBALL CLUB.

To the Editor

Sir,—At the annual meeting of the Fosse Club takes place on Wednesday, I think then a good time to bring before the members a few matters to which they should attend for next season's committee. How do we find the club? Last in the League, and thus having to seek re-election. The team has been playing a most inconsistent game, and their form has been nothing like that shown against Luton. What is wrong? Have we had bad luck with injuries or have we had too many players on trial? Are all our men professionals or amateurs? Are their prospects any brighter for next season than they have been this year? If not, what are we going to do about it? Is it worth letting them play at all? I say no, let our Second team and five men from our Third play with Federals and see what they can do. If these men are good enough for us let us say so; if not let us get rid of them. It is only wasting money trying to make bricks without straw. We must have men who could be got together from other clubs in England, Scotland or even from Percy Ball, of Birmingham St George's (who played so well against us), who would be willing to come here if properly approached by some one who knows how things should be done.

 

Another thing: Why cannot we get more people interested in our club? There are plenty of people in Leicester who would support football if they were asked properly; but there is no inducement for them at present when they see such poor games as those played last season.

 

The club wants waking up badly! It wants new blood! New ideas! New methods! And above all it wants money! We must spend more money on getting better players and paying them well; otherwise there will be no improvement next year either.

 

In conclusion I would like suggest that some steps should taken immediately towards raising funds by means of concerts or entertainments during summer months so as enable committee start next season free debt instead beginning again with deficit which has hampered work past two years running now amounting nearly £100 each time owing partly fact gate receipts have fallen off considerably lately through lack interest shown public generally speaking also because prices charged admission matches too high considering quality football exhibited ground lately being only 6d per head whereas other clubs charge same price give much better value return.—Yours truly,

A FOSSIL

Edited 6 May 2025 by Newcastle_Fox

[OriginalRobboFOX]

You could replace Howes with Daka and nobody would know if this was a letter sent last week or 100 years ago…

[DJW1]

Perhaps this is a bit off-topic, but I still have the programme from May 1980 when we clinched promotion at Orient. In it, the Supporters Club section reported on the player of the season award, the winner receiving a 100 quid cheque from the fans! I wonder how many Leicester fans would contribute this seaon!

[Wortho]

2 minutes ago, DJW1 said:

Perhaps this is a bit off-topic, but I still have the programme from May 1980 when we clinched promotion at Orient. In it, the Supporters Club section reported on the player of the season award, the winner receiving a 100 quid cheque from the fans! I wonder how many Leicester fans would contribute this seaon!

I went to that game at Orient…great game and there were thousands of Glasgow Rangers fans supporting Jock Wallace. 
Perhaps it was hundreds 😂😂

[volpeazzurro]

On 06/05/2025 at 13:33, Newcastle_Fox said:

Just OCR'd it so people could read:

 

FOSSE FOOTBALL CLUB.

To the Editor

Sir,—At the annual meeting of the Fosse Club takes place on Wednesday, I think then a good time to bring before the members a few matters to which they should attend for next season's committee. How do we find the club? Last in the League, and thus having to seek re-election. The team has been playing a most inconsistent game, and their form has been nothing like that shown against Luton. What is wrong? Have we had bad luck with injuries or have we had too many players on trial? Are all our men professionals or amateurs? Are their prospects any brighter for next season than they have been this year? If not, what are we going to do about it? Is it worth letting them play at all? I say no, let our Second team and five men from our Third play with Federals and see what they can do. If these men are good enough for us let us say so; if not let us get rid of them. It is only wasting money trying to make bricks without straw. We must have men who could be got together from other clubs in England, Scotland or even from Percy Ball, of Birmingham St George's (who played so well against us), who would be willing to come here if properly approached by some one who knows how things should be done.

 

Another thing: Why cannot we get more people interested in our club? There are plenty of people in Leicester who would support football if they were asked properly; but there is no inducement for them at present when they see such poor games as those played last season.

 

The club wants waking up badly! It wants new blood! New ideas! New methods! And above all it wants money! We must spend more money on getting better players and paying them well; otherwise there will be no improvement next year either.

 

In conclusion I would like suggest that some steps should taken immediately towards raising funds by means of concerts or entertainments during summer months so as enable committee start next season free debt instead beginning again with deficit which has hampered work past two years running now amounting nearly £100 each time owing partly fact gate receipts have fallen off considerably lately through lack interest shown public generally speaking also because prices charged admission matches too high considering quality football exhibited ground lately being only 6d per head whereas other clubs charge same price give much better value return.—Yours truly,

A FOSSIL

I think you need to get your quill out and write in again please!

[Vlad the Fox]

12 hours ago, Wortho said:

I went to that game at Orient…great game and there were thousands of Glasgow Rangers fans supporting Jock Wallace. 
Perhaps it was hundreds 😂😂

I remember when I was younger, early 80’s I had a holiday romance with a girl from Cumbria. One day she said her dad wanted to meet me. Expecting to get a dressing down I was reluctantly dragged along to her caravan. Turns out her dad was a Glaswegian rangers fan and she’d told him I was Leicester. Didn’t understand a word he said apart from Wallace, Leicester and rangers. We got on great though  

[DJW1]

23 hours ago, Wortho said:

I went to that game at Orient…great game and there were thousands of Glasgow Rangers fans supporting Jock Wallace. 
Perhaps it was hundreds 😂😂

I hope you weren´t swinging on the cross-bar!

[Guest worth_the_wait]

32 minutes ago, DJW1 said:

I hope you weren´t swinging on the cross-bar!

It didn't break!

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Martin Henderson probably wishes the fans had spent more time swinging on the crossbar, than stripping him half naked!

[Wortho]

Great pictures!!! I wasn’t on the pitch, I was probably leaving to find a pub 😂

[sishades]

On 06/05/2025 at 13:33, Newcastle_Fox said:

Just OCR'd it so people could read:

 

FOSSE FOOTBALL CLUB.

To the Editor

Sir,—At the annual meeting of the Fosse Club takes place on Wednesday, I think then a good time to bring before the members a few matters to which they should attend for next season's committee. How do we find the club? Last in the League, and thus having to seek re-election. The team has been playing a most inconsistent game, and their form has been nothing like that shown against Luton. What is wrong? Have we had bad luck with injuries or have we had too many players on trial? Are all our men professionals or amateurs? Are their prospects any brighter for next season than they have been this year? If not, what are we going to do about it? Is it worth letting them play at all? I say no, let our Second team and five men from our Third play with Federals and see what they can do. If these men are good enough for us let us say so; if not let us get rid of them. It is only wasting money trying to make bricks without straw. We must have men who could be got together from other clubs in England, Scotland or even from Percy Ball, of Birmingham St George's (who played so well against us), who would be willing to come here if properly approached by some one who knows how things should be done.

 

Another thing: Why cannot we get more people interested in our club? There are plenty of people in Leicester who would support football if they were asked properly; but there is no inducement for them at present when they see such poor games as those played last season.

 

The club wants waking up badly! It wants new blood! New ideas! New methods! And above all it wants money! We must spend more money on getting better players and paying them well; otherwise there will be no improvement next year either.

 

In conclusion I would like suggest that some steps should taken immediately towards raising funds by means of concerts or entertainments during summer months so as enable committee start next season free debt instead beginning again with deficit which has hampered work past two years running now amounting nearly £100 each time owing partly fact gate receipts have fallen off considerably lately through lack interest shown public generally speaking also because prices charged admission matches too high considering quality football exhibited ground lately being only 6d per head whereas other clubs charge same price give much better value return.—Yours truly,

A FOSSIL

I blame Richie Wellens.Again. Perhaps a protest should be in order. How about a painting of the chairman on the side of a cart which will  be traversed through the cattle market.