To be honest, I don’t really know how I came to support the Tigers. I’ve always liked Rugby because it is such a good team sport. The fans don’t throw bottles or anything, either and Association Football is so over the top nowadays. But I only used to watch England in the 5 Nations when I was very young.

When I was thirteen I had a stay in hospital and could see a small corner of the Welford Road pitch. I never actually went, though. Going to sports events wasn’t something our family did.
I used to love to see Rory Underwood playing for England, with his darting runs down the touchline, and dreamed of doing that myself.

That was the time when wingers were allowed to be small and the dream continues a dream – I only ever managed one game, other things have always held my attention. When I found out that Rory played for my local team, well, now that’s something.

It helped that Tigers were successful, though the mighty Bath were always the thorn in the side for the Tigers back then. It also helped that you could just walk into extras games and pre-season friendlies when I was dragged to Leicester to go shopping. I marvelled at the ground the first time I went in and loved stomping in the Crumbie.

Then the professional era came. It was while I was doing my GSCE’s and an Integrated Humanities (a GCSE version of General Studies!!) project afforded me the opportunity to study the pros and cons of rugby recently being declared ‘open’.

Liking the subject, I went over the top. I wrote to loads of people asking for their opinion and I also sent questionnaires to the players, but the daft bloke who I corresponded with fobbed me off with a signed photo from them (It shut me up!).
Tudor, though, was a little more forthcoming. He invited me round to his home and we had a really good chat. I asked him about any further ground improvements. He said the members stand would be next. Or did he mean Next? Anyway, when I went to my first Tigers game and heard Tudor announcing, I was well chuffed.

For the same project I also got a telephone interview with Peter Jackson from the Mail while he was waiting to watch the Tigers Vs Bath game at WR – which we won, if you remember, along with the season – I still have the T-shirt to prove it.
Watching Tigers lose to Brive was painful. To make things worse, I had never seen them win a single game. But by then I was not going to support anyone else.

I have never been a season ticket holder and am really a part-time fan. I usually have to listen to Radio Leicester at work, or watch a ticker on the net if LCFC are playing! I have made it to every HC final though, and a handful of other games at WR, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I usually make it to about 3 or 4 games a season.
So there you are. I’m a part-time supporter, but at least I’m local and I’ve never supported anyone else. In conclusion, though Tigers are doing rather well at the mo. whatever happens I’ll always support Tigers as the WR fans are so good. I’m hoping to get to a few more games from now on – but, unwisely you may say, I will always remain a part-time fan.

Oh, by the way, thanks Tudor – I got an A*!

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