Enderby Town F.C.

Leicester United Football Club is an English football team based in the East Midlands city of Leicester, Leicestershire. They were originally formed in 1900, as Enderby Town. For many years, they were the second top side in Leicestershire. The highest the club finished was 8th in the Southern League Premier Division in 1987–88. The Southern League Premier Division at that time was the 6th tier of English football.

They were wound up in 1996, four years away from their centenary.

In March 2023 Steven Eljay (Real Name Michael Stevenson), Alan Hopkins, Kym Paling and Netty Stevenson backed by Scott Moore and The Richard Moore Sports Community Interest Company reignited the club from the ashes in an attempt to bring the club back to its former glory days starting with the Grassroots Junior Section in the 2023/24 Season with the Community at the heart of its ethos.

History

In 1900 a group of quarry workers founded Enderby Town Football Club.

The secretary was a Sunderland supporter and he was determined the club should wear the colours of his favourite team, red and white stripes.

The club's first ground was at George Street, Enderby. Town established itself in local minor leagues before moving up to the Leicestershire Senior League.
After winning Division 2 in 1958-59 the club became a dominant force in the 1960s, winning the Division One title three times and also lifting the Leicestershire Senior Cup on three occasions.

The club moved into the East Midlands Regional League in the 1970–71 season, winning the league and cup double in their first season and retaining the league title in their second.

In 1972 the club was elected to the Southern League to replace Hereford United, who had been promoted to the Football League Division 4. The next 11 years saw them achieve six top ten finishes. The Leicestershire Senior Cup was won again in 1972-73 and 1978–79.

The 1980s saw a change in fortune, the club being relegated from the Premier Division in 1982-83, after which the club moved to a new ground, United Park, in Winchester Road, Blaby. At the same time their name was changed to Leicester United. Form continued to decline and United finished bottom of the Midland Division in 1984–85.

After finishing Midland Division runners-up in 1986-87, United achieved promotion back to the Premier Division and achieved another top ten finish the following season. The next season they were relegated back to the Midkland Division.

FA Cup runs

The club's best FA Cup run came in the 1977–78 season (as Enderby Town) where they reached the 1st Round proper of the competition. They lost 6–1 away to AP Leamington in that round.

In 1986–87, they played their only ever 'home' match at the home stadium of local rivals Leicester City. It was an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round Replay in which United beat North Ferriby United 4–2.

The club's last FA Cup tie was a 5–2 away defeat to Bilston Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round in the 1995–96 season.

2023 - Onwards

In 2023 after several years in the pipeline finally March 2023 saw Michael Stevenson (AKA Steven Eljay) supported by Alan Hopkins, Kym Paling and Netty Stevenson and backed by Scott Moore and The Richard Moore Sports Community Interest Company reignite the club from the ashes in an attempt to bring the club back to its former glory days starting with the Grassroots Junior Section in the 2023/24 Season with the Community at the heart of its ethos.

The club will maintain the club's original Red and White Stripes and the new club badge maintains the Red and White Elements, Close to the original shape and as a community club maintained the presence of a fox.

As of May 2025 the club has close to 18 youth teams on both the male and female pathway and now offers senior football and full pathway. The club are also establishing as a Mental Health Friendly Club, Inclusive Club and Blind and Deaf Football advocate on its push to offer sport to all areas of the community.

In 2025 the club made Blaby Road Park their club home and will be working on improvements over the coming 12 months. For the 2025/26 season our Men's First Team will play their home games at Holmes Park, Whetstone.

Club honours & records

Enderby Town FC

*Best FA Cup performance: First round, 1977–78
*Best FA Trophy performance: Third round, 1978–79 (replay)
*Leicestershire Senior League Division Two Champions 1956-57
*Leicestershire Senior League Champions 1962-63, 1964-65, 1966-67

Leicester United FC

*Best FA Cup performance: Third qualifying round, 1988–89 (replay), 1990–91, 1995–96
*Best FA Trophy performance: Second round, 1988–89

League record

In their final season before being dissolved, 1995–96, they finished 16th in the Southern League Midlands Division. They went out of business just a few games into the start of the 1996–97 season due to financial problems, one of their final games being a victory over Grantham Town.

Upon their return to senior football they competed in the Leicestershire Everards Senior League Division 2 with the unfortunate record of 24 losses from 24 games (unconfirmed record).
The women's First team finished 10th in the Leicestershire Women's & Girls' Football League Division 2.

See also

* Leicester United F.C. players
* Enderby Town Football Club Ltd v The Football Association Ltd

References

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Association football clubs established in 1900
Association football clubs disestablished in 1996
Sport in Leicester
Defunct football clubs in England
Leicester City Football League
Leicestershire Senior League
Southern Football League clubs
1900 establishments in England
1996 disestablishments in England
East Midlands Regional League
Defunct football clubs in Leicestershire