Ali Mauchlen played for Leicester from 1985 to 1992. Mauchlen appeared in 273 competitive games for the football club.
His in depth and lively answers to our questions should be an interesting read. This interview was earlier published in the fourth issue of The “Scandinavian” Fox. A 40 page digital newsletter special, in Norwegian language, send out to LCSCSB members this December.
Ali Mauchlen had an interesting career in professional football over three decades, starting his journey at Kilmarnock and Motherwell in the 70’s and 80’s, before moving to Leicester, being here from 85 to 92. A hard working and honest midfielder as a player, who later in life returned to the Leicester area, as he continued in non-league and later being part of the Leicester City family, working in different roles at the football club.
The interview and talk in print,
Morning Gents, Please see my answers to the questions,
From your time in Scottish football at Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hearts, who were the best players you played with, and who were your most difficult opponents, if you can mention two or three in both categories from life at those three clubs?
Danny McGrain – Celtic
Kilmarnock – best, Alan McCullock, Derek McDicken, Stuart McLean.
Opposition – Paul Sturrock, (Dundee Utd), Bobby Russell (Rangers ), Peter Weir (Aberdeen).
Motherwell – best, Brian McClair, Tom Boyd, Andy Walker
Opposition – Paul McStay (Celtic), Davie Cooper (Rangers), Danny McGrain (Celtic).
Hearts – best , John Robertson, Craig Levein, Alan McLaren.
Who were the most important people helping you on the path to become a professional footballer and why did you join Kilmarnock, was it other options in those early days?
It would need to be my Dad, very supportive & with such a large family to look after he dedicated a lot of his time encouraging and taking me to venues to make sure I had the best opportunity to succeed even when times were tough. I joined Kilmarnock after trials with Queen of the South, Morton, and Sheffield United. It felt right and Kilmarnock were my nearest Pro Club.
You were signed by Jock Wallace when joining Motherwell, previously a manager at Leicester, how will you describe him as a person and manager, in relation to how managers tends to work today, having a bit of hard pre-season sessions as his specials?
Jock Wallace is a certain type of manager never to be witnessed ever again, he was all about team spirit, moral, and togetherness. A tough but fair no nonsense man . The other side of Jock was an honest , sincere, generous individual. His training sessions were physical, intense, and the sand dunes in North Berwick were hellish 😂
You were signed from Motherwell, a club that has been up in the Scottish top flight all the time since you and Gary McAllister experienced that special 1984/85 promotion season together before moving down to Leicester, you also held Celtic to a replay in the Scottish Cup semi-final, what are your memories from that season, how the move to Leicester happened and feelings regarding the fact that you were leaving a team just being promoted?
1984/85 season was very special as I captained Motherwell to the league title and also the Scottish Cup Semi Final, a game we should have won on the Saturday (finished 1-1). I really felt at home at Motherwell the fans had taken to me and I enjoyed the environment around the club and town. I felt the dressing room had a tremendous togetherness which stood us in great stead when it came to match days. Yes it was a big wrench to leave but the lure of the English 1st Division (which is now the Premier League) was too big a challenge to turn down.
In your first season at Leicester you played 37 league games and you established yourself in the team, how did Gordon Milne, your manager at the time, convince you to join and did he have any thorough talk about your chances at Leicester, if so, what made it so easy for you to take the step from Scottish 2nd tier to English top flight football?
Mauchlen, Milne & McAllister
Signing for Leicester & Gordon Milne was a strange experience as I had been linked with Glasgow Rangers for several weeks building up to Leicester being interested. I believe Gordon played the situation very shrewdly , giving Gary & myself limited time to make our minds up as to whether or not we would take up the offer.
Gordon Milne was one of my favourite Leicester managers, bringing forward the talent of Gary Lineker, Alan Smith, Gary McAllister, Kevin MacDonald, Ian Wilson and also making a number of good signings such as Russell Osman, Bob Hazell and Laurie Cunningham (loan), as his eye for football is well documented as a player and manager. Did you «meet again» in life of football as he gave you the chance to play at top level in England?
Gordon still lives locally and visits the King Power on occasions , I was fortunate enough to bump into him a few months ago and we had a good chat, reminiscing a little as you do.
You played under Milne, Hamilton, Pleat, Lee and Little at Leicester, all of them great personalities in football, what was the similarities and differences between those managers regarding their approach to management and how they influenced you on your time at the club?
Although you say they were great personalities I would tend to put them into categories , Milne, Pleat and Lee were great for me and I could relate to them and what they wanted from me as a player. Hamilton and I never really seen eye to eye and had a few disagreements along the way. Little wanted me out of the club from day one…….enough said.
In 1992 you were at Leeds on loan, during a very special season at that club, in the end winning the 1st division, what was the reason for you moving up there and strangely if you had been given games, could have ended up as a League winner?
The Leeds move corresponds with the Brian Little comment, a swap deal with Simon Grayson was implemented ( a way for Little to get me out of the dressing room) unfortunately I ruptured my stomach in my second Month and had to return to Leicester for an operation which ended my time at Elland Road.
Who was the most funny player you have met in the game, giving you laughs and keeping the dressing room happy?
There have been a few, but one who still makes me smile when I look back is Tony Spearing at LCFC always looking at situations to turn it into a joke.
You returned to the Leicester area after a life in Irish football, working on in relation to the club and in company with John Hutchinson, why did you come back and do you still play on for fun, or when did you play your last regular game of football?
I returned to Leicester and was given the opportunity to work as a Match Day host along with being involved with the LCFC Legends raising money in the community for local Charities. This has now become a Club Ambassador role which has given me a wider range of duties to carry out which has in turn got me involved with Club Historian John Hutchison who I am currently helping transform the archive room/ rooms.
played semi pro until the age of 42 and also played in the Sky Masters until the ripe old age of 50…………no more football in this old body I’m afraid.
How much have Leicester City changed since your playing days compared to now? and what are your thoughts on the team today how they play and what the differences and similarities to the type of football you experienced from your time at the club?
The whole dynamics of football has changed beyond belief, from the Stadiums, training facilities , training routines, player life styles, social media, 24 hour coverage. All I would say is , I’m still happy with the generation I played in, don’t think my personality or style of play would be welcomed in todays game😂
As for the current team, I believe with a fine tweak or two we will be back in the Premier League next season.
Many thanks,
Ali Mauchlen – LCFC
1985/ 1992
Total Games = 273
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