Leicester Tigers chairman Peter Tom has led the tributes to supporters after Welford Road crowds totalled more than 300,000 for the 2018/19 season.

An attendance of 20,886 for the final fixture at Welford Road against Bath on Saturday took the total for the season in Gallagher Premiership, European Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup at the venue to 307,900.

The average crowd figure at the venue was more than 19,000 which was the highest in the league despite a disappointing season on the pitch.

Club chairman Peter Tom CBE said: “I share the supporters’ disappointment at the outcome of the season, but I would like to thank everyone who has been with us through the last nine months, both home and away.

“Our supporters create a fabulous atmosphere and the matchday experience at Welford Road is truly unique.

“We are grateful for the tremendous loyalty and commitment from our supporters and we know that they will play a major role in our future success.”

Tigers also enjoy strong support at away games around the country and in Europe, and Tom added: “Every rival club appreciates the levels of support we take on the road to away games. Friday evenings at Newcastle and Harlequins towards the end of the season still, for instance, saw the team run out in front of large numbers of Tigers supporters and we are all very grateful for that.”

Head coach Geordan Murphy, who first joined the club as a player in 1997, also praised the support, saying: “We’ve been so lucky that, even with the season we’ve had, the fans have been very supportive at tough times.

“Tigers fans expect big results because we have been very successful as a club and there have been moments when we have taken a lot of criticism – we understand that because it is part of sport – but every week the fans have turned up and got in behind us so we are desperate to give them something back.”