One of Karl Darlow’s most treasured football memories is being taken to watch Leicester City by his grandfather.
The late Ken Leek was a centre forward of repute for Leicester and part of the celebrated Wales squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup, only to lose to the mighty Brazil.
‘We used to go and see Leicester and the receptions he got were amazing,’ recalls Newcastle goalkeeper Darlow. ‘The other former players would say to me, “If you are half as good as your grandad, you will be OK”.’
What is poignant for Darlow is that his grandad briefly played for Newcastle in the early 1960s and scored a hat-trick on his debut.