This Saturday (May 25^th) former Leicester City striker and current Radio Leicester broadcaster Alan Young will be at the King Power Stadium Fan Store to officially launch the publication of his autobiography, Youn9y and sign copies between 10am and 12 noon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The book is written by Alan and Fox Fanzine Assistant Editor Simon Kimber and traces Alan’s football playing career, his time as a Youth Coach and examines the problems he faced away from football before taking up his present role as summariser on match days on BBC Radio Leicester.

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Watford 3 City 1 (Watford 3- City 2 on aggregate)

Report by Colin Hall

This was the minute that decided the destiny of two clubs' seasons – and perhaps the careers of players and managers too.

Seven minutes into stoppage time, Anthony Knockaert approached the penalty spot, seemingly on the verge of sending Leicester City into the 2013 Championship play-off final.

But it was an opportunity he was unable to convert.  It was the first penalty he had taken in his career in English football - and may well prove to be his last.

The spot-kick was blocked by Watford keeper Manuel Almunia, as was Knockaert's attempt to force home the rebound.

The ball broke loose, the home side swept upfield and with the entire City side in complete disarray, Troy Deeney headed the goal that clinched a 3-2 aggregate win and terminate in the most gut-wrenching of fashions, another Foxes promotion dream.

The 2000-plus fans who had travelled down the M1 were left numb at how defeat had been so swiftly snatched from the jaws of victory.

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City 1 Watford 0

Report by Paul Weston

It was a grey, wet and blustery evening as City fans flocked to the King Power stadium for the first leg play-off match against Watford- a match that all but the most optimistic fans thought was beyond reach until, against all the odds, the amazing injury-time scenes at Forest and Bolton’s draw against Blackpool. I have to admit that I had given up on our chances and had to find my City sweatshirt buried under lots of clothes at home until next season!

There was a sense of optimism in the air for those who had managed to beat City’s crashed website, phone line delays and obtain tickets. Was Lady Luck on our side for once? Troy Deeney, scorer in the last match and who also continually harangued the referee, was out suspended for Watford. Watford also had goalie problems but still played Almunia, despite a hamstring injury.

Pearson played the same attacking side as at Forest with Konchesky on the bench after his operation and Schlupp at left back. De Laet was fit after injury.

We wondered which City would turn up. Would it be the free flowing side with rock solid defence as at the beginning of the season? Would it be the side which lets in early and late goals and has two forwards who cannot score? Or would it be the side that seemed to be regaining its confidence and form so late in the season?

We all knew that, against Watford only a few weeks ago, we were played off the park by a very skilful side and only team spirit, grit and tenacity had kept us in the game for most of the match.

Against the background of a fantastic atmosphere and near-capacity crowd City picked it up right from the whistle with Dyer and Knockaert very prominent. Watford just could not get into the game with James and King controlling the ball in midfield.

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By car    WD18 0ER

From the North:
Join the M25 and follow until Junction 20. Exit and follow signs for Hempstead Road, follow Hempstead Road into central Watford. Follow the large roundabout system at the end of Hempstead Road and exit towards Rickmansworth A412. Follow this road for 1/4 mile and turn left at the end of the underpass. Go through two traffic lights and turn left into 'The Hornets' at the East end of Vicarage Road.

Alternatively the following is advised- Leave the M1 at Junction 5 and take the A4008 into Watford. If on nearing the town centre you can't see it on your left, just go around the inner ring road and you will soon spot it.

From the South:
Join the M25 and head north past M4/Heathrow, then past the M40 Oxford Exit at Junction 16. Take the exit at Junction 18. The slip road goes up to a bridge going across the motorway, turn left towards Rickmansworth. Head down into Rickmansworth until you arrive at a large roundabout near Rickmansworth BR station. Turn left here along the A412 towards Watford.

Follow signs into Croxley Green. Continue straight over at the two roundabouts past Croxley, then take the fifth right exit on to Harwood Road. Continue straight down, heading straight over the traffic lights, until you come to the end of the road. At the end turn left and you will now be on Vicarage Road, continue for a few hundred metres and you will see the ground on your right hand side.

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Nottingham Forest 2 City 3

Report by Colin Hall

An injury-time goal by Anthony Knockaert secured a 3-2 victory for Leicester City in the final game of the Championship regular season, at neighbours and rivals Nottingham Forest.

The celebrations of this result, the first league success at this venue for over forty years, would have been manic in any circumstances.

But its significance, in enabling City to leapfrog their hosts and clinch a playoff spot, could be immense for club and manager Nigel Pearson alike.

Two hours earlier, Pearson's continued faith in Knockaert – his flagship signing of last summer – had not been universally acclaimed among the travelling Foxes.

Although a sensation during some of his early appearances, the Frenchman has often struggled during his first campaign in English football.  A combination of bad weather, tricky pitches, insufficient protection by referees, and a punishing fixture schedule had adversely affected his form.

Yet on an occasion which demanded a performance of the highest quality, Knockaert delivered it, confounding the critics within the City fanbase who labelled him a   “lightweight” and “luxury player”.

The Championship has regularly been derided and disparaged, often with good reason, as a division of dross. On this day, however, it proved to be a division of utterly compelling drama.

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