A familiar face at Leicester Tigers for the last 17 years, kitman Clive Galloway is leaving the backroom staff as he takes on a new role with the Matt Hampson Foundation. 

Clive joined the club back in 2004, working behind the scenes with the academy set-up, before being offered the full-time role as kitman in 2010. 

Clive grew up as a Tigers fan and attended many home games following his team. 

“My first experience was watching the Tigers boys – Peter Wheeler, Paul Dodge, Les Cusworth, Nick Youngs – playing for England back in 1983 and from then I was hooked”, he says. 

“I played as a hooker for some local teams back home in Staffordshire – I was never any good, but I was mad keen – and following a role as a community coach with the RFU, I got involved with my boyhood club working with the academy teams during the 2000s.”

Galloway is only club’s third kitman – and the longest server in the position – something he has never taken for granted. 

“You’re in a very lucky and privileged position, you get to interact, chat and become friends with the players and coaches over the years and I’ll miss those conversations,” he says.

“There’s been some great journeys along the way – Italy, France – but it all starts with preparation. My job is to make sure the team has everything they need without having to ask. It’s an intense role for sure, but you never forget how lucky you are.”

The role also means you can get some interesting requests…

“Castro was a character but great fun to be around,” Clive adds. “He was so unique and there were a few players over the years – I won’t name names – who were particular about shirt sizes. You’d find sizes would also go up depending on the time of year! 

Any advice for a budding kitman and woman out there?

“You need patience, time management skills, planning and preparation, and an awful lot of coffee.”

Reflecting while also looking forward to a new role with the club’s charity partners, Clive adds: “I’ll miss the people, the chats with the players, the conversations with the staff and that ‘changing room’, Leicester Tigers simply is a very special place to be.”