Leicester City and Newcastle United were in action at King Power this evening with of course Ayoze Perez involved, indeed a player who have been in both places, playing for Leicester City this evening and before seen scoring goals for Newcastle United.

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Looking fra back the name Jackie Sinclair comes to mind, a Scottish forward that scored goals for the two clubs in the late 60’s. Signed by Leicester City from Dunfirmline Athletic and his importance was early to see, scoring 50 goals in 103 league appearances while at Filbert Street. He later won the Fairs Cup with Newcastle United, but sold on to Sheffield Wednesday after a just a year at St. James Park.

Keith Robson might be most known for his time at West Ham United, but the flair winger started his career at Newcastle United, playing 14 league games and scoring 3 goals before moving to Upton Park in 1974. After spells at Cardiff City and Norwich City he made a move to Leicester City late in his career. He only appeared in 9 games at Leicester City, before moving abroad and after that into non-league action.

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Les Ferdnand and Steve Howey both moved to Leicester City in front of that 2003-04 Premier League return under the management of Micky Adams. Both players were former England internationals and while Les Ferdinand contributed well with his presence, Steve Howey never managed to become a player with influence.

Danny Simpson made his breakthrough in the Premier League with Newcastle United and later became champions with Leicester City. A great defender at full back often playing with lack of support and had to rely on his own pace and tackling ability.

Nikos Dabizas had a type of cult status at Newcastle United and played his best football while at St. James Park. He also contributed well at Leicester City, but the club was in decline when the Greece international arrived and appeared.

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Paul Kitson started his career with Leicester City in early 90’s and seen as a potential “super star” he was let go early on for £1.3million, signing for Derby County. The England U.21 international build on his great start at Leicester City and was sold on to Newcastle United, but his potential was not really boosted while at St. James Park, and the move never really materialized in the manner that was expected. He later moved to West Ham and Brighton.

David Kelly moved from Leicester City to Newcastle United, and the forward scored goals in both camps. Kelly started out at Walsall and had nomadic life in football, playing also at places such as Wolverhampton, Motherwell, Sunderland, Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield United.

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Keith Gillespie started out at Manchester United, but made a move early on to Newcastle United, where he spent three years before moving to Blackburn Rovers. A talented winger who also had a spell at Leicester City, playing from 2003 to 2005 before moving on to Sheffield United. Gillespie played 86 times for his country Northern Ireland.

An early 60’s favorite at Filbert Street, Welsh international Ken Leek also had a spell at St. James Park, moving from Leicester City to Newcastle in 1961. Leek later played for Birmingham City, Northampton Town and Bradford City.

A list of players in both camps,

• Goalkeepers
•  Defenders
  • Neil Simpson
  • Nolberto Solano
  • Patrick Van Aanholt
  • Nikos Dabizas
  • Steve Howey
• Midfield
  • Paul Moran
  • Keith Gillespie
  • Keith Robson
  • Billy Wright
  • Franz Carr
• Forwards
  • Jack Sinclair
  • David Kelly
  • Paul Kitson
  • Les Ferdinand
  • Ken Leek
  • Ayoze Perez

Leicester City goes to Kenilworth Road and visits Luton Town for the Carabao Cup 3rd round. Of course it will be a special moment for newly signed James Justin who just arrived this summer from The Hatters.

Alan Sheehan is currently with The Hatters and he started his career with Leicester City, moving down the tiers to find first team football. Been with Luton Town since 2016 after playing at Leeds United, Notts County, Bradford City and a number of other clubs. The now 33 year is back in the Championship were it all started for him.

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Looking back you start to think and the first player to come to mind is Rodney Fern who left Leicester City for Luton Town for a minor fee back in 1972. Fern was something of a cult hero at Filbert Street playing 152 league games and scoring 32 goals. He spent three years of his career at Luton, but did struggle with injuries and played only 39 games in which he scored only five goals. Fern later played for a number of seasons at Chesterfield and Rotherham.

Next in line down memory lane is no other than Alan Birchenall, mainly seen as a dressing room mood lifter late in his career, moving to Luton Town from Blackburn Rovers in 1979. He only played 10 games and moved to Hereford United were “Birch” ended his professional career at the age of 35.

Leicester City manager David Pleat broke the club transfer record for a buy when he paid Luton Town £350.000 for Mike Newell’s services back in 1986. The tall forward made an impact at Leicester as he had done at Luton, being sold on to Everton for a fee of £1.1million, which was quite a lot of money back in 1989. Newell later won the Premier League while on the books at Blackburn Rovers.

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David Oldfield had two spells at Luton Town, making his breakthrough at the club in the mid 80’s, moving to Leicester City were he became a key player over a number of seasons adding up 221 league appearances and scoring 24 goals from 1990 to 1995. He then rejoined Luton and later had spells at Stoke, Peterborough and Oxford before moving down in non-league football keeping it going into his 40’s.

Rob Johnson, the full back, started his career at Kenilworth Road and later moved to Leicester City, did have a first team career but it was cut short at Leicester, playing only 25 league games from 1989 to 1991.

Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick spent time on loan at Leicester City and also at Luton Town, coming from Tottenham Hotspur on both occasions, just playing a handful of games for both clubs.

Midfielder David Bell came to Leicester City from Luton Town on loan back in 07/08, played 6 league games for Leicester during his short spell. He was seen as a bright talent at Luton Town, playing 75 league games and scoring 7 goals.

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Steve Claridge, the journey man did also spend a short while at Luton Town, playing 16 league games and scoring two goals. this was from 1992 to 1993, a few years before his real breakthrough at Cambridge United and later Leicester City.

Paul Dickov might not be known for his short loan spell from Arsenal to Luton Town back in 1993-94, adding up 15 games in which he scored only once. Another probably not as known fox was Max Dougan who joined Luton Town from Leicester City back 1966, playing at Kenilworth Road until 1970, in total 118 league appearances at Luton Town, with just a handful of starts at Leicester City.

One real hero at Luton Town was former England international Ricky Hill. He was a key player during the clubs best years in the top flight. Hill played 436 league games and scored 54 goals during his prime. He later joined Leicester City and played 26 league games in two years from 1990 to 1991.

Conrad Logan also had a loan spell at Luton Town, playing 22 league games from 2008-09, spending a number of years on loan at several club while on the books at Leicester City. Conrad was with Leicester City for 10 years, and in all played only 23 league games during those years, being at the club until the start of that memorable Premier League win season.

A list of players in both camps,

• Goalkeepers
  • Conrad Logan
  • Ben Alnwick
  • Simon Royce
•  Defenders
  • Rob Johnson
  • Curtis Davies
  • Max Dougan
  • James Justin
  • Des Linton
  • Julian Watts
  • Harry Worley
• Midfield
  • Ricky Hill
  • Alan Birchenall
  • David Bell
  • David Oldfield
  • Scott Oakes
  • Garry Parker
  • Frank Soo
  • Alan Sheehan
• Forwards
  • Rodney Fern
  • Mike Newell
  • Steve Claridge
  • Paul Dickov
  • Marc North