Leicester 5-2 Shrewsbury, 6th March 1982

[Alexikokopops]

Don't even think about skipping to the next entry, or shutting down the browser, on the grounds that this involves little old Leicester and Shrewsbury. This is good enough for a full Forgotten Story, never mind a Joy of Six entry. Leicester were involved in another famous quarter-final in 2001 – also known as

– but that had nothing on this, The Farce of Filbert Street. It had four goalkeepers, seven goals, 13 minutes of injury-time in an age when there were usually around 13 seconds and, most improbably of all, an Englishman called Chic.

Not that there was anything particularly chic about the game. It was a rugged knee-trembler of an FA Cup tie which, wrote Patrick Barclay in this paper, "produced so much excitement that purists in the 30,000 crowd forgot to complain". Quite right too. Even though Shrewsbury had put the Uefa Cup holders Ipswich out in the previous round, these were two fairly average second-division teams and the intoxicating prospect of reaching the semi-final drove them to produce a classic.

It started fairly routinely, with Larry May heading Leicester ahead from a corner in the sixth minute; but from the moment the Leicester goalkeeper Mark Wallington injured his thigh badly in a collision with Chic Bates in the 21st minute, all bets were off. Wallington stayed on after some encouragement from his Scottish manager Jock Wallace, but he was excruciatingly at fault when Shrewsbury scored two quick goals through Bates and Jack Keay. For the first Wallington could not even come to the edge of his six-yard box to meet a deep free-kick, and for the second, unable to get off the ground because of his injured thigh, he punched hopelessly at fresh air like an amply refreshed gentleman trying to settle a particularly profound debate in the traditional manner.

Wallington had to go off after that mistake and, with no substitute goalkeepers in those days, he was replaced by the centre-forward Alan Young. Seconds later, and on the stroke of half-time, Leicester were level after a farcical own goal from Steve Biggins. Leicester started the second half well after their mildly psychotic manager Wallace – who once grabbed Gary Lineker by the neck and threw him against the wall at half-time in a reserve match, even though Leicester were 2-0 up and Lineker had scored both goals – had what he described in rather sinister fashion as a "wee word in their ears at half-time". Then it all started to go wrong again when the stand-in goalkeeper Young had to go off after landing awkwardly in another collision, this time with Bernard McNally.

He was replaced by Steve Lynex and, because only one sub was allowed, Leicester were down to 10 men. Eventually Young came back on an as an outfield player; a few minutes later, in an inspired move, Wallace put him back in goal and Lynex back on the right wing. With his first touch Lynex created a neatly taken third goal for Jim Melrose, who – keep up with us now – had come on for Wallington in the first place; from there, Leicester ran off into the distance. A 21-year-old Lineker scored coolly to make it 4-2, and Melrose's last-minute header finished things off. When Filbert Street was closed in 2002, Lineker picked this as his favourite game, saying "It may sound a strange choice." To those who were there, it was the only choice.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Chic Bates has been at the or around the top of my hit list for years!

That was a classic match, absolute classic!

[jerakin]

I will never forget that match, absolute classic!

[Poakey]

I remember playing Cuppy's as an 8 year old on a field round the back of where i grew up in Beamont Leys and hearing this great roar now and then,i went home and told my Dad,he told me to watch Match of the Day that night and you will see whats it was all for.I did and that was when i fell in love with Leicester City.I often wonder if i'd be a glory boy if i hadnt watched this match.

[melrose]

It was total euphoria that day in pen 3

Rivaled only by the shaggers game at wembley in 94

[Katy]

I was only a kid but I remember this well, a game that definitely kept my attention as a fidgety 7 year old!

[Head Honcho]

I was also in Pen 3 that day.

From what I've heard with about 50000 other city fans

[Webbo]

I was stood at the back of the double decker. Not because I wanted to just that all the seats were gone. It was pissing it down with rain, dripping on me from a hole in the roof. Still a great day though.

[Lisburn Fox]

Season ticket in the Double Decker that season for me, one of the best games I have ever been to.

[Jordan]

If I were able to go back in time and watch games in any sport that were before my era, this game would be towards the top of my list.

[Spudulike]

I was far enough forward down towards the front in either pen 2 or pen 3 to not have the benefit of shelter from the overhang of the Double-Decker roof. Seems that you could bring a crash helmet into Filbo in those days and some random bloke standing adjacent to me donned his head gear in an attempt, I assume, to keep his barnet dry. Don't know who he was and would never recognise him again as it was a full-face job but, blimey, did we celebrate those goals together. Happy days.

[Daggers]

As a spotty teen, I danced on the pitch in my Big Ron sheepskin - and watched it over and over on our Beta video recorder.

[Vacamion]

I was there with my Dad.

An absolute classic.

Great memories...

[dpjfox]

I was there with my Dad.

An absolute classic.

Great memories...

I was there ( travelled down from my home in Blackpool), still see one of the Shrewsbury players from that day (Dave Tonge), who lives nearby, classsic nailbiter, great atmosphere, never to be equaled

[Frenzied]

A day that I will never forget and forever regret - the day that I chose to go to my friends birthday party than to the game. Since then I have never chosen friends over LCFC.

[Trav Le Bleu]

For those too young to remember...

Had forgotten that Wallington stayed on after the first Chic Bates incident and was just a passenger for the Shrewsbury goals.

Jim Melrose, Alan Young, Gary Lineker ... what I wouldn't give for City to have 3 strikers of that calibre right now.

[surrifox]

what a game- I had forgotten Eddie Kelly was in the side and Lynex- a great servant of the club - never missed a penalty as I recall.

Shame that we failed to turn up for the semi against Spurs

[Sampson]

Fantastic game. It seemed somewhat unreal while we were there, pantomime-esque. Second only to the 4-0 game at Luton as LCFC games I've been to go.