Leicester City In 100 Players: Len Glover

The roar of the crowd when he received the ball became part of the Filbert Street experience, as did the terrace songs singing his praises. Len signed for Charlton Athletic as a 17-year-old and played nearly 200 games for the Addicks between 1962 and 1967. 

His performances attracted attention from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur but in November 1967, Leicester City signed him for £80,000, a British transfer record for a winger. Finding it difficult to settle in Leicester, Lenny’s first season was also hit by injury.

However, he began to make his mark the following year, helping Leicester City reach the 1969 FA Cup Final against Manchester City, despite not being fully fit when he played in the semi- final and the final. Unfortunately, Leicester were relegated from the top division shortly afterwards. 

For the next two seasons, Len dazzled Second Division defences. He played a major part in Frank O’Farrell’s Leicester City side winning the Second Division title in 1971. He then embarked on his greatest spell as a Leicester City player. 

New manager Jimmy Bloomfield brought in Jon Sammels, Alan Birchenall, Keith Weller, Dennis Rofe and Frank Worthington. Leicester became a force in the top division, playing very attractive football. 

He developed an almost telepathic relationship with Frank Worthington, who said that the understanding he had with Glover on the pitch was the best he ever had with any player throughout his long career. 

Len provided the crosses for many of Frank’s goals. He also scored some memorable ones himself, notably the equaliser in the 1974 FA Cup Semi-Final against Liverpool. On the way to that semi- final, Glover had been in the Leicester team that produced a display against Luton Town which was described by Malcolm Allison, a top coach, as the best display of attacking football that he had ever seen. 

In 1974 and 1975, four Leicester City players (Peter Shilton, Steve Whitworth, Keith Weller and Frank Worthington) played for England. Many felt that Glover, described as ‘the best uncapped winger in the world,’ should have been the fifth. 

Towards the end of the following season, Len was again suffering from injuries and in April 1976, after over eight memorable years at Filbert Street, he signed for Tampa Bay Rowdies, ending his top-flight career in England.