Links With The Past: Four Artefacts From The 20th Century
Leicester Fosse’s only season in the old First Division was in 1908/09. The directors’ minutes book for that season is open at the page which records a ‘Special Meeting of Directors’ called the day before Fosse’s first-ever fixture against First Division giants Aston Villa on 1 October, 1908.
The meeting reported the £270 transfer to West Bromwich Albion of Leicester centre-forward William Garraty, an ex-England international who had won a league title and an FA Cup medal while a player.
At this meeting, the directors also chose the team for the historic fixture the next day at Villa Park. Two goalkeepers are listed. These were England international Horace Bailey, who had won an Olympic Gold medal six days earlier as part of the Great Britain football team, and Jonty Starbuck.
The 720-page ‘Gamages Association Football Annual for 1913-1914’ includes, among a mass of football detail, the complete records of all of the Football League clubs, including Leicester Fosse, for that historic season 108 years years ago just prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Several players featured in the book were killed in the conflict.
Elsewhere, the picture of Martin O’Neill, who managed Leicester City in the late 1990s, is currently on display in the reception area at King Power Stadium. It was drawn by fan Mick Forder in 1998. Mick has also produced a series of portraits of famous Leicester players which he has presented to the Club.
Finally, the football ticket is part of long-standing fan Pat McConnell’s extensive ticket collection which she has donated to the Club’s archive.
The ticket was for the first leg of the 1999/00 League Cup Semi-Final between Aston Villa and Leicester City. The game was a 0-0 draw. The Foxes, who went on to win the trophy, won the second leg 1-0, with Matt Elliott scoring the goal.