Thats how I came to watch the Rugby World Cup. I was hooked! Next had to be a "real live game" as I think I called it back then. I had liked the kind of rugby Rory Underwood played, fast, exciting, so thought lets go and see the team he plays for.

We lived in Rotherham at the time, our home team then I think languishing in Divsion Five North or something. At the time the nearest premiership ground to us was Beeston so off we went, 7th December 1991 to see Nottingham v Leicester, and I got my fist view of the chap with the funny blonde hair (Backy) and the tall bloke that works in a bank (Johnno) and some sluggish chap at number 8 (yes Deano himself). Something told me that day that Leicester were the team to support so off we went to Welford Road on Boxing Day for the Baa Baas game. One foot in Welford Road and I already knew it was there for life for me.

Many a journey down the M1 later, to every home and away game for 9 years. Then it was one night, we were working in Huddersfield and trying in vain to make it to an evening kick off on time, those of you who travel will know the frustration of hold ups, traffic jams, when you have to be there for kick off. We had had this for 9 years and it was then we decided to move to Leicester. Tigers are our true passion so follow our hearts to their home!

I got, and still do some very bemused looks when people ask why I moved to Leicester, and the reponse is "to get to more Tigers games" - but its the truth. We were lucky - both found relevant jobs and a nice house and down we moved. One heck of a move that took almost a straight 48 hours and resulted in our sleeping through Tigers v Swansea - which would have been our fist "home" game - WHAT a game to miss !

Now, happy bunnies to the extreme, nice to alleviate the boredom of starting the working week with an extras game - love them, especially in Winter, dark, rainy, stood on the terraces with a cup of coffee! Get a chance to pop up to Oval Park to see the under 21s and "nip" to the shop or ticket office when need be. Its odd to those that dont understand but I LOVE living in Leicester and would never live anywhere else.

It was nice and odd really when Rotherham played Leicester at Clifton Lane, just before we moved here and I was gutted when Rotherham did not come up this year. I consider Leicester my home now and I know my heart will always be with Tigers. Its so good to go into work and have people actually know who Tigers are and ask how they did.

I have a strange sense of feeling I know some of the lads, like Johno and Backy who are the same age as me and in a way we grew up together, saw them get their first caps, and go from strength to strength. I dont know what the future has in store for Tigers and their supporters, I remember the amateur days of the early 90s when we did not win anywhere near as much as we do now and when the club shop was a poky hole you could hardly move in. One thing I do know for sure is that good or bad, Leicester is my home and Leicester are my team! Always.

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