Today’s On This Day feature looks at Leicester City’s impressive programme from the 1996/97 season. Read our programme review below and see the other top-flight issues from 1996/97 here.
The cover of Leicester’s issue for the 1996/97 season proudly displayed a variety of programme awards won by the club the previous year, and it is easy to see how that recognition had been earned given the quality on display here. The programme contained 37 pages of content – only the Arsenal and Chelsea issues had more that season – and they were put to good use throughout a top-class issue.
There was an extensive column, spread over two pages, from Foxes manager Martin O’Neill, and a ‘Captain’s Page’ column from Steve Walsh. ‘In the Camp’ contained various news items from the club, as did ‘Inside Stuff’ from programme editor Paul Mace. ’25 Years Down the City’ was a column written by former Leicester forward Alan Birchenall, while ‘Through the Keyhole’ profiled the life away from football of one Leicester player – with winger Neil Lewis featuring in this issue in a three-page interview.
There was a detailed ‘Youth Review’ column from the club’s Youth Manager David Nish, while Reserve Team Coach Paul Franklin wrote on the fortunes of Leicester’ second string players, with the first team’s stats gathered at the back of the programme. Information on previous matches was provided over two pages, with a whole host of photographs complementing the match facts and quotes from the two managers.
An interesting feature called ‘Away Days’ looked at the experience of following Leicester on their travels, with the focus here on the supporters’ recent visit to White Hart Lane to see a victory against Tottenham Hotspur. Everything from the visitors’ enclosure to the programme and the half-time entertainment were reviewed and rated.
The programme also provided updates from beyond Filbert Street. ‘Premiership Round-Up’ pulled together news from around the top-flight, (alongside a page of stats from the league), while ‘Euro Scene’, written by European Football Yearbook Editor Mike Hammond, performed a similar function for the top leagues around the continent.
The programme had four pages dedicated to visitors Leeds United, including a detailed introduction to manager George Graham and a ‘Profile’ article, which analysed the club’s form and playing staff. There was also a full-page interview with striker Ian Rush, as well as a host of statistical information.
In related content, ‘City Greats’ looked at a former Foxes star who had connections with the visiting club – here featuring a two-page interview with Frank Worthington. Other connections between the two clubs were explored in ‘Tracking Back’ which recalled the previous Filbert Street meeting between Leicester and Leeds. A section on debutants provided profiles of ten Leicester players who made their first appearances for the club against Leeds.
The Leicester programme was one of the most consistently impressive of the mid-1990s, full of reading for home and away fans alike. The 1996/97 issue was no exception, delivering an impressive level of content across a range of features. Even as one of only four issues in the Premier League then costing £2, the Leicester issue still represented excellent value for money.