Leicester United F.C.
 | |
| Full name | Leicester United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | United |
| Founded | 1900 (as Enderby Town) |
| Dissolved | 1996 |
| 1995–96 | Southern Football League Midland Division, 16th (folded) |
Leicester United Football Club was an English football team based in the East Midlands city of Leicester, Leicestershire. They were formed in 1900. They were wound up in 1996, four years away from their centenary.
History[]
In 1900 a group of quarry workers founded Enderby Town Football Club. The secretary was a Sunderland supporter and he was determined the club should wear the colours of his favourite team, red and white stripes.
The club's first ground was at George Street, Enderby. Town established itself in local minor leagues before moving up to the Leicestershire Senior League. After winning Division 2 in 1958-59 the club became a dominant force in the 1960s, winning the Division One title three times and also lifting the Leicestershire Senior Cup on three occasions.
The club moved into the East Midlands Regional League in the 1970-71 season, winning the league and cup double in their first season and retaining the league title in their second.
In 1972 the club was elected to the Southern League to replace Hereford United, who had been promoted to the Football League Division 4. The Leicestershire Senior Cup was won again in 1972-73 and 1978-79.
The 1980s saw a change in fortune, the club being relegated from the Premier Division in 1982, after which the club moved to a new ground, United Park, in Winchester Road, Blaby. At the same time their name was changed to Leicester United. Form continued to decline and United finished bottom of the Midland Division in 1984-85.
United achieved promotion back to the Premier Division after finishing second in 1986-87 but were relegated again two years later.[1]
FA Cup runs[]
The club's best FA Cup run came in the 1977–78 season (as Enderby Town) where they reached the 1st Round proper of the competition. They lost 6–1 away to AP Leamington in that round.
In 1986–87, they played their only ever 'home' match at the home stadium of local rivals Leicester City. It was an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay in which United beat North Ferriby United 4–2.
The club's last FA Cup tie was a 5–2 away defeat to Bilston Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round in the 1995–96 season.[2]
League record[]
For many years, Leicester United were the second top side in Leicestershire. The highest the club finished was 8th in the Southern League Premier Division in 1987–88. The Southern League Premier Division at that time was the 6th tier of English football. The club were relegated the following season.
In their final season, 1995–96, they finished 16th in the Southern League Midlands Division. They went out of business just a few games into the start of the 1996–97 season due to financial problems, one of their final games being a victory over Grantham Town.[3]
See also[]
- Leicester United F.C. players
- Enderby Town Football Club Ltd v The Football Association Ltd
References[]
- ^ "Leicester Utd v Racing Club Warwick". Football Programme. History of Enderby Town. 30 October 1991.
- ^ Leicester United at the Football Club History Database
- ^ End of the road for Leicester United
- Association football clubs established in 1900
- Association football clubs disestablished in 1996
- Sport in Leicester
- Defunct football clubs in England
- Leicester City Football League
- Leicestershire Senior League
- Southern Football League clubs
- 1900 establishments in England
- 1996 disestablishments in England
- East Midlands Regional League
- Defunct football clubs in Leicestershire