2009–10 Leicester City F.C. season


The 2009–10 season was Leicester City F.C.'s 105th season in the English football league system and their 58th in the second tier of English football. It was their first season back in the Championship after promotion from League One as champions in 2008–09. It was also the club's 125th anniversary season.
Having just been promoted, Nigel Pearson's side surprised many by spending most of the season in the play-offs. They eventually finished fifth, reaching the play-offs. This was considered an impressive finish and a stride forward by many, considering Leicester were relegated from the same division two seasons previously. They eventually lost out in the play-off semi-finals to Cardiff City on a penalty shoot-out.

Pre-season

After winning League One by seven points, manager Nigel Pearson sought to strengthen the squad ahead of the Championship campaign. 2008–09 loanees Jack Hobbs and Wayne Brown were quickly signed on permanent deals from Liverpool and Hull City respectively. Veterans Barry Hayles, Bruno N'Gotty, Paul Henderson, Patrick Kisnorbo and Marc Edworthy were released at the end of their contracts. The Foxes further added to their squad with the captures of goalkeeper Chris Weale, defender Robbie Neilson and midfielders Richie Wellens and Dany N'Guessan. However, the forward line remained unreinforced until 19-year-old Martyn Waghorn arrived on loan from Sunderland just before the opening game against Swansea City.
Joe Mattock, part of the England squad for the European U-19 Championships, handed in a transfer request just 48 hours before the first match of the season. He eventually moved to fellow Championship club West Bromwich Albion for an undisclosed fee.

Kit and sponsorship

Leicester City's home kit for the 2009–10 season was unveiled before the final home game of 2008–09 against Scunthorpe United. To mark the 125th anniversary of the club's founding in 1884, the design of the front of the shirt had earlier been put to an online vote, with the fans deciding to keep the home shirt blank and sponsorless. A special badge was created for this kit, to be used for one season only.
The blue and black design of the away kit mirrors the shirts worn in the club's first game in 1884. It is branded with the logo of LOROS, a charity providing hospice care in Leicestershire. The charity will receive a percentage of the sale price of each shirt sold from their shops.
Both strips are manufactured by Joma, following the expiration of the club's previous deal with Jako.

Friendlies

After reporting back for pre-season training on 1 July, the club remained unbeaten through six pre-season games:

Record

2009–10 was Leicester City's 58th season at the second tier of English football. Their record of winning the division on six occasions is second only to Manchester City. Prior to the 2009–10 season, their record at this level was:
Champions61924–25, 1936–37, 1953–54, 1956–57, 1970–71, 1979–80
Automatic promotion31907–08, 1982–83, 2002–03
Promotion play-off winners21994, 1996
Promotion play-off runners-up21992, 1993
Top half19
Bottom half24
Relegated1

Players

2009–10 squad

Transfers

In

Out

Loans in

Loans out

Results

Football League Championship">2009-10 Football League Championship">Football League Championship

GameDateVenueOpponentsScoreScorersAttendancePointsPositionReportNotes
18 August 2009HomeSwansea City2–1Waghorn 69', N'Guessan 72'26,17133rd
215 August 2009AwayIpswich Town0–022,45446th
318 August 2009AwaySheffield United1–1Fryatt 52'26,06958th
422 August 2009HomeBarnsley1–0Fryatt 54'21,79985th
531 August 2009AwayNewcastle United0–138,81389thLive on Sky Sports
612 September 2009HomeBlackpool2–1Fryatt 26', 58'22,827116th-
715 September 2009HomePeterborough United1–1Fryatt 47 '21,485127th-
819 September 2009AwayWatford3–3Fryatt 20', 40', N'Guessan 90+1'14,647139th-
926 September 2009HomePreston North End1–2Berner 90'20,6231310th-
1029 September 2009AwayMiddlesbrough1–0Dyer 83'18,577168th
114 October 2009AwayCoventry City1–1Waghorn 71'22,209175thM69 Derby
1217 October 2009HomeDerby County0–028,875188th-
1320 October 2009HomeCrystal Palace2–0Gallagher 59', 81'22,220218th-
1426 October 2009AwayReading1–0Waghorn 45'16,192245thLive on Sky Sports
1530 October 2009AwayQueens Park Rangers2–1Fryatt 37', 64'17,082272ndLive on Sky Sports
167 November 2009HomeWest Bromwich Albion1–2Berner 90+4'28,748276th-
1721 November 2009HomePlymouth Argyle1–0King 90+4'27,174303rd-
1828 November 2009AwayScunthorpe United1–1Waghorn 3'6,884313rd-
195 December 2009AwayNottingham Forest1–5Waghorn 64' 28,626314th-
208 December 2009HomeBristol City1–3Fryatt 90+3'19,394317th-
2112 December 2009HomeSheffield Wednesday3–0Howard 8', King 25', 73'22,236344th-
–19 December 2009AwayCardiff CityP–P–––Match postponed due to frozen pitch
2226 December 2009HomeSheffield United2–1Morrison 23', Fryatt 37'23,999374thLive on Sky Sports
–28 December 2009AwayDoncaster RoversP–P–––Match postponed due to frozen pitch
2310 January 2010HomeIpswich Town1–1Howard 38'20,758385thLive on Sky Sports
2416 January 2010AwaySwansea City0–115,037387th
2526 January 2010AwayBarnsley0–112,065388th
2630 January 2010HomeNewcastle United0–029,067398thLive on Sky Sports
276 February 2010AwayBlackpool2–1N'Guessan 15', Dyer 78'8,484426th
289 February 2010HomeDoncaster Rovers0–018,928436th
2913 February 2010HomeScunthorpe United5–1Morrison 6', Gallagher 16', 25', 73', Waghorn 34'21,626466th
3016 February 2010AwayBristol City1–1Dyer 90+2'13,746476th
3120 February 2010AwayPlymouth Argyle1–1o.g. 32'11,581486th
3223 February 2010AwayDoncaster Rovers1–0Waghorn 12'11,027515th
3327 February 2010HomeNottingham Forest3–0Berner 68', Gallagher 79', King 81'31,759545th
346 March 2010AwaySheffield Wednesday0–221,647545th
3513 March 2010HomeCardiff City1–0Waghorn 29'22,767575th
3617 March 2010AwayCrystal Palace1–0Berner 53'12,721604th
3721 March 2010HomeCoventry City2–2King 4', 19'23,093614thM69 Derby, Live on BBC
3824 March 2010HomeReading1–2Waghorn 40'20,108614th
3927 March 2010AwayDerby County0–130,259616th
4030 March 2010AwayCardiff City1–2Howard 52'20,438616th
412 April 2010AwayWest Bromwich Albion0–323,334616thLive on Sky Sports
425 April 2010HomeQueens Park Rangers4–0King 5', Waghorn 45', 50', Howard 78'22,079646th
4310 April 2010AwayPeterborough United2–1Howard 40', King 66'9,651675th-
4417 April 2010HomeWatford4–1Waghorn 36', Gallagher 41', Spearing 51', Vaughan 67'24,765705th-
4524 April 2010AwayPreston North End1–0King 63'14,926735th-
462 May 2010HomeMiddlesbrough2–0Kermorgant 41', Wellens 86' 30,223765th-

Football League Championship play-offs">Football League Championship play-offs#2010">Football League Championship play-offs

RoundDateVenueOpponentsScoreAgg.ScorersAttendanceReportNotes
SF19 May 2010HomeCardiff City0–10–129,165Live on Sky Sports
SF212 May 2010AwayCardiff City3–2 3–3Fryatt 25', o.g. 36', King 49'26,033Leicester lost 3–4 on penalties. Live on Sky Sports

FA Cup">2009-10 FA Cup">FA Cup

RoundDateVenueOpponentsScoreScorersAttendanceReportNotes
32 January 2010HomeSwansea City2–1King 39', N'Guessan 89'12,307
423 January 2010AwayCardiff City2–4Morrison 34', N'Guessan 39'10,961

League Cup">2009-10 Football League Cup">League Cup

RoundDateVenueOpponentsScoreScorersAttendanceReportNotes
112 August 2009AwayMacclesfield Town2–0N'Guessan 58', Fryatt 71'2,197
225 August 2009AwayPreston North End1–2Adams 6'6,977

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 Jack Hobbs
Young Player of the Season Martyn Waghorn
Player' Player of the Season Jack Hobbs and Andy King
Supporters' Club Player of the Season Jack Hobbs
Academy Player of the Season Elliott Chamberlain
Goal of the Season Paul Gallagher

Divisional awards

Championship statistics

Championship table

Club standings

Club statistics

Appearances

Note:
The following players have been named in the most starting line-ups. This line-up may differ from the list of players with most appearances.
No.Nat.PositionNameStarts
1GKChris Weale51
4DFMichael Morrison34
25DFJack Hobbs49
6DFWayne Brown39
15DFBruno Berner36
8MFMatt Oakley41
10MFAndy King41
19MFRichie Wellens46
24FWPaul Gallagher35
12FWMatty Fryatt30
18FWMartyn Waghorn29

Top scorers

Most assists

Disciplinary record

All Stats obtained from