| |
Jimmy Bloomfield became manager of Leicester in
1971 after Frank O'Farrell left and took over Manchester United, after
winning promotion with City. Jimmy changed a lot during his time and
most of the time was a joy.
The first real test for Jimmy Bloomfield was the Charity Shield game
against Liverpool. Leicester was invited to take part in the Charity
Shield since Arsenal had no chance to play and City as 2nd division
champions was the alternative given.
The game was played at Filbert Street on the 7th of August 1971 and the
only goal of the game was scored by no other than Steve Whitworth, who
played 10 years at Leicester without scoring a single league goal.
To win the Charity Shield must have been a great thrill for the man that
just had arrived from London club Leyton Orient.
Bloomfield took over a team that really not had a skill to survive in
the top flight and he understood that and managed to make three £ 100
000 transfers just after arriving. Jon Sammels came from Arsenal, Alan
Birchenall from Crystal Palace and Keith Weller was signed from Chelsea.
All of them became great signings for City and the players, who all had
1st division experience and both Birchenall and Sammels capped at
England U.23 level, made it possible for City to survive the first
season back in the top, ending in a 12th position.
Bloomfield had a team in progression, with England international Peter
Shilton in goal, defending options in Steve Whitworth, David Nish,
Graham Cross, Alan Woollett, Malcolm Manley and John Sjoberg.
In midfield Malcolm Partridge, Keith Weller, Jon Sammels, Len Glover and
John Farrington all could contribute. Cross and Birchenall were also
midfield alternatives. Up front Birchenall, Fern and Brown was perferred.
Mike Stringfellow was also one that could play in attack.
The difficult 2nd season, became difficult. David Nish left the club for
an English record transfer, with Derby paying £ 250 000 for the England
squad player, who later, in 1974, became a full international.
City ended in a 16th position, but with 7 points clearance to the drop.
Dennis Rofe and Frank Worthington were new signings this season and both
players became great additions to the squad.
The 1973-74 season was probably the best in the 70's decade- Reaching
the semi-finali in the FA Cup losing out on the final ticket in a replay
against Liverpool. Youngsters like Malcolm Munro and Joe Waters were
both contributing well.
Most of the squad from the previous seasons was in place and the new
addition for the season was Steve Earle signed from Fulham. Earle became
a hit in his number 4 shirt playing up front with Frank Worthington.
City ended the league season in a fantastic 9th position. Keith Weller
and Frank Worthington both got their England debuts, and in the 2-2 draw
with Argentina, Worthington scored with Weller scoring the winner
against N Ireland in a 1-0 win earlier in the month of May.
Some of the games played this season was just fantastic with Keith
Weller and Frank Worthington both in great form for Leicester City. With
Peter Shilton also in the England team and David Nish also among the
players in the England squad.
Four Leicester players were ever present that season. Goalkeeper Peter
Shilton, left back Dennis Rofe, right winger Keith Weller and forward
Frank Worthington. Whitworth, Sammels and Cross only missed one league
game.
Everyone thought that the 1974-75 season would be a new thrill, but
injuries, the sale of Peter Shilton made it difficult to cope with the
pressure. Bloomfield had to make changes and managed to sign two new big
money signings in Chris Garland and Jeff Blockley, both became key
players at once.
City ended the season in 18th place and a new set of players were
starting to establish themselves. Bob Lee became a player that more and
more became a key player with Birchenall, Stringfellow, Cross and
Patridge less involved or sold.
The 1975-76 season became a great one, ending in 7th position, with Mark
Wallington now established as a first team goalkeeper after winning the
battle with Carl Jayes. Wallington never looked back after this, got a
chance to play for England U.23, and also made it easier to accept that
Shilton left to join Stoke City the year before for a fee of £ 325 000,
a record fee for a goalkeeper world wide.
Bob Lee, who had been in great form for City in the 1975-76 season and
one of many good forwards at the club at the time, was transferred to
Sunderland for £ 200 000, Chris Garland who has only arrived at City in
February 74, was transferred to Bristol City in December 76.
City manager Jimmy Bloomfield made two additions in front of the 1975-76
season, bringing in Steve Kember and Brian Alderson. Both players became
good additions to the squad and contributed well.
Again it was "sunshine" but the fact that both Lee and Garland left and
no one really came in to take their place made it even more impressive
to see City making a new great 1976-77 season, ending 11th.
Jimmy Bloomfield was still in charge when the season ended and most fans
were satisfied and hoped for maybe one or two major signings that summer
an the surprise was big when news came around about Bloomfield resigning
and Frank McLintock introduced as the new manager.
Bloomfield returned to Leyton Orient in 1977 and stayed there until
1981. He continued in football as a coach at Luton Town, until his
sudden death in Chingford Essex in 1983, only 49 years old.
When Bloomfield left Leicester it was like the time stopped and since
then the club has never really been back to the level this team had, we
have not forgotten the Martin O'Neill period, but for TCF the Bloomfield
time is the best.
The style of play was in periods great, and the players in the team had
great carisma and entertained. The attacking style of the defenders,
with Rofe and Whitworth coming up on the flanks like tornados, was just
amazing to watch.
Jimmy Bloomfield will for always to this date, be regarded as one of the
greatest managers in the history of the club.
The management methods of Bloomfield, his way of dealing with up and
coming stars and making players progress is something to admire. He was
clever to mix young talent (Lee, Sims, Munro, Whitworth), experienced
players (Stringfellow, Cross, Sjoberg, Woollett) and great signings (Birchenall,
Weller, Sammels, Worthington, Kember, Alderson, Earle, Blockley,
Garland) in a way that made it almost a piece of art.
|