davieG Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 ...and from the OSIn the latest of his 'The Week in History' blogs, Club Historian John Hutchinson recalls the 20th anniversary of a truly memorable match played in appalling conditions . . .On 8 January 1992, almost 20 years to the day before nearly 8,000 Leicester City fans made the trip to Forest last Saturday for the third round FA Cup tie, nearly 8,000 Leicester fans made another the trip to Nottingham.The occasion was the Zenith Data Systems Northern Semi-Final against top division Notts County. Those of us who were there will never forget that evening. The match was thrilling. The weather was appalling.The Zenith Data Systems Cup, also known as the Simod Cup between 1987 and 1989, was in fact the Full Members' Cup. It was created after the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985. This resulted in English clubs being banned from Europe, so an additional competition called the Full Members' Cup was instituted in 1986 for clubs in the top two divisions. Seven finals took place between 1986 and 1992. The competition ended upon the formation of the Premier League.During the 1991-92 season, Leicester were rebuilding. The previous season, they had avoided the drop to the old Third Division for the first time in their history as a result of Tony James' goal against Oxford on the final day.Brian Little was appointed manager during the close-season and he set about rebuilding the Club. By the New Year, the Foxes were in the play-off positions. They had also performed well against First Division opponents in Cup competitions. Arsenal had been held to a draw in the League Cup, Everton had been beaten in the ZDS cup, and a Richard Smith goal had defeated Crystal Palace in the third round of the FA Cup.Hopes were therefore high for the ZDS Northern Semi-Final against First Division Notts County. The prize was a lucrative Northern Final two-legged tie against Forest, still riding high under Brian Clough. Victory against Forest would have resulted in a Wembley Final against the winners of the Southern ZDS final. Brian Little and his 1991-92 Leicester City squad.The prospect of Wembley really appealed to Leicester fans, whose last visit to the Twin Towers had been in 1969. Excitement was high.Notts County were managed by Neil Warnock. Their side contained ex-Leicester players Alan Paris and Phil Turner. Future Leicester Premiership star Mark Draper was on their bench.The match was in doubt from the start. The rain was unrelenting. The wind was biting. The pitch was a sea of mud. The surface was barely playable. The 8,000 Leicester fans stood on the totally uncovered terrace behind one of the goals. They were absolutely drenched as the rain lashed down.The match was a tough, physical battle. Tackles flew in. Commitment was high. Mauchlen went off early with damaged knee ligaments. Notts County had the better of the first half. Muggleton, in for the injured Kevin Poole (who is still playing for Burton today!) made a brilliant save low to his right after half an hour, and five minutes later Chris Short headed in a right wing cross off the post for Notts to take the lead. Tommy Wright celebrates his equalising goal.At half-time, Little emphasised to his players that if they could get a goal back, they would then go on to win the game. Oldfield left the pitch in the second half feeling ill. With defender Paul Fitzpatrick playing in Oldfield's position in midfield, Leicester pressed hard. Richard Smith's header was cleared off the line, with Kitson's follow up hitting the post. A Tommy Wright cross was cleared from under the bar by Dean Yates, who had been on Leicester's books as a schoolboy. Seven minutes from the end, Leicester finally scored when Wright's cross from the right was deflected into the net.Half an hour of extra-time in the soaking rain did not worry the 8,000 drenched Leicester fans. They didn't care. Their support was magnificent. In the first minute of extra time, a Notts shot scraped the post with Muggleton well beaten. A minute later, Leicester scored. Fitzpatrick headed home a Kitson cross which had been touched on by Wright. Ten minutes after that, Fitzpatrick should have clinched the game but he blasted wide from the corner of the six-yard box. Paul Fitzpatrick celebrates what would be the winner.In the driving wind and rain, Leicester held on. It was touch and go. In the last two minutes, Turner hit the post for the home side and Muggleton made a great last-minute save from Tommy Johnson.After the game, Leicester's Chairman Martin George paid special tribute to the soaked Blue Army.He said: "They were absolutely outstanding! Of the eleven-and-a-half thousand crowd, nearly 8,000 were from Leicester! The vast majority of those stood for three hours on the open end of the ground in the pouring rain, and they never let up for a minute with their support. Our supporters certainly deserved the result and I would like to commend them for their efforts." Scorers Wright and Fitzpatrick celebrate post-match.The next month, in front of packed crowds, Leicester lost the two-legged Northern Final against Nottingham Forest, who went on to beat Southampton at Wembley.Leicester had their day at the Twin Towers, though. They faced Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn in the Play-Off Final for a place in the newly formed Premier League at the end of the season, the first of seven Wembley trips made by the Foxes fans over the next nine years.
philce Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 What a night! I remember getting back to the car and not being able to see out of the windows because we were soaked!! Anyone remember Walshy having a go a Muggs when he was messing about wasting time?
cc_star Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 What a night indeed Went on the train from Loughborough, brilliant atmosphere all round The Everton game in the earlier rounds was the 1st game I went to see City as a 17yo, since my Dad took me as a kid Cheers davieg
wellyfox Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Not only did we loose to the trees but both clubs put up prices for the two finals.
Guest MattP Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Cheers Davie that was a great read and watch, good memories.
Poakey Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I was there!! All i can remember was that i got wet and our 8000 fans that day made some noise.
Cecchini1976 Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I remember when we equalised, we were happy but slightly annoyed that we would have to stay in the rain for another 30 mins. Never been so wet at a football match.
Webbo Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 The Everton game in the earlier rounds was the 1st game I went to see City as a 17yo, since my Dad took me as a kid Cheers davieg I took my then gf now wife to that game, never stopped moaning. Never took her since.
des2973 Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Quality days! Remember this game avidly, p*ss wet through at the cow shed, Chanting for the first time to the old queen song "we will, we will F**K you!"
crisp packet Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 My 1st away game as a kid on our own great memories....
rico Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 i was there and managed to sit in a stand with shelter
Stig the Lawnmower Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 wow! remember this well. took my son who was about twelve at the time. got bloody soaked! it was raining so hard my coffee cup was filling up faster than I could drink it! I'm sure that when fitzpatrick scored my lad had his first orgasm! what a night, what an atmosphere, Bring back Brian Little Neil Warnock was their manager at the time wasn't he
philce Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Remember steptoe (their groundsman) painting the penalty spot before extra time?
jonthefox Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I was there too. I got free tickets from mel sterland (of leeds) and i got laid that night.
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I was there, brilliant days, the sense of excitement after a few dodgy years supporting City was brilliant
rico Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I was there too. I got free tickets from mel sterland (of leeds) and i got laid that night. is that what you had to do to get the free tickets ?
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 I was there too. I got free tickets from mel sterland (of leeds) and i got laid that night. i didnt know Mel Sterland was that way inclined . . . .
davieG Posted 11 January 2012 Author Posted 11 January 2012 i didnt know Mel Sterland was that way inclined . . . . Who could resist a boy in those shorts
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Who could resist a boy in those shorts phwoar
gazfox9 Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 What a night indeed Went on the train from Loughborough, brilliant atmosphere all round The Everton game in the earlier rounds was the 1st game I went to see City as a 17yo, since my Dad took me as a kid Cheers davieg Ha ha, The Everton game was my first ever game too. Think I was 11.
5waller5 Posted 11 January 2012 Posted 11 January 2012 Classic game .... we didn't stop singing all night .... and I can't remember ever being as wet!!!!!
UpTheLeagueFox Posted 12 January 2012 Posted 12 January 2012 Went on the train from Leicester, wore a horrible reddish coat and got drenched. But what a night !!
Saxondale Posted 12 January 2012 Posted 12 January 2012 I wasn't there, but this was around the time I first started watching the City, so good memories! Did anybody else think that the ref's positioning was a bit weird? Just a thought!
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