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M69 derby

{{Short description|Association football rivalry}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| name = M69 Derby

| other names =

| image = 300px

| caption = M69 derby at the Ricoh Arena on 23 February 2008, which Coventry won 2–0.

| city or region = Coventry/Leicester (England)

| first contested = Leicester City 1–0 Coventry City
1919–20 Second Division
(27 September 1919)

| teams involved = Coventry City
Leicester City

| most wins = Leicester City (38)

| most player appearances =

| mostrecent = Coventry City 3–1 Leicester City
2023–24 EFL Championship
(13 January 2024)

| nextmeeting =

| total = 88

| series = Leicester City: 38
Draw: 24
Coventry City: 26

| postseason =

| largestvictory = Coventry City 1–8 Leicester City
1964–65 Football League Cup
(1 December 1964)

| stadiums = Coventry Building Society Arena (Coventry City)
King Power Stadium (Leicester City)

| map_location = England Midlands

| map_label1 = Coventry City

| map_mark1 = Blue 00ffff pog.svg

| map_label2 = Leicester City

| map_mark2 = Blue 000080 pog.svg

| coordinates1 = {{coord|52|26|53|N|1|29|44|W|type:landmark_region:GB}}

| coordinates2 = {{Coord|52|37|13|N|1|8|32|W|type:landmark_region:GB}}

}}

The M69 Derby, formerly the A46 Derby{{citationneeded|date=April 2023}}, is a football match played between Coventry City and Leicester City. It takes its name from the motorway that connects the two cities, which are only 24 miles (38 km) apart.

Although neither side is the other club's traditional "arch rival", with Aston Villa considered Coventry's traditional rival and Nottingham Forest as Leicester's, the fixture became increasingly significant between 2001 and 2011 with both clubs' traditional rivals often being in different leagues, and the disillusionment of some Coventry fans with their traditional rivalry with Aston Villa. According to a survey by The Football Pools published in 2008, this fixture is the 26th fiercest rivalry in English football.{{cite web|title=Rivalries League |url=http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/rivalries-league.html |work=www.footballpools.com |publisher=The New Football Pools |access-date=2009-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305004509/http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/rivalries-league.html |archive-date=2008-03-05 }}

However; the rivalry had declined during the 2010’s as Leicester's rise up the leagues and successful period in the top flight, has coincided with Coventry City struggling financially, in-turn resulting into a lower league position in the Football League. Times have changed recently though, as Coventry have risen up the leagues, while Leicester have lost their Premier League status. Following Leicester City’s relegation from the Premier League to the EFL Championship in the 2022-23 season, the M69 derby returned in the 2023–2024 season after an eleven year hiatus. Leicester City won the opening day fixture 2-1 at home, followed by Coventry winning the reverse fixture 3-1.

The derby has on occasion been marred by violence, the most recent in February 2008.{{cite news| title = Eleven held in football violence| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7260710.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2008-02-24| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 26 February 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080226090603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7260710.stm| url-status = live}} Prior to that, another took place in Coventry in October 2004 where police officers were pelted with missiles.{{cite news|title = Police hit with missiles in city|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/3754216.stm|publisher = BBC News|date = 2004-10-18|access-date = 2010-02-09|archive-date = 4 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000621/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/3754216.stm|url-status = live}}

Statistics

The first fixture between the two clubs was a Second Division game on 27 September 1919 and resulted in a 1–0 win for Leicester. The biggest victory resulted in an 8–1 to Leicester in the League Cup at Highfield Road on 4 December 1964. Coventry have been heavily beaten on two other occasions at Filbert Street, with both matches ending in a 5–1 win for Leicester. The first was in 1924–25, when Arthur Chandler scored a hat-trick, and in 1984–85, when Gary Lineker scored a brace.{{cite news| title = Head To Head: Coventry| url = http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1212967,00.html| publisher = LCFC.com| date = 2008-01-11| access-date = 2008-10-26| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080417101812/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1212967%2C00.html| archive-date = 17 April 2008| url-status = dead}}

While Leicester is undefeated on their current home turf, this ended for Coventry when they lost 1–0 at the Ricoh Arena on 6 August 2011. Coventry were in the Premier League when they last won at Leicester on 7 April 2001, in a 3–1 win.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

!

! Coventry wins

! Draws

! Leicester wins

League

| 24

2237
FA Cup

| 2

10
League Cup

| 0

01
Total

! 26

2338

Game list (since 1984)

File:Ben Alnwick, Joe Mattock & Zsolt Laczkó.jpg on 12 January 2008, which Leicester won 2–0.]]

File:Penalty Alnwick.jpg scores a penalty against Leicester on 23 February 2008.]]

The most recent game resulted in a 3–1 win for Coventry at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

::{{legend2|skyblue|Coventry City win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{pad|2em}}{{legend2|blue|Leicester City win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{pad|2em}}{{legend2|gray|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{pad|2em}}

class="toccolours sortable" style="border-collapse:collapse; margin-left:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0
Date

! Competition

! Stadium

! Score

! width=29% | Leicester scorers

! width=29% | Coventry scorers

! Attendance

! Ref

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to Championship 2024–25
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester promoted to Premier League 2023–24
13 Jan 2024

| Championship

| Coventry Building Society Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:skyblue;" |3–1

| Dewsbury-Hall (pen); (Fatawu sent off)

| O'Hare (2), van Ewijk

| 29,914

|{{cite news |date=13 Jan 2024 |title=Coventry City 3-1 Leicester City - Callum O'Hare nets twice in Sky Blues win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67899892 |access-date=13 Jan 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

6 Aug 2023

| Championship

| King Power Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |2–1

| Dewsbury-Hall (2)

| McFadzean

| 31,763

|{{cite news|title = Coventry 3-1 Leicester - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scores two late goals to snatch victory|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66352123|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 6 Aug 2023|access-date = 6 Aug 2023}}

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to Championship 2022–23
align="center" colspan="9"|Coventry promoted to Championship 2019–20
align="center" colspan="9"|Coventry promoted to League One 2017–18
align="center" colspan="9"|Coventry relegated to League Two 2016–17
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester promoted to Premier League 2013–14
align="center" colspan="9"|Coventry relegated to League One 2011–12
3 Mar 2012

| Championship

| King Power Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |2–0

| Nugent, Beckford; (Konchesky sent off)

|

| 25,487

|{{cite news|title = Leicester 2–0 Coventry (2012)|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17163085|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 3 Mar 2012|access-date = 4 Mar 2012|archive-date = 4 March 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120304204957/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17163085|url-status = live}}

6 Aug 2011

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |0–1

| Peltier

|

| 21,102

|{{cite news|title = Coventry 0 – 1 Leicester|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14352025.stm|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 6 Aug 2011|access-date = 6 Aug 2011|archive-date = 20 August 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110820190814/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14352025.stm|url-status = live}}

26 Feb 2011

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" |1–1

| Naughton

| King

| 25,356

|{{cite news|title = Leicester 1–1 Coventry (2011)|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9404988.stm|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 26 Feb 2011|access-date = 27 Feb 2011|archive-date = 28 February 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110228063530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9404988.stm|url-status = live}}

11 Sept 2010

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" |1–1

| King

| Platt

| 20,060

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 1–1 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8977694.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2010-09-11| access-date = 2010-09-12| archive-date = 13 September 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100913051335/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8977694.stm| url-status = live}}

21 Mar 2010

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" |2–2

| King (2)

| McPake, Deegan

| 23,093

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 2–2 Coventry| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8571179.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2010-03-21| access-date = 2010-03-22| archive-date = 22 March 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100322054303/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8571179.stm| url-status = live}}

3 Oct 2009

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 1–1

| Waghorn

| Clingan

| 22,209

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 1 – 1 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8269761.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2009-10-03| access-date = 2009-10-03| archive-date = 5 October 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091005100335/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8269761.stm| url-status = live}}

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester promoted to Championship 2008–09
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to League One 2007–08
23 Feb 2008

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" |2–0

|

| Ward (pen), Best

| 23,129

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 2–0 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7248330.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2008-02-23| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 25 February 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080225231402/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7248330.stm| url-status = live}}

12 Jan 2008

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |2–0

| Howard, Hayles

|

| 23,905

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 2–0 Coventry| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7172833.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2008-01-12| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 15 January 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115134446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7172833.stm| url-status = live}}

17 Feb 2007

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |3–0

| Horsfield (2), Johnson

|

| 25,816

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 3–0 Coventry (2007)| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/02/17/lcfc_coventry_home_17feb2007_result.shtml| publisher = BBC Home| date = 2007-02-19| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 21 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070221205910/http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2007/02/17/lcfc_coventry_home_17feb2007_result.shtml| url-status = live}}

18 Aug 2006

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" |0–0

|

|

| 20,261

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 0–0 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4786387.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2006-08-16| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 4 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134939/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4786387.stm| url-status = live}}

17 Apr 2006

| Championship

| Ricoh Arena

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" |1–1

| Stearman; (Kisnorbo sent off)

| John

| 26,672

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 1–1 Leicester (2006)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4906640.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2006-04-17| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 24 April 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060424045137/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4906640.stm| url-status = live}}

23 Oct 2005

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" |2–1

| de Vries (2)

| McSheffrey

| 22,991

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 2–1 Coventry (2005)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4344732.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2005-10-23| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 23 October 2005| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051023061035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4344732.stm| url-status = live}}

8 Nov 2004

| Championship

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 3–0

| Nalis, Tiatto, Heath

|

| 22,479

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 3–0 Coventry (2004)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3988145.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2004-11-08| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 5 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3988145.stm| url-status = live}}

16 Oct 2004

| Championship

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 1–1

| Dublin

| Makin (og)

| 18,054

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 1–1 Leicester (2004)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3718484.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2004-10-16| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 5 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073424/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3718484.stm| url-status = live}}

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to Championship 2003–04
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester promoted to Premier League 2002–03
22 Mar 2003

| First Division

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 1–2

| McKinlay, Scowcroft

| Jansen

| 16,610

|{{cite news| title = Coventry 1–2 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2852677.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2003-03-21| access-date = 2008-10-25| archive-date = 10 January 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140110134744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2852677.stm| url-status = live}}

29 Oct 2002

| First Division

| Walkers Stadium

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 2–1

| Taggart, Deane; (Summerbee sent off)

| Partridge

| 27,139

|{{cite news| title = Leicester 2–1 Coventry (2002)| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2356601.stm| date = 2002-10-29| access-date = 2008-10-25| work = BBC News| archive-date = 8 April 2003| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030408204731/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2356601.stm| url-status = live}}

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to First Division 2001–02
align="center" colspan="9"|Coventry relegated to First Division 2000–01
7 Apr 2001

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 1–3

| Akinbiyi

| Bellamy, Carsley, Hartson

| 19,545

|{{cite news| title = Foxes out-fought by Sky Blues| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1264460.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2001-04-07| access-date = 2008-10-26| archive-date = 5 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305051340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1264460.stm| url-status = live}}

10 Dec 2000

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 1–0

|

| Bellamy

| 17,283

|{{cite news| title = Clockwatch: Coventry 1–0 Leicester| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1064393.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 2000-12-10| access-date = 2008-10-26| archive-date = 5 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1064393.stm| url-status = live}}

27 Nov 1999

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 0–1

Heskey

|

| 22,021

|{{cite news| title = Heskey sinks Sky Blues| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/539361.stm| publisher = BBC Sport| date = 1999-11-27| access-date = 2008-10-26| archive-date = 4 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035935/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/539361.stm| url-status = live}}

11 Aug 1999

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 1–0

| Izzet (pen)

| (Burrows sent off)

| 19,196

|{{cite news|title = Head to head: Leicester v Coventry|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1263228.stm|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 2001-04-05|access-date = 2010-02-09|archive-date = 5 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305040200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1263228.stm|url-status = live}}

24 Apr 1999

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 1–0

| Marshall

|

| 20,224

23 Jan 1999

| FA Cup

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 0–3

|

| Whelan, Froggatt, Telfer; (Boateng sent off)

| 21,207

28 Nov 1998

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 1–1

| Heskey; (Sinclair sent off)

| Huckerby

| 19,894

4 Apr 1998

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 1–1

| Wilson

| Whelan

| 21,137

29 Nov 1997

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 0–2

| Fenton, Elliott (pen)

|

| 18,309

8 Mar 1997

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 0–0

|

|

| 19,220

21 Dec 1996

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 0–2

|

| Dublin (2)

| 20,038

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester promoted to Premier League 1995–96
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester relegated to First Division 1994–95
25 Feb 1995

| Premier League

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 4–2

| Lowe, Roberts

| Flynn (2), Marsh, Ndlovu

| 20,633

3 Oct 1994

| Premier League

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 2–2

| Roberts (2)

| Dublin, Wegerle

| 19,372

align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester City promoted to Premier League 1993–94The 22 clubs of the Football League First Division broke away to form the Premier League in 1992; with the remaining divisions of the Football League renumbered accordingly.
align="center" colspan="9"|Leicester City relegated to Second Division 1986–87
4 May 1987

| First Division

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:black; background:gray;" | 1–1

| Ramsey

| Gynn

| 14,903

| {{citation|title = Head-to-Head – Leicester City FC|url = http://www.leicestercity-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadhed.asp?teama=164&teamb=326|publisher = Foxes-Mad|access-date = 2010-03-26|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111007185808/http://www.leicestercity-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadhed.asp?teama=164&teamb=326|archive-date = 7 October 2011|url-status = dead}}

6 Dec 1986

| First Division

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 1–0

| Regis

|

| 12,320

|

8 Mar 1986

| First Division

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 2–1

| Smith, McAllister

| Pickering

| 10,744

|

6 Oct 1985

| First Division

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 3–0

| Gibson, Bowman, Regis

|

| 10,959

|

23 Dec 1985

| First Division

| Filbert Street

| style="text-align:center; color:white; background:blue;" | 5–1

| Lynex, Rennie, Lineker (2), Smith

| Micky Gynn

| 18,016

|

1 Sept 1984

| First Division

| Highfield Road

| style="text-align:center; color:navy; background:skyblue;" | 2–0

| Latchford, Bennett

|

| 13,510

|

See also

References

{{reflist|2}}

{{Leicester City F.C.}}

{{Coventry City F.C.}}

{{United Kingdom Football Derbies}}

Category:Football derbies in England

Category:Coventry City F.C.

Category:Leicester City F.C.