Leicester City v Southend United

Last updated : 09 December 2008 By Shrimpers24
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Leicester-City.png v http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Southend_United_FC.png

BLUES

Just what you want after not winning a league game for over a month, the league leaders away.

Blues boss Steve Tilson believes he will learn a lot about his side at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm). The Foxes are currently top of the League One table and Tilly knows United are in for a real test.

Speaking to the Southend Evening Echo: "This game is going to be a real yardstick for us. They are leading the way like many people expected and we have to be on top form to get anything from the game. We will see just how good we are but we're going there feeling confident because we're playing well. It's been a tough old year for us so far with injuries and having to disrupt the team all the time. It's not ideal but we're still in there and I think the players have been fantastic. Tomorrow is another real challenge though and Leicester are a very strong side."

Which Southend will turn up? The last time we played a striker in form, Paul Lambert, we gave him the freedom of Bristol. The same to Mr. Fryatt and the game could be over once again before the first half hour, as it could have been at Tranmere before Revell's knee took a starring role.

Concentration will have to be very high for the whole game, and I've no doubt T&B have done their homework, but you just know with the present Blues defence, even with the match goalless with 10 minutes to go, if Leicester get a corner or a free-kick on the edge of the area, Shrimpers heads will be in their hands as the ball flies over at pace. Mildenhall is going to have to be at the top of his game.

Southend go into the game without midfielder Jean-Francois Christophe, (hamstring - in what would have been his last game until what we hope becomes a permanent signing), Lee Barnard (hamstring - surprise, surprise), and Dougie Freedman (thigh - can't wait to see him with Laurent eventually, are all still out).

Christophe will be a loss, as Sawyer and HRK are, but Macca looked back to his best at Cheltenham and Milsom, if not as creative as Sawyer, is not a bad replacement. And then there's Junior, what we will see from him against a tougher defence? Feeney on the bench could be exciting as well. I'm starting to look forward to this, 1-0 Blues!

Possible Southend XV1: Mildenhall, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Harding, Betsy, McCormack, Milsom, Stanislas, Revell, Laurent; Subs: Joyce, Sankofa, Grant, Feeney, Walker.

OPPOSITION

Midfielder Matt Oakley is set to return to the Leicester side after missing out against Dagenham with ankle trouble. David Martin should be fit after minor hip trouble, while reserve keeper Paul Henderson (groin) faces a late test.

Sadly, 19-goal man Matty Fryatt will play, but Clarkey's ready: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=420271.

However, it's Andy King from mid-field the local press are warning about!

1Leicester City 1862113653118101152311638+15
2Milton Keynes Dons 186031786122091215371737+20
3Millwall 1871113742314141134272136+6
4Oldham Athletic 1862122942312131044342234+12
5Peterborough United 186212193421211963332033+13
6Scunthorpe United 18522171151316131035332433+9

Leicester City's settled side is the key to their table-topping position. That is the view of manager Nigel Pearson, so there will be few changes when his side face Southend United at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow. Pearson will again trust the tried-and-tested basis of his team to see off the challenge of the Shrimpers and stay on top of the League One pile.

There have been times when City have been inconsistent during the course of games. But, overall, their position underlines their steadiness.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury Pearson said: "We might make a few changes now and again, but the nucleus of our team has remained largely the same and that has helped us. It is nice to have a settled side but, when you have to make changes for whatever reason - injury or loss of form - it is still good to have people who will do a job. We have got a strong squad and it was nice to have (loan signing) Mark Davies in last week because he adds options in midfield. That is an important part of any team and it is good to have some more quality there."

The other side of the settled-team coin is having some players frustrated at lack of action, especially when it is difficult to contemplate changing a winning team. Pearson continued: "It is a big squad and only 11 players can start. But, of what you would deem to be our first-team squad, I think you would find that most have featured at some stage this season."

City have actually used 28 players in their games so far and, of the 33 listed for last weekend's game, only Harry Worley and Alex Cisak have not seen any part of the action - apart from long-term injury men Stephen Clemence and Bruno N'Gotty. So City will be along familiar lines tomorrow with a fitness check on goalkeeper David Martin needed after his hip-knock on Saturday, although he is almost certain to be passed fit.

Right-back, and ex-Blue loanee, Kerrea Gilbert is also back in the reckoning after hamstring trouble. He played well for City's reserves in their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in midweek, and Pearson said: "He is back in full training, is looking good and is definitely in contention."

Bad news was perhaps good news for the City boss, as he was pipped for the League One manager of the month award yesterday by MK Dons' Roberto Di Matteo. Di Matteo's side are hot on the heels of City, just one point behind in second place. A Dons reverse at home to Scunthorpe tomorrow, added to a City win, would put Pearson's men four points clear. And the City boss, whose award for August preceded their only home defeat - 1-0 to Millwall - is no doubt relieved to see the accolade go elsewhere.

From the same paper a report on their last league win against struggling Crewe which must give the Blues hope, if we watch those King and Fryatt runs into the box close enough.

Leicester City 2 Crewe Alexander 1

Where would Leicester City be without Andy King? Certainly they would not be top of the table because his second winner in a row gave them a 2-1 victory over Crewe at the Walkers Stadium last night to keep City in pole position in League One. The Wales Under-21 international's 71st-minute header ensured this top v bottom clash went according to the form-book - but only just as City, not for the first time, made it hard for themselves.

City started with only one change from last time, goalkeeper Martin in for the injured Paul Henderson. They did seem to have picked up from where they left off at Glanford Park with Lloyd Dyer, Fryatt and Campbell looking lively and the outnumbered midfield doing well to keep things going.

Matty Fryatt's opener was a beauty, taking the ball in from the left and swerving a great finish into the far side of the net. He deserved it as City's top man but the expected slaughter of the struggling opposition never materialised. Fryatt had a shot blocked soon afterwards, a Campbell drive was well saved and an Oakley header bound for the top corner was tipped away, all in the first half.

However a disastrous piece of defending, first by DJ Campbell then Michael Morrison, cost City dearly. Campbell, hemmed in at the right-back spot, had a clearance blocked and Morrison failed to contain lone Crewe striker Calvin Zola, who accepted the gift with ease to equalise in the 29th minute. City had looked under no threat but worse nearly followed because, in first-half stoppage-time, Zola broke clear and it needed a great save from David Martin to ensure City did not let it all slip away.

All this was a little ominous and the second half meant City were again doing their break-down act against a Crewe side who were time-wasting as much as possible for a morale-boosting point. The home side were shaken, and the second half was as nervy and disjointed as in some previous matches as City had it all to do again. Soon after the break, a Bruno Berner shot was blocked. The heat stayed on and Fryatt had a header saved. Joe Mattock, up in attack, was sent through by Campbell only to blast wide then a Fryatt header was tipped over, only just, by Crewe goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson.

Crewe mustered no shot on target other than the goal all night and the unease was growing until Gradel, on for the limping Matt Oakley, won a corner on the right. Gradel swung the flag-kick over himself and King raced in to power home a header. There was as much relief as joy when the ball bulged the net because this had been a very unconvincing display, in stark contrast to Saturday's fine win at Scunthorpe where King was again the hero.

Leicester team that beat Dag & Reg in the Cup 2nd round: Martin, Edworthy, Morrison, Tunchev, Mattock (Powell 66), Adams, Berner (Davies 57), Andy King, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard. Subs Not Used: Cisak, Campbell, Gradel, Hobbs, Dickov.

PREVIOUSLY

Played 11: Won 3 Drawn 2 Lost 6.

Ahh, the Julian Hails hat-trick match of Sep. 23 Sep. 1995, remember it well. Our sole win in Leicester! Not so affectionately the cup defeat only 16 months later.

The Championship brought a thriller at the Hall on March 2 07 with Macca scoring in the last minute, a minute or so after Leicester had scored what they must have thought was the winner in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The last time at the Walkers Stadium, seven months earlier on Aug. 26 06, saw Blues more than hold their own until, oh dear, a corner to the Foxes was headed home to hand them a 1-0 win. Gutteridge missed a sitter to equalise, thought I'd mention that.

At Leicester City (6)At Southend Utd. (5)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Leicester City583.33Southend Utd.240.00
Southend Utd.116.67Leicester City120.00
Draws00.00Draws240.00
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Leicester City132.17Southend Utd.81.60
Southend Utd.40.67Leicester City61.20
On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (11 matches)
ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%
Leicester City00.00Leicester City654.55
Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.327.27
Draws00.00Draws218.18
GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pg
Leicester City00.00Leicester City191.73
Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.121.09
Records
Highest Aggregate5Leicester City 4 - 1Southend Utd.1992/1993
Highest Leicester City score:4Leicester City 4 - 1Southend Utd.1992/1993
Highest Southend Utd. score:3Leicester City 1 - 3Southend Utd.1995/1996
SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition
2006/2007Sat 03 MarSouthend Utd.2 - 2Leicester CityChampionship
Sat 26 AugLeicester City1 - 0Southend Utd.Championship
1996/1997Wed 15 JanLeicester City2 - 0Southend Utd.F.A. Cup
1995/1996Sat 09 DecSouthend Utd.2 - 1Leicester CityLeague Division One
Sat 23 SepLeicester City1 - 3Southend Utd.League Division One
1993/1994Sun 05 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 0Leicester CityLeague Division One
Sat 06 NovLeicester City3 - 0Southend Utd.League Division One
1992/1993Tue 20 AprLeicester City4 - 1Southend Utd.League Division One
Sat 05 SepSouthend Utd.3 - 1Leicester CityLeague Division One
1991/1992Sat 28 DecLeicester City2 - 0Southend Utd.Second Division
Sat 31 AugSouthend Utd.1 - 2Leicester CitySecond Division

REF

The man in the middle is Carl Boyeson from Hull.

This will be his 7th Southend match, Blues have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 3. His last Southend match was the 4-3 defeat at Hartlepool last season.

FIXTURES

Saturday, December 6 2008; (all 15.00 kick-off except Leicester v Southend which is 14.30.): Cheltenham v Crewe, Colchester v Hereford, Hartlepool v Yeovil, Huddersfield v Walsall, Millwall v Bristol Rovers, MK Dons v Scunthorpe, Northampton v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Brighton, Stockport v Peterborough, Swindon v Carlisle, Tranmere v Leeds United.

BET

Leicester (4/6) Draw (11/4
) Southend (5)

Bet of the Day: Southend at 5's, just have a few pints before the game.

Southend now out to 10's for promotion.

For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one.

WEATHER

6c's and sunny, what more do you want on the sixth of December?

GROUND

In August 2002 the club moved into its new home, only a stone's throw away from their old Filbert Street ground. The stadium was built by Birse Construction at a cost of £35m, is completely enclosed with all corners being filled with seating.

The sides are of a good size, built in the same style and height. Running around three sides of the stadium, just below the roof, is a transparent perspex strip, which allows more light and facilitates pitch growth. On the remaining side is a row of executive boxes.

Completely encircling the stadium and hanging from the roof itself is a collage of player images, along with adverts for the sponsors of the stadium, Walkers. There are also same basic looking (red LCD display) electric scoreboards at either end. Like most new stadiums, it's functional and looks good but lacks character. At least it's not miles out of town.

Away supporters are housed in the North East corner of the stadium, where just over 3,000 fans can be accommodated. The view of the playing action is good (although you are set well back from the pitch) as well as the facilities available.

The concourse is comfortable and there is your normal range of hot dogs, burgers and pies available (including the Pukka Balti Chicken pie £2.50, served in a tray with a fork). There are television screens on the concourse showing the game going on within the stadium. The gents toilets though are poorly designed, they have a narrow 'zig zag corridor' of an entrance which hindered people coming in or out and didn't help the major traffic flow at half time!

You do have to put up with the home fans singing on both sides of the away section and the stewarding is pretty relaxed. The teams come out to the Post Horn Gallop tune, reminiscent of horse riding and even fox hunting! (Yes, Leicester are nicknamed the Foxes, if you'd forgotten!)

TRANSPORT

For information on getting to the game by all forms of transport including times, prices and maps, go to Last Call to Leicester: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDW4

PUB & PIES

For the best pubs to visit and grab something to eat go to Last Orders in Leicester: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDW8

HISTORY


In 1884, the year of the first public pay phone, Leicester City Football Club was formed - or to be more accurate Leicester Fosse Football Club was born. It cost two old pennies to make a three-minute call (50p in today's prices) and maybe the group of young men who decided to start the football team, were grateful to Alexander Graham Bell for his new invention. It meant if they were short of a nippy winger, they could phone a few friends!

In those days, most people preferred a different ball game - rugby. But this group of young men, associated with the old Emanuel Church in New Park Street, preferred the round ball game.

So Fosse was born, but during the first seven years, only friendly matches were played. Leicester Fosse played at the Racecourse, Victoria Park, Belgrave Road and Mill Lane, before ending up at Filbert Street in 1891. In 1908 they were promoted to the First Division - for one year only.

Leicester City Football Club rose from the ashes of Leicester Fosse in 1919. And within six years, under the leadership of one Peter Hodge, City won the Second Division and were back in the top flight.

In 1928, a season when City were full of international players - 47,298 fans packed into Filbert Street for an FA Cup tie against Spurs.

They were good years for City who stayed in Division One up until 1935. The yo-yoing began and City were promoted in 1937 only to find themselves relegated again two years later.

After World War Two, City once again had the task of getting themselves back into Division One. But they struggled and nearly found themselves plummeting into Division Three. It was 1949 when in the last game of the season they avoided that drop. But it was a good cup year for City - they reached the FA Cup Final only to lose to Billy Wright's Wolves 3-1. A City star of that time was Don Revie, later to become a legendary manager at Leeds United.

In the 1953-54 season, City won the Second Division and were back in the top flight, but, yes, you've guessed it, they were relegated the next season. But City were not destined to become just another Second Division side and in the 1956-57 season were promoted again. Goal-scoring machine Arthur Rowley, yes the former Blues promotion winning manager, hit 44 goals and City were at the top to stay - for a while at least, until 1969.

City had manager Matt Gillies to thank for the good times. The club reached three FA Cup finals and two League Cup Finals. They won the League Cup in 1963-64 beating Stoke City over two legs.

City were known for having great goalkeepers - first Gordon Banks and then Peter Shilton.

City began the 70s in the Second Division but were soon promoted again. During the decade Frank O'Farrell took over as manager, then joined Manchester United and Jimmy Bloomfield replaced him. Entertainment came to Filbert Street in the shape of Frank Worthington, Alan Birchinall and Keith Weller. Bloomfield, though, was sacked in the 1977-78 season and Frank McLintock was brought in.

It was an unhappy time for the Scot and City were relegated. McLintock didn't seem to know what he wanted, using 40 players in the season.

Jock Wallace replaced him and started to re-build Leicester City. A young striker called Gary Lineker was given his chance and in the season 1980-81, City were promoted back to Division One. The pressure was too much for a young City side, and yes, they were relegated again.

But it was a good City side and Gordon Milne, who replaced Wallace, bought Alan Smith to bolster the goal scoring. Smith and Lineker were a potent force.

The yo-yo years continued with Bryan Hamilton and David Pleat taking turns in the managerial hotseat. Hamilton saw City relegated before Pleat took over.

The early nineties almost saw City slip into Division Three under Pleat. City then appointed the Darlington manager Brian Little - and City were once again to re-build for the future. 1991-1992 saw a Leicester City revival. Brian Little brought in five new faces during the summer for the sum of £160,000. The gamble paid off, as it had with his previous club Darlington who achieved consecutive promtions with from the Conference through to the old Third Division. City started the season very brightly and after the first five games they were sitting in second place with thirteen points and having conceded only two goals. However, a heavy defeat away to Middlesbrough saw City lose confidence, picking up only three points from a possible 18 during a terrible month which saw them drop to 12th place. Things weren't looking good.

Steve Thompson was brought in by Little in time for the match against Oxford United. Little gave him his debut from the bench, and he scored, automatically earning himself the number eight jersey. The signing of the influential Steve Thompson helped to stop the season slipping away and they produced a great run of results which saw them second in the table on the last day of the season, vying for automatic promotion into the first ever Premier League season. They faced Newcastle, who were playing to avoid relegation, at Filbert Street. Steve Walsh was on the scoresheet twice but unfortunately for City, he cancelled his earlier effort out and Peacock grabbed Newcastle United's winner.

City were in the play-offs though and they were drawn against Cambridge. Cambridge were brushed aside 6-1 on aggregate and City were through to the Play-off final against Blackburn Rovers. It was a tight final but Blackburn nicked it with former City player Mike Newell netting a penalty to take Rovers into the Premiership.

City started the 92-93 season on a high following their fine form the season before they never dropped out of the top 10 all season and were almost constantly in the play-off positions. They faced Newcastle United on the last day of the season again, but things were different. Newcastle weren't fighting for their lives this season, they had decimated all the competition and were already declared Division One champions. (I think we drew 1-1 against them though!) City didn't need a win either, they were destined for the Play-offs whatever the outcome, needless to say that City got pummelled by Newcastle 7-1 at St.James' Park.

The Play-offs saw City overcome third placed Portsmouth in a tight contest over two legs (City eventually winning 3-2 on aggregate) and then going back to Wembley for the second season on the trot. City put up a good fight against Swindon town with both goalies being called into action many times, but mostly for picking the ball out of the back of the net. Swindon eventually got the better of City as they ran out 4-3 winners. Could it be third time lucky?

1993-94 was the season where City gained promotion and, as was the case the season before, City were never really out of the Play-off positions, finally finishing fourth. Their first opponents in the Play-offs were Tranmere Rovers and after a hard fought 0-0 at Prenton Park, City took their home advantage and made it count with a 2-1 win at a packed out Filbert Street. The Foxes were at Wembley for the third season running and they were up against East Midlands rivals Derby County. Steve Walsh was the City hero, netting City's two goals in a 2-1 victory.

City were in the Premier League for the first time, and with it came great financial reward as major financial backers such as Sky TV increased prize money to a whole new level. City used this money to smash their transfer record and sign Mark Draper for £1.25 million from Notts County. However, they were unable to bring any other "big" names to Filber Street other than Nicky Mohan of Middlesbrough.

The season didn't start well for City and they didn't win a game until Tottenham Hotspur came to visit Filbert Street on September 17th 1994. City beat "The Mighty Spur's" 3-1, with Julian Joachim (twice) and with David Lowe getting on the score sheet. City ended the season in 21st place (one off the bottom) managing only 6 wins all season, also losing Brian Little, who resigned from manager at City before becoming Aston Villa manager, leaving Mark McGhee to piece together a team lacking confidence and morale.

It was a harsh reality check but it did the trick for City as they bounced right back into the top flight (through the play-offs yet again) by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time. That season wasn't trouble free though. Mark McGhee left City high and dry after little more than a year and the City board were again on the look out for another manager. They quickly went back to the previous years shortlist. Martin O'Neill resigned from his post at Norwich City and Martin George bagged his man shortly afterwards. It was to be one of the best moves the City board had ever made.

Back in the Premiership, in August 1996. City were joined by Sunderland and Derby as the new boys in the Premiership, but City had been there before, they had that extra bit of experience that set them aside from the other two hopefuls. The Foxes first full season under O'Neill was to be one of their most successful. While many wrote Leicester off at the beginning of the season, O'Neill told the players to stick to their game plan and it paid off. City took on top Premiership teams week in, week out, and took the game to them. The points were building up for O'Neill's men and two wins over Brian Little's Aston Villa only increased their confidence and secured a ninth place finish.

It wasn't only the Premiership where City were excelling either. Martin O'Neill set his eyes on silverware, and he took the Foxes to Wembley again, but this time it was the League Cup final (then the Coca-Cola Cup). City faced Premiership rivals Middlesbrough at Wembley. The game finished 1-1 after extra time, Emile Heskey scoring a late equaliser with 117 minutes on the clock, and a replay was needed, at Hillsborouugh, 10 days later. Yet again it was a draw after 90 minutes (0-0), but Steve Claridge headed the winning goal on 100 minutes, the stadium was rocking. City defended deep for the last nerve racking 20 minutes, then the final whistle blew. City were in Europe! For the first time in 36 years.

The 1997-98 season didn't quite live up to the expectations of the City faithful. The Foxes finished 10th in the league but it could have been at least two places higher as they lost 4-3 to West Ham at Upton Park. Then they were knocked out of all their cup competitions (FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup) early on. It was a tough draw for City in the UEFA Cup as they crashed to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. The FA cup draw to Crystal Palace was always going to be tough, they eventually lost 3-0 at Selhurst Park, but the League Cup defeat was embarassing. The defending Champions in that competition were comfortably beaten, 3-1, at the hands of Grimsby Town.

The 1998-99 season saw City establish themselves further as a mid-table obscurity in the Premiership, but Martin O'Neill wanted more, Martin O'Neill wanted City in europe again. After last years embarrassing Coca-Cola Cup display at Grimsby, it was time for City to regain the silverware in the newly named Worthington Cup. They got to the Final where they came up against Tottenham, who they had beaten in the league already that season. It was a typically tight Cup Final display from both teams, but Spurs edged out City, with Allan Nielsen grabbing the only goal of the game.

The 1999-2000 season was another step up in the increasingly difficult Premiership. Competition for places was really hotting up, City finished 8th, their highest Premiership finish. They managed the 5th round in the FA Cup losing out to a strong Chelsea side, and they got to the final of the Worthington Cup for the second year running. This time they faced First Division Tranmere Rovers. Rovers were tough opposition for a tired City team, but City shook off the First Division outfit to record a 2-1 victory, Matt Elliott bagging the two City goals. Martin O'Neill had taken City to the UEFA Cup for the second time during his City career.

However, O'Neill's reign as City manager ended in the summer before the 2000-2001 season, as he took the vacant Celtic job, once again leaving City managerless, but they were a much more stable team than that he picked up 5 years earlier. Former Blues player and boss, as well as England Under 21 coach, Peter Taylor, was given the task of sustaining what O'Neill had built at Filbert Street, and things started to go his way when City found themselves topping the table on October 1st 2000. It was the first time City had reached the top of the English game since 1963, they were there for 13 days as there was a week off for International fixtures, but they came back to earth with a bump. Manchester United thumped them 3-0 at Filbert Street but Taylor's side hung on in the top four until the new year.

City couldn't recreate their early season form as the O'Neill magic slowly disappeared and after stalling in all cup competitions, losing to Red Star in the UEFA Cup, Crystal in the Worthington Cup, and losing out to Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. As City lost eight games in a row in the league and finished the season in 13th position. The next season was to be one of the most forgettable seasons in City's recent history.

The season started poorly and never really showed any sign of improvement. Peter Taylor was shown the Filbert Street door only eight games. However, those eight games produced only five points with one win (over Derby) and two draws against a poor Ipswich Town and an unstable Charlton Athletic. Garry Parker took over the first team for one game and watched as they were demolished 6-0 by Leeds at Filbert Street. A permanent replacement was needed, quickly. Dave 'Harry' Bassett landed the job, and brought Micky Adams with him as his assistant coach. Things didn't get much better though, and during Bassett's 26 league games in charge, City picked up just 17 points (half of those points came within his first seven games in charge).

With four games remaining until the end of the season, and City already relegated, Bassett stepped down as manager of City and took up the post of Director of Football, with Micky Adams taking charge of the Foxes. Adams immediately changed the starting team and set them out for his first game in charge of a Premiership club, against Everton. Brian Deane scored twice in 27 minutes to put City two goals up at half-time, but City let a winning start for Adams slip in the second half as substitute Nick Chadwick and veteran Duncan Ferguson robbed City of a deserved win. Adams managed to spur City on to getting six points in their last four games, but couldn't pull the club off the foot of the table. His next task, to take City back into the Premiership.

Putting a disappointing season behind the team, Leicester moved into the new 32,500-seat Walkers Stadium at the start of the 2002-03 season. Walkers, the Leicestershire based crisp manufacturers, acquired the naming rights for a ten year period.

In October 2002, the club went into administration with debts of £30 million. Some of the reasons were the loss of TV money, (ITV Digital, itself in administration, had promised money to First Division clubs for TV rights), the large wage bill, lower than expected fees for players transferred to other clubs and the £37 million cost of the new stadium. Adams was banned from the transfer market for most of the season, until the club was rescued by a takeover by a consortium led by Gary Lineker. Adams guided Leicester to runners-up spot in Division One and automatic promotion back to the Premiership with more than 90 points.

Leicester only lasted one season in the top flight and were relegated back to the newly labelled Championship, previously known as Division One. In reaction to Leicester's restructuring of their debts, the Football League changed their rules and now penalises teams going into administration with a ten point penalty.

Sadly, with a season in Division One looming it was unlikely that people would want to see the glamour fixtures of Rotherham and Walsall compared to the last seasons Arsenal and Manchester United fixtures. Lack of ticket revenue linked with the high cost of designing such a venue put City into dire straits, and Adams' hands were tied over buying any new players to help his thin squad through a long First Division season. That didn't stop the remaining Leicester City players giving it all they had to get back into the Premiership, and the season started excellently with City claiming 54 points in just 26 games.

However, behind the scenes things weren't so good. City were in financial turmoil and the club was put into administration. Adams was told he'd have to sell players to make up the money that the club owed. Out went Matt Piper (£3million to Sunderland), Dennis Wise (Free to Millwall), and Damien Delaney (£50,000 to Hull City). While this only made just over £3million pounds in transfer revenue, more was saved on the wages that these players earned.

City weren't in the clear though. More money was needed, and a group of consortiums came forward to offer their proposals for Leicester City Football Club. The media involved themselves with everything that was happening at the club, and the newly formed Foxes Trust were very influential in the final decision. In the end, the consortium headed by Leicesters own golden boy, Gary Lineker, won and they were given the job of raising the money in time to bring City out of Administration, which they did.

City finished the season in second place behind Portsmouth and automatically qualified for the Premiership. Micky Adams' first season in charge of a Premiership club was a difficult one with problems on and off the field. Despite bringing in a practically new squad for what is estimated to be under £1 million, City struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premiership and found themselves facing an uphill struggle from day one. Perhaps 'the' highlight of the season came in City's 4-0 mauling of fellow strugglers Leeds United on the 15th September. It was Citys first win of the season and it was the setting for one of the best goals ever scored by a Leicester City player. Lilian Nalis made his mark with his first goal for the Blues, a stunning 25-yard volley with his left foot - his wrong foot! However, this wasn't to be a turning point in a poor season as they continously dropped points and slid down to the foot of the table, but worse was to come.

Nine players found themselves at the centre of a "sex scandal" with three accused of rape. The club was struggling on and off the pitch. The three players at the centre of the allegations - Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair - were later found not guilty but only after they had spent over a week in a spanish jail. This didn't help the team on the pitch at all, City struggled to keep in touch with the teams directly above them and were already relegated by the last day of the season.

Micky Adams now had a job on his hands to rebuild a team for the new Coca-Cola Championship season. With the dawn of a new season also came the release of 13 players but this mass exodus was balanced with the addition of some notable footballers including, Leicester-born Dion Dublin, Danny Tiatto (Man City), Joey Gudjonsson (Real Betis), David Connolly (West Ham) and Martin Keown (Arsenal).

Micky Adams resigned as the Foxes boss in October 2004, after collecting 16 points from the first 12 Championship fixtures. As a temporary measure Dave Bassett was brought in as caretaker manager with Howard Wilkinson to assist him. Craig Levein was then brought to the Walkers from Scottish club Hearts as a permanent replacement for Micky Adams.

This would prove to be an unsuccessful period and after 15 months in charge and flirting with relegation Levein was sacked. Assistant manager Rob Kelly, took over as caretaker manager, and after winning three out of four games was appointed to see out the rest of the season. Kelly steered Leicester to safety and in April 2006 was given the manager's job on a permanent basis.

In October 2006 ex-Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandarić was quoted as saying he was interested in buying the club, reportedly at a price of around £6 million with the current playing squad valued at roughly £4.2 million. The takeover was formally announced on February 13, 2007.

On 11 April 2007, Robert Kelly was sacked as manager and Nigel Worthington appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Worthington saved the club from relegation, but was not offered the job on a permanent basis, and was released before moving on to the Northern Ireland managerial position. On May 25, 2007 the club announced former MK Dons manager Martin Allen as their new manager with a 3 year contract. Allen's relationship with Mandarić became tense and after only 4 games Allen left by mutual consent on 29 August 2007.

On 13 September 2007, Mandaric announced Gary Megson as the new manager of the club, citing Megson's "wealth of experience" as a deciding factor in the appointment. Former Leicester City favourite Gerry Taggart was appointed as Megson's first team coach. However, Megson left on 24 October 2007 after only six weeks in charge following an approach made for his services by Bolton Wanderers. Milan Mandaric placed Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart in the shared position as caretaker managers until a professional manager was appointed. On 31 October, the club put on a brave performance against Chelsea in the Carling Cup, but still lost 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.

On 22 November, Ian Holloway was appointed manager. Holloway made history when he became the first Leicester manager in over 50 years to win his first league game in charge, beating Bristol City 2-0. Despite this, Leicester were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2007-08 season, thus marking the 2008-09 season as Leicester's first season outside the top two tiers of English football, their lowest ever finish. Their fall from grace would also see Holloway leave by mutual consent after less than a season at the club, being replaced by Nigel Pearson, who saved Southampton from relegation that same season.

(Thanks to the all the usual suspects, especially www.thebluearmy.co.uk, for their help with this article.)