2008–09 Leicester City F.C. season

104th season in existence of Leicester City March 2025 March 2014 February 2020 Leicester City 2008–09 Nigel Pearson Milan Mandarić Walkers Stadium Football League One 1st FA Cup Third round League Cup Second round Football League Trophy Northern quarter-final Matty Fryatt (27) Matty Fryatt (32) 30,542 (vs. Scunthorpe, league, 24 April) 7,386 (vs. Stockport, League Cup, 12 August) 20,253 _whiteshoulders _whiteshoulders _whitebottom 2B55DB 2B55DB 2B55DB 2B55DB 2B55DB _whitesleevelinesandsidesthick 3c3d7e f0e841 f0e841 3c3d7e f0e841 _blueborder _blueshoulders _blueborder 000000 000000 000000 000000 000000 2007–08 2009–10 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. 1 AUS GK Paul Henderson 2 ENG DF Marc Edworthy 3 AUS DF Patrick Kisnorbo 4 ENG DF Kerrea Gilbert on loan from Arsenal 5 BUL DF Aleksandar Tunchev 6 ENG MF Stephen Clemence captain 7 ENG MF Tom Cleverley on loan from Manchester United 8 ENG MF Matthew Oakley vice-captain 9 SCO FW Steve Howard 10 ENG FW DJ Campbell 11 ENG MF Lloyd Dyer 12 ENG FW Matty Fryatt 13 IRL GK Conrad Logan 14 AUS MF James Wesolowski 15 ENG DF Michael Morrison 16 WAL MF Nicky Adams 17 FRA DF Bruno Ngotty 18 ENG MF Levi Porter 19 JAM FW Barry Hayles 20 ENG DF Harry Worley 21 ENG FW Ashley Chambers 22 CIV MF Max Gradel 23 ENG DF Joe Mattock 24 WAL MF Andy King 25 ENG DF Jack Hobbs on loan from Liverpool 26 ENG GK David Martin on loan from Liverpool 27 SCO FW Paul Dickov 28 ENG DF Luke O'Neill 29 ENG DF Chris Powell 30 ENG FW Craig King 31 SUI DF Bruno Berner 32 AUS GK Alex Cisak 34 ENG MF Aman Verma 35 ENG GK Carl Pentney 36 ENG DF Wayne Brown on loan from Hull City 37 ENG GK David Stockdale on loan from Fulham 38 TRI GK Tony Warner on loan from Hull City 39 SWE MF Astrit Ajdarević on loan from Liverpool 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 https://web.archive.org/web/20251206051542/https://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1337088,00.html 6 December 2025 on 1 July 2008. They played the following Friendlies: 1 12 July 2008 Hinckley United 4–5 (Report) Leicester City Murphy Webster Howard Adams Gradel Fryatt Chambers Hinckley Marsdon's Stadium 3,231 W 2 16 July 2008 Olimpija Ljubljana 2–2 (Report) Leicester City Rudonja O.G Fryatt Campbell Slovenia D 3 22 July 2008 Luton Town 1–1 (Report) Leicester City Spring Dyer Luton Kenilworth Road 1,934 K Friend D 4 24 July 2008 Quorn 4–8 (Report) Leicester City XI Jenkins Hearn Turner Malenovic (Trialist) Sappleton (p) Odhiambo King McKay Quorn W 5 26 July 2008 Kettering Town 1–4 (Report) Leicester City Solkhan Fryatt Adams Campbell Kettering Rockingham Road A Woolmer W 6 29 July 2008 Leicester City 2–3 (Report) Birmingham City Fryatt Porter Larsson Phillips Leicester Walkers Stadium 6,354 T Kettle L 7 30 July 2008 Ilkeston Town 2–4 (Report) Leicester City XI Howell King McKay Porter Ilkeston New Manor Ground 431 W 8 2 August 2008 Crystal Palace 1–1 (Report) Leicester City Moses Oakley London Selhurst Park 1,993 P Crossley D Transfers In Date Pos. Nat. Name From Fee1 July 20082008-07-01 Leicester complete triple swoop http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7482922.stm 2025-03-15 BBC Sport en-GBDFENGMichael MorrisonENG Cambridge UnitedUndisclosed1 July 2008MFENGLloyd DyerENG Milton Keynes DonsFree1 July 2008MFWALNicky AdamsENG Bury£100,0007 July 20082008-07-07 Bulgarian Tunchev joins Leicester http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7492771.stm 2025-03-15 BBC Sport en-GBDFBULAleksander TunchevBUL CSKA Sofia£850,0007 August 20082008-08-08 Dickov returns to Leicester City http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7548718.stm 2025-03-15 BBC Sport en-GBFWSCOPaul DickovENG Manchester CityFree23 August 20082008-08-27 Powell signing pleases Pearson http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/7584128.stm 2025-03-15 BBC Sport en-GBDFENGChris PowellENG Charlton AthleticFree Out Date Pos. Nat. Name To Fee1 July 2008DFNIRGareth McAuleyENG Ipswich TownUndisclosed1 July 2008DFENGRichard StearmanENG Wolverhampton WanderersUndisclosed1 July 2008FWCANIain HumeENG Barnsley£1,200,0001 July 2008GKSCORab DouglasSCO DundeeFree1 July 2008DFIREAlan SheehanENG Leeds UnitedFree21 July 2008MFENGLouis DoddsENG Port ValeFree30 July 2008MFNEDSergio HellingsNED K.V.C. WesterloFree5 August 2008DFENGJames ChambersENG Doncaster RoversFree19 December 2008DFBULRadostin KishishevBUL PFC Litex LovechFree30 January 2009FWENGEric OdhiamboSCO Inverness Caledonian ThistleFree Loans in Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From10 July 2008End of seasonDFENGKerrea GilbertENG Arsenal1 August 2008End of seasonDFENGJack HobbsENG Liverpool4 August 2008End of seasonGKENGDavid MartinENG Liverpool27 November 200826 January 2009MFENGMark DaviesENG Wolverhampton Wanderers17 January 2009End of seasonMFENGTom CleverleyENG Manchester United30 January 2009End of seasonDFENGWayne BrownENG Hull City16 February 20091 March 2009GKENGMark BunnENG Blackburn Rovers3 March 2009End of seasonGKENGDavid StockdaleENG Fulham13 March 2009End of seasonGKTRITony WarnerENG Hull City26 March 2009End of seasonMFSWEAstrit AjdarevicENG Liverpool Loans out Date from Date to Pos. Nat. Name From12 August 200812 September 2008FWJAMRicky SappletonENG Bournemouth12 August 200812 October 2008FWJAMBarry HaylesENG Cheltenham Town21 August 20081 January 2009GKIREConrad LoganENG Luton Town18 September 200823 November 2009MFENGHarry WorleyENG Luton Town26 September 20082 November 2008MFFRABruno NgottyENG Hereford United2 October 20082 November 2008MFAUSJames WesolowskiENG Cheltenham Town20 October 200820 November 2008DFENGLathaniel Rowe-TurnerENG Cheltenham Town23 October 200823 November 2008GKENGCarl PentneyENG Woking24 October 20081 February 2009MFENGJonathan HayesENG Cheltenham Town27 November 200827 December 2008FWENGEric OdhiamboENG Brentford27 November 200831 December 2008FWJAMBarry HaylesENG Cheltenham Town1 January 2009End of seasonFWJAMRicky SappletonENG Oxford United8 January 2009End of seasonFWENGDJ CampbellENG Blackpool19 January 2009End of seasonMFWALNicky AdamsENG Rochdale3 February 2009End of seasonMFAUSJames WesolowskiSCO Dundee United27 March 2009End of seasonGKIREConrad LoganENG 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 SCO Steve HowardYoung Player of the Season Award WAL Andy KingPlayers' Player of the Season Award ENG Matty FryattSupporters' Club Player of the Season Award ENG Matty FryattAcademy Player of the Season Award IRE Cian BolgerGoal of the Season Award ENG Matt Oakley vs Cheltenham Town (7.3.2009) Divisional awards DateAwardWinnerAugust 2008League One Manager of the MonthENG Nigel PearsonDecember 2008League One Manager of the MonthENG Nigel PearsonDecember 2008League One Player of the MonthENG Matty Fryatt SeasonLeague One Player of the YearENG Matty Fryatt SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the YearENG Jack Hobbs SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the YearENG Matt Oakley SeasonLeague One PFA Team of the YearENG Matty Fryatt League One statistics League One table thumb|Leicester celebrate their promotion as champions of League One with a win at Southend. LEI Club standings 13 9 1 41 16 14 6 3 43 23 2 May 2009 LCFC League One Results December 2010 Club statistics Appearances No.Nat.NameFL1CupsTotal 1AUSPaul Henderson 6 4 10 2ENGMarc Edworthy 5 3 8 3AUSPatrick Kisnorbo 5 (3) 2 7 (3) 4ENGKerrea Gilbert 33 (1) 4 (1) 37 (2) 5BULAleksander Tunchev 19 (1) 6 25 (1) 7BULRadostin Kishishev 0 1 1 7ENGTom Cleverley 10 (5) 0 10 (5) 8ENGMatt Oakley 45 3 48 9SCOSteve Howard 40 (1) 9 (1) 49 (2) 10ENGDJ Campbell 2 (5) 1 (3) 3 (8) 11ENGLloyd Dyer 43 (1) 7 50 (1) 12ENGMatty Fryatt 46 4 (2) 50 (2) 14AUSJames Wesolowski 0 4 4 15ENGMichael Morrison 32 (3) 6 (2) 38 (5) 16WALNicky Adams 4 (8) 5 (1) 9 (9) 18ENGLevi Porter 1 0 (1) 1 (1) 19JAMBarry Hayles 1 (9) 1 2 (9) 21ENGAshley Chambers 0 (1) 0 (2) 0 (3) 22CIVMax Gradel 16 (11) 3 (2) 19 (13) 23ENGJoe Mattock 25 (6) 5 30 (6) 24WALAndy King 45 8 (1) 53 (1) 25ENGJack Hobbs 39 (5) 5 44 (5) 26ENGDavid Martin 25 5 30 27SCOPaul Dickov 4 (16) 3 (3) 7 (19) 28ENGLuke O'Neill 0 1 1 29ENGChris Powell 12 (5) 3 (2) 15 (7) 30ENGCraig King 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 31SWIBruno Berner 21 (11) 5 (1) 26 (12) 33ENGMark Davies 5 (2) 1 (1) 6 (3) 33ENGMark Bunn 3 0 3 35ENGCarl Pentney 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 36ENGWayne Brown 7 (2) 0 7 (2) 37ENGDavid Stockdale 8 0 8 38TRITony Warner 4 0 4 39SWEAstrit 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.PlayerFL1CupsTotal1ENGMatty Fryatt275322SCOSteve Howard132153WALAndy King92114ENGLloyd Dyer101115ENGMatt Oakley8086SCOPaul Dickov213=ENGMichael Morrison303=SWIBruno Berner3039ENGTom Cleverley202=CIVMax Gradel11211ENGJoe Mattock101=ENGMark Davies101=ENGJack Hobbs101=WALNicky Adams011=BULAleksandar Tunchev101=ENGKerrea Gilbert101 Most assists Pos.Nat.PlayerFL1CupsTotal1SCOSteve Howard140142ENGLloyd Dyer91103ENGMatty Fryatt8194CIVMax Gradel6175ENGMatt Oakley6066WALAndy King4157WALNicky Adams3148ENGTom Cleverley303=ENGJack Hobbs303=SCOPaul Dickov21311ENGJoe Mattock11212ENGAshley Chambers011=AUSJames Wesolowski011=ENGDJ Campbell011=ENGMark Davies101=JAMBarry Hayles101 Disciplinary record Nat.PlayerENGJack Hobbs21SCOSteve Howard100CIVMax Gradel70ENGMatty Fryatt60SWIBruno Berner40ENGMatt Oakley40ENGMichael Morrison40BULAleksandar Tunchev30SCOPaul Dickov30ENGJoe Mattock30JAMBarry Hayles30WALNicky Adams20ENGKerrea Gilbert20WALAndy King20ENGLloyd Dyer20ENGMark Davies20ENGChris Powell10ENGTom Cleverley10ENGWayne Brown10 All Stats obtained from LCFC.com References Category:Leicester City F.C. seasons Leicester City