Posted: Mon 18 Mar 2013 Leicester City
Leicester Fosse 1884-1919
Image by:Leicester City
Chapter 1: Leicester Fosse 1884-1919 Leicester Fosse was founded in a shed in the garden this house on Fosse Road
1884: The founders of Leicester Fosse attended a Bible Class run by Rev Parsons at the long demolished Emanuel Chapel in New Park Street.
1884: Westleigh Avenue was the site of Fosse’s 1st ever game, a 5-0 victory over Syston Fosse on Nov 1st 1884.
1885: Leicester Fosse’s used Victoria Park and its pavilion as their home ground until 1887.
1886: The earliest known Fosse team picture taken in their pre-league days when they wore brown and blue halved shirts.
1887: Fosse moved to a new ground, the Belgrave Road Cycle and Cricket Ground, which later became the site of the British United Shoe factory.
1888: Fosse moved back to Victoria Park as Leicester Tigers outbid them for the Belgrave Road Ground.In 1889 they moved to a ground at Mill Lane, (now covered by Ulleswater Street).
1890: This Fosse team entered the FA Cup for the first time, losing 4-0 to Burton Wanderers.
1891: This season ticket indicates that Fosse played their first season in the Midland League at Aylestone Park (Grace Road- pictured here in 1890) and then moved to Walnut (Filbert) Street.
1892: Fosse’s gates were between 2000-4000 at their new Walnut Street (Filbert St) ground , but they struggled in the Midland League. This is the earliest picture of the Filbert Street ground.
1894: Boasting 19 professionals at the club, this Fosse team was elected to the Football League at the end of the season.
1895: A season ticket from Fosse’s first season as a league side when they finished a very creditable 4th position in Division 2.
1897: To avoid financial collapse, Fosse became a limited company, with a Board of Directors replacing the old Committee, pictured here.
1898: Ernie Watkins(pictured) and Dick Jones were capped for Wales against Scotland becoming Fosse’s first ever international players.
1903/04: Now wearing blue shirts, Fosse finished bottom of the Football League.
1907/08: Captained by Ex-England International Billy Bannister and averaging crowds of 13000, this Fosse team was promoted to the First Division.
1908/09: After one season, Fosse were relegated, despite the efforts of their England goalkeeper Horace Bailey.
1913: Jack Bartlett guided Leicester Fosse to this FA Cup 3rd round tie against Norwich City.
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1913: Fosse’s Tommy Benfield scored the first ever goal at Woolwich Arsenal’s new ground at Highbury.
1915: At the end of the 1914/15 season.League football was suspended due to the First World War. Fosse ‘s last game was at Clapton Orient. After the game, the Clapton team marched in full army uniform around the pitch having just enlisted in the Footballers’ Battalion (the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment).This film clip captures the occasion.
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1916: Ex-Fosse player William Sharpley was killed in action on the Somme. In 1918.three more players who had played for Fosse, Tommy Benfield, Robert Messer and William Pepper, were killed in action in October 1918. The Club now owns Robert Messer’s medals from the conflict.
1919: In this Solicitors’ Office in Bowling Green Street, Fosse, in dire financial straits, was wound up, and replaced by the newly formed Leicester City.
