Leicestershire historian makes appeal to uncover details of 19th century football in Ashby

A Leicestershire sports historian is seeking information about the origins of football in Ashby.

Nigel Freestone is working with Leicester City, archivist John Hutchinson, to compile the history of the game in Leicestershire during the 19th century.

But Nigel has contacted Ashby Nub News with a view to tracing the role played by the town's football teams - spanning almost a century and a half.

He said: "Ashby FC played in the first reported game of association football in Leicestershire in 1875.

"I would greatly appreciate any help you and your readers could provide regarding the development of football in the Ashby district in the 19th century.

"In particular, I am interested in Ashby FC, Our Boys FC, the rules played by Ashby Grammar School, the location of football grounds, clubs' colours, minutes of football club meetings, financial statements, Leicestershire Football Association league handbooks, photographs etc."

Nigel says that, to date, more than 10,000 match results/newspaper reports have been collated which will form part of a free online Leicestershire Football Archive which aims to go live later this year.

That will permit visitors to the website to:

• Explore the incident-packed, controversial and at times farcical history of local cup and league competitions in addition to Leicestershire football successes and failures nationally

• Discover stories about football clubs and players from your village/town or the area of Leicester where you live

• Learn about and wince at the accidents and injuries sustained by players and the strange and bizarre incidents that occurred throughout the history of football in Leicestershire

• Celebrate the results and achievements of Leicestershire teams past and present and read match reports exactly as they appeared in print at the time, that bring football of forgotten eras back to life

• Create and Contribute items to the archive & become a storyteller by sharing your footballing memories

• Participate in on-line discussions and research projects

Nigel can be contacted at [email protected].