"The Foxes" were beaten finalists in the 1961 FA Cup Final, losing 2–0 to Tottenham Hotspur. However, as "Spurs" had won the league as well as the FA Cup, they qualified for the 1961–62 European Cup, and Leicester took their Cup Winners' Cup place. Their preliminary round opposition were Glenavon, who became the first participant in the European Cup Winners' Cup to hail from Northern Ireland. A three-goal blast in ten minutes helped Leicester take the first leg at Windsor Park 4–1. Leicester won the second leg 3–1, sending them through to the first round.