Special Sub-Topic: Leicester Tigers Click Here To Play: Leicester Tigers

In which year was Leicester Football Club formed?

1880. In August 1880, three local teams held a meeting at The George Hotel. Those three teams, Leicester Societies AFC, Leicester Amateur FC and Leicester Alert joined together to form Leicester Football Club. Their first game was played two months later against Mosely.

Leicester are well known for their famous scarlet, green and white colours. But they didn't start with this strip. What what colour strip did they start with?

Black. By 1885, Leicester had changed their colours. This change of shirts, to brown and yellow, is one theory as to where the nickname Tigers came from. Another theory links the name to the Leicestershire Regiment who spent some time in India, and whose cap badge was a Tiger.Leicester changed to their famous scarlet, green and white hoops in 1895.

Between 1897 and 1905, Leicester dominated the premier club competition for Midlands based clubs. They then dropped out of the competition. What was the reason for their absence?

To give other teams a chance. Leicester won the trophy eight times between 1897 and 1905. They withdrew 'to give the other teams a chance'. http://www.leicestertigers.com/39_48.php

Until the start of the professional era, there was an annual Boxing Day fixture against The Barbarians. In which year did this fixture first take place?

1909. The very first Christmas game against the Baa Baa's was in 1909 when a regular fixture against Fettes-Lorettonians was canceled. This annual match against the Barbarins was a very popular fixture drawing large crowds. With the introduction of the professional leagues, the game is sorely missed.

In 1914, Welford Road, Leicester's home ground changed it's purpose. What was it used for?

Military training. With the outbreak of the first World War, the vast majority of sporting fixtures were suspended. Welford road was used for training and recruitment.

In 1926, Leicester forwards began to regularly wear letters on their shirts for identification.

t. The vast majority of teams wore numbered shirts, but Leicester wore letters, something they did until the advent of the pro game. In 1931, the entire team wore lettered shirts for the first time.

Which trophy did Leicester win for three seasons in a row, and were allowed to keep?

The John Player Cup. Tigers won the cup in 1979, 1980 and 1981. The original is now proudly displayed in the clubhouse. The Pilkington Cup was the replacement trophy for the competition, and Leicester had to wait a few more years before lifting the European trophy.

In which year did Leicester win a fourth consecutive league title and retain the Heineken Cup?

2002. This was arguably their finest season. They became the first club to retain the Heineken, an extremely difficult feat to achieve.

A new stand was erected in 1920. It was later renamed in honour of a long serving committee member. What was his name?

Tom Crumbie. Tom Crumbie was Honorary Club Secretary from 1895 until his death in 1928. Harold Day was the first Tiger to score 1000 career points in 1927. Harry Lawrie was the first Tiger to be sent off in 1912, and H A Taylor was the ref who in charge at the time.

In 1980, Leicester became the first English club to go on tour to the Southern Hemisphere.

t. The tour was undertaken to honour the clubs Centenary. They played 6 games in Australia and Fiji, and lost only the first match against Queensland.