With a special anniversary approaching, we want to hear from supporters about their memories of Paris 2001 when Leicester Tigers were crowned European champions for the first time.
From inside the stadium, back at home or elsewhere around the world, we would love to share your recollections of the famous day when Tigers overcame Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup Final.
Whether your recollections involve the tries from Leon Lloyd and Neil Back, the decisive late break by Austin Healey, the late kick by Tim Stimpson or the day you shared with friends and family in the stadium or from further away, Tigers want to hear from you.
Healey describes the game as the most important he ever played in, recalling the “thousands and thousands of Leicester Tigers fans”.
John Griffiths, from the Tigers Away Supporters Club, was central to the travel plans of many of those supporters, though admits that he had originally planned on booking just a couple of buses for the trip.
“On the day tickets went on sale I arrived home from work to be told that my answerphone was full,” John recalls.
“The phone was ringing as I walked in the door, I picked it up and sat at the bottom of stairs as I took name and phone number and gave payment details. As I replaced the phone, it immediately rang again. This was continuous for about three hours.”
Once the fans arrived in Paris, the Eiffel Tower became a focalpoint on matchday morning with hundreds of supporters in green, white and red gathering there before heading to the Parc des Princes.
Bars and restaurants filled with Tigers colours in the build-up to kick-off and then, of course, there was the match itself, with the travelling Tigers making themselves heard on a hot Parisian afternoon in a stadium just yards away from Stade’s front door.
Mick Phipps was among the supporters unable to make the trip, due to work commitments, but remembers watching coverage of the tense last few minutes “on a small black-and-white TV sat in the car park”.
We have already also heard from fans based around the world who, nevertheless, were there in spirit as Martin Johnson lifted the trophy to kick off the celebrations.
Everyone has a special memory of an incredible day, which is why we would love to share them with the rest of the #TigersFamily as we approach the 20th anniversary.
We’d also like to see some of your photos from a remarkable event in the club’s history.
You can send your stories and photos by email to [email protected].
A 20th Anniversary Dinner being hosted in the company of players past and present at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Friday, June 25, with the new date selected to allow guests to attend in line with the government roadmap out of Covid-19.
The event is hosted in partnership with Switch the Play Foundation, a charity founded by Heineken Cup hero Leon Lloyd and dedicated to supporting all sportspeople to successfully transition into life outside of sport.
