Leicester Tigers supporters were treated to an evening in the company of two generations of players in the Beers With The Boys night at Welford Road on Tuesday.
This unique event provided an opportunity to compare and contrast the game through the eyes of three Tigers families across two generations with more than 1,000 first-team appearances between them.
Tom and Ben Youngs, Matt Smith and Harry Thacker represented the current crop, raised in the professional sport and graduating from the club’s academy, while their fathers Nick Youngs, Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith and Troy Thacker represented an earlier era when they balanced full-time jobs with training and playing for the club.
Former scrum-half Nick Youngs, who split his time between the family farm in Norfolk and playing for Tigers, recalled his international experience in 1983-84 when he received a letter from the RFU requesting players to bring their own white shorts, though they would be presented with and England jersey and socks. “That just shows the difference in the game between then and now,” he said.
The biggest game, other than cup finals, for previous generations was against the star-studded Barbarians in the Christmas holiday fixture at Welford Road when, as Troy Thacker put it: “The city came alive. It was a fantastic game and great day.”
Former flanker Smith, a veteran of more than 330 games for the club, spoke of the pride in watching his son Matt establish himself in his wake, saying: ““It is everything to become a Leicester Tiger. But it is everything and a great deal more when your son becomes a Leicester Tiger.”
To view pictures from the Beers With The Boys evening, visit the diary gallery by clicking here.
The next supporters’ event is the end-of-season Awards Night in the company of the first-team squad and coaching team at Welford Road is on Tuesday, May 2. Tickets are £60 for season tickets holders, £80 for all other guests, including three-course meal with a squad member, interviews and video reviews throughout the evening.
Book at the Tigers ticket office. Call in at Welford Road, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) (open 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday and for an hour after the final whistle at any home game), or online at www.leicestertigers.com
This unique event provided an opportunity to compare and contrast the game through the eyes of three Tigers families across two generations with more than 1,000 first-team appearances between them.
Tom and Ben Youngs, Matt Smith and Harry Thacker represented the current crop, raised in the professional sport and graduating from the club’s academy, while their fathers Nick Youngs, Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith and Troy Thacker represented an earlier era when they balanced full-time jobs with training and playing for the club.
Former scrum-half Nick Youngs, who split his time between the family farm in Norfolk and playing for Tigers, recalled his international experience in 1983-84 when he received a letter from the RFU requesting players to bring their own white shorts, though they would be presented with and England jersey and socks. “That just shows the difference in the game between then and now,” he said.
The biggest game, other than cup finals, for previous generations was against the star-studded Barbarians in the Christmas holiday fixture at Welford Road when, as Troy Thacker put it: “The city came alive. It was a fantastic game and great day.”
Former flanker Smith, a veteran of more than 330 games for the club, spoke of the pride in watching his son Matt establish himself in his wake, saying: ““It is everything to become a Leicester Tiger. But it is everything and a great deal more when your son becomes a Leicester Tiger.”
To view pictures from the Beers With The Boys evening, visit the diary gallery by clicking here.
The next supporters’ event is the end-of-season Awards Night in the company of the first-team squad and coaching team at Welford Road is on Tuesday, May 2. Tickets are £60 for season tickets holders, £80 for all other guests, including three-course meal with a squad member, interviews and video reviews throughout the evening.
Book at the Tigers ticket office. Call in at Welford Road, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) (open 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday and for an hour after the final whistle at any home game), or online at www.leicestertigers.com
