From The Archives: 1992 Play-Off Final Programme
On 25 May, 1992, Leicester City met Blackburn Rovers in the old First Division Play-Off Final at Wembley for a place in the newly-formed Premier League.
City, who had narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier 12 months earlier, had been transformed by Manager Brian Little in his first season at the Club, and had defeated Cambridge United 6-1 on aggregate to reach the showpiece at Wembley.
Rovers, bankrolled by multi-millionaire Jack Walker, were managed by Kenny Dalglish, who was in his first season at Ewood Park. There are several official matchday magazines for this clash in the Club’s archives.
Consisting of 34 pages, the first half of the programme concentrates on Blackburn Rovers, while the second half concentrates on Leicester City. For each team, there is a page of data relating to each club’s records and historic achievements.
There are full double-page colour photographs of Blackburn’s and Leicester’s semi-final victories over Derby County and Cambridge United respectively. Pen pictures of both sides’ squad members are supplemented by full page colour photographs of key players from both sides.
The photographed Blackburn players are goalkeeper Bobby Mimms, defenders Alan Wright and Chris Price, midfielder Tim Sherwood, and strikers David Speedie and Simon Garner.
The photographed City players are goalkeeper Kevin Poole (who was injured for the final and replaced by Carl Muggleton), defenders Colin Hill and Gary Mills, midfielder Steve Thompson, winger Tommy Wright and striker Ian Ormondroyd.
The programme also contains a potted history of both clubs, together with a review of the 1991/92 season. A crowd of nearly 70,000 watched the final, which is remembered by Leicester fans for David Speedie’s perceived dive in the penalty area when challenged by Steve Walsh.
This resulted in Mike Newell scoring from the spot to secure a 1-0 victory for Dalglish’s side. Ironically, Speedie was to become a future City player, while Mike Newell had played for the Foxes between 1987 and 1989.