The 91-year-old was a fullback in the Foxes’
Leicester City Football Club is mourning the loss of a team-mate today after veteran defender John Ogilvie became one of the latest victims of coronavirus.
The charismatic Scot is one of the most popular players of his generation and has been a familiar face behind the scenes at Filbert Street and more recently at the King Power Stadium over the past few decades.
His widow, Doreen, contacted LeicestershireLive to say he contracted coronavirus in a care home in the city where he lived and died at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Saturday, aged 91.
John played 85 games as a full-back for the Foxes from 1955 to 1960, scoring two goals, and was an integral part of the team’s promotion to the former First Division in the 1956/57 season.
Leicester City ambassador and Foxes veteran Alan Burchenal presented John with a signed Ogilvie 90 jersey in front of the Blue Army to mark his 90th birthday on 27 October 2018. I paid tribute to my friend.
“The thoughts of everyone at the football club are with John’s family and friends on hearing the sad news of his death,” he said.
“He was a great footballer and a great personality who left his mark on Leicester City during his time at Filbert Street and in the years that followed.”
He added: “I personally have some wonderful memories of John from our time working on charity games together and will miss the occasions spent laughing in his company as we looked back on those matches.
“The club were also delighted to be able to host John and his wife Doreen as regular guests in recent years and we collectively send our deepest condolences during such a difficult time.”
In a statement, the club said: “Leicester City Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the death of former player John Ogilvie, who passed away at the Leicester Royal Infirmary on Saturday at the age of 91.
“The former left-back, who made 85 appearances for the Foxes between 1955 and 1960, was a key figure at Filbert Street during that time – including as an ever-present in the team that won promotion back to the top-flight as Second Division champions in 1957.
“The thoughts of everybody at Leicester City Football Club are with John’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Born in Motherwell, Scotland, on October 28, 1928, John made his name for Hibernian in the Famous Five team that won three Scottish Championships.
His performances attracted many admirers, including then Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby.
He played a key role as part of the Hibernian back line for the 1951 title win, but was to suffer a career-changing leg break during the opening 15 minutes of that year’s Scottish Cup Semi-Final.
