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Leicester City F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry

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For other East Midland derbies, see Derby County F.C.–Leicester City F.C. rivalry and Derby County F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry.

Leicester City–Nottingham Forest rivalry
Other namesEast Midlands derby
LocationLeicester/Nottingham (England)
TeamsLeicester City
Nottingham Forest
First meeting9 February 1901
FA Cup
Nottingham Forest 5–1 Leicester Fosse
Latest meeting25 October 2024
Premier League
Leicester City 1–3 Nottingham Forest
Next meeting10 May 2025
Premier League
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Statistics
Meetings total110
Most winsNottingham Forest (42)
All-time seriesLeicester City: 41
Draw: 27
Nottingham Forest: 42
Largest victory21 April 1909
First Division
Nottingham Forest 12–0 Leicester Fosse

The fixture between Nottingham Forest and Leicester City is a football rivalry played between the two East Midlands clubs, often referred to as an East Midlands derby.[1][2] There have been a total of 108 meetings dating back to 1901.[3]

Though Forest are closer in proximity to both Notts County and Derby County, and Leicester's nearest club is Coventry City, the clubs are the two most successful and well known clubs in the East Midlands, [citation needed] and represent its two largest cities.

Notable games

[edit]
Comparative chart of yearly league table positions of City and Forest.

One match that remains Leicester City's worst defeat and Nottingham Forest's record league win is the 12–0 result at the City Ground on 21 April 1909, when Leicester was known as Leicester Fosse. The performance by Fosse players was so appalling that The Football League ordered an inquiry, although no further action was taken after it turned out several of the already relegated Leicester side were hungover from a player's wedding the night before.[4]

On 18 September 2007, Nottingham Forest was given a 'free goal' by Leicester City in a League Cup match at the City Ground.[5] It was a rescheduled match after their original meeting on 28 August, which Forest were leading 1–0, was abandoned due to Leicester player Clive Clarke collapsing in the dressing room at half-time.[6] Leicester nonetheless won the match 3–2.[7]

To date, there have been nine hat-tricks recorded in fixtures between the two clubs, of which seven are from Nottingham Forest. Of the seven, three of those hat-tricks came from the 12–0 mauling of Leicester Fosse in 1909.[4] Forest's most recent hat-trick against Leicester was from Robert Earnshaw in December 2009.[8] In November 1948, Don Revie became the first Leicester player to score a hat-trick against Forest,[9] a feat matched by Jermaine Beckford in a 4–0 FA Cup win on 17 January 2012.[10]

A notable game between the sides in recent history happened on 4 May 2013, the final day of the 2012–13 Football League Championship season, with both sides having a chance of making the promotion play-offs with a win. Forest took an early lead through Simon Cox, but the score was 2–2 at halftime, a scoreline that remained until late into injury time when Anthony Knockaert gave Leicester a first league win at the City Ground since 1972, sending Leicester into the playoffs.[11]

On 3 October 2022, Leicester and Forest met for the first time in the top flight of English football for 23 years, with the sides 20th and 19th respectively. Leicester won the game 4–0, but Forest won the return match 2–0 on January 15, 2023.

Honours, head to head, and statistics

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Honours

[edit]
As of 7 August 2021
Team League FA Cup League Cup FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield European Cup/UEFA Champions League European Super Cup/UEFA Super Cup Top-flight seasons Total trophies
Leicester City 1 1 3 2 0 0 53 7
Nottingham Forest 1 2 4 1 2 1 56 11
Total 2 3 7 3 2 1 104 18

Head-to-head

[edit]
As of 25 October 2024

The below table demonstrates the competitive results between the two sides (not indicative of titles won).[12]

Competition Leicester City wins Draws Nottingham Forest wins
League 39 25 39
FA Cup 1 1 2
League Cup 1 1 1
Total 41 27 42

Crossing the divide

[edit]

Players

[edit]
Peter Shilton established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the country at Leicester City before enjoying European success with Nottingham Forest.[13]
Martin O'Neill played for Forest, managed Leicester, and later managed Forest.

The list below shows transfer dates and fees, where known.

Leicester City then Nottingham Forest

The following played for one or more teams before moving to Nottingham Forest:

Nottingham Forest then Leicester City

The following played for one or more teams before moving to Leicester City:

Managers

[edit]
  • Rob Kelly – Played for and managed Leicester, later caretaker manager of Forest on three separate occasions
  • Billy Davies – Played briefly for Leicester, before going on to manage Nottingham Forest on two separate spells (also managed Derby County)
  • Gary Megson – Played for and managed Forest, later managed Leicester
  • Steve Beaglehole – Reserve team coach for Forest, briefly joint caretaker manager at Leicester
  • Micky Adams – Assistant and briefly caretaker manager at Forest, later managed Leicester
  • Dave Bassett – Managed Forest, and was later manager, Director of football, and caretaker manager at Leicester
  • Martin O'Neill – Played for Forest, managed Leicester, later managed Forest.
  • David Pleat – Played for Forest, later managed Leicester
  • Matt Gillies – Leicester City's longest serving manager, later went on to manage Forest
  • Steve Cooper – Took Forest back to the Premier League after a two-decade-plus absence, later managed Leicester

Match list

[edit]

Recent matches are on top.

  Leicester City win   Nottingham Forest win   Draw
Date Competition Stadium Score Leicester scorers Nottingham Forest scorers Attendance Ref
10 May 2025 Premier League City Ground
25 Oct 2024 Premier League King Power Stadium 1–3 Vardy Yates, Wood (2) 31,879 [14]
14 Jan 2023 Premier League City Ground 2–0 Johnson (2) 29,301 [15]
3 Oct 2022 Premier League King Power Stadium 4–0 Maddison (2), Barnes, Daka 32,202 [16]
6 Feb 2022 FA Cup City Ground 4–1 Iheanacho Zinckernagel, Johnson, Worrall, Spence 28,762 [17]
19 Feb 2014 Championship City Ground 2–2 Vardy, Mahrez Paterson, Reid 24,808 [18]
9 Nov 2013 Championship King Power Stadium 0–2 Cox, Mackie 30,416 [19]
4 May 2013 Championship City Ground 2–3 James, King, Knockaert Cox, Ward 28,646 [20]
10 Nov 2012 Championship King Power Stadium 2–2 Ward (o.g.), Nugent Guedioura, Cox (pen.) 24,793 [21]
27 Mar 2012 Championship King Power Stadium 0–0 23,412 [22]
17 Jan 2012 FA Cup 3rd round replay King Power Stadium 4–0 Boateng (o.g.), Beckford (3) 16,210 [10]
7 Jan 2012 FA Cup City Ground 0–0 18,477 [23]
20 Aug 2011 Championship City Ground 2–2 Nugent, Fernandes McGugan (pen.), Boateng 24,426 [24]
22 Apr 2011 Championship City Ground 3–2 Oakley, Vassell Tudgay, Earnshaw, McKenna 24,217 [25]
29 Nov 2010 Championship Walkers Stadium 1–0 King 24,659 [26]
27 Feb 2010 Championship Walkers Stadium 3–0 Berner, Gallagher, King 31,759 [27]
5 Dec 2009 Championship City Ground 5–1 Waghorn (pen.) Earnshaw (3), Anderson, Adebola 28,626 [8]
18 Sept 2007 League Cup 1st round City Ground 2–3 Sheehan, Stearman, Clemence Smith, Tyson 28,626 [7]
5 Mar 2005 Championship Walkers Stadium 0–1 Taylor 27,277 [28]
17 Dec 2004 Championship City Ground 1–1 Connolly Dawson 21,415 [1]
8 Apr 2003 First Division Walkers Stadium 1–0 Wright 32,065 [29]
26 Oct 2002 First Division City Ground 2–2 Deane, Dickov Johnson (pen.), Lester 29,497 [30]
16 May 1999 Premier League City Ground 1–0 Bart-Williams 25,353 [31]
12 Dec 1998 Premier League Filbert Street 3–1 Heskey, Elliott, Guppy van Hooijdonk 20,891 [32]
28 Dec 1996 Premier League Filbert Street 2–2 Heskey, Izzet Clough, Cooper 20,833 [33]
7 Sept 1996 Premier League City Ground 0–0 24,105 [34]
11 Mar 1995 Premier League Filbert Street 2–4 Draper, Lowe Collymore, Lee, Pearce, Woan 20,423 [35]
27 Aug 1994 Premier League City Ground 1–0 Collymore 21,601 [36]
6 Feb 1994 First Division City Ground 4–0 Gemmill (2), Glover, Woan 26,616 [37]
24 Oct 1993 First Division Filbert Street 1–0 Speedie 17,624 [38]
14 Dec 1988 League Cup 4th round replay City Ground 2–1 Groves Clough, Chapman [39]
30 Nov 1988 League Cup Filbert Street 0–0 [40]
22 Mar 1987 First Division City Ground 2–1 Carr, Clough [3]
11 Oct 1986 First Division Filbert Street 3–1 McAllister (2), Smith Birtles [3]
22 Mar 1986 First Division City Ground 4–3 Smith (2), Sealy Bowyer, Carr, Clough (2) [3]
8 Sept 1985 First Division Filbert Street 0–3 Webb, Davenport, Rice [3]
27 April 1985 First Division Filbert Street 1–0 Lineker [3]
25 Nov 1984 First Division City Ground 2–1 Banks Davenport (2), (1 pen.) [41]
5 May 1984 First Division Filbert Street 2–1 Lynex, Lineker Davenport [3]
4 Dec 1983 First Division City Ground 3–2 Jones, Smith Bowyer, Thijssen, Walsh [3]
28 Feb 1981 First Division Filbert Street 1–1 Lynex Walsh [3]
20 Sept 1980 First Division City Ground 5–0 Gray, Birtles (2), Robertson [3]
14 Mar 1978 First Division City Ground 1–0 Robertson [42]
24 Sept 1977 First Division Filbert Street 0–3 O'Neill, Woodcock, Robertson [42]
22 Jan 1972 First Division City Ground 1–2 Weller, Birchenall [43]
18 Aug 1971 First Division Filbert Street 2–1 Brown, O'Kane (o.g.) [44]
1 Mar 1958 First Division City Ground 3–1 [3]
19 Oct 1957 First Division Filbert Street 3–1 [3]
30 Mar 1957 Second Division City Ground 1–2 McNeill [citation needed]
17 Nov 1956 Second Division Filbert Street 0–0 [3]
9 Apr 1949 Second Division City Ground 2–1 [45]
13 Nov 1948 Second Division Filbert Street 4–2 Revie (3) [46]
20 Feb 1915 Second Division City Ground 1–3 [47]
17 Oct 1914 Second Division Filbert Street 3–1 [48]
11 Sept 1913 Second Division Filbert Street 5–1 [9]
3 Sept 1913 Second Division City Ground 1–3 [49]
28 Dec 1912 Second Division City Ground 4–2 [50]
7 Sept 1912 Second Division Filbert Street 3–1 [51]
29 Feb 1912 Second Division Filbert Street 1–1 [52]
16 Sept 1911 Second Division City Ground 4–1 [53]
21 Apr 1909 First Division City Ground 12–0 Spouncer (3), Hooper (3), West (3) [54]
7 Nov 1908 First Division Filbert Street 0–3 [55]
20 Apr 1907 Second Division Filbert Street 1–2 [56]
15 Dec 1906 Second Division City Ground 2–1 [57]
9 Feb 1901 FA Cup City Ground 5–1 [9]

Hooliganism and crowd trouble

[edit]

In 1977, an incident described as "trouble" broke out after a match between Leicester and Forest. Eighteen people were arrested in connection with the incident.[58]

Incidents of throwing of objects and racist chanting from Nottingham Forest fans towards Leicester fans have also been observed in recent years. Reports of racist chanting[59] and items being thrown at Alan Rogers during a 2–2 draw between the clubs in 2002.[30] Most recently during an FA Cup tie in January 2012, which resulted in eleven arrests.[60][61]

Following a derby clash on 4 May 2013, six Forest fans were arrested after Leicester won the game and a play-off place in the 91st minute of play.[62]

Prior to Leicester and Forest's 2–2 draw on 19 February 2014, a Nottingham Forest fan was arrested for tweeting racist abuse at Leicester fans.[63]

A fight broke out between both sets of supporters during a boxing event at the King Power Stadium in September 2018. [64]

Two men were arrested after violent incidents before and after Nottingham Forest's fourth-round FA Cup tie with Leicester City in February 2002. Officers were called to disturbances in Nottingham city centre before the game began. [65] During the FA Cup match a Leicester City fan was arrested and later charged with three counts of common assault and going onto a playing area at a football match. [66]

On 6 February 2022 before the 2021–22 FA Cup clash between the sides, Leicester fans vandalised a bar in the city centre of Nottingham prior to kick off and a Leicester City fan ran on the pitch as Nottingham Forest players were celebrating a goal and attacked one of the Forest players.[67][68]

See also

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References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "Gallagher "Delighted" With Award". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
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  4. ^ a b Anglesey, Steve (27 October 2009). "Leicester in La Manga-style high jinx and match-fixing shock". MirrorFootball. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
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  13. ^ "Peter Shilton". lcfc.com. Leicester City F.C. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Leicester v Nottm Forest, 2024/25". Premier League. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
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  60. ^ "CCTV viewed in racist football chant probe". Leicester Mercury. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
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  63. ^ Mack, Tom (20 February 2014). "Arrest over alleged racist tweet sent before Nottingham Forest v Leicester City match". leicestermercury.co.uk. Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  64. ^ Jones, Chris (20 September 2018). "Shock mass brawl at boxing event with as chairs fly and punches thrown". mirror. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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  66. ^ "Man charged after footballers assaulted during FA Cup tie". Nottinghamshire Police. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  67. ^ Zagnat, Olimpia; Hartley, Joshua (6 February 2022). "Violent Leicester fans smash city bar before FA Cup loss to Forest". NottinghamshireLive. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  68. ^ "Leicester City fan tackled after invading pitch and allegedly punching players". ITV News. 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
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