We're into the final five of the Tigers ABC to Z, and the letter V.V is for Vesty: Leicester Tigers are a family affair for Sam Vesty, who became the fourth generation of his family to play for the club when he made his debut against Biarritz in 2002.
A product of the Tigers youth system, former England international Sam followed his father Phil Vesty, his grandfather Bernard Vesty and his great-grandfather Jack Dickens into the first team.
Phil, a prop, made 47 appearances between 1972 and 1975, Bernard played his only game in 1947 on the wing in a 12-9 win against Blackheath in 1947, while Dickens scored eight tries in 15 appearances between 1909 and 1910.
Sam, who is now part of the coaching set-up at Worcester Warriors, scored 250 points for his home-town club, including 15 tries, in 164 appearances.
He was voted Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2006 and won the players’ in 2009, as he played a key role in Tigers’ Premiership title success and run to the final of Europe’s Heineken Cup. That summer, Sam won two caps on England’s tour to Argentina.
V is for venues: Leicester Tigers have played more games at Franklin’s Gardens than at any other away or neutral venue.
Tigers’ visit in the Aviva Premiership last season was their 114th game at the home of Northampton.
Tigers have played 104 times at Kingsholm, the only other away venue at which they have made more than a century of visits.
Tigers have visited Bristol’s Memorial Stadium 93 times, the Rec in Bath 91 times, Bedford’s Goldington Road 86 times and they have played at Twickenham 83 times.
V is for victories: From semi-finals to finals, from touring teams to local derbies, there have been many notable victories in the 4,654 games so far in the club’s history.
Supporters will have their own favourite victory, from their very first Leicester fixture to the Heineken Cup Final wins of 2001 and 2002, and we’re asking fans to tell us their number one win on the club’s Facebook page.
Click here to contribute your favourite to the list.
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Tigers ABC to Z: V is for Vesty, victories & venues
27 July 2015 3:28 PM
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