For fourteen rollercoaster years, Steve Walsh was here, there and everywhere for Leicester City. The archetypal English centre-back and former City captain, was the epitome of an action-packed era that has etched him in to the hearts and minds of foxes fans across the world. The first in our series of ICON, sees you the public grill Mr Leicester City on Peter Taylor, crazy own goals and Michael Bolton…

Who was the toughest opponent you faced and why?
Nigel Chapman, Thringstone
It would have to be Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola. Both were very clever players, Zola with his trickery and agility, and Bergkamp with great movement and a world class first touch.

Who were your childhood football heroes?
Annie Smith, Derby
Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish.

You signed for City in 1986 and left in 2000. To be at one club for so long is such a rarity these days. Why do you think that is?
Kev Jones, Hinckley
I would say that money is the big temptation. Contracts seem to mean nothing to players these days do they?

What did you use to psych yourself up before a big match? A bit of Def Leppard? Napalm Death? Michael Bolton?
Joe Merton, Clarendon Park
Haha! For our Wembley trips we used to play a song by Labi Siffre, ‘Something Inside So Strong’, just before we arrived, which seemed to be part of a winning formula for us!

Your time at Coventry and Norwich weren’t the happiest. Why didn’t things work out for you there?
Simon Bartlett, Southampton
I didn’t want to be there. I was at the end of my career and quite honestly shouldn’t have been allowed to leave LCFC! Peter Taylor has a lot to answer for.

What are your thoughts on Peter Taylor, the man who was responsible for your departure from the club?
Adam Morley, Ratby
I can’t seem to put down in words what I really think without it becoming a libel issue. One day, in my autobiography, I’ll have my say…

Is it true that you could have signed for Spurs in the early nineties but chose to stay with City?
Glen Radcliffe, Loughborough
I wasn’t aware until someone told me afterwards. There was no way Leicester would have informed me, but I guess it was true.

Was your own goal vs Newcastle in 91-92 the best-taken own goal of all time?!
James Croft, Nottingham
Was that the game when I equalised first? I blame the keeper for being too far off his line. Definitely his fault. Anyway my ‘strike’ away at Arsenal was better!

What was your reaction when Brian Little told you he was going to play you as a centre-forward in the 92-93 season?
Gary Williams, Countesthorpe
Slight shock but I knew I could score goals. Brian pulled me in to the office and said “I’m sticking you up front to try and keep you out of trouble,” and it worked!

Is it true that you were only 20% fit for the 1994 Derby play-off final?
Randeep Aslam, Leicester
I was 60% fit. The night before the final Brian Little asked me if I was 80% fit and I assured him I was, when in reality I wasn’t anywhere near. I really shouldn’t have been playing but nobody was going to stop me!

Which game stands out from your time at the club?
Ken Adams, Houghton on the Hill
There are so many, but to pick a few…the Fulham equaliser, Arsenal 3-3 and of course the ‘94 Final against Derby. The ’91 away win at Southend was pretty special. I got late goals in all of those so that’s why they stand out.

Media work aside, what else are you doing these days?
Kaz Saddington, Ibstock
I’m a director of Legends Events Ltd, which is part of Legends International. You can find out more about the company by visiting www.legends-international.com

What is your guilty pleasure?
Zainub Abbas, Spinney Hill
I’d have to say blueberry muffins.

What do you think you’d have done for a living if you hadn’t made it as a footballer?
Olivia Kenny, Leicester
I’d probably be an upholsterer and carpet fitter in my home town, Preston.

Apart from Martin O’Neill, which manager did you most enjoy working with and why?
Carol Hubbard, Evington
Brian Little. We had a great relationship from the start and he valued my opinion and made me feel as if I was a part of the staff as well as being a player. Even after he left, we remained friends and I respect him to this day.

Why haven’t you taken your coaching badges yet and do you still have ambitions to be a manager?
Trevor Cooper, Enderby
This should have been done a long time ago. Unfortunately, I suffered many injuries that needed surgery at the end of the season, when it was best to go on the courses. But no excuses, it should have been done. Work is imperative to me at the moment, but it’s a shame about being out of the game as I do feel wasted with my knowledge.

What went wrong last season for the club and why did we get relegated?
Phil Garner, Thurnby
We couldn’t handle the pressure and put simply, didn’t score enough goals. We also had a lot of terrible refereeing decisions go against us, but the backbone of the team was ultimately proved to be weak.

You were a great Leicester City captain. What qualities do you think our club captain should have?
Matty Reville, London
We certainly lacked the leadership qualities last season and that never-say-die attitude. In my days, how many times were we up against it, two or three nil down? Somehow, though, the characters we had then seemed to be so much stronger.

What was the best Leicester XI from your time at the club? Sarah Bailey, Ipswich We’d play a 3-5-2 formation, and that team would take some beating!