Ken became a Leicester City fan as a young man in the 1950s, often travelling to Filbert Street from Kettering with his future wife on a small motorbike. This began a long association, a journey which led to him becoming Vice-President of the Club in 1985, President in 1989 and Life President in 1998.
During his time as President, there were many highs and lows. These included four relegations, four promotions and four Wembley play-off finals, with two of them resulting in promotion to the Premier League. This was followed by Martin O’Neill’s side reaching three League Cup Finals, (winning two of them), qualifying for two European campaigns and achieving four successive top-half Premier League finishes. For a time in the 1990s, the Brigstock family was the biggest single shareholder in the Club. Off the field, the Club moved to its new stadium in 2002.
Ken lived a very full life. Born in humble circumstances in Kettering, he left school at 14 to work at a local shoe company, initially sweeping the floors. Encouraged by the factory owner, who recognised his potential, he went to night school to study business. Ken was later in a position to purchase the company when it was offered to him following the owner’s retirement.
After he sold the business in the 1960s, he acted as a consultant for a timber business and a storage business. His next move was to buy a caravan park in Norfolk in the 1960s. By the 1980s, he owned seven holiday and residential parks as well as being involved in other property deals. He was also a pilot, loved boating, owned several iconic classic cars, and played golf and tennis.
He was extremely proud of the important part he had played in the Club’s history during a significant time in our story. The thoughts of all at Leicester City are with Ken’s family and friends at this sad time.