GLOVED UP IN THE EIGHTIES
FOR Leicester City, the FA Cup has had all the romance of a slap in the face. Beaten in four finals, they once went seven years without winning a game in the competition.
Today’s clash with Southampton marks their first appearance in the semi-finals since 1982.
On that occasion, they were a Second Division team up against the cup holders Tottenham. Nevertheless, a team managed by Jock Wallace (below) fancied their chances at Villa Park after having shown real spirit in their quarter-final tie.
The Foxes were 2-1 down to Shrewsbury and without a keeper after Mark Wallington had hobbled off. Those were the days before substitute keepers and forwards Alan Young and then Steve Lynex went in goal. Somehow, they kept everything out and Leicester won 5-2.
“That game will stay with me until the day I die,” said Lynex. “Afterwards we started to think it could be our year. We weren’t bothered about playing Spurs. They had all the internationals but we had spirit. We were used to out-battling teams. We worked hard and that carried us through.”
The north Londoners had Ray Clemence, Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles in their starting line-up, while Leicester had Eddie Kelly and Gary Lineker.
“We used to run all day in training,” said Lynex. “That was Jock’s way and it worked for us. If you didn’t work hard, you got slapped and shouted at – and not just by the manager. The rest of the team would slap you and shout at you as well!”
For 45 minutes, Leicester matched Spurs and at half-time the scoreline was blank. “We were playing well enough,” said Lynex, “and it might have turned out differently if we had got the first goal...”
But it was Spurs who made the breakthrough. They caught Leicester napping with a short-corner routine, Ardiles teeing up Garth Crooks for a right-foot volley from close range.
Worse was to follow for Leicester as Tommy Williams was stretchered off following a clattering challenge from Tony Galvin. With their sub already on the pitch, they were down to 10 men for the last 15 minutes, losing 2-0.
“We fell apart a bit in the second half.” said Lynex. “On the way to the game we saw all the supporters on the motorway with their scarves and flags... so afterwards we felt we had let everybody down.”