The 2008–09 season was Leicester City F.C.'s 104th season in the English football league system and their first season in the third tier of English football, after being relegated to League One the previous season.
Under the stewardship of new manager Nigel Pearson (who managed to become the first Leicester manager in five years to last an entire season), Leicester comfortably took the League One title to earn instant promotion back to the Championship, which included a club record run of 23 games league unbeaten between 1 November and 7 March. Leicester also broke club records for the most points ever gained in a season (96), the most league wins ever gained in a season (27) and the fewest league defeats in a season (4), the latter record especially impressive considering the amount of league seasons Leicester have had to play fewer than 46 games.
Matty Fryatt also became the first Leicester player to score over 30 goals in one season since legendary striker Arthur Rowley, 52 years previously.
Players
2008-09 squad Only includes players given a squad number. The squad listed is the squad which Leicester finished the season with.
Kit and sponsorship
Leicester City retained the previous season's home kit. A yellow away kit and a black third kit were also used.
The kits were produced by German company Jako and sponsored by British company Topps Tiles.
Pre-season friendlies The Leicester City players reported back for Pre-Season on 1 July 2008. They played the following Friendlies:
Transfers
In Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee1 July 2008DFMichael Morrison Cambridge UnitedUndisclosed1 July 2008MFLloyd Dyer Milton Keynes DonsFree1 July 2008MFNicky Adams Bury£100,0007 July 2008DFAleksander Tunchev CSKA Sofia£850,0007 August 2008FWPaul Dickov Manchester CityFree23 August 2008DFChris Powell Charlton AthleticFree
Out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee1 July 2008DFGareth McAuley Ipswich TownUndisclosed1 July 2008DFRichard Stearman Wolverhampton WanderersUndisclosed1 July 2008FWIain Hume Barnsley£1,200,0001 July 2008GKRab Douglas DundeeFree1 July 2008DFAlan Sheehan Leeds UnitedFree21 July 2008MFLouis Dodds Port ValeFree30 July 2008MFSergio Hellings K.V.C. WesterloFree5 August 2008DFJames Chambers Doncaster RoversFree19 December 2008DFRadostin Kishishev PFC Litex LovechFree30 January 2009FWEric Odhiambo Inverness Caledonian ThistleFree
Loans in Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From10 July 2008End of seasonDFKerrea Gilbert Arsenal1 August 2008End of seasonDFJack Hobbs Liverpool4 August 2008End of seasonGKDavid Martin Liverpool27 November 200826 January 2009MFMark Davies Wolverhampton Wanderers17 January 2009End of seasonMFTom Cleverley Manchester United30 January 2009End of seasonDFWayne Brown Hull City16 February 20091 March 2009GKMark Bunn Blackburn Rovers3 March 2009End of seasonGKDavid Stockdale Fulham13 March 2009End of seasonGKTony Warner Hull City26 March 2009End of seasonMFAstrit Ajdarevic Liverpool
Loans out Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From12 August 200812 September 2008FWRicky Sappleton Bournemouth12 August 200812 October 2008FWBarry Hayles Cheltenham Town21 August 20081 January 2009GKConrad Logan Luton Town18 September 200823 November 2009MFHarry Worley Luton Town26 September 20082 November 2008MFBruno Ngotty Hereford United2 October 20082 November 2008MFJames Wesolowski Cheltenham Town20 October 200820 November 2008DFLathaniel Rowe-Turner Cheltenham Town23 October 200823 November 2008GKCarl Pentney Woking24 October 20081 February 2009MFJonathan Hayes Cheltenham Town27 November 200827 December 2008FWEric Odhiambo Brentford27 November 200831 December 2008FWBarry Hayles Cheltenham Town1 January 2009End of seasonFWRicky Sappleton Oxford United8 January 2009End of seasonFWDJ Campbell Blackpool19 January 2009End of seasonMFNicky Adams Rochdale3 February 2009End of seasonMFJames Wesolowski Dundee United27 March 2009End of seasonGKConrad Logan Stockport County
Results
Football League One Leicester City scores given first Game Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Points Position Report 1 9 August 2008 Home Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 Fryatt 24, 83(p)23,35134thLCFC.com 2 16 August 2008 Away Stockport County 0–07,15143rdLCFC.com 3 23 August 2008 Home Tranmere Rovers 3–1 Howard 33, Fryatt 52, 90+417,79872ndLCFC.com 4 30 August 2008 Away Cheltenham Town 4–0 Dyer 3, 80, Oakley 54, Fryatt 775,344101stLCFC.com 5 13 September 2008 Home Millwall 0–119,591106thLCFC.com 6 20 September 2008 Home Leyton Orient 3–1 Dyer 11, Fryatt 87, King 906,448135thLCFC.com 7 27 September 2008 Home Hartlepool United 1–0 Oakley 318,578164thLCFC.com 8 30 September 2008 Away Colchester United 1–0 Dyer 495,133191stLCFC.com 9 4 October 2008 Away Huddersfield Town 3–2 Fryatt 50, 65(p), Dyer 90+116,212221stLCFC.com– 11 October 2008 Home Yeovil Town P–P1–––– 10 18 October 2008 Away Oldham Athletic 1–1 Howard 548,901232ndLCFC.com 11 21 October 2008 Home Walsall 2–2 King 34, Tunchev 7317,178243rdLCFC.com 12 25 October 2008 Home Northampton Town 0–022,795254thLCFC.com 13 28 October 2008 Away Brighton & Hove Albion 2–3 Fryatt 35, 426,282256thLCFC.com 14 1 November 2008 Home Bristol Rovers 2–1 Fryatt 87, 90+418,941285thLCFC.com 15 11 November 2008 Home Yeovil Town 1–0 Dyer 2516,528311stLCFC.com 16 15 November 2008 Away Swindon Town 2–2 Oakley 57, Fryatt 749,499322ndLCFC.com 17 22 November 2008 Away Scunthorpe United 2–1 Dyer 22, King 817,967351stLCFC.com 18 25 November 2008 Home Crewe Alexandra 2–1 Fryatt 15, King 7216,961381stLCFC.com 19 6 December 2008 Home Southend United 3–0 Fryatt 6, 76, 80(p)16,836411stLCFC.com 20 13 December 2008 Away Carlisle United 2–1 King 60, Berner 6927,058441stLCFC.com 21 20 December 2008 Home Peterborough United 4–0 O.G. 6, Fryatt 38, King 70, Howard 9023,390471stLCFC.com 22 26 December 2008 Away Leeds United 1–1 Oakley 2433,580481stLCFC.com 23 28 December 2008 Home Hereford United 2–1 Howard 9, King 7122,920511stLCFC.com 24 10 January 2009 Home Leyton Orient 3–0 Oakley 9, Davies 37, Dickov(p) 8718,240541stLCFC.com 25 19 January 2009 Away Yeovil Town 2–0 Howard 57, Mattock 884,569571stLCFC.com 26 24 January 2009 Home Huddersfield Town 4–2 Morrison 11, Berner 59, Fryatt 63, Hobbs 7321,311601stLCFC.com 27 27 January 2009 Home Brighton & Hove Albion 0–017,410611stLCFC.com 28 31 January 2009 Away Northampton Town 2–1 Howard 21(p), Dyer 737,028641stLCFC.com 29 3 February 2009 Away Walsall 4–1 Fryatt 12, King 34, Cleverley 47, Howard 525,634671stLCFC.com 30 7 February 2009 Home Oldham Athletic 0–022,328681stLCFC.com 31 14 February 2009 Home Swindon Town 1–1 King 8619,926691stLCFC.com 32 17 February 2009 Away Hartlepool United 2–2 Howard 28, 80(p)4,068701stLCFC.com 33 21 February 2009 Away Bristol Rovers 1–0 Fryatt 209,138731stLCFC.com 34 28 February 2009 Away Milton Keynes Dons 2–2 Fryatt 5, Gradel 90+717,717741stLCFC.com 35 3 March 2009 Home Stockport County 1–1 Gilbert 216,378751stLCFC.com 36 7 March 2009 Home Cheltenham Town 4–0 Howard 15, Fryatt 22, Cleverley 67, Oakley 7018,939781stLCFC.com 37 11 March 2009 Away Tranmere Rovers 0–26,032781stLCFC.com 38 14 March 2009 Away Millwall 1–0 Howard 2213,261811stLCFC.com 39 21 March 2009 Home Colchester United 1–1 Dickov 6720,218821stLCFC.com 40 28 March 2009 Away Peterborough United 0–214,110821stLCFC.com 41 4 April 2009 Home Carlisle United 2–2 Oakley 52, Fryatt 8820,159831stLCFC.com 42 11 April 2009 Away Hereford United 3–1 Oakley 35, Dyer 74, Howard 864,389861stLCFC.com 43 13 April 2009 Home Leeds United 1–0 Howard 90+225,507891stLCFC.com 44 18 April 2009 Away Southend United 2–0 Fryatt 60(p), 7010,089921stLCFC.com 45 24 April 2009 Home Scunthorpe United 2–2 Morrison 16, 7730,542931stLCFC.com 46 2 May 2009 Away Crewe Alexandra 3–0 Berner 56, Dyer 66, Fryatt 686,982961stLCFC.com
1 - Match postponed due to International call-ups. 2 - In some match reports, this goal is mistakenly awarded to Mark Davies
FA Cup Leicester City scores given first Round Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Report R18 November 2008 Home Stevenage Borough 3–0 Dyer 37, Fryatt 52, King 69 7,586 LCFC.com R229 November 2008 Home Dagenham & Redbridge 3–2 Fryatt 11, 30(p), 55 7,791 LCFC.com R33 January 2009 Home Crystal Palace 0–0 15,976 LCFC.com R3 Replay3 January 2009 Away Crystal Palace 1–2 Gradel 90+4 6,023 LCFC.com
Football League Cup Leicester City scores given first Round Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Report R112 August 2008 Home Stockport County 1–0 Howard 36 7,386 LCFC.com R227 August 2008 Away Fulham 2–3 Dickov 46, King 48 7,386 LCFC.com
Football League Trophy Leicester City scores given first Round Date Venue Opponents Score Scorers Attendance Report R1 N2 September 2008 Away Hartlepool United 3–0 Howard 52, Adams 66, Fryatt 87 2,807 LCFC.com R2 N23 September 2008 Home Lincoln City 0–01 8,046 LCFC.com QF N4 November 2008 Away Rotherham United 0–2 4,255 LCFC.com
1 Leicester won 3–1 on penalties.
Awards
Club awards At the end of the season, Leicester's annual award ceremony including categories voted for by the players and backroom staff, the supporters and the supporters club, saw the following players recognised for their achievements for the club throughout the 2009–10 season. Player of the Season Award Steve HowardYoung Player of the Season Award Andy KingPlayers' Player of the Season Award Matty FryattSupporters' Club Player of the Season Award Matty FryattAcademy Player of the Season Award Cian BolgerGoal of the Season Award Matt Oakley vs Cheltenham Town (7.3.2009)
Divisional awards DateAwardWinnerAugust 2008League One Manager of the Month Nigel PearsonDecember 2008League One Manager of the Month Nigel PearsonDecember 2008League One Player of the Month Matty Fryatt SeasonLeague One Player of the Year Matty Fryatt SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the Year Jack Hobbs SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the Year Matt Oakley SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the Year Matty Fryatt
League One statistics
League One table
Club standings
Club statistics
Appearances No.Nat.NameFL1CupsTotal 1Paul Henderson 6 4 10 2Marc Edworthy 5 3 8 3Patrick Kisnorbo 5 (3) 2 7 (3) 4Kerrea Gilbert 33 (1) 4 (1) 37 (2) 5Aleksander Tunchev 19 (1) 6 25 (1) 7Radostin Kishishev 0 1 1 7Tom Cleverley 10 (5) 0 10 (5) 8Matt Oakley 45 3 48 9Steve Howard 40 (1) 9 (1) 49 (2) 10DJ Campbell 2 (5) 1 (3) 3 (8) 11Lloyd Dyer 43 (1) 7 50 (1) 12Matty Fryatt 46 4 (2) 50 (2) 14James Wesolowski 0 4 4 15Michael Morrison 32 (3) 6 (2) 38 (5) 16Nicky Adams 4 (8) 5 (1) 9 (9) 18Levi Porter 1 0 (1) 1 (1) 19Barry Hayles 1 (9) 1 2 (9) 21Ashley Chambers 0 (1) 0 (2) 0 (3) 22Max Gradel 16 (11) 3 (2) 19 (13) 23Joe Mattock 25 (6) 5 30 (6) 24Andy King 45 8 (1) 53 (1) 25Jack Hobbs 39 (5) 5 44 (5) 26David Martin 25 5 30 27Paul Dickov 4 (16) 3 (3) 7 (19) 28Luke O'Neill 0 1 1 29Chris Powell 12 (5) 3 (2) 15 (7) 30Craig King 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 31Bruno Berner 21 (11) 5 (1) 26 (12) 33Mark Davies 5 (2) 1 (1) 6 (3) 33Mark Bunn 3 0 3 35Carl Pentney 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 36Wayne Brown 7 (2) 0 7 (2) 37David Stockdale 8 0 8 38Tony Warner 4 0 4 39Astrit Ajdarevic 0 (5) 0 0 (5)
Note: Subs in brackets.
Top scorers Note: In some records, Bruno Berner's goal vs. Carlisle United on 13 December 2008 is mistakenly recorded as being scored by Mark Davies. Pos.Nat.PlayerFL1CupsTotal1Matty Fryatt275322Steve Howard132153Andy King92114Lloyd Dyer101115Matt Oakley8086Paul Dickov213=Michael Morrison303=Bruno Berner3039Tom Cleverley202=Max Gradel11211Joe Mattock101=Mark Davies101=Jack Hobbs101=Nicky Adams011=Aleksandar Tunchev101=Kerrea Gilbert101
Most assists Pos.Nat.PlayerFL1CupsTotal1Steve Howard140142Lloyd Dyer91103Matty Fryatt8194Max Gradel6175Matt Oakley6066Andy King4157Nicky Adams3148Tom Cleverley303=Jack Hobbs303=Paul Dickov21311Joe Mattock11212Ashley Chambers011=James Wesolowski011=DJ Campbell011=Mark Davies101=Barry Hayles101
Disciplinary record