CITY’S FA CUP FINALS
Leicester City 0 Manchester City 1 Attendance: 100,000
Leicester City team: Shilton, Rodrigues, Nish (captain), Roberts, Woollett, Cross, Fern, Clarke, Lochhead, Gibson, Glover. Sub: Manley.
IN the 1969 FA Cup final, Leicester City, who had been fighting relegation from the top flight all season, faced the previous season’s league champions Manchester City, writes Leicester City FC historian John Hutchinson.
Manager Frank O’Farrell had replaced the long-serving Matt Gillies 106 days earlier in December 1968. He then guided his new club to another FA Cup final.
On their way to Wembley, Leicester City didn’t concede one goal after the third round.
Their run included the memorable fifth round replay victory at Anfield, when Peter Shilton saved a penalty and Andy Lochhead headed the only goal of the game in front of a Merseyside crowd of over 54,000.
When Allan Clarke (for whom Leicester had broken the British transfer record when they signed him for £150,000 at the beginning of the season) scored an 86th minute winner in the Hillsborough semi-final against West Bromwich Albion, Leicester were back at Wembley for their fourth FA Cup final.
John Sjoberg missed the final through injury. Davie Gibson and Len Glover, who had both been injured, were declared fit to play, but lacked full fitness.
Captained by 21 year-old David Nish, the youngest-ever FA Cup final captain, Leicester City lost 1-0 to a goal scored in the 23rd minute by Neil Young, whose tremendous left-foot shot from a Mike Summerbee cross gave Peter Shilton no chance.
Andy Lochhead and Peter Rodrigues missed good chances to equalise and Allan Clarke was named man of the match.
In the three weeks after the final, Leicester had to play five games to avoid relegation.
They had to win their final game at Old Trafford to stay up, but lost 3-2 and where relegated after 12 seasons in the top flight.