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Local cricket: Long Whatton take honours at festival

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Long Whatton reigned supreme at their ninth annual junior festival.

Teams from all over Leicestershire took part in the tournament, competing in two groups, through to two semi-finals before the top two sides battled it out.

After hotly-contested groups stages in the morning, the hosts lined up for their semi-final with Shepshed Town, while Lutterworth faced off against Rothley Park.

Both matches went down to the wire, with Long Whatton edging home by three runs while Lutterworth narrowly came out on top against Rothley.

It was to be Long Whatton's day, though, as they won the final, beating Lutterworth by 15 runs.

Local cricket: Long Whatton take honours at festival


Leicestershire Foxes bowler Atif Sheikh 'could surprise a few people'

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Leicestershire Foxes' NatWest T20 Blast win over Durham Jets at Grace Road on Friday was completed by tried-and-trusted Matthew Boyce.

But the game also featured a debut for left-arm pace bowler Atif Sheikh, who has recently signed a two-year contract.

Sheikh was handed two overs at the start of the evening and conceded 15 runs – a reasonable return for a bowler operating in the powerplay.

The 23-year-old paceman has shown up well in County's second team this season but also featured in the tour match against India at the end of last month, when he kept the Test side's batters on their toes with some hostile bowling.

With the RL50 competition starting on Sunday, there is a chance for Sheikh to figure once again – and there is also the prospect of him playing in the County Championship side down the finishing straight.

One-day skipper Josh Cobb was happy with Sheikh's effort on Friday and said: "Atif is just coming out of club cricket and has played some second-team cricket for us. The only way to test him is to throw him in.

"He started well up front against Durham but we didn't need him at the end.

"He is very raw, has exceptional pace and could surprise a few people."

Boyce's unbeaten 46 – coupled with a rapid-fire 16 not out from Jigar Naik – saw Leicestershire over the line against the Jets with just a ball to spare.

The win meant little to the Foxes in terms of the Blast but, with the 50-over competition approaching, the more wins they can get on board the better.

"It is the only competition we are left in," said Cobb, "so we will be giving it our all.

"If we can pick up some wins going into that, then it will give the lads the confidence to perform like they can.

"Matt was probably the perfect man for the job. He looked at the situation, assessed it very well and played an incredible innings."

Cobb added: "Maybe we could have been a bit more responsible up front, but Matt got us out of trouble."

Leicestershire Foxes bowler Atif Sheikh 'could surprise a few people'

The pub landlord who played 459 times for Leicester City

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Leicester City's official historian John Hutchinson continues his series revisiting those sites in Leicester which were significant in the history of the club. Today, as we walk past these sites, we are often unaware of the part these places played in the history of the club.

The Griffin Inn, Belgrave Gate

In the 1950s, the Griffin Inn was a well-known city-centre pub run by Billy Frame (Picture 1), who played at right-back for Leicester City from 1934-1950.

He was signed from Glaswegian club Shawcross Juniors, the team that also discovered Frank McLintock many years later. Only five players made more competitive appearances for City than Billy.

He played 459 games for the club – 220 of these were war-time appearances, a club record, seven ahead of Sep Smith's 213.

Billy was a virtual ever-present in the side that won the Second Division title in 1937. Picture 2 shows him celebrating this achievement with manager Frank Womack (centre) and captain Sep Smith (right).

He was also an ever-present in the City teams that won the Wartime Midland Cup in May 1941 and the Wartime Football League Championship South in December 1941. Both of these cups are in the club's trophy cabinet.

After 14 years as first-choice right-back, Billy was injured in December 1948 and did not play in the FA Cup final in 1949.

He did, however, play in the vital match at Cardiff which saved City from relegation to the Third Division, a week after the FA Cup final.

He retired in July 1950 and became player-coach at Rugby Town until 1953. In 1954, Billy and his wife Agnes took over the Griffin Inn. Picture 3 shows the pub as it was when Billy was the landlord.

Built in 1929, this was a double-fronted city-centre pub in Belgrave Gate near the junction with Charles Street.

Today it stands empty (Picture 4). When Billy was the landlord, it was opposite a long-gone car park at the top of Abbey Street.

The area was not a residential one but the pub was in close proximity to several engineering works, boot and shoe factories, a printing works, a bus garage and a bus depot.

It was also handily placed for the Savoy cinema, the slightly dubious Floral Hall cinema and the Palace Theatre.

A Salvation Army Citadel and a Horse Repository were also close by, as was the Employment Exchange.

Billy and Agnes ran the pub until 1958. They then moved to Nottingham and ran pubs there. Billy died in 1992.

Burnmoor Street turnstiles

For nearly 40 years, fans entered the East side of Filbert Street by walking through turnstiles built into the ground floor of two terraced houses adjacent to the ground.

These were in the section of Grasmere Street that has subsequently been renamed Burnmoor Street.

The directors' minutes books indicate that this unique and bizarre arrangement dated from 1964.

The new entrance, which was in line with the centre spot, enabled access to the side of the ground which was opposite the Old Main Stand.

In 1964 this was known as the Popular Side. From personal memory, in 1964, it cost 3/ (15p) for adults and 1/6d (7½p) for youngsters to stand on the Popular Side terracing, where views were often restricted by the steel stanchions supporting the roof.

The construction of this new entrance also involved converting the upstairs rooms into two flats, putting on a new roof and adapting the back yard area.

The flats soon became offices for the Development Association which raised money for the club's ground development.

Throughout the 1963-64 season, the monthly directors' minutes regularly reported on the slow progress of the project to convert the houses into an entrance.

When Mike Stringfellow scored in the second leg of City's League Cup final win against Stoke in April 1964 (picture 5), the new entrance to the old Popular Side, seen in the background of the photograph, had just been completed.

However, the offices above the turnstiles were not ready until the following season.

Picture 6 was taken in the 1990s. It shows the entrance through the Burnmoor Street houses at a time when the East Stand was a seated area reserved for away supporters.

Following the demolition of Filbert Street, the entrance reverted to being two houses (Picture 7).

Today, all that remains of this unique entrance arrangement is a rusting and overgrown blue-painted steel frame and a few breeze blocks (picture 8).

Jimmy Walsh's Shop, Churchgate

During the 1980s, a well-known Leicester landmark was Jimmy Walsh's newsagents in Churchgate, very close to the Clock Tower. He ran this shop in the 1980s and the early 1990s.

He had previously managed newsagents in Wyngate Drive, near team-mate Frank McLintock's old house, and in York Road, close to the old Phoenix Theatre.

Jimmy Walsh was City's captain in the 1961 FA Cup final against Tottenham. Picture 9 shows him walking behind manager Matt Gillies as he was leading the City team on to the pitch at Wembley.

Before coming to Leicester, Walsh had been a member of Celtic's 1954 Championship-winning side.

He signed for Leicester in November 1956 in the same week that City offered young McLintock a trial.

His Leicester strike partners included Arthur Rowley, Derek Hines and Ken Leek.

He was City's top scorer in 1959 and in 1961 (when he and Leek scored 11 FA Cup goals between them on the way to the 1961 final).

Jimmy scored City's first-ever goal in Europe (against Glenavon in September 1961). He left Leicester in 1964 to become Rugby Town's player-manager on a bigger wage than he had earned at City.

Jimmy's shop was demolished when the Shires (now Highcross) shopping centre was built. Today, part of the Churchgate frontage of the Highcross centre stands on the site. (Picture 10).

The pub landlord who played 459 times for Leicester City

Leicestershire Foxes 'must adapt better to testing conditions' says Phil Whitticase

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Leicestershire director of cricket Phil Whitticase wants to see his players adapting better to testing situations when the RL50 campaign begins at home to Derbyshire Falcons on Sunday.

The Foxes threw away a glorious chance of beating Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge yesterday as they failed to come to terms with what was required if they were to chase down a 20-over target of 122.

That was never going to be easy on a slow pitch against a good Notts attack.

However, the Leicestershire batting line-up should have been strong enough to see them home. However, it misfired badly and Notts ran out comfortable 31-run winners, boosting their own chances of making the T20 Blast quarter-finals.

"It was a used pitch so we realised from the moment we arrived that it wasn't going to be a high-scoring game," said Whitticase. "But I thought keeping them to 120 was more than acceptable.

"For Notts to win the game, I felt that they had to bowl us out. So from our point of view, we should have made sure that we were only a couple of wickets down at halfway and in a strong position.

"We talked about staying calm because there was going to be an element of pressure and there was a feeling that we wanted to be ahead of the game to a certain degree.

"But when you lose a couple of wickets like we did in the second over, there has to be some dragging back of the thought-process and a reassessment of where we are."

That did not happen and wickets continued to tumble throughout the afternoon, and the Foxes' hopes of a win were further set back by a hapless three run-outs.

"You wouldn't see them in parks cricket," added Whitticase. "It is difficult to explain but pressure can create those moments."

With just one more T20 game to come, against Warwickshire Bears at Edgbaston on Friday, the Foxes then go straight into the new 50-over format.

"We have to keep looking at what we have done well in the T20 game," said Whitticase. "Apart from the loss to Warwickshire and this game, we have been in every match. We have played some good cricket and should have won more games.

"We have to regroup and pick ourselves up. The 50-over is a major competition and we need to do well in it."

A 'shambles' as Leicestershire Foxes crash again in T20 defeat at Notts

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A calamitous batting performance saw Leicestershire Foxes crash to a 31–run defeat against Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the NatWest T20 Blast at Trent Bridge yesterday.

The Foxes were set what looked a modest target of 122 to win their penultimate game of the campaign but they never remotely got to grips with the task and were skittled for just 90, their lowest total in the competition.

Matthew Boyce and Ben Raine each made 20 but there was precious little from the top of the order.

Leicestershire had been given a superb start by their bowlers after Notts had chosen to bat on what proved to be a slow pitch.

Left-arm seamer Atif Shiekh, who had made his T20 debut for the Foxes on Friday against Durham Jets, flattened Michael Lumb's off-stump in his second over.

He would go on to produce figures of 2-11 from his four overs, Alex Hales also castled, which ensured that the home side were never really able to get out of the blocks in front of a 10,000 crowd.

Scott Styris, Josh Cobb and Jigar Naik continued to keep a tight rein on the batsmen through the middle overs and, as they also picked up wickets, the opportunity for the Outlaws to take risks just were not there.

Samit Patel had to bide his time but when he hit Naik for a straight six in the 15th over, that was the first time Leicestershire had conceded a boundary in a dozen overs.

Patel was the only Notts batter to get to grips with conditions but his innings ended when he was run out for a top score of 44 following a sharp piece of work by wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien in the penultimate over.

Cobb then completed Leicestershire's good shift with the ball by claiming the wickets of Ajmal Shahzad and Luke Fletcher in the final over, conceding just five runs to leave his side facing a target of 122.

However, just as they had done in pipping Durham, the Foxes made a shocking start to their run-chase and a game that had looked well under control at the halfway point became an uphill task as they spluttered to 11-3 in the opening three overs.

Cobb and Greg Smith prodded outside off-stump to give Fletcher that rarity, a double-wicket maiden, then O'Brien slapped Harry Gurney to James Franklin, who took a good running catch on the midwicket boundary.

Ned Eckersley and Boyce needed to steady a heavily-listing ship but what was not required was a needless run-out.

Sadly, Eckersley threw his wicket away at the end of the fourth over attempting a run which simply was not there and was beaten by Steven Mullaney's direct hit.

It was as if panic had set in and the batsmen had not realised that, at the start of the innings, a fraction over a run a ball was required to win.

The pitch was not easy – but neither was it unplayable – it certainly was not a surface on which a side should have plunged to a paltry 25-5 in six overs of powerplay, Styris the fifth to fall as he was trapped lbw by Shahzad.

Tom Wells picked out Hales on the midwicket boundary off Patel in the 11th over but the whole sorry shambles was summed up in the same over when Boyce was run-out following a horrible miscommunication with Raine and, at 46-7, the Foxes looked a beaten side.

Charlie Shreck and Sheikh had some late fun with three sixes between them, but the end was not long in coming and really the manner of the Foxes' defeat was no laughing matter.

A 'shambles' as Leicestershire Foxes crash again in T20 defeat at Notts

Leicester City: Skies are the limit for Leonardo Ulloa

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It is a sight Leicester City fans will be hoping they will see many times in the Premier League this season, that of potential record signing Leonardo Ulloa pointing to the skies.

Manager Nigel Pearson believes the Argentine striker is the man who can lead City's attack in the top flight this season and get the vital goals to secure their status in the Premier League.

However, such joyous moments are tinged with sadness for the 27-year-old, who will become City's most expensive signing when the deal is completed this week.

Ulloa began the salute to the heavens after scoring for Brighton in December last season when his beloved grandfather died and he was unable to return to Argentina for the funeral.

Ulloa is a spiritual family man and his post-goal routine also includes kissing his wedding ring and the names of his two children that are tattooed on his arms, and crossing himself before looking to the heavens and pointing skywards.

"It's for Abuelo (Grandad) who was always there for me and always helping me," Ulloa told the Brighton Argus.

"He died not long ago and I know he is up there looking after us and watching us.

"He helped me in my life in general. He was a very important figure for me and my family.

"It's really important to remember him because I couldn't be there when he died.

"He was back in Argentina and I couldn't go back during the season, but I know he is always there with me.

"He wasn't ill, he didn't suffer, but he was old. He was 94 when he died.

"It happened when I was out injured. I was so pleased when I got back and scored that first goal at Charlton.

"It was a really difficult time because my father and my family really suffered, but things are better now, things are good.

"The celebration is also for God because He is always helping me, helping my family. He helps me in football and shows me the right way to go.

"I thank Him after every goal because He helps me at certain times, but I don't just thank Him after a goal.

"Before games I ask for the strength to keep going if things don't go so well.

"I thank Him for my health and recovering fully from that injury which ruled me out for three months (last season).

"But above all I thank Him for my family, for my parents, my brothers, my nephews and nieces."

Leicester City: Skies are the limit for Leonardo Ulloa

Leicester teenager talks for first time about being stabbed in Turkish resort

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A teenager left fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed in a Turkish holiday resort has spoken for the first time about his ordeal.

Declan McNulty, 18, suffered damage to his stomach, liver and pancreas in the attack in Marmaris this month.

He says he owes his life to a nurse who helped at the scene and the surgeon who operated on him in hospital. Speaking about the incident, Declan, of Braunstone Frith, who returned home to Leicester early on Wednesday, said: "I felt what I thought was a punch in my stomach.

"I walked off and when I took my hand away I could see my intestines hanging out. I went to the police – they said I had a very big problem and that I'd better sit down.

"I just felt heat in my feet coming up my body.

"A girl who was passing by saved me. She was a nurse on holiday who started compressing the wound.

"If it hadn't been for her I think I would have bled out. I owe my life to the surgeon who operated on me."

Declan, who was on holiday with his parents, Dave and Helen, and 15-year-old brother Callum, has been told there will be no long-term damage.

"Walking was a massive struggle for a while, it took me ages to get up," he said. "I wrote myself a training plan."

Declan, an apprentice sports coach, said he would be off sick for several months.

"When I'm fully recovered, I've got to be careful," he said. "I've been told there will be no long-term damage."

Following the incident, Declan was rushed to the private Ahu Hospital.

He was given several pints of blood before being operated on for 10 hours by Dr Ozgur Basaran, who had warned his family his condition was life-threatening.

Overcome by shock, his mum Helen, 47, collapsed and had to be taken into the hospital on a stretcher.

"When the doctor told me it was life-threatening I didn't know what to do," she said. "They told me he his kidney, pancreas and liver were lacerated and that he was in intensive care.

"I don't know how we can ever thank the surgeon, there are no words to say for what he's done."

Helen and Dave maintained a vigil at their son's bedside following the attack on July 1.

Dave, 49, who owns Homestyle Paving and Landscaping, said he wanted to praise the surgeon, and also other people who had helped them.

"We can't praise everyone in Turkey enough – from the hotel to the hospital to the police," he said. "They were amazing.

"Staff from the hotel even visited Declan in hospital."

Declan was the second British tourist to be stabbed in the area in a two-week period.

While in hospital, the teenager struck up a friendship with the other stabbing victim, Callum Copson.

Despite their ordeal, Declan's family say they are planning to go back to the Golden Orange hotel, in Armutulan, near Marmaris, where they have stayed five times.

"None of us has any qualms about going back there, we would feel comfortable, it's a lovely place," said Helen.

She said she hoped what had happened to Declan would act as a deterrent to people thinking about carrying a knife.

"This should be a warning to people about carrying knives," she said. "This was a family holiday.

"Now there is a 19-year-old lad in a Turkish prison."

Josh Stevenson (19), from Glasgow, who was arrested seven hours after the attack, remains in custody charged with wounding with intent.

Leicester teenager talks for first time about being stabbed in Turkish resort

Antoin Akpom murder charge: Retrial of teenager Abdul Hakim starts today

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The retrial of a teenager in relation to the death of Leicester sports coach Antoin Akpom is due to start today. Abdul Hakim (19), of Wood Hill, Spinney Hills, Leicester, is charged with murdering 20-year-old Mr Akpom, who died after an attack in the city in September last year. He denies the charge. His trial is expected to last about five days. Another man, Hussain Hussain (19), of no fixed address, has been convicted of murdering Mr Akpom and has been given a minimum term of 22 years in prison.

Pet cat could lose a leg after airgun attack

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A cat may have to have one of its legs amputated after a thug shot it with an air weapon.

A pellet has lodged deep inside Honey's body, causing nerve damage which has paralysed its front left leg.

Owner Anne Gregory, of Burbage, discovered Honey injured and distressed on Friday morning.

The pellet was found lodged in muscle following an X-ray.

A vet operated on Honey on Friday, but could not remove the pellet.

Mrs Gregory, who adopted Honey from a charity which finds homes for feral cats, now has to wait for several weeks to find out whether the leg will have to be amputated.

She said: "It makes my blood boil. What could this little cat done to have deserved this?

"I would like the person who did this to her to know exactly how much damage they have done.

"The vet said it appeared she had been shot at close range, so the person who did this knew exactly what they were doing.

"I hope they are proud of themselves.

"We won't know for a few weeks whether she is going to lose her leg or not. If the nerve damage heals itself her leg might be okay again, but if it doesn't, it may have to be amputated."

Mrs Gregory adopted Honey and a second cat, Dawnie, from the Hinckley and Nuneaton branch of animal charity Cat Action 77, which rescues wild cats and finds them new homes.

Honey and Dawnie, who are thought to be about two or three years old, were found living wild in Hinckley.

They do not live at home with Mrs Gregory and her family. Instead, they live on land the family owns in Sapcote.

Mrs Gregory, who has reported the incident to the police, added: "I have put a poster out in Sapcote to warn people that this has happened and to ask them to be vigilant."

David Summers, of the Hollycroft Veterinary, in Hinckley, operated on Honey on Friday, said: "We can't repair the nerve damage, so we have to wait and see if it heals.

"The worst-case scenario is that she will lose her leg.

"Unfortunately, we do see a regular number of cats and dogs who have been shot with air weapons. In most cases the pellets go under the skin because they have been fired from some distance.

"In this case, it has travelled four or five inches into her body and that means we have not been able to take it out, because that would do more damage. I would guess this means the person who shot her was five to 10 metres away from her."

Winn Hut, who runs the Hinckley and Nuneaton branch of the charity, said: "These airguns do so much damage to cats. When will the idiots who do things like this realise that?

"Honey is a lovely little cat and she is so happy with Anne and her family. I just hope the person who did this is caught."

Pet cat could lose a leg after airgun attack

Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton will relish the new challenge

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Marc Albrighton needed a new challenge to kick on in his career, Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes.

The 24-year-old winger is one of Pearson's summer signings after he was allowed to leave Aston Villa following 16 years at Villa Park.

After bursting on to the scene five years ago, his form at Villa earned him a call-up to the England Under-21s in 2010.

But in recent seasons, Albrighton has struggled with form and injury as Villa have also found life difficult.

After returning to full fitness in the second half of last season, he began to show his best form again and Pearson believes a move to a new environment at City will provide the winger with a fresh start.

"Marc Albrighton is typical of a player who has been at a club for a long time," said Pearson.

"He has been at Villa since a young lad and is probably ready for a new challenge.

"There is no animosity between the two parties but, hopefully, we will get the best outcome because he is ready for the new challenge.

"I think he is a talented player and he will fit in with what we have here already very well."

Albrighton is one of three players who have joined city this summer on free transfers. Goalkeeper Ben Hamer and experienced defender Matt Upson are also on board, and Pearson said he was confident his new recruits will play important roles.

"Matt Upson has plenty of experience," he said.

"He is in the latter stages of his career but what he comes with is know-how.

"He comes in off the back of a fantastic season on a personal level for him.

"Ben is also a promising young goalkeeper.

"I think it is important we add the right players to the squad.

"They have come in on frees but it depends on how people want to perceive it. If a player cost us £5million, then that might change people's perceptions.

"We are pleased with the players we have brought in. They have experience."

Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton will relish the new challenge

Leicester City: Leonardo Ulloa set to complete record £10m move from Brighton

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Leonardo Ulloa is set to undergo a medical today ahead of his record-breaking transfer to Leicester City.

The 27-year-old's representatives have been in discussions with City since last Thursday after Brighton accepted a fifth bid for the Argentine striker.

A few details of Ulloa's contract are still being discussed but, if all goes well, he could be announced as City's record signing today.

Initially it was believed the fee was just over £7million, but sources in Brighton say the deal consists of a payment of £8m and the fee could rise to as much as £10m after add-ons. The deal shatters City's previous club record of £5m paid for Ade Akinbiyi 14 years ago.

The Seagulls expect the deal to be completed as early as today and have already started the search for Ulloa's replacement.

If it does go through today, Ulloa could be unveiled in tomorrow night's opening pre-season friendly at Ilkeston Town before City fly to Thailand to face Everton in Bangkok on Sunday.

Brighton paid £2m for Ulloa's services in January 2013 from Spanish side Almeria, and he has scored 23 goals in 50 league appearances for the south-coast club.

Manager Nigel Pearson knows City must have plenty of forward firepower for their Premier League campaign, and they remain in contention to also sign Fraizer Campbell from Cardiff.

After triggering a release clause in his contract, City have so far been unable to meet Campbell's personal demands, but Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still expects to lose the striker, as well as defender Steven Caulker.

"I am resigned to losing both players, we are more or less planning for the new season without them," said Solskjaer.

"The boys have expressed a wish to play Premier League football next season."

City remain in talks with striker Jamie Vardy over a new four-year contract.

Vardy is about to enter the final year of his current contract and several clubs are watching the situation. There were reports at the weekend that Southampton were preparing to make a bid for the 27-year-old.

But City are determined to hang on to Vardy, with the offer of a long-term contract that will make him one of the highest-paid players at the club.

Leicester City: Leonardo Ulloa set to complete record £10m move from Brighton

Gerry Taggart to replace Alan Young as match day commentator for BBC Radio Leicester

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Leicester City legend Gerry Taggart is to replace Alan Young as match day commentator for BBC Radio Leicester, it was announced today. The Foxes star, who played for the club from 1998 to 2003, will work alongside commentator Ian Stringer on match days and on the Football Forum on Monday evenings from 6pm. He starts tomorrow for a pre-season match at Ilkeston, ahead of City's first Premier League game against Everton on Saturday, August 16. Gerry said he was "delighted" to be working with the station, "especially for what promises to be an exciting season for everyone connected with the club". He added: "After 10 years outside of the top flight, you can sense the anticipation at the club, especially with the opening fixtures being against such high-profile teams. "I loved my time as a player at Leicester, both at Filbert Street and at the current stadium. Leicester was probably the most enjoyable and successful time of my career, and I returned as a member of the coaching staff, so as the BBC's summariser I'm pretty much completing the set. "The supporters are passionate about their club, and I want to hear that passion on matchdays and the Football Forum on a Monday night. I promise them I'll be honest and objective and hope this season will be memorable for us all." BBC Radio Leicester editor Jane Hill said she was "thrilled" that Gerry was joining the team. "He has both Premier League and coaching expertise with Leicester City, so he'll bring a unique perspective to our football commentary," she said. He replaces Alan Young, who was told earlier this month that the corporation would not be using him next season - sparking outrage among fans. A campaign page has been set up on Facebook and a petition launched, both calling for Alan to be reinstated. Twitter users coined the hashtag #bringbackalanyoung to show their support.

Gerry Taggart to replace Alan Young as match day commentator for BBC Radio Leicester

Picture of the day: Leicester City head for Holland in 1978

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At fleeting first glance it looks a little like a works outing. The lads from Carry On's fine toiletware firm WC Boggs, perhaps, off on a boozy trip to the coast, where all manner of hilarious japes will wind up with henpecked factory foreman Sid Plummer coming perilously close to doing the dirty with his lascivious neighbour, played by Joan Sims, just out of shot.

Look again, though, past that splendid display of kipper ties and flares, and you'll see it's actually an altogether different sort of works outing. This is a group shot of Leicester City players and staff outside Filbert Street in 1978, heading off on a pre-season tour of Holland, with the Mercury's Bill Anderson on the left too.

Picture of the day: Leicester City head for Holland in 1978

Leicester-born banking boss Andrew Bailey helps to curb housing bubble

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He's the man with one of the most valuable signatures in the country who has the task of preventing another financial meltdown.

Leicester-born Andrew Bailey may not be a household name, but he is overseeing measures which will have a big impact on the financial future of thousands of ordinary people.

The 55-year-old is the Bank of England's Mr Prudent, charged with making sure banks don't make the mistakes they did in the run-up to the banking crisis and stopping home owners from getting too deep into debt.

Last month, Andrew was part of a group of experts which decided to place restrictions on what banks and building societies could lend in a bid to stop a resurgent housing market causing another unsustainable debt bubble.

One of three deputy governors at the Bank, he seems to be relishing his role of ensuring the country learns from its financial past.

"There's no question that in the run-up to the financial crisis the standards of the banking system declined very seriously," said Andrew.

"The question is: how do you deal with large banks that get into trouble?

"The reason we have to deal with this is, whatever you feel about banks, we actually need them in our daily lives."

Brought up in Stoneygate, Andrew attended Wyggeston Boys' Grammar School, Leicester, and then Queens' College, Cambridge, where he gained a BA and a PhD.

He became a research officer at the London School of Economics, before joining the Bank of England in 1985.

He has worked at the Bank in a number of areas, holding the role of chief cashier for seven years until 2010, which means his signature still appears on hundreds of millions of bank notes.

As well as deputy governor, he is chief executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority, the financial regulator which replaced the much criticised Financial Services Authority.

He is also a member of the Bank's financial policy committee, which oversees the banking sector's financial stability. However, he is not a member of the higher-profile monetary policy committee, which sets interest rates.

"One big lesson that's been learned from the crisis is that we need other tools than interest rates," said Andrew.

"The financial policy committee is very much looking at the stability of the system as a whole.

"It's no secret that what we are talking about at the moment is the housing market.

"In the past six to nine months we are seeing a positive recovery in house prices in all the regions of the country.

"The rate of increase is still highly skewed towards to the south-east."

However, it is not now the banks, but the Government, which people are blaming for a potential house price bubble.

Many, including Business Secretary Vince Cable, are concerned about the impact of the multi-billion pound Help to Buy scheme, which is aimed at getting first-time buyers on to the property ladder with deposits of five per cent.

The worry is with many once again now clambering to borrow as much as they can to get into the housing market, how would a rate rise impact on the economy?

"What we have to consider particularly is the indebtedness of households," said Andrew.

"Eventually there will be a resumption of monetary policy. We need to think how does that look in terms of indebtedness they are taking on today.

"What it comes down to is the degree of strength of people borrowing and the multiples of their income being borrowed. There's a bigger problem in the south-east than Leicester."

To tackle this, the financial policy committee last month told banks home loans of four-and-a-half times a house buyer's income should only make up 15 per cent of their total mortgage book.

"It's about ensuring there are boards at banks that have the proper incentives and there's management of risk to avoid the types of behaviour that led up to the crisis of six years ago," said Andrew.

Mr Prudent is the man who is protecting banks and house buyers from themselves. Many would say it is 10 years too late, but better late than never.

Leicester-born banking boss Andrew Bailey helps to curb housing bubble

Badminton: Youngsters hit stride

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Forty youngsters took to the courts at Judgemeadow Community College for an annual badminton tournament.

Pupils from Thurnby Lodge, Medway and Abbey primary schools headed to Evington for the doubles competition.

The first semi-final saw a nail-biting finish, with Medway's Sahil Hussein and Hamza ur Rahman holding their nerve at 9-9 to beat Aaron Singh and Elle Mae Lee on the deciding point.

Thurnby Lodge's Joseph Loseby and Zoya Rizan had an easier route to the final, at the expense of Emil Godla and Mohammed Saad.

In the final, Hussein and Rahman were ahead 13-10, but impressive serving from Rizan and some hard hitting from partner Loseby helped the duo to five straight points, taking the title 15-13.

Badminton: Youngsters hit stride


Junior football: Aylestone Park Youth pipped in ACES final

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Aylestone Park Youth were pipped in the final of the ACES national football tournament at Harborough Town.

Park faced AFC Wembley in the final of the under-15 competition but lost out 1-0 to the side from north-west London.

The county's other representatives in the competition, Woodgate Lions, reached the quarter-finals of the under-13 competition but were beaten by Nottingham's Carlton Town.

Broxbourne Borough, from Hertfordshire, won the under-14 title, and Essex outfit Buckhurst Hill ran out under-16 champions, making it a clean sweep for southern teams.

More than 80 teams and 700 players competed at the event. With such an array of talent on show, scouts from all over the country came to view the teams, looking for future stars.

Junior football: Aylestone Park Youth pipped in ACES final

Geoff Kayson's journey from bedsit to head of global jewellery firm Alchemy

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Geoff Kayson paints a great picture of life in 1970s Leicester. A picture of a young man in Doc Martens, ripped jeans, the obligatory leather jacket and spiky red hair, kicking against the drab, downbeat system.

A picture of weekly trips to the dole office and weekends whiled away in the old boozers of the city's West End.

It is a colourful picture of a time slotted somewhere between the mediocrity of the post-war years and the conservatism that followed.

Casting his mind back, he said: "At the beginning of 1977 I was on the dole, and was kind of a punk.

"It was hard but fun; raw and exciting and I suppose, like a lot of people in the same situation, I was a little bit angry and pissed off.

"It was a hot summer that year and I had a flat in Hinckley Road and remember having to walk up the road every week to sign on and get my giro.

"What would annoy me was seeing these guys waltzing around with their shirts open and big gold medallions, all of them into disco music, flaunting everything they had.

"The best I could do was buy a tin of spam and a cabbage and a couple of potatoes – which I had to make last – and save enough for a pint on a Friday night in the Merry Monarch or the Black Horse.

"I was 24 and hadn't done any exams or anything.

"But I was a practical person and seeing these blokes wearing their gold medallions it suddenly occurred to me I could make a few bob selling cast lead pendants and badges for punks."

The punk jewellery – saying things like "solid, lead, worthless" – was the start of a homegrown British manufacturing success story that would go on to provide work for more than 50 craftspeople, designers and salespeople and see the business, Alchemy, supplying wholesalers all over the world.

Geoff, who learnt to make moulds and lead casts from making model soldiers, touted the early pieces to shops and around pubs and venues where punk bands were playing.

He sold them through ads in the long-gone Sounds music magazine – £2 each or three for a fiver – and the Back Street Heroes biker magazine, in an arrangement that stills runs today.

They went down a storm.

Geoff said: "This one chap ordered 100 at 50p each and I was handmaking them in my bed-sitting room and hiding all the kit from my landlord under the bed.

"I used to go to Piggotts Scrapyard in Western Boulevard to buy the lead."

As demand grew, Geoff called his brother Trevor in to help with the order and they're still working together today.

Back in 1978, Braunstone Gate was a busy thoroughfare with a couple of pubs among the shops and businesses and factories.

With that hustle and bustle and all those Leicester Polytechnic students nearby, it was perfect for Geoff's first shop – smack between the Rum Runner bar and Gadsby's art shop.

Geoff said: "I moved in above it with a mattress and a cooker and downstairs we sold whatever we could get hold of and whatever we could make, including model soldiers.

"We were the first shop in the Midlands to sell Dungeons and Dragons.

"We were making the jewellery in the back which was becoming more elaborate – instead of lead it became pewter."

By 1983, the company began making official badges for rock bands like Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest for sale at festivals and concerts.

The orders kept coming. Then a buyer from France ordered 500 silver skull rings and the Alchemy range of fantasy jewellery was born.

Along the way, Geoff married Sandra Hibbert, manager of the Leicester Trader newspaper, who sadly died four years ago.

The team went to Monsters of Rock and around Europe and bike shows.

He said: "There was nobody else doing anything like this and we were mobbed.

"I had a Ford Cortina and the first time we went to Donington we came out with bags of money – £20,000 from a two-day concert."

They became the 'go-to' manufacturer for rock memorabilia.

By this time there were seven or eight staff and, even after expanding the workshops in Braunstone Gate, they soon ran out of space. So they relocated the workshop across the road, just around the corner from Kirby and West.

"We still had the shop," said Geoff. "There was a whole community there, with loads of little shops and everybody knew everybody else."

With the Bede Island regeneration plans, they were forced to move again, and 18 years ago settled into the former lemonade bottling plant they still have today between Audi and Asda in Narborough Road.

The business has continued to evolve with the music and style scene, making goth rings, rock 'n' roll pendants and the odd heavy metal belt buckle along with ornaments such as resin skulls, pewter tankards, flasks, goblets and elaborate walking canes.

Pretty much everything is created and cast in the Narborough Road workshops.

In 1984, the business took a new direction when Geoff and Trevor came up with their first flyers – illustrated with a skull holding a rose in its teeth, which became known as The Alchemist.

The Alchemist is now the symbol of the business, but just as significant was the move into stylised drawings of beautiful women draped around skeletons along with dragons, pentagrams and avenging angels.

Alchemy has a huge back catalogue of artwork, licensed out around the world and used on posters, T-shirts, playing cards and even guitar plectrums.

There are half a dozen artists at the business, and quite a few people out there sporting tattoos based on paintings conceived by Geoff and his team.

Around 30 to 40 companies use Alchemy's designs under licence while another revenue earner are the bespoke awards the company produces for the likes of Classic Rock, Tomb Raider – and even Bradford and Bingley.

A huge chunk of the multi-million pound turnover now comes from overseas, including via a distribution company in Fort Worth Texas.

Geoff said: "I'm out of the country six months of the year – we've just come back from Las Vegas, doing a licensing show there.

"We were talking to designers, gambling companies and even Zippo lighters – the artwork side of things is a big, separate business now.

"Earlier this year, I was on the same table as Ozzy Osbourne at the Classic Rock awards, and last year sat next to Lemmy.

"One of the first pieces of rock jewellery we did was for Motorhead – a big War-Pig badge with an exploding head, and a full, 3D War-Pig belt buckle. We're still doing rock jewellery now, and have just had an order from Tori Amos.

"Everything that is metal is made here – the Chinese just can't compete with us, because they can't do the quality or the short-run times.

"We can deliver merchandise for a tour in 10 days if we need to – we are the 'fire department' of the merchandising business.

"We were at Download this year and Sonisphere at Knebworth a few weekends ago."

Geoff loves the business and the people who have helped it become such a success.

"I can be myself and enjoy my lifestyle – I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not," he said.

"I get to meet people and travel quite a lot and we can express ourselves in quite an outrageous fashion creatively, and get away with it. I owe it all to my staff and my brother Trevor who has been my partner throughout.

"A lot of it I owe to my wife Sandra, who was managing director, who I lost four years ago to cancer. She was such an inspiration that I didn't know if I'd be able to carry on.

"But it was that inspiration that compelled us to continue, and even more than that this is her legacy."

Geoff Kayson's journey from bedsit to head of global jewellery firm Alchemy

In-form Leicestershire CCC seconds stay on course for trophy treble

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Leicestershire seconds are on course for a hat-trick of titles.

Already winners of the T20 competition, they are top of the table in the one-day Trophy and three-day Championship.

They made it five wins out of six in the 50-over Trophy thanks to successes against Derbyshire and Durham, putting them two points ahead of Glamorgan in the northern section.

Each team play eight matches before the top two sides in the north and the south go through to the semi-finals.

County have a 14-point lead in the northern Championship table following wins in their last two games.

The winners of the northern section meet the top side in the south in a four-day play-off to decide the title.

Wicket-keeper Lewis Hill hit 47 and Shiv Thakor 40 as County were 168 all out in the Trophy clash against Derbyshire at Denby.

Left-arm spinner James Sykes claimed 4-29 as the hosts were dismissed for 163, giving County a five-run success.

The three-day game between the sides was also closely fought before County won by five wickets.

The hosts were bowled out for 220 before opener Matt Boyce's 55 and a last-wicket partnership of 60 between Anthony Ireland (20) and Alex Wyatt (31 not out) helped County to a 38-run lead.

Sykes' 7-80 meant Derbyshire were 233 all out in their second innings, setting County a target of 196 in 40 overs.

An unbeaten 92 from opener Michael Thornely steered them home with 13 balls to spare.

There was a feast of runs in a one-day thriller against Durham at Grace Road.

The visitors totalled 263-7 but Boyce (73), Thakor (61), Tom Wells (38) and Aadil Ali (32 not out from 27 balls) helped County win with four wickets and two balls in hand.

Usman Tariq hit 179, Wells 92 and Ali 52 as County rattled up 393-9 declared on the opening day of the Championship clash between the sides at Hinckley.

The visitors replied with 301-9 declared before Boyce (60) and Thornely (108 not out) shared an opening stand of 110 in County's second innings of 214-7 declared.

That set Durham a target of 307 in a minimum of 65 overs, and Atif Sheikh claimed 4-52 before fellow paceman Ollie Freckingham took the last two wickets with consecutive deliveries as the visitors were bowled out for 255, County winning by 51 runs.

In-form Leicestershire CCC seconds stay on course for trophy treble

Grandparents of Lexi Branson tell of upset after vandalism to memorial bench

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The grandparents of tragic Lexi Branson have spoken of their struggle to cope with the youngster's death, eight months after she was killed by her pet bulldog.

Four-year-old Lexi died after being savaged at her home in Rowena Court, Mountsorrel, last November.

Her grandparents, Alan and Kathryn Tait, from Syston, have not spoken about the tragedy before.

However, the couple said they wanted to pay tribute to the "beautiful" and "intelligent" youngster after mindless vandals damaged a hand-crafted bench and plaque they had paid for in her memory.

Alan, 67, said: "Things are bad enough without this happening – it's really hurt us.

"She was very intelligent, bubbly and loving. She loved to read, she loved her books and her videos and she'd dance to anything. She had her own little stage at our house – she loved entertaining."

Alan said Lexi would regularly visit at the weekends and school holidays, and was loved by all who lived nearby.

He said many of her toys and clothes are still where she left them, and pictures of the blonde schoolgirl are scattered throughout the couple's home.

"We still have all of her pictures up," said Alan. "And her little pinnie is hanging in the kitchen where she left it – she loved baking, but it had to be pink.

"Her weighing scales are also in the cupboard and lots of her clothes are still hanging up – we don't want to move any of them.

"It's terrible, memories can sneak up on you at any moment. We can be driving along and something on the radio will remind us of her."

The attack on Lexi sent shock waves through the community and inspired countless messages of support and flowers, as well as a host of memorial and fund-raising events.

Alan and Kathryn installed their own hand-carved memorial bench and plaque at Syston Central Park, three weeks ago.

However, when they visited it last week they found it had been vandalised.

Syston Town Council has now taken the bench away and is in the process of repairing it, but the mindless act has caused a great deal of upset.

Grandmother Kathryn, 58, said: "She loved that park so much so we thought it would be a fitting tribute from us.

"I remember it was about this time last year and we'd gone out with a picnic and it was too hot in the sun, so we sat under the trees in the shade and she loved it there.

"We used to use the bench every day. It was somewhere to reflect and remember her.

"People had laid flowers there, too, which was lovely.

"I can't imagine who would destroy a memorial bench.

"Someone must know something about it and I hope they report whoever it was."

Anyone with information about who vandalised the bench can call police on 101.

Grandparents of Lexi Branson tell of upset after vandalism to memorial bench

Is your garden shed something special? Send us your outdoor oasis pictures

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Calling all innovative householders – do you have a yard or garden, shed or outhouse to escape from the stresses of modern-day life?

Whether you've set up a pub in your back-garden shed, filled an acre of land with beautiful blooms or turned a tiny courtyard into an oasis of calm, we want to hear from you.

We want to hear from readers who have lovingly transformed their outdoor retreats into relaxing spaces to spend time getting away from it all.

We are hoping to inspire people to make the most of their outdoor havens.

Garry Wells-Larter, of Thurmaston, is one householder who has done just that.

The 46-year-old has fitted his shed with a surround sound music system, a well-stocked bar and a TV, with seating for up to 12 people.

"It is all about using the garden and when the weather is nice, it comes into its own," he said. "When the weather is nice, we are in there a lot. Me and my wife have always been sociable – it is just great fun."

Garry said he would encourage everyone to create a unique outdoor space – but said it was important to do it with passion.

"You won't finish it or do a good job unless you put your heart into it," he said. "If you want to do something in your garden, just do it."

Art Zarb, 76, of Oadby, is another Leicestershire resident who does more than use his shed for storage.

His was turned into a 12-seat cinema 20 years ago, and it has been his pride and joy since.

With three rows of tiered original cinema seats, it also has a moving screen curtain and a projector.

"It is absolutely fantastic," said Art. "It is a dream come true. When you are watching a music concert you feel as if you are there with the people.

"If you have a shed in the garden, turn it into a cinema to enjoy," he said.

Send in your pictures of the outdoor retreats that are special to you.

E-mail reporter Samantha Fisher or tweet her at: samantha.fisher@leicestermercury.co.uk @SamanthaCFisher

Is your garden shed something special? Send us your outdoor oasis pictures

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