Leicester City

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Lore & Background

The club was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse F.C, before they became known as Leicester City in 1919, coinciding with the city of Leicester gaining official city status. They moved to Filbert Street in 1891, were elected to the Football League in 1894, and moved to the nearby Walkers Stadium in 2002. The stadium was renamed to the present day King Power Stadium in 2011. Leicester City have won seven major trophies within the English football league system, including one Premier League, one FA Cup, three League Cups, and two FA Community Shields. They are currently the sixth most successful team in English football since the turn of the century, as one of only five clubs to have won all three major domestic trophies since 2000. The club's 2015–16 Premier League title win attracted global attention, and they became one of seven clubs to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992. Prior to 2015–16, Leicester's highest league finish was the second place in the 1928–29 First Division. The club's longest period of time spent at the top level of English football came between 1957 and 1969. During these years, Leicester reached three FA Cup finals, competed in European football for the first time, and recorded their third highest ever league finish. The club have since participated in a further six European campaigns and two FA Cup finals, reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2016–17, winning the FA Cup in 2021, and reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2021–22. Leicester won the League Cup in 1964, 1997, and 2000 respectively, and were finalists in 1964–65 and 1998–99.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the floodlights at the City Ground as the East Midlands Derby reached its climax. The air was thick with the smell of wet grass and the roar of thousands of Reds demanding victory. A Forest midfielder intercepted a sloppy pass from a Leicester defender, launching a counter-attack that sliced through the midfield like a knife. With seconds remaining on the clock, the ball found the foot of the striker, who buried it low into the net, silencing the travelling fans and igniting a sea of red in the stands.

Reader's Guide

Leicester City play at the King Power Stadium, having moved there in 2002. The club's traditional colours are blue and white. Notable former players include Arthur Rowley, Gary Lineker, and Frank McLintock. The club's record league win is 13–0 against Notts Olympic in an FA Cup qualifying match. Their record league defeat is 12–0 against Nottingham Forest in 1909.

Did You Know?

• Leicester City were originally called Leicester Fosse, named after a Roman road near their first pitch.
• The club's 2015–16 Premier League title win was one of the biggest sporting upsets in history.
• Leicester's record league defeat, 12–0 against Nottingham Forest, occurred in the 1908–09 season.

Origins and Geographic Context

The rivalry between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest stands as the defining fixture of the East Midlands derby, uniting the two largest cities in the region. Despite geographical nuances where Forest sits closer to Notts County and Derby, while Leicester is nearer to Coventry, these two clubs represent the primary footballing identities of their respective urban centers. Their competitive history is extensive, boasting 111 meetings dating back to 1901 as of May 2025. This long-standing connection transcends mere proximity, establishing a fierce local competition that has evolved over more than a century. The fixture serves as the primary battleground for regional supremacy, with both clubs vying for bragging rights in an area where football culture is deeply entrenched. While other nearby teams exist, the sheer scale and population of Leicester and Nottingham ensure their clash remains the most significant derby in the East Midlands, creating a narrative that spans generations of supporters and players alike.

Historical Extremes and Defining Moments

The history of this fixture is punctuated by dramatic highs and lows, ranging from record-breaking humiliation to last-minute salvation. The most infamous encounter occurred on 21 April 1909, when Leicester Fosse suffered a staggering 12–0 defeat at the City Ground. This result, Nottingham Forest's record league win, was so poor that it triggered an official Football League inquiry; however, no punishment followed once it was revealed that several of the already relegated Leicester side were hungover from a teammate's wedding. Conversely, modern history offers moments of high drama, such as the 4 May 2013 Championship decider where Anthony Knockaert scored in injury time to secure Leicester's promotion playoff spot with their first league win at Forest since 1972. The rivalry has also seen bizarre interruptions, including a 2007 League Cup match abandoned at half-time due to Leicester player Clive Clarke collapsing in the dressing room, only for Leicester to eventually win the rescheduled match 3–2. On 3 October 2022, Leicester and Forest met for the first time in the top flight for 23 years, with Leicester winning 4–0, though Forest won the return match 2–0 on 15 January 2023.

Player and Managerial Crossings

A unique aspect of this derby is the significant number of individuals who have represented both clubs as players or managers, effectively bridging the divide. Notable figures like Martin O'Neill, Steve Cooper, and Dave Bassett have managed both sides at various points in their careers, with Cooper notably guiding Forest back to the Premier League before later taking charge at Leicester. On the pitch, legends such as Peter Shilton, Stan Collymore, and Wes Morgan have worn both kits, sometimes after spells at other clubs or directly between them. The transfer history includes direct moves like Wes Morgan's £1 million switch from Forest to Leicester in January 2012, alongside complex journeys involving multiple intermediate teams for players like Jesse Lingard and Matthew Upson. This fluid movement of talent adds a layer of personal connection and complexity to the rivalry, as former teammates often find themselves on opposing sides or coaching against their old employers.

Crowd Trouble and Modern Conduct

While the football on the pitch is intense, the atmosphere surrounding these matches has occasionally been marred by significant crowd trouble and hooliganism. Historical incidents include a major disturbance in 1977 that led to eighteen arrests following a match. More recent years have seen persistent issues with racist chanting and objects being thrown, particularly targeting players like Alan Rogers during a 2–2 draw in 2002. The tension often spikes around critical results; for instance, six Forest fans were arrested after Leicester's dramatic late victory on 4 May 2013 secured their playoff place. Similarly, an FA Cup tie in January 2012 resulted in eleven arrests due to fan misconduct. Prior to a 2–2 draw on 19 February 2014, a Nottingham Forest fan was arrested for tweeting racist abuse at Leicester fans. A fight broke out between both sets of supporters during a boxing event at the King Power Stadium in September 2018. On 6 February 2022 before an FA Cup clash, Leicester fans vandalised a bar in Nottingham city centre and a Leicester fan ran on the pitch and attacked a Forest player during a goal celebration.

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