During #BlackHistoryMonth we like to bring forward iconic and special black players at Leicester and their special history at the club. We do also have a grand update on all black players with league appearances for the football club.
Brendon Phillips was the first to be recognized on a team photo as the youth and reserve player had his presence at Leicester from 1972 to 1973. He left and joined Peterborough.
Jamaican born Phillips left Leicester in 1973, without a single first team appearance, but his life in football continued at lower levels with periods in and out of league football. He has later been a manager and coach at Coalville Town, Nuneaton Borough and Halesowen Town.
The first black player to appear in league football for the club was Winston White. He was a product of youth at the club and his tally of league appearances counted 12 and he scored 1 goal. His league debut came agains Stoke City away in the 1976/77 season, Jimmy Bloomfield was the manager giving Winston White his debut. He joined Hereford for a fee of £15.000 and build a grand stature at Edgar Street.
Bob Hazell became the first black player to join Leicester for a major transfer fee, paying QPR £100.000 for his services in 1983. Later in that decade Laurie Cunningham became the first full England capped black coloured player to appear for Leicester.
Black players has since continued to play an important part of the clubs history as Emile Heskey became the first black coloured player to appear for England representing Leicester, when joining Liverpool from Leicester in 2000, he became the record sale of a player at the club, costing £11million on his arrival at Anfield.
Wes Morgan was earlier in the Black History Month picked as one of the most iconic black players of all time to have appeared in PL as his captaincy of Leicester was noticed globally during that fantastic 2015/16 PL season win.
Black players do carry a proud history at Leicester with Youri Tielemans to date being the most expensive player ever to be signed with a fee of £40million paid to Monaco in 2019. He has been a pivotal player and his winning goal in the 2021 FA Cup final vs. Chelsea stands out as that one very special moment.
Would also like to mention Tony James who became a special man when his goal vs. Oxford did see Leicester avoid relegation to the third tier back in 1991.
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