Moray Memories: Gary Lineker’s Leicester City play against Elgin City in 1979
Moray Memories will look back at The Northern Scot archives every Friday, with pictures and articles from events in years gone by in Moray. Can you spot anyone you recognise in any of the pictures? Make sure to join the conversation on our Facebook and tag anyone you recognise in the comments.
On the night that Leicester City manager Jock Wallace officially switched on Borough Briggs' new floodlights, Elgin City celebrated a piece of Highland League history. In April 1979, Elgin completed the transfer of Ian Wilson to English Division Two side Leicester City for a fee of £20,000.
As part of the transfer agreement, Leicester City travelled to Elgin for a friendly match, which took place on Monday, September 17, 1979. At the time, Leicester played their home games at Filbert Street and had no fewer than eight Scottish players in their first team.
• Moray Memories: Joe McFadden opens Thorntons in 1997
• Moray Memories: What did Elgin city centre look like in 1994?
• Moray Memories: Elgin Academy’s opening in 1968-69
• Moray Memories: St Giles Centre’s grand opening in 1991
Before the match, the Grampian Police Pipe Band performed, entertaining the crowd both before kick off and again at half time. Earlier in the evening, they had also played on the town's Plainstones.
Elgin City were presented with new maroon-colored tracksuits by their whisky distilling sponsor, Macdonald and Muir. Elgin City Supporters Club president George Bain presented gifts to two recently married players. Leicester City's Ian Wilson received a carriage clock, while Chico McHardy was given a wireless alarm.
The match drew a crowd of 2,048 spectators and ended in a 1-1 draw. Elgin City took the lead in the 18th minute when a McHardy strike was deflected past the Leicester goalkeeper. However, Leicester responded quickly, equalising through a young Gary Lineker.
Lineker would go on to enjoy an impressive career, playing for Everton, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur. He also scored 48 goals for England and won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup. Today he is best known as the presenter of BBC's Match of the Day.
