Details for Filbert Street, Leicester

The famous stadium of Filbert Street (known to locals as 'Filbo') was the home of Leicester City (Formally Leicester Fosse) for 111 years until it was demolished after "The Foxes" moved to the Walkers Stadum in 2002. The first game at Filbert Street was againt bitter rivals Nottingham Forest on 7th November 1891.

The ground comprised of four stands, three of which were pretty old and looked like sheds, the other - known as 'The Carling Stand' was a state-of-the-art 9,500 capacity stand with a cross-sectional roof support. This stand was built and completed during the 1993/1994 season at a cost of over £5m, and was to stand for only nine years before its demolishment.

The South Stand, also known as the 'Double Decker' as its name suggests comprised of two stands. The upper tier was pretty boring and was always seated - The Lower Tier, was known as Leicester's 'Spoin Kop' and was known as one of the loudest Kop's in the United Kingdom, there was a lot of controvicy surrounding the seating in 'The Kop' which was installed in around 1995 against the supporters wishes. The supporters therefore would stand on their seats as a concequence which proved to be more dangerous than the terracing, especially when Leicester scored a goal and all the supporters rushed forward over the seats.

The record attendance at Filbert Street was 47,298 which was a game played between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup 5th Round. The game was played in Feburary 1928 - There were so many people there that some supporters were forced to watck the game from the running track around the ground and others actually from the Roof of the Filbert Street End. There is no way that a football club would even allow a game to commence if this happened today.

In 1971 Leiecster City ordered a gigantic inflatible sheet to put over te pitch during freezing conditions to help preserve it during freezing conditions which was a lot checper than installing undersoil heating at a cost of only £5,000. This was known as the 'Filbert Street Tent' and lasted for a number of years. It was so large that players could train under it, and its ceiling was as high as the upper tier of the double decker.

The last ever game played at Filbert Street was a Premiership fixture between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester won 2-1 with Matthew Piper scoring the winning goal.

A student village serving students for De Montfort University is now occupying the former grounds of Filbert Street which has been aptly named 'Filbert Village'

Car
Leave the M1 at Junction 21, or if coming from the Midlands, follow the M69 until the end of the motorway. Take the A5460 towards Leicester city centre. Continue on this road, until you go under a railway bridge. Carry on for another 200 yards and turn right at the traffic lights into Upperton Road and then right again Filbert Street will be visible from there.