All of the games Leicester played during it's first seven years were friendlies. 'Friendlies' signifying games with no particular reward. For instance, no league, no points and no trophies, there wasn't even an actual league until 1888.
It was in 1888, that the Fosse signed their first ever professional player, Harry Web. He was signed from Stafford Rangers and was bought for ther huge sum of 2s and 6d, (two and a half pence) or 5 cents! Todays Premier League players cost millions!
Perhaps the Fosse's biggest rivals back then, was Loughborough Town. With both teams wanting to achieve League status, they both applied and were elected to the Midland League. Fosse Football Club at this point still didn't have it's own turf to play on and after almost losing their ambitions because of reclaimed land, they secured a lease on a piece of land close to the canal and Filbert Street, (the site of their home ground today.)
Fosse played their first ever English cup tie in October 1890, after joining the Football Association. Thirteen months later they moved to Filbert Street and thus began their rise and fall to fame. Three years in the Midland League earned them a runners-up spot and this was enough to convince them to apply for membership in the newly created Division Two of the Football League.
Elected in 1894, their first game saw a loss, but the following game the Fosse gained their first victory at home to Rotherham Town. They also managed to gain a season record, beating Notts Olympic 13-0 in an FA Cup Qualifying Round. Fosse became known as a second division team, but in April 1908 they secured a spot in the then top flight, the First Division. City were totally unprepared for the First Division and were soon demoted.
War clouds loomed and the Football League was suspended in 1915. Financial problems caused the Leicester Fosse to be wound up and a new club formed, Leicester City Football Club.
With a new manager, Peter Hodge, Leicester achieved many successes. Hodge signed some of City's best players, including Adam Black, who set a club record of 528 League appearances and Arthur Chandler, who's 273 strikes for City has not been beaten today.
Hodges'team won the Second Division title in 1925 and by 1926, they topped Division One. Sadly along with the 1930's came the decline of City's finest team and in 1935 City were relegated back to the Second Division. Two years later they had the Second Division title back in their pockets again but with the Second World War looming, their fortunes were chastened once more.
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