What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
By Stopsy
August 17 2008
I’ll leave answering that question to a myriad of more knowledgeable and better qualified judges on here to point out. I walked home after the GP Play Off Final (I even put the L in!) in a drunken haze, I felt strangely at one with the world. Yes, I had a rankling feeling that Wasps decision to go to uncontested scrums was exactly that, a decision rather than something forced on them ...
By Stopsy
August 17 2008
I’ll leave answering that question to a myriad of more knowledgeable and better qualified judges on here to point out. I walked home after the GP Play Off Final (I even put the L in!) in a drunken haze, I felt strangely at one with the world. Yes, I had a rankling feeling that Wasps decision to go to uncontested scrums was exactly that, a decision rather than something forced on them ...
What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
... but I had seen the team I support put in a worthy display in the second half and even threaten to steal, and it would have been steal, a result.
I had watched the game at my local club, surrounded by people who do not support Leicester. They cheered us on in the 2nd half, willing us to snatch the game, they were incensed at the Sackey slap, even if I wasn’t. They were incensed at the uncontested scrums even though I had mentioned the likelihood of the same based on the opinions of some from this board, well before kick off..
Youth Development.
Sandbach RUFC is a small club but it is a rugby club. It finished highest in its league for an amateur club and the club we finished equal on points with had a wage bill of £90,000 last season! We have however provided 4 U18s to the 6N this last season, 3 for England and 1 for Scotland. One of their coaches, a staunch Cheshire County man and England U23 Students cap, said he had advised the lads to approach Leicester (and others) ahead of Sale in that the latter had no interest in developing youth players and only took interest in these 4 once they had been capped for England!
Sandbach RUFC is a small club but it is a rugby club. It finished highest in its league for an amateur club and the club we finished equal on points with had a wage bill of £90,000 last season! We have however provided 4 U18s to the 6N this last season, 3 for England and 1 for Scotland. One of their coaches, a staunch Cheshire County man and England U23 Students cap, said he had advised the lads to approach Leicester (and others) ahead of Sale in that the latter had no interest in developing youth players and only took interest in these 4 once they had been capped for England!
Tigers were the first to set up a Youth development scheme in the early 70’s and the list of names that went on to achieve great things for the club at very least in the very short time I was there is pretty impressive:
Paul Dodge (Funnily enough, Mrs S always puts him top of the list!)
Steve Redfern
Wayne Richardson
Gus Collington
Steve Kenney
Marcus Rose
Ian “Dosser” Smith
Stuart Redfern
Steve Redfern
Wayne Richardson
Gus Collington
Steve Kenney
Marcus Rose
Ian “Dosser” Smith
Stuart Redfern
The Academy now has links in East Anglia through to Staffordshire (unfortunately the RFU refused entry to South Cheshire!). The quality and calibre of the lads coming through is great and the wailing and gnashing of teeth when they fail to secure a senior contract with us and go elsewhere shows what a wealth of talent we are selecting from.
History
Member’s club
We are a member’s club, not owned and influenced at the whim of a benefactor, look at the Board, love them or loathe them, we get to vote for or against them. Looking at some of the Board members and in particular the recently retired trio of Beason, Matthews and Allen, there are few of us that would be arrogant enough to suggest we care more or have demonstrated that care than these ex players, I extend the same respect to the current Board members who are ex players. For the Board members who haven’t played for the club , I also extend my gratitude, in these times we need commercial acumen and the contacts they bring, not that the Peters can be accused of lacking either! I suspect that none of the non ex-players do it for the money and I doubt the rest of the board would tolerate a Prawn Sandwicher.
We are a member’s club, not owned and influenced at the whim of a benefactor, look at the Board, love them or loathe them, we get to vote for or against them. Looking at some of the Board members and in particular the recently retired trio of Beason, Matthews and Allen, there are few of us that would be arrogant enough to suggest we care more or have demonstrated that care than these ex players, I extend the same respect to the current Board members who are ex players. For the Board members who haven’t played for the club , I also extend my gratitude, in these times we need commercial acumen and the contacts they bring, not that the Peters can be accused of lacking either! I suspect that none of the non ex-players do it for the money and I doubt the rest of the board would tolerate a Prawn Sandwicher.
Welford Road
Our ground, yes its shabby but its ours and we are not at the whim of football clubs as to when we can and can’t play. Again if you listen to visitors you get to hear some pretty positive things (along with complaints about the seats and the bogs) about the bars and the feeling that this is still a club ground and not a faceless concrete sports arena.
Our ground, yes its shabby but its ours and we are not at the whim of football clubs as to when we can and can’t play. Again if you listen to visitors you get to hear some pretty positive things (along with complaints about the seats and the bogs) about the bars and the feeling that this is still a club ground and not a faceless concrete sports arena.
Crowds
Regularly at or near capacity, in the main well behaved and reasonably knowledgeable even with one eye shut, the latter of which of course one never encounters at any other ground. Fortunately we have avoided the issues connected with attracting large numbers of newcomers who then bring some of the less welcome behaviours of other sport’s spectators with them. I look forward to the extended ground and the ability to watch games at short notice in the company of friends and family and trust that the behavioural traditions will survive the gradual capacity increases.
Regularly at or near capacity, in the main well behaved and reasonably knowledgeable even with one eye shut, the latter of which of course one never encounters at any other ground. Fortunately we have avoided the issues connected with attracting large numbers of newcomers who then bring some of the less welcome behaviours of other sport’s spectators with them. I look forward to the extended ground and the ability to watch games at short notice in the company of friends and family and trust that the behavioural traditions will survive the gradual capacity increases.
Leadership
With the advent of the professional game, one team has got it right on and off the pitch. Over the years we have shown leadership in using specialist coaches, how much did Phil Larder’s time coincide with our successes?
With the advent of the professional game, one team has got it right on and off the pitch. Over the years we have shown leadership in using specialist coaches, how much did Phil Larder’s time coincide with our successes?
The Youth team was also an innovation, the community work , the shop, the program, Oval Park, Rugby courses etc. all of these things, some regularly derided by those familiar with them, demonstrate a willingness to be at the front. Admittedly Wasps appear to have stolen a march with the playing side but you can’t be top forever.
Achievements
Unparalleled in the professional game in England and so much so that we as fans have now turned to benchmarking against the best in Europe, a healthy move but one that all too often ignores the domestic success of the club. One can rightly argue that being there or there abouts in all competitions isn’t good enough for our club but spare a thought for the other clubs in England.
Unparalleled in the professional game in England and so much so that we as fans have now turned to benchmarking against the best in Europe, a healthy move but one that all too often ignores the domestic success of the club. One can rightly argue that being there or there abouts in all competitions isn’t good enough for our club but spare a thought for the other clubs in England.
When I started writing this it was straight after the Play Off final (I know I am a slow typist) Marcelo has gone and I hope he finds happiness, Backy has been installed as de facto Head Coach of first Leicester and then more factually at Leeds, Heneke Meyer has joined, Hougaard has joined, Dupuy has joined and you know, I am feeling optimistic.
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What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 13:07
What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 14:50
Cheers Ian ? Beat me to it. Although the text is a little small for my poor eyes.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: Ian B (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 15:33
Tiggs - you can either enlarge the text size or sit closer to the screen! 
Try reading it again now, I bet it works.
Try reading it again now, I bet it works.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: Tiggs (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 16:06
I can't sit any closer, as it already makes my brain buzz !!
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: johns (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 16:29
Stopsy, thanks for that, a timely reminder of what is good about our club and those that have guided us from the amateur days to professionalism.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting many supporters from all over the country who are season ticket holders and travel long distances to our home games. Not just ex Leicester born and bread but also those that have passed through our City via the Universities or through work that become caught up with the Tigers.
Where ever I travel throughout the UK it is not unusual to see Tigers Scarlet, Green & White colours, however even I was surprised a few years ago, travelling on the first ferry of the day from the Isle of Mull where in the dining room was a young boy proudly wearing the clubs colours whilst eating breakfast.
"What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?" not a lot Stopsy, but that does not stop us having a moan from time to time.
Here is looking forward to a new season.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:18:07:14:38 by johns.
Over the years I have had the pleasure of meeting many supporters from all over the country who are season ticket holders and travel long distances to our home games. Not just ex Leicester born and bread but also those that have passed through our City via the Universities or through work that become caught up with the Tigers.
Where ever I travel throughout the UK it is not unusual to see Tigers Scarlet, Green & White colours, however even I was surprised a few years ago, travelling on the first ferry of the day from the Isle of Mull where in the dining room was a young boy proudly wearing the clubs colours whilst eating breakfast.
"What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?" not a lot Stopsy, but that does not stop us having a moan from time to time.
Here is looking forward to a new season.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:18:07:14:38 by johns.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: ra (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 17:33
Quote:are those the days when we only had a skeleton staff?? (joke for sculptors!)johns
from the armature days
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:17:17:58:16 by ra.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: ra (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 17:36
nice article Stopsy.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: johns (IP Logged)
Date: 17/08/2008 19:07
ra - yes - sorry my fat fingures.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: odd-shaped vagaries (IP Logged)
Date: 19/08/2008 19:34
very astute, Stopsy, very astute
..........................................................
100,000 lemmings cannot be wrong!
Wistfully, porcine aviation; positively Fourth Street.
..........................................................
100,000 lemmings cannot be wrong!
Wistfully, porcine aviation; positively Fourth Street.
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: Yorkie (IP Logged)
Date: 20/08/2008 19:37
To answer the set question, not a lot. I just hope the club (and us supporters) keep trying to keep it that way and don't rest on our laurels!!
Re: What is wrong with Leicester Football Club?
Posted by: Bradwall Boy (IP Logged)
Date: 21/08/2008 14:22
Stopsy
As a fellow Sandbach man, I can echo the sentiments. The contrast of the Leicester approach to that of Sale is marked. On all premiership websites the achievements of their young players has been recognised yet not a mention from Sale on their website.
It stems from the top. PSA is not interested in developing young local talent. He wasn't at Gloucester and isn't at Sale. Would rather get somebody else's chequebook out.
I met Heynecke Meyer a few years ago and had a long rugby chat. He is a good man and will, I believe, have a very positive impact. Brian Kennedy missed a trick a few months ago when HM was available.
Always had great respect for Leicester as a club and perhaps the coaches at Sandbach could point their talent that way anyway. Despite providing the players you mentioned, as well as scrum half Will Cliff, Sandbach have received no attention or recognition from Sale.
As a fellow Sandbach man, I can echo the sentiments. The contrast of the Leicester approach to that of Sale is marked. On all premiership websites the achievements of their young players has been recognised yet not a mention from Sale on their website.
It stems from the top. PSA is not interested in developing young local talent. He wasn't at Gloucester and isn't at Sale. Would rather get somebody else's chequebook out.
I met Heynecke Meyer a few years ago and had a long rugby chat. He is a good man and will, I believe, have a very positive impact. Brian Kennedy missed a trick a few months ago when HM was available.
Always had great respect for Leicester as a club and perhaps the coaches at Sandbach could point their talent that way anyway. Despite providing the players you mentioned, as well as scrum half Will Cliff, Sandbach have received no attention or recognition from Sale.
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