Ice Kings (football)
Encyclopedia
The Ice Kings is the name given to the Leicester City
side of the 1962-63 season, due to their incredible run of form in both the First Division
and the FA Cup
on icy pitches during the brutal winter of 1962/63, the coldest winter of the 20th century in England and Wales.
During the freezing winter, a plethora of games were called off in England and Leicester did not play a single game between Boxing Day
1962 and 9 February 1963. However, as games began to start being played again after the lengthy hiatus, Leicester, on the icy pitches began to gain huge momentum and went on a lengthy winning and unbeaten run which saw Leicester top the table with 9 (and later 5 games) to go and reach the 1963 FA Cup Final
. However, as injuries took hold and the ice began to melt Leicester's momentum faded and they ended up winning just 1 of their final 9 games and losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United
despite being hot favourites, after a dour performances. Despite chasing the double during the icy period as the season came to a close the Foxes ended up in a disappointing 4th position and as FA Cup runners-up.
The 1962-63 side is often regarded as the best side in Leicester City's history.
Leicester's creative attack was built around the skillful playmaker Dave Gibson who forged a deadly partnership on the left of Leicester's attack with Mike Stringfellow
. Ken Keyworth
was the club's centre forward and prolific goalscorer upfront, while Howard Riley
provided balance on the right-wing. Much of the flexibility in the side came from the athleticism of Frank McLintock
and Graham Cross
, who regularly changed positions during games which Gillies once claimed "utterly confused [the] opposition" as opposition players would often be asked to mark "our [Leicester's] number eight, so they thought Cross was their man, when McLintock had replaced him" as "players hadn't got beyond thinking about numbers then."
In defence, Leicester forged a fearsome half-back line of McLintock, Ian King and club captain Colin Appleton
with John Sjoberg
and Richie Norman
as full-backs and legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks
in goal.
and his assistant Bert Johnson
and were hugely influential in English football for their fluid "switch" and "whirl" systems and playing sequences of short probing passes to unlock defences and establishing the concept of positional flexibility and for their switching of positions, particularly of inside right and right-half Graham Cross
and Frank McLintock
, upsetting the tradition 1-11 formations in England and confusing opposition players, who were used to thinking in terms of rigid formations in the English game. Johnson had brought back this system from watching the great Hungary
and Austria sides of the 1950s and he and Gillies developed their own version of the systems with Leicester.
Gillies later said it "confused opposition" as opposition players would often be asked to mark "our [Leicester's] number eight, so they thought Cross
was their man, when McLintock
had replaced him" as "players hadn't got beyond thinking about numbers then."
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
side of the 1962-63 season, due to their incredible run of form in both the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
on icy pitches during the brutal winter of 1962/63, the coldest winter of the 20th century in England and Wales.
During the freezing winter, a plethora of games were called off in England and Leicester did not play a single game between Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1962 and 9 February 1963. However, as games began to start being played again after the lengthy hiatus, Leicester, on the icy pitches began to gain huge momentum and went on a lengthy winning and unbeaten run which saw Leicester top the table with 9 (and later 5 games) to go and reach the 1963 FA Cup Final
1963 FA Cup Final
The 1963 FA Cup Final was the final of the 1962–63 FA Cup, the 82nd season of England's premier club football competition. The match was played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 1963 and contested by Manchester United and Leicester City. United won 3–1, with a goal from Denis Law and two from...
. However, as injuries took hold and the ice began to melt Leicester's momentum faded and they ended up winning just 1 of their final 9 games and losing the FA Cup final to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
despite being hot favourites, after a dour performances. Despite chasing the double during the icy period as the season came to a close the Foxes ended up in a disappointing 4th position and as FA Cup runners-up.
The 1962-63 side is often regarded as the best side in Leicester City's history.
Players of the Ice Kings
| Banks Gordon Banks Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff .... }} |
| Leicester's regular starting lineup in the 1962/63 season based on players with the most starts. |
Leicester's creative attack was built around the skillful playmaker Dave Gibson who forged a deadly partnership on the left of Leicester's attack with Mike Stringfellow
Mike Stringfellow
Michael David "Mike" Stringfellow is a retired English footballer who played 14 seasons as a winger for Leicester City in the 1960s and 1970s. He is the uncle of fellow footballer Ian Stringfellow....
. Ken Keyworth
Ken Keyworth
Ken Keyworth was a professional footballer in the 1950s and 1960s who played for Rotherham United, Coventry City and Swindon Town and most notably Leicester City....
was the club's centre forward and prolific goalscorer upfront, while Howard Riley
Howard Riley
John Howard Riley is an English jazz pianist and composer.Riley began on piano at age six, and began playing jazz as early as age 13. He studied at the University of Wales , Indiana University in America under Dave Baker , and then at York University...
provided balance on the right-wing. Much of the flexibility in the side came from the athleticism of Frank McLintock
Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:...
and Graham Cross
Graham Cross
Graham Frederick Cross is a former professional footballer and cricketer. He is the record appearance holder for Leicester City, making 599 appearances for the club in all competitions....
, who regularly changed positions during games which Gillies once claimed "utterly confused [the] opposition" as opposition players would often be asked to mark "our [Leicester's] number eight, so they thought Cross was their man, when McLintock had replaced him" as "players hadn't got beyond thinking about numbers then."
In defence, Leicester forged a fearsome half-back line of McLintock, Ian King and club captain Colin Appleton
Colin Appleton
Colin Appleton is a former footballer who played as a wing-half. Appleton began his career at Scarborough, but made his name making 333 appearances for Leicester City during a 12-year period, where he formed a legendary half-back partnership with Frank McLintock and Ian King.He was captain of the...
with John Sjoberg
John Sjoberg
John Sjoberg was a Scottish footballer who played 15 seasons for Leicester City between 1958 and 1973. Sjoberg joined the Foxes from Scottish amateur side Banks o'Dee in August 1958, and went on to play 413 first-team matches for Leicester...
and Richie Norman
Richie Norman
Richie Norman is a former English footballer who is currently working as a physio at Conference North side Nuneaton Town....
as full-backs and legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
in goal.
Influence on English football
The Ice Kings were managed by Matt GilliesMatt Gillies
Matthew "Matt" Muirhead Gillies was a Scottish football player and manager who played for, captained, coached and managed Leicester City for a total of 15 years between 1952–1955 and 1956-1968. He is the club's longest serving manager, lasting a decade in the manager's seat between November...
and his assistant Bert Johnson
Bert Johnson (footballer)
William Albert "Bert" Johnson , is an English football player, manager and highly influential coach who played as a wing half in the Football League. He played in both the 1946 FA Cup Final for Charlton Athletic.However, he is perhaps most noted as an influential coach at Leicester City under Matt...
and were hugely influential in English football for their fluid "switch" and "whirl" systems and playing sequences of short probing passes to unlock defences and establishing the concept of positional flexibility and for their switching of positions, particularly of inside right and right-half Graham Cross
Graham Cross
Graham Frederick Cross is a former professional footballer and cricketer. He is the record appearance holder for Leicester City, making 599 appearances for the club in all competitions....
and Frank McLintock
Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:...
, upsetting the tradition 1-11 formations in England and confusing opposition players, who were used to thinking in terms of rigid formations in the English game. Johnson had brought back this system from watching the great Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
and Austria sides of the 1950s and he and Gillies developed their own version of the systems with Leicester.
Gillies later said it "confused opposition" as opposition players would often be asked to mark "our [Leicester's] number eight, so they thought Cross
Graham Cross
Graham Frederick Cross is a former professional footballer and cricketer. He is the record appearance holder for Leicester City, making 599 appearances for the club in all competitions....
was their man, when McLintock
Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:...
had replaced him" as "players hadn't got beyond thinking about numbers then."