First FA Cup Final for Leicester City Football Club
First FA Cup Final for Leicester City Football Club
This programme recalls the first of Leicester City's four FA Cup Final appearances.
On April 30th 1949, 2nd Division Leicester City, having defeated Champions-elect Portsmouth in the semi final at Highbury, met Wolves at Wembley. Managed by Johnny Duncan and captained by Norman Plummer, Leicester City's preparations for the Final were disrupted by injuries to key players Don Revie (life threatening nose haemorrhage) and goalkeeper Ian McGraw (finger injury leading to amputation). Leicester were 2-0 down at half time, but Mal Griffiths pulled a goal back and Chisholm's equaliser was ruled offside. Wolves then scored their third goal, to win the game 3-1.
A civic reception at the Town Hall, followed by a banquet at the Lord Mayor's Rooms on New Walk, were arranged for the team on its return to Leicester two days after the final. 60000 people, with rattles and bells, lined the route from Victoria Park Gates to the Town Hall to greet the team's open top coach tour which was led by an open lorry carrying the Leicester Imperial Band.
Two days after the festivities, Leicester City had to play three games in four days in a successful attempt to avoid relegation.
