Staff at Welford Road said goodbye to one of the club’s longest serving employees today as Sean Barker finished his last day in the Tigers ticket office.
First coming down to watch Tigers play at the age of three, Sean worked part-time in the ticket office before starting full-time back in 2002.
“Back then it was all paper and processing,” Barker said. “My first boss was Andrea Pinchen who is now the commercial director but back then she kept the ticket office in check. I even remember one occasion where Tom Croft and Geordan Murphy came into the ticket office – which was full of customers – and started shooting nerf guns!”
Sean, 37 from Lutterworth, has worked in the Tigers ticket office for 16 years watching Tigers claim four league titles and three domestic cups.
He said: “It’s funny because when you’re working, you don’t actually get to see much of the games. You just tend to hear about it after or hear the crowd roar. Days that stick out are ones like Munster in the European quarter-final with the big marquee out on the plaza at Welford Road."
Sean’s dad Eric also works at Tigers in the community department having been involved with the club for 24 years. So it’s no surprise the green, white and red runs in the family.
Sean added: “We’re all Tigers fans. My grandfather, parents, brother, wife, we even bought Katie my three-year old daughter down for her first game and she can’t wait to get back.
It’s a real family club and I’m really going to miss the people and friends I’ve made along the way. It’s a fantastic place to work and I’m looking forward to being able to watch the games as a fan again next season.”
Sean starts a new role with drinks company Britvic and has no doubt left an impression on everyone at the club.
All at Tigers wish him good luck and all the best for the future.
