Professor's memories of seeing England legends at Filbert Street

Leicester City’s pace, flair and style this season have thrilled fans and secured the Premier League title.

And for Professor Jean Williams, Professor of Sports History at DMU’s renowned International Centre for Sports History and Culture, it’s a moment she has waited for all her life.

Prof Williams went to her first game with her dad as a seven year old, when the club played at Filbert Street.

Growing up in the 1970s, she got to watch Jimmy Bloomfield’s famous 1970s side.

That team, which featured Peter Shilton, Frank Worthington and Keith Weller, was known for playing some of the most exciting attacking football around.


Keith Weller slips a tackle from QPR's captain Terry Venables in the FA Cup quarter-final, 1974

While it never resulted in silverware – the nearest they came was losing the FA Cup semi-final to Liverpool in 1974 – Bloomfield’s boys were great entertainers, and the kudos of having three England players in the squad created a feel-good factor in Leicester, said Prof Williams.


Frank Worthington evades a flying tackle from Luton's John Ryan in the 5th Round FA Cup at Luton, 1974

She said: “There are a few good comparisons with the excitement in the 1970s both in terms of how well the team were doing, having three players in the England side, and how the city saw itself.



The legendary Peter Shilton, pictured here in 1970

“In the 1970s Leicester as a city was buoyant, its manufacturing industries were thriving and it was a time of growth. These days Leicester is of course known for Richard III which created a huge buzz around the city so there are interesting parallels between the two eras.”

Leicester City was originally known as Leicester Fosse. The club changed its name when Leicester was conferred City status in 1919 in recognition of its work towards the war effort.