Great stuff from the official site the other day, having interviewed Mark Wallington on his days before, under, and after playing for Leicester. An interesting read from all those years ago, largely remembered with fond memories.
We have over the years also had a few specials and exclusive Q & A with our heroes of the past. One was Carl Jayes, who was the understudy to Mark Wallington.
The route to become a professional footballer can be different for everyone. Mark Wallington and Carl Jayes were the two goalkeepers of Leicester City during a very prominent time. Jayes was seen as the successor of Peter Shilton, coming through at the very young age, but with the arrival of Mark Wallington, signed from Walsall, he had to live with life in the shadows, but adding up more than 200 reserve team games for Leicester, shows the picture. Both later had special careers outside the game. Wallington educated to become a qualified PE teacher. Jayes working in the police force, becoming a detective in the C.I.D.
The Bloomfield Boys were special. We’ve created a page about the core group of players. Jimmy Bloomfield, like many Leicester managers, faced pressure from certain fans that pushed him out, even after finishing 7th in the 1975/76 season and 11th the following season. Some critics felt the team’s performance declined, with many draws in those seasons, but the style of football played during that time has never been matched at the club. Key players like Keith Weller, Frank Worthington, Alan Birchenall, and full-backs Steve Whitworth and Dennis Rofe didn’t return, as they had a unique combination that worked well together.
The blue and white kit, along with the all-white and sometimes red versions, became iconic over the seasons. Admiral kits were fresh and bright, really enhancing everything. I loved it; it made life feel complete.
‘I was Leicester City through and through.’ 🦊
— Leicester City (@LCFC) June 28, 2026
Former Foxes goalkeeper Mark Wallington looks back on his Filbert Street career 🗣️
From our tribute site, you can find all the players and their stories. A free subscription is required, and you need to register your email address. This way, you’ll will also be notified of all new stories published.
A few weeks back we had the pleasure of attending a 50 years aniversiry at Ski IL. They celebrated that game vs. Leicester in May 1976. Jimmy Bloomfield fielded a good eleven with all his best players. Carl Jayes and Mark Wallington both part of the group. Wallington was mentioned by the Ski IL players.
At the party, we got some insider information. Looking back 50 years, a Ski IL player asked Mark Wallington about player salaries and how they were treated. He said his pay was low compared to the star, pointing at Frank Worthington across the table, who is very well-paid. Mark observed that winning games mattered and that playing was a big advantage. So in all not a complain, but still interesting for Norwegian players playing for fun against the professional stars.
Another point from the anniversary reunion was how Leicester players headed the ball. In Norway, headers were often just for clearances or trying to score, but Leicester players used headers as accurate passes and played with greater quality.
Great days of the Bloomfield Boys, Jimmy Bloomfield and everything connected to this special time in Leicester football history.
Leave a Reply