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Local football: Top-of-the-table clash in East Midlands Counties League

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Bardon Hill Sports face another major challenge as they look to build momentum in their bid for the East Midlands Counties League crown.

After beating fellow-St Andrews 2-0 last week thanks to Steve Hart's double, second-placed Bardon visit the side immediately behind them, Radford.

It will be a stern examination, too, for the county side as Radford are on a hot streak having put together a string of 10 straight league wins to climb into the top three.

Blaby & Whetstone Athletic remained at the top last weekend despite losing narrowly 3-2 at Radford, and they set about returning to the winning trail when they host Borrowash Victoria on Saturday.

The Andrews face another big game and one they really have to win if they are to get back into the title frame.

Exactly the same is true of the Canal Street visitors this weekend with Ellistown & Ibstock United currently occupying fifth place in the chart.

Ashby Ivanhoe's hopes of silverware took a major blow when they were beaten 2-1 by strugglers Radcliffe seven days ago. They entertain Holbrook in the latest round of games.

Aylestone Park came within seconds of claiming a much-needed win at Barrow Town but were thwarted deep into injury-time and had to settle for a 2-2 draw last Saturday.

They now face a difficult home match against Holwell Sports but nothing short of a win will be good enough for the Linwood outfit, who are just one place off the foot of the table.

Barrow also drew in midweek when they and St Andrews finished level at 3-3 after extra-time in the League Cup quarter-final at Riverside Park. Town are back on the league beat this weekend when they pay a visit to South Normanton.

Any team which has put together a sequence of 15 successive victories would be entitled to have one eye on the title.

Melton Mowbray hit that point last week when they edged out Saffron Dynamo, but they are well aware that there is still a real struggle ahead of them before they can think about lifting the Senior League Premier title.

Melton go to Kirby Muxloe Reserves with a three-point advantage over Sileby Town – but Sileby have three games in hand.

Sileby also scored an important win last time out when they beat another of the contenders, Blaby & Whetstone Reserves.

Town host bottom-of-the-table St Andrews Reserves this weekend.

Blaby and Saffron need to quickly recover from those setbacks.

Blaby have a tricky game at Houghton Rangers, who held Sileby to a 3-3 draw recently. Dynamo are at home to Cottesmore Amateurs.

Friar Lane & Epworth, who are third, could ill-afford last weekend's defeat at Rothley Imps and must regroup for the short trip to GNG.

Rothley, who have risen to seventh, travel to Caterpillar, who are immediately behind them. Birstall United, who hold sixth place, are away at Barlestone St Giles.

Desford, just one place off the foot of the chart, pay a visit to Earl Shilton Albion, who had enjoyed a brace of wins before crashing 5-0 at Houghton last week.

Local football: Top-of-the-table clash in East Midlands Counties League


Government cash boost for £45 million Market Harborough Midland Mainline revamp

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A £45 million upgrade of the Midland Mainline rail track at Market Harborough is among schemes that will benefit a share of Government cash to boost the Leicestershire economy.

As previously reported by the Mercury, the Government has announced it will provide £20 million of cash over the next five years for a series of city and county projects.

It follows £80 million pledged in the summer.

Further details of the latest schemes to benefit emerged after Tory Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles officially unveiled the Growth Fund package in Leicester today.

A share of the £20 million will go towards lengthening the platforms at Market Harborough station, which are currently too short to properly accommodate high speed trains.

A bend in the track at Harborough will also be straightened to decrease journey times to London.

County council leader Nick Rushton said: "In my view Market Harborough is the most northern place you can commute to London but the platforms are too short and there is that dreadful bend that slows trains down.

"Now we can get that sorted but we need to get onto it quickly before the line is electrified."

It is unclear exactly when the work will start but it will be jointly funded by the county council, Network Rail, and also local enterprise partnerships in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and Sheffield who will benefit from shorter journey times.

Coun Rushton welcomed another £3.6 million towards opening 6,000 square metres of office space in Coalville as part of a wider £12 million project.

A further £3.5 million will go on plans to revamp the ageing Melton Cattle Market.

More than £7 million will go to Leicester City Council towards future improvements to the Connecting Leicester scheme allowing further pedestrianisation and the revamp of the market.

There will also be cash to create more office space at the city's Pioneer Park.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I am delighted to get this new funding. Eric (Pickles) and I disagree on many things but he has endorsed the work we have been doing in Leicester and I am grateful for that."

Mr Pickles said: "I'm delighted that £20 million more funding is being devolved into the hands of the council and local businesses as part of our long term plan to boost opportunities across the country.

"This money means up to 3,000 new jobs and 1,300 new homes around the city and county by 2021 and many more opportunities for local firms."

Government cash boost for £45 million Market Harborough Midland Mainline revamp

Match of the Day: Premier League highlights show to remain on BBC in £204m deal

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The BBC has retained the rights to show Premier League highlights on Match of the Day, for a further three years, in a deal costing £204million.

The agreement covers MOTD's Sunday morning repeat, MOTD2, Football Focus and a new midweek show on Wednesday nights on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.

MOTD, which is in its 50th year, and MOTD2 have a combined weekly audience of nine million.

MOTD presenter, and former Leicester City striker, Gary Lineker said he was "thrilled" with the news.

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, called the programme "the most iconic brand in television sport".

She added: "It's very exciting to be able to add a new midweek show to the mix, reflecting the continued appetite for Premier League action and analysis."

BBC director general Tony Hall said: "Sport matters. It brings the nation together. It can break hearts and raise spirits. And because it matters to the public, it also matters to the BBC. That's why it's fantastic news that we have kept the Premier League highlights." 

Match of the Day: Premier League highlights show to remain on BBC in £204m deal

Matt Upson and Liam Moore give Leicester City an injury boost

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Matt Upson and Liam Moore are back in contention for Leicester City after injury, manager Nigel Pearson has said.

However, striker Chris Wood is out for two to three weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Upson played 90 minutes in a Development Squad game at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday and Pearson said he was more or less available for consideration, although Saturday's trip to Manchester United may be seen as too early for him.

But Moore, who limped out of last week's FA Cup victory at Spurs with an ankle injury, returned to full training today and is back in contention.

It was feared Moore had damaged ankle ligaments but it was then thought he could be out for just ten days, but Pearson confirmed he had responded well to treatment.

"Matt Upson is more or less available, which is very positive for us," said Pearson.

"He has a lot of experience. He came through another game on Monday and played 90 minutes.

"I suppose you could say some players might need more games but a player of his experience and game understanding I think he will get more through playing and being involved in the first team.

"It is about managing him to get the best out of him now. That is very positive to have him back.

"Chris Wood will be out for two or three weeks with ankle ligament damage that he picked up in training last Thursday.

"Liam is back in contention as he has trained today."

Matt Upson and Liam Moore give Leicester City an injury boost

Richard Cockerill column: Six Nations is too close to pick winner

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The Six Nations is so evenly-matched that it is hard to pick out a favourite.

Ireland will go into the tournament with a bit of bounce in their step after a good start under Joe Schmidt. 

They have a powerful pack and are a serious force to be reckoned with in Dublin, where they will meet England at the start of March.

Wales are always dangerous and they have a settled squad. They also play a pivotal opening game against England at home next Friday, which will get the tournament under way.

Home advantage in that game is huge, as we saw the last time the teams met there.

The French are as unpredictable as ever. Each year, I look at their squad and think they should probably win the thing.

Yet each year, they seem to get it badly wrong somewhere down the line and probably yearn for some consistency that always seems to elude them.

If they get it right, they are serious contenders.

Scotland will have some steel about them with Vern Cotter in charge, that is for sure.

I know Vern well from his time at Clermont and he has had a positive start up there.

Vern knows what he wants and is a hard task-master. He is very strict, lays down the law and the players know what he wants from them.

They will toe the line and give it everything with him in charge because he commands so much respect.

Scotland's major problem is their player pool, which is limited.

But Glasgow's recent performance at Bath in the Champions Cup showed that they are not short of good players.

The Italians are rebuilding. They had a bad autumn and their domestic situation can't be doing them any good with both Treviso and Zebre having poor seasons in the Pro12. Treviso's slump has been a major worry.

Italy have plenty of good players and we have three of them in Michele Rizzo, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Robert Barbieri.

There are lots more playing in France, too. The question is, can they pull it together with a blue shirt on?

As for England, the injuries they have picked up to the squad during the past fortnight will not help them.

Not only are they good players, but Stuart Lancaster will be wanting to pick from strength in depth. These injuries have deprived him of that. With their opening game being away in Wales, they will want their most experienced players out on the field because that will be a huge test for the squad in Cardiff.

England have similar problems to ourselves with several injuries in the crucial area of midfield.

Manu Tuilagi is an obvious loss, Kyle Eastmond has a knock and Owen Farrell is out for the tournament.

Stuart will have to get the balance right of who he picks in the 10, 12 and 13 shirts and, as always, selection is subjective.

If England can get off to a winning start in Cardiff, however they play, they will be in good nick because they then have Italy at home in their next game.

If they lose – and the same applies for Wales and head coach Warren Gatland – the press will get on their backs and the pressure on them will increase.

Let's hope England are the ones looking forward.

Richard Cockerill column: Six Nations is too close to pick winner

The mystery of the 1961 FA Cup final deepens – The Gary Silke Column

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Gary Lineker, veteran BBC broadcaster, looked a bag of nerves in front of the cameras.

At one point, he even tried to force one of the selected balls back into the big FA Tombola.

I had not seen him looking this nervous since he came out of the tunnel, in Admiral kit too big for his slight 18-year-old frame, into a freezing cold Filbert Street afternoon, January 1, 1979, for his Leicester City debut.

Rehearsals for the FA Cup fifth-round draw on the One Show had seen him drop one of the numbered balls and also draw Leicester away at giant-killers Bradford. No thanks.

I think what he was really nervous about was giving City a lousy draw, in a year when big clubs are tumbling and things are opening up nicely.

As fate would have it, lovely Alex Jones drew out Aston Villa and our Gary picked out No.11 – sending us to Villa Park for the second time this season.

Not the easiest draw we could have had, but it is one that most City fans seem to think we have a very good chance of winning.

Sadly, we have been robbed of a 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon kick-off by Gary's employers, but after a couple of ill-tempered meetings this season, even at 12.30 on a Sunday, this will be one not to miss.


Well done to City winger Riyad Mahrez, who scored for Algeria in a 2-0 win over Senegal as the Desert Foxes progressed to the quarter-.

Although I'm sure we are all hoping for further success for Riyad, we could really do with him coming home quite soon.

For that selfish reason, I'll be supporting the Ivory Coast on Sunday. Sorry.


In last week's column, I recalled the mysterious case of Ken Leek being dropped from City's line-up on the eve of the 1961 FA Cup final against Tottenham.

As the Welsh striker had scored a goal in every previous round – against Oxford, Bristol City, Birmingham, Barnsley and Sheffield United – we are probably safe to assume it wasn't a tactical move on manager Matt Gillies' behalf.

Richie Norman told The Fox in an interview: "It is still a mystery. If you asked anyone from the team you'd probably get a different answer.

"My answer is, I don't really know. We were upset at the time.

"I wouldn't have anything said against Matt Gillies, because he picked me 365 times, but it was a mistake.

"Whatever the situation was that caused him to drop him, I would have left it until after the Cup final."

But this week, a letter from Mercury reader 'EJP' has caused me to don my deerstalker, light my pipe and have a quick go on the violin.

"Ken was with us in a Hansom cab on the Friday night and we had a chat with him about the Cup final.

"Someone reported back to the club that he was drunk, but I can tell you that he definitely wasn't. And his replacement, Hugh McIlmoyle, missed two sitters."

The 54-year-old 'Mystery of The Disappearance of the Welsh Leek' deepens...

The mystery of the 1961 FA Cup final deepens – The Gary Silke Column

Keeley: Thanks to Glenfield Hospital for saving my life

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A woman has returned to Leicester's Glenfield Hospital to thank the doctors and nurses who saved her life.

Experts used the specialist Ecmo - extra corporeal membrane oxygenation - treatment to bring the 27-year-old back from the brink of death.

They travelled to Pinderfields Hospital, near Wakefield, after doctors there feared there was little more they could do for Keeley McPhial, from Featherstone, West Yorkshire.

The 27-year-old, who has type 1 diabetes, fell ill when she decided to try and lose some weight.

Keeley said: "I hadn't been taking my insulin properly and my body started poisoning my blood and then I got infection which turned to pneumonia.

"I was put into a an induced coma but I was so poorly my family was called in to say goodbye. The doctors thought I was going to die."

It was decided to try Ecmo, which oxygenates the blood outside body, providing support for the lungs and giving them the chance to recover.

A specialist team from Glenfield Hospital was called and travelled to Yorkshire to bring Keely back to Leicester where she spent four days on Ecmo.

Keely said: "I can only remember bits and bobs but I do remember waking and seeing my mum and dad but I couldn't talk because I had a tracheotomy so I couldn't speak.

"I was so scared."

Keeley was transferred back to Pinderfields Hospital but later had to go to Leeds General Infirmary because her kidneys then failed.

She has also lost the sight in her left due to pressure in her brain while she was ill.

She said: "I was finally allowed home on September 26. I am much better but it has been difficult losing the sight in one eye."

While she was fighting for her life Keeley's friends and family began fund raising and reached a grand total of £1,100.

Keeley returned to Glenfield yesterday (Thursday) to give the money to staff.

She said: "The money is for the Ecmo machine and our way of saying thank you to all people at Glenfield who saved my life.

"I do feel lucky to be alive."

Keeley: Thanks to Glenfield Hospital for saving my life

Clarendon Park campaigners say planned Tesco would ruin quality of life

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Residents say their neighbourhood would be plagued by delivery lorries, illegal parking and 24 hour noise should a Tesco store be given planning permission.

They were giving evidence yesterday at a planning hearing into the chain's controversial plan to convert a former bank in Queens Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester.

Tesco has appealed against the city council's refusal to grant permission for a cash machine and the installation of external chiller and air-conditioning units.

The council argued that they would create an adverse impact on the safe and efficient operation of the highway on Queens Road and Clarendon Park Road.

They said the proposed delivery yard and its access were not suitable.

Campaign spokesman Patrick Kitterick said: "We do not believe that the yard will work. We believe that delivery drivers under pressure will park in the street causing impacts on road safety.

"There are also two primary schools nearby."

He said Queens Road was a thriving shopping area with only two vacant premises.

Melissa March, who has lived in the area all her life, said: "The yard and the building has become an eyesore with rubbish allowed to accumulate since Tesco has had the lease.

"We believe that there are other more suitable businesses are interested in taking over the former Barclays Bank."

Nick Jukes, whose flat overlooks the proposed delivery yard, said: "I work from home and I need peace. That is why I chose to live hear. If this development went ahead. I believe I would have to move.

"There would be the noise from the delivery lorries and the chiller and air-conditioning units."

Mary Williams, secretary of the Leicester Disabled People's Access Group, criticised the plan to remove an existing blue badge parking space from the proposed yard.

A spokesman for Tesco told the hearing the shop would create 25 full time equivalent jobs because it would operate a shift system.

He said the project would bring a vacant business back into use.

He said noise would be within accepted levels said the business would abide by restrictions on the number and timing of deliveries.

Hearing chairman Roger Catchpole visited the site after the hearing. A decision will be announced later.

Clarendon Park campaigners say planned Tesco would ruin quality of life


East Midlands Ambulance Service avoids fine over lost disk

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No action is being taken against East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas) over the loss of a computer disk containing the details of 42,000 ambulance patients.

The decision follows an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

A spokesman for the ICO said it was satisfied with the actions taken by Emas after the disk went missing in August last year.

He added: "After considering the organisation's response, the remedial measures introduced to address the errors that were made, and that the information was limited in detail and was stored on an obsolete device – making access by a third party unlikely – we have decided that no further action will be taken on this occasion.

"We will keep a record of this incident and may revisit it again if any similar problems occur."

The ICO has the power to impose a fine of up to £500,000 for the most serious data protection breaches.

An investigation by Emas failed to find the disk which contained patients' full names, ages and details of injuries or illnesses and treatments given from September to November 2012.

Police were called in but concluded there was no evidence to suggest a crime had been committed at the Beechdale offices of Emas in Nottingham.

Emas also commissioned an investigation which could not get to the bottom of how the disk went missing or where it was.

In a statement at the conclusion of the investigation Emas said: "We were certain the (missing) data could only be read via specific hardware which we have in our premises, and which is no longer in production."

A spokesman said IT security has been increased, including the installation of closed circuit television to monitor the safe where the data is stored.

Sue Noyes, Emas chief executive, said that the service apologised to patients when the disk was found to be missing.

She added: "It is important to note that during this financial year we had already agreed to replace this computerised storage system and to strengthen security arrangements.

"We took a proactive approach to report this loss because we knew it was out duty to inform people that such an incident had occurred."

East Midlands Ambulance Service avoids fine over lost disk

First person: 'We'd be mad not to go all out to win the FA Cup'

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Leicester City surprised everyone on Saturday by coming from behind to dump Spurs out of the FA Cup at White Hart Lane. As a result, the Foxes find themselves in the last 16 of the competition while languishing at the bottom of the Premier League.

Many are now opening the debate as to whether City would rather finish 17th in the Premier League or win the FA Cup.

We know the club have spent years pining for a return to England's top-flight. And, having experienced just over half a season back in the Premier League, I can see the perks of being here. It's a badge of nobility to be in the top-flight, to be acknowledged, to be famous. Winning just feels that little bit better with that proud, navy lion slapped on the side of your arm. It also feels better having the £90 million windfall that comes with being in the top division.

However, finishing 17th in the league ladder isn't a trophy; it won't go down in footballing history. In contrast, this club loves the FA Cup – it seems illogical but it's true. I can't think of a club in English football that loves this competition as much, despite being treated so cruelly by it in the past.

In recent seasons, we've seen 8,000 of the Blue Army at Nottingham Forest, 6,000 at Chelsea, 4,000 at Stoke, even 4,000 troughed up to Huddersfield on a cold January afternoon, engrossed by the meagre whiff of cup glory.

There is nothing like winning a major trophy, and being the biggest bridesmaids in football, you would think our fans would know that – is there a bigger club to have never won this competition than us? In four finals, we've suffered four defeats, a soul-crushing record.

So, my question to those who would prefer to finish 17th over winning the FA Cup this season is: are you mad?

We have spent half of our history in the top flight but we've never won this tournament, the greatest domestic cup competition in the world. Sure, away games next season at The Valley and Ewood Park would be a big comedown but winning the cup could mean an overdue shot at revenge against Atletico – well, that particular scenario is a long shot but we will be back in Europe nonetheless.

Now the competition has been blown wide open with the elimination of Chelsea and Manchester City, we would be senseless not to go all out to win it.

Of course, we don't actually have to choose, we could achieve both objectives and that's exactly what we should try to do. But if I had to choose I would say; let's stop being a nearly club and win the FA Cup. Memories of avoiding relegation will eventually dwindle into obscurity, especially given how many relegation skirmishes we have endured as a club. Silverware, on the other hand, is eternal.


Leicester City fan Chris Whiting blogs at thechriswhitingshow.wordpress.com

First person: 'We’d be mad not to go all out to win the FA Cup'

Sudden snow storms closed East Midlands Airport and delayed mainline trains yesterday

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Sudden snow storms closed East Midlands Airport and delayed mainline trains yesterday.

A series of short blizzards hit the city and surrounding county from 2pm onwards.

They carpeted fields and open areas briefly before melting away.

Further snow showers are forecast until well into the weekend when the temperatures are set to plunge to -5C.

Leicester Mercury weather man Dave Mutton said: "The wind will move from the north west to the north bringing an Arctic blast."

He said there were mini blizzard conditions on occasions yesterday.

He said: "They were relatively light but very intense while they lasted. We will continue to have short sharp snow showers until the weekend.

"But there are not the concentrations of snow to come which will cause further disruption."

Yesterday a huge snow storm hit the Leicester area and Area Traffic Control warned that the roads looked "very dangerous" and said that "Lots of care needed."

East Midlands Airport also suspended runway operations until 3pm due to snow. Travellers were warned to expect delays and disruption before normal services were resumed in the early evening.

East Midlands Trains also warned rail passengers travelling north to allow extra time for their journeys.

The Met office said there was a chance of further sleet and snow showers with an overnight temperature of -3C.

Gritters went out at 6pm.

Today will remain cold with bright spells and further scattered rain and sleet showers, with snow becoming increasingly restricted to hills. Gusty winds developing later adding to wind-chill. Maximum daytime temperature 5C.

Sudden snow storms closed East Midlands Airport and delayed mainline trains yesterday

Leicester City chase Stoke City's Robert Huth on loan

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Leicester City are in the running to sign Stoke City defender Robert Huth on loan.

City are one of several clubs trying to secure the services of the German centre back until the end of the season.

City have been looking to bolster their defensive options during the current transfer window and hope to land Huth before the transfer deadline on Monday.

City face competition to sign the 30-year-old, who has made just one appearance since November for the Potters because of a knee injury, and Stoke manager Mark Hughes has said Huth needs game time.

"I've had discussions with Robert and I think it is fair to say he needs games," said Hughes.

"We are looking to try to get him that if we can. It needs to be at the right club, and needs to be the right opportunity for Robert himself.

"We want to get games into him so he is fit and ready for us. Under-21 games probably are not the right environment for him as a senior player, so he needs to get out and play games of meaning.

"If we can find the right team for him, hopefully he'll get five or six games and then he can come back to us and be ready to go again."

Pearson said earlier today in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Manchester United that they were still looking to add to his squad before the deadline.

"Generally we have been looking but unless we can secure the players we feel are right for us we won't be doing any more," he said.

"I would hope that if there is going to be any business I would hope it would be done before the deadline night."

Leicester City chase Stoke City's Robert Huth on loan

Mohammed Ashrafi trial: 'Bogus faith healer conned me into handing over £150,000 in cash'

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A businessman told a jury how he was duped by a bogus faith healer into handing over £150,000 in cash.

He said that when he realised he had fallen for an alleged con-trick: "I felt like I'd been robbed.

"I was so low, I didn't know what to do.

"I felt like committing suicide."

He claimed that Mohammed Ashrafi, who called himself Kamal-Ji, hoodwinked him with a series of magical tricks - and convinced him he was going to win a lottery jackpot.

The businessman said he initially sought help from the defendant in connection with a medical ailment and initially felt his health improved.

He claimed the defendant won his trust by performing tricks – including nails mysteriously appearing in a pan of boiling water.

He said the defendant told him it was a sign that a relative had cast an evil black magic spell upon him.

Ashrafi then allegedly told him that for a £35 million Lotto win, he must pay £350,000 up front for expensive "deer musk," to assist with special prayers to an Indian Saint called Sai Baba.

In an effort to later get his money back, the alleged victim described how he used a spy-cam pen in his jacket pocket, to obtain allegedly incriminating video-footage during a meeting at Ashrafi's then home in Babingley Drive, off Parker Drive, Leicester.

The footage was played in court allegedly recording Ashrafi suggesting the businessman should pay him £1.2 million upfront, to achieve a £120 million Euro lottery win.

The businessman said he cajoled Ashrafi into refunding £70,000 of the money – before confronting him with his family and three associates.

He added: "We told him we knew he wasn't genuine.

"He wasn't saying sorry and there was no remorse whatsoever."

The alleged victim told Leicester Crown Court that they searched Ashrafi's property for money, but found none.

However, the businessman found a Dictaphone in a drawer containing a recording supposedly of Sai Baba – that he had earlier allegedly been fooled by.

The businessman cannot be named because of a court order preventing the identities of alleged victims being published.

He said: "I feel really ashamed saying this but when he was doing a trick with a dough ball (inside of which a lottery ticket was magically produced) there was a voice coming from somewhere.

"I'd actually thought (at the time) it was a voice from God.

"I feel a bit of a mug.

"The voice had sounded as he was praying to God – that's how much I was sucked into this."

The businessman folded his arms and smiled as the recording was played in court, with a mystery voice stating: "I'm Sai Baba, I'm always with you.

"Kamal is passing my messages directly to you.

"I'm sending you money.

"This is a blessing and God-gifted money, accept it."

Ashrafi (50) denies 14 counts of fraud, involving 18 alleged victims, by falsely claiming that in return for payments for materials required for prayer, such deer musk, they would win the lottery, between January and April 2014.

He also denies blackmailing a couple out of £50,000, last February.

The prosecution claim the alleged victims paid out a total of £650,000 to Ashrafi before he suddenly left Leicester, changed his phone number and could not be contacted.

He was later arrested in London and denied any wrongdoing.

The court has also heard how some alleged victims took out bank loans, re-mortgaged their homes, put a business on the market and even sold jewellery, to raise cash for Mohammed Ashrafi – firmly believing they were about to win a lottery jackpot.

Prosecutor James House, told the jury: "There's a saying that if it seems too good to be true it almost certainly is.

"Those who were made these offers were all vulnerable individuals.

"You may think they've been foolish.

"Conmen have always relied upon vulnerable people, vulnerable to their charms and tricks.

"It may be they went to him because of health matters, personal problems or financial difficulties - all these were used to draw them in.

"They went because they wanted his help and they wanted to believe someone could help and he used their vulnerabilities to get their money and he devastated their lives as a result of it.

"They all say he was very convincing and he told them it was important to act now as he turned the screws upon them."

In March last year he suddenly disappeared from Leicester and changed his phone numbers.

It was then the alleged victims, who did not win anything on the lottery, realised they had been duped.

The trial continues.

Mohammed Ashrafi trial: 'Bogus faith healer conned me into handing over £150,000 in cash'

'Leicester! I once fought an election there... but they didn't want me': 15 tales of Churchill and the city

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Fifty years ago, the nation said farewell to Winston Churchill in a sombre state funeral that culminated with a dignitary-packed send-off at St Paul's Cathedral.

Over the years, the British bulldog had a long if unusual relationship with Leicester and Leicestershire. Cat Turnell has this potted history.




1 In 1923, Winston Churchill stood for election in Leicester. How did it come about? The truth was revealed as the great statesman was being buried.

WT Whittle, a farmer for Earl Dysart, at Leicester Abbey, was an Abbey ward Liberal councillor and a proud Churchillian.

It was him alone who wrote to Churchill, urging him to stand for Leicester West. Churchill, intrigued, invited Mr Whittle to his home in London.

After dinner, and a number of drinks and cigars, the seed was planted in Churchill's mind.

The story was relayed by Leslie Whittle, one of Mr Whittle's sons, of Sandfields Farm in Rothley. He also told the Mercury about his own part in Churchill's election campaign.

"I was 16 at the time. My father, of course, helped me a lot in the campaign and Mrs Churchill wanted to get quickly from a meeting at Ingle Street School to De Montfort Hall for the count.

"Three of us boys were in his car with my father, and we each took it in turns to run in front and show the way.

"Churchill thought it was great fun and laughingly pulled us into the moving car when we had to jump back in.

"After the election he sent me a letter in his own handwriting to thank me, but, unfortunately, it got lost over the years."


2 Churchill's campaign headquarters was based at the old Liberal Club in Bishop Street. He was fighting the Leicester West seat against the Conservative candidate Captain Arthur Instone and Socialist prospect Frederick Pethick-Lawrence.

A local song at the time went: "Vote, vote, vote for Pethick-Lawrence, chuck old Churchill in the sea."

A week ahead of the ballot, Churchill was speaking at a rally when he was urged to stand on a chair so he could be seen and heard more easily.

"I obey your demand," he responded, "and hope I may take this as a forecast of your decision to provide me with a seat."

His ambition was thwarted. It was Pethick-Lawrence, an Eton- and Cambridge-educated Londoner, who got elected. On polling day, December 6, 1923, he received 13,634 votes, Churchill received 9,236.


3 In 1910, at a Liberal rally headed by Winston Churchill, Leicester man Alfred Hawkins interrupted the meeting by speaking up for the suffragist cause, which was by then gaining slow momentum.

Alfred was unsympathetically dealt with by Churchill's lackeys. He was swiftly led from the meeting, physically picked up and thrown down a flight of stairs. The awful impact broke both of Alfred's legs.

The rally, at St George's Hall in Bradford, was held on November 26, 1910.

In the Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury of Saturday, April 1, 1911, it was reported Alfred had received £100 damages for his injuries.

Alfred, of the Men's League for Woman Suffrage (sic), was a passionate social reformer. He was also married to Leicester suffragist Alice Hawkins.


4 It's a foggy Saturday in Melton in January, 1913. Two cars, each driven by a member of the local hunting set, collide, and from the wreckage of the write-offs emerges Mrs Clementine Churchill, with cuts all over her face.

Mrs Churchill, Winston's wife, was riding in Admiral Beatty's car when it struck that of Captain Burns Hartopp, travelling in the opposite direction.

"Mrs Churchill was on a visit to Admiral and Miss David Beatty at Brooksby Hall, their Leicestershire hunting box, and was accompanying Admiral Beatty and Mr Peto towards Melton," reads the report in The Dundee Courier of January 20.

"The cars were so badly wrecked that one had to be towed towards Melton and the other removed on a trolley. Mrs Churchill was fortunate to escape with a few cuts on the face."

5 After the city blitz of November 19, 1940, which left 108 dead, Leicester Chamber of Commerce wrote anxiously to Winston Churchill, asking for defences against the Luftwaffe. We don't know if there was a letter in response, but Leicester, very soon after, got its anti-aircraft guns.

6 It's wartime and a carriage carrying the prime minister pauses briefly at Leicester Railway Station. The surroundings are immediately familiar to Winston.

"Leicester! I once fought an election there," he says, looking out, "but they didn't want me."

7 In 1945, with the Allies emerging as victors of the Second World War, the Corporation of Leicester sought to bestow on Winston the title of Freeman of the City. It was not to be.

The motion in the late 1940s was turned down by a trio of Labour councillors.


8 The heavily mustachioed Lord Randolph Spencer-Churchill was a son of the Duke of Marlborough. He was also an MP and the British Chancellor very briefly between August and December 1886. But, above all that, he was Winston's dad.

And old Randolph, it may interest you to know, once stood – presumably on a ladder or platform – on the corner of Pocklington's Walk and Millstone Lane in Leicester. He was there to unveil a plaque on the building which once housed Leicester's old register office.

"Imperium et libertas" reads the Latin engraving in the terracotta, which can still be seen until this day. "This stone was laid by the right honourable Randolph Spencer Churchill on the 21st day of June 1893."

9 During the election campaign of 1923, the Leicester Mercury declared its political independence.

But it took a brush between Winston Churchill and the Mercury's editor, Vernon Hewitt, to establish it. Churchill had met Hewitt and pleaded with him so the paper would give the Liberal candidate, aka him, its endorsement. Churchill promised that once the Liberals were in power he would give Hewitt whatever he desired. Hewitt, a real newspaper man, declined.

Hewitt had been in the job a matter of days after taking the position on the retirement of Harry Hackett, who had been editor for 45 years.

Hewitt had instead invited the three candidates to give a message on "Why I shall win," said the reporter tasked with collecting the candidates' words, revealed an article in 1964. Churchill was the only one to decline.

"My compliments to the editor," he said, "but I won't have anything to do with that matter."

10 It's Sunday, October 28, 1906. Winston is in Leicestershire at a concert in aid of the blind at Glen Parva.

The journeyman MP, then representing Oldham, told the crowd how he'd often heard it asked whether civilisation was wrong in caring for the weakest, and breaking the code for the survival of the fittest.

He said, with the greatest certainty, reported The Western Times, that the stronger the nation, the more it would care for those who are weak and the stronger it would become.

"What are we to think of science if it only produced larger cannons, greater heaps of gold and faster motor cars?" he asked.

"If that was all science was to give humanity, well," said Winston, "a lot of wise men have wasted a lot of time."

11 In the days after Churchill's death in 1965, readers paid their tributes in the Leicester Mercury.

"I cannot help thinking that the lovely sunny January day of Churchill's death, which made it almost like spring, was a tribute to Sir Winston Churchill," wrote Jessie Briggs, of Holmfield Road in Leicester.

"When Churchill came to Leicester in 1923, I was the little girl who presented a bouquet to Mrs Churchill as they alighted from the train.

"I remember most vividly her kissing me and Sir Winston shaking my small hand in his strong one, then walking out of the station into the yard.

"There, a great mob of people shouted: 'We don't want you here'.

"I was most perplexed, as a welcome had just been given.

"Perhaps the Mr Churchill of those days was not wanted as a Liberal MP for West Leicester, but later, the whole nation was to need him for their survival.

"I joined in Sunday's sunny but sad tribute to a great man, feeling proud I once held his hand."

12 On the day of the funeral, the Mercury reported, "lights went out all over Leicester Market as the people of the city paid a last silent tribute to Sir Winston Churchill.

"In the Market Place traders stopped serving and customers stood in homage. Just before the Town Hall struck 11am, the lights of the market were switched off and the busy, noisy scene slowly became silent and still.

"Men doffed their hats and women stood with their open handbags as, for the first Saturday morning for years, the chimes of the Town Hall clock was clearly heard in the market."

13 A letter written by Churchill went under the auctioneer's hammer at Christie's in the summer of 2010. It sold for £2,000.
The typed letter, dated August 24, 1909, was sent to Churchill's former assistant private secretary, Eliot Crawshay-Williams, who became MP for Leicester the following year.

Churchill was giving a talk on social reform at the Palace Theatre in Belgrave Gate on September 4 and growing increasingly anxious about it.

"The principal thing about which I am concerned for the Leicester meeting is the disturbances by women," he wrote. "I hope you will see that all proper precautions are taken, that no women are allowed in the meeting unless vouched for." He also warned of attempts to rush the doors. "This last [one] has been a feature of previous meetings."

He also gave detailed instructions for measures including "a sufficiency of stewards", a thorough search of the building, that "the roof as well as all cupboards and recesses being properly examined", and a police presence in the street.

14 Agnes Clarke was a writer and novelist. She was born in Leicester in 1870 and wrote for the Leicester Guardian, the Midlands Free Press and the Leicester Pioneer.

She was paid up with the Independent Labour Party and the Women's Social and Political Union. It was as a member of the latter organisation that she attempted to speak with Winston Churchill, during one of his visits to Leicester.

It didn't go so well. A policeman man-handled her out of the way. But not before Winston had seen the event and been appalled by it.
Many years later she recalled "being taken in charge by a tall policeman with red hair for the heinous crime of attempting to speak to Winston Churchill. Thanks to his kindly interposition on my behalf, I was released and felt very sorry for the abashed policeman."

15 The venue: Ingle Street School, Dane Hills, Leicester. The date Monday, November 25, 1923. The event: Winston Churchill is trying to improve his chances with the electorate. The upshot: An elderly lady was having none of it.
It had all started promisingly enough.

Winston had led an impressive speech on how the government had rushed to the electors "with the cry that Protection was the only cure for unemployment".

The Liberal party was against that policy, said Winston, so too the Socialistic remedy of a Capital Levy.
"If they took away from capital the suggested huge sum of 3,000 million there would undoubtedly be an enormous crash in credit."
And this, he said, wasn't a matter of theory. Oh no. This had already happened. In Switzerland. Last year. When their currency fell below the value of France's.

Mr Churchill, reported the Taunton Courier, was just about to continue.
"Let us have your programme: That is what we want," interrupted a woman. "You have not got one."

At this, there was laughter from the crowd. Churchill was not to let the matter go without a response.
"Here is a lady who not only comes to listen," he said, "but to dictate what I am to say."

Cue more laughter.

At this, another person spoke up, "She is right - it's your programme we want."

Churchill responded by saying he would deal with the Labour, Liberal and Conservative programmes in his own time - but no sooner had he begun he was interrupted by another man.

"She the woman has hardly stopped in one moment and in that one moment you shove your oar in," he said, exasperated.

The crowd laughed harder at this.
"If you don't leave the lady alone I will soon settle you," piped up the voice of another woman.

The laughing continued, but Winston continued on his speech about the perils of Protection.
"It would not only mean higher cost of living and greater difficulties for every home, but in addition there would be falling off of employment."

At this the whole room burst into laughter and derision, reported the Taunton Courier.

‘Leicester! I once fought an election there... but they didn’t want me’: 15 tales of Churchill and the city

Infant daughter of traveller family who refused to leave so she could get hospital treatment dies

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A baby girl whose parents said they could not move on from an unauthorised traveller camp in Leicester because of her fragile health has died.

Savannah-Mary, who was born with a rare congenital heart defect, was just two-months old.

Mum Mary-Anne Walker, 20, said she and partner Jack, 32, and the rest of the family, were "devastated" by their loss.

She said: "We are in shock. Really heartbroken. It's devastated us."

Their daughter was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which affects normal blood flow through the heart.

Mary-Anne said Savannah-Mary died on Monday evening after experiencing breathing difficulties.

She said: "A post mortem is being carried out to find out exactly why Savannah died, but we won't know until tomorrow, or the beginning of next week.

"It's such a terrible shock because she seemed to be doing well. She was feeding and putting on weight."

Savannah-Mary and her parents were among several families living in an unauthorised camp of about dozen caravans parked in Thurcaston Road, in Mowmacre Hill, since before Christmas.

The group had been asked to leave by the city authorities after businesses and nearby residents had reportedly complained about litter.

Speaking to the Mercury last week, Mary-Anne said the family could not leave as Savannah-Mary needed to be close to Glenfield Hospital, where she was undergoing vital treatment for her heart condition.

The travellers were due to face court action after the Leicestershire and Leicester Multi Agency Travellers Unit said it would be seeking a court order to remove them from the site.

This process, however, was cancelled earlier this week when authorities learned of tragic Savannah-Mary's death.

Mary-Anne said: "To be honest, all that business is the last thing on our minds right now. We are grieving the loss of our daughter."

Mat Bagley, multi-agency travellers unit co-ordinator, said: "The application for a court order was cancelled earlier this week due to personal circumstances.

"It is something that we may look at again next week.

"In the meantime, I would like to send my sincere condolences to the Walker family at this sad time."

Infant daughter of traveller family who refused to leave so she could get hospital treatment dies


Carer of the Year winner announced

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Cheers could be heard around the room as the winner of the Carer of the Year Awards 2014 was announced at a ceremony yesterday.

Vince Hindmarsh, 53, was crowned Carer of the Year at the awards which was hosted by ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson.

Vince, who lives in Earl Shilton and also won the Home Carer of the Year category, said: "I am totally ecstatic. I could not believe it at all. It was overwhelming getting to the finals, let alone winning overall.

"I would have never be where I am now without the support and training I have been given. The backing I have had from Pure Homecare has been absolutely phenomenal.

"Sometimes it has been really difficult and knocked me for six, but I can go always to them."

Jeanette White, who works with Vince and nominated him, said: "No-one deserves it more. He puts in 110 per cent, every time. Every client he visits wants him back."

The Carer of the Year Awards was held at the Mercure Hotel, in Granby Street and the finalists from each of the nine categories were invited to the event where there was a drinks reception followed by a three-course lunch.

Leicester Mercury editor Kevin Booth said: "I think it's important that we, as a newspaper with a strong community focus, put on an event that helps celebrate the dedication, commitment and compassion of all our finalists.

"So often their work goes unnoticed. Yet without it, society would be all the poorer.

"This is the third year of the awards and it provides the perfect platform to celebrate a group of ordinary people who go about their daily duties in an extraordinary way.

"None of them come running to us with their stories, seeking the spotlight or praise for what they do.

"They get on with it quietly, professionally and with the level of compassion and humanity that makes them stand out.

But through the nominations of Mercury readers, we are able, in our own small way, to say thank you."

For more coverage, see tomorrow's paper.

To view the picture gallery from the event click HERE for a full picture gallery.

To buy photographs from the event click HERE

Category winners:

Care home of the year: Portland House, Kirby Muxloe

Dementia carer of the year: David Leader

Home carer of the year: Vince Hindmarsh

Newly qualified carer of the year: Sarah Webb

Palliative carer of the year: Christine Glenister

Supporting independence award: Christine Richardson

Voluntary sector worker: Stephen Tebbutt

Young carer of the year: Bethany Mae Foster

Special recognition award: Marie Mitchell

Carer of the Year winner announced

Leicester accident: Man injured as lorry shed part of its load of wood in London Road

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A man was injured when a lorry shed part of its load on London Road  in Leicester.

Police say the man was unloading glass panels encased in wood when the accident happened.

The man was tended at the scene by a paramedic while police controlled traffic.

He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary but the extent of his injuries are not known

The incident happened shortly after 6pm this evening.

A witness said: "There was a load of wooden items which had fallen out the back of a container style lorry and injured the man. He was sitting by the side of the road being attended to."

"There was a large tail back of traffic at what is a busy junction."

A police spokeswoman said: "It appears a man was injured while unloading glass panels from a vehicle which fell on him.

"He was conveyed to the Leicester Royal Infirmary."

Leicester accident: Man injured as lorry shed part of its load of wood in London Road

Man accused of murdering his mother and attempting to kill his sister appears in court

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A son accused of murdering his mother, and attempting to kill his sister, appeared at Leicester Crown Court today.

Stuart Frederick Mayes, 36, is charged with fatally stabbing his mother, 67-year-old Maria Mayes, in her home in Rockingham Close, Shepshed, on the night of Saturday October 11 last year.

He is also accused of attempting to murder his sister, Donna Mayes, 33, at the same address.

Mayes, of Thorpe Close, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, spoke only to acknowledge his name during the brief hearing.

The case was adjourned for a plea and case management hearing, pending the preparation of psychiatric reports, on February 23..

A provisional trial date was given as March 23.

The was no application for bail.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC remanded Mayes back into custody.

Man accused of murdering his mother and attempting to kill his sister appears in court

BBL Trophy: Semi-final berth at stake as Leicester Riders host Worcester Wolves

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Leicester Riders take on the defending BBL Trophy champions Worcester Wolves at Loughborough University on Saturday night (7.30), with a semi-final berth on offer to the victors.

Both teams head into the game in excellent form, with Riders undefeated since Worcester beat them at Loughborough just before Christmas. Worcester had won their last seven games going into last night's league meeting with struggling Surrey.

"Anyone who was there at the last game between the sides was witness to an excellent basketball game," said Riders' coach Rob Paternostro. "Both teams are playing well and when the draw came out we knew we had drawn a really good team in Worcester and we expect it to be an excellent quarter-final match-up.

"They made a couple of big shots down the stretch, but when you look back at it, it could have gone the other way but that's how it is in the BBL this year. It's entertaining for the fans and I'm sure this will be another great game."

Riders have already suffered quarter-final heartbreak at home this season, having lost to Glasgow in the cup thanks to a miraculous last-second shot by Great Britain centre Kieron Achara.

"It's a knock-out game and I think all players, coaches and fans love these types of games, the atmosphere always has that extra edge in these matches," Paternostro said.

Last time the sides met Worcester gave a debut to Great Britain international Paul Guede, whose addition has certainly helped the Wolves maintain their excellent form, which has them just above Leicester in the league table, albeit having played more games.

His experience, coupled with the likes of Alex Owumi, Chavis Holmes and Jamal Williams has been key in seeing the Wolves pull off a string of tight victories. Their last three have been decided by only one basket.

"They have good size in the backcourt and the ability to score, but they also have experience," Paternostro added. "When you look at their team, they've won a lot of close games and I think their experienced players have been a vital part of that by making big plays at key moments."

Paternostro is hopeful that Pavol Losonsky might finally make his return to the line up having been out for several weeks with a leg injury, but is still wary after the big Slovak suffered a setback in the pre-game warm-ups ahead of an expected return two weeks ago.

The riders coach said: "He's certainly improving, but it will be a game-time decision, as we'll have to see how he reacts to what we've done this week. But we're optimistic that he can play a part."

Teams:

Riders: Williams, Bernardini, Watson, McSwiggan, Maynard, Noel, Gamble, Washington, Lamble, Anderson, Hassan, Losonsky, Rowe, Wright.

Wolves: Holmes, Lufadeju, Guede, Dibo, Irving, Williams, Owumi, Thurman, Radojevic.

BBL Trophy: Semi-final berth at stake as Leicester Riders host Worcester Wolves

Leicester City Classic Match: Tony Cottee secures victory over Manchester United in last victory at Old Trafford 17 years ago

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If fate should ever have a bearing on a football match, Leicester City fans will be hoping it is this one.

It will be 17 years to the day tomorrow that City last tasted victory at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.

Tony Cottee was the hero back in 1998, as Martin O'Neill's side left the Theatre of Dreams in a state of shock, the resounding chants of 'Blue Army' echoing around the stadium.

United were the champions, oozing class, and swanning into games as though they had a divine right to victory.

But their hubris had seen them come unstuck. Their defeat at the hands of O'Neill's men was their third in four Premier League games.

This one, though, was different. It was in their own back yard. Teams simply did not go to OldTrafford and win.

Only Chelsea of the 11 previous visitors had managed to avoid defeat. United had not lost at home since the previous April.

But this was also a City side that did not know its limits. And even if it did, it ignored them.

Leicester, in their second season back in the top flight and having finished ninth the previous campaign, had already won 2-1 at Anfield and drawn 3-3 with eventual champions Arsenal in a game that is still eulogized about today.

At the end of September, City had been third in the table. They had given their all in Europe, ultimately being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Atletico Madrid.

Even so, they were meant to be no match for United.

Leicester were, according to a report at the time, "no more than vin ordinaire in the chateau-bottled vineyard of the Premier League".

United's merlot, though, had corked. They were woeful, casual, slipshod and lackadaisical. They made elementary mistakes. And City punished them.

On the half-hour, Garry Parker clipped the ball into the United box, it bounced up and over the disorientated Henning Berg, allowing Cottee to brush past him and fire past Peter Schmeichel.

It was his first Premier League goal since O'Neill bought him back to England from "the quagmire of Malaysian football" for £500,000 from Selangor.

"I've been waiting all my life to score here," said Cottee, at the time.

"I thought the opportunity had long since passed me by, but to come here and score the winner against a team like Manchester United is very special indeed."

The victory was not just down to one man. Far from it. It was the ultimate team performance.

Every one of O'Neill's men put their hearts and souls into the battle, the embodiment of the 'Foxes Never Quit' mantra.

And, boy, did they have to ride a tempestuous storm. After a lethargic first half, United laid unrepenting siege in the second.

But City goalkeeper Kasey Keller was simply unbeatable, showing superhuman reflexes to thrice deny Andy Cole.

Matt Elliott was a colossus at the heart of the defence, winning towering header after towering header.

Emile Heskey spent most of the game in his own half, fighting for the cause.

United's best two chances fell to Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Teddy Sheringham, the latter deep into injury-time, but they both failed to test Keller from close range.

And with them went any hopes of a comeback.

After the final whistle, Keller summed up exactly the spirit of O'Neill's men, who would go on to secure another top-10 finish.

"There are no egos, everyone works hard for one another," he said.

"It's a simple philosophy. If you are a very talented player, then fine. But you are not going to do it by yourself. You have got to go out and work hard."

Nigel Pearson will surely be hoping his men can channel that philosophy once again, 17 years later.

Thanks to Leicester City historian John Hutchinson for his help on the article.


Teams:

Man Utd: Schmeichel, Pallister, G Neville, Johnsen (Berg – 8 (Sheringham – 55)), Irwin, Giggs, Beckham, Scholes (P Neville – 84), Butt, Cole, Solskjaer 

Subs not used: Pilkington, McClair

City: Keller, Walsh (Prior – 35), Elliott, Kaamark, Savage, Parker (Campbell – 65), Izzet, Lennon, Guppy, Cottee (Wilson – 88), Heskey 

Subs not used: Arphexad, Fenton

Attendance: 55,156

Leicester City Classic Match: Tony Cottee secures victory over Manchester United in last victory at Old Trafford 17 years ago

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