By Ian Birks
August 17 2004

At the last AGM, I stated that the season 2002-2003 was a mixed one because we were the victims of our own success. Season 2003-2004 has also been a mixed season, which finished on a high when we qualified for the coming season's Heineken Cup.
At this point, I would like to express the thanks and the appreciation of this Association to Dean for all the many successes which he and his team brought to Leicester Tigers during his 23 years with the club. We now wish him every success at Grenoble.

Friends gave him a good send-off at The Walkers Stadium when 500 people attended. I do hope that time will heal the apparent bitterness which exists between Dean and the Club and that we will see him at Welford Road sometime in the future. I also hope that he will bring back some of his memorabilia for us to display. After all, whether he likes it or not, he is and always will be an integral part of Leicester Tigers.

I would also like to congratulate John Wells and his team for all their efforts on our behalf during the latter part of the season. The achieved success was stunning to say the least May I also congratulate John on the way he has related to the media.(1've heard him talk more in one year than I did during the sixteen years I was his ream Secretary.) He now has a new-look team and they can be assured of the support of all the members of our great Club. We look forward to a happy and successful Season.

During the season, the club lost the services of Doreen Watson who worked so hard in the club shop with her daughter Sara. Also David Lishman, who spent so many years in the amateur days as Membership Secretary and who was a prominent Leicestershire Society Referee. Lastly, John Thompson who played 166 games for the Tigers and who held the record for 103 consecutive appearances for the Tigers until surpassed by David Mathews. John was buried in Great Yarmouth 5 weeks ago. The Association was represented at his funeral by our Past President, Brian Small.

The season saw the formation of the Tigers Travel Club which, after a few initial problems, now seem to be working well with the Away Supporters Club: the needs of different supporters are being catered for by both groups.

The future of the new-look Academy appears to be assured. With reduced numbers, players should get more and better coaching.

Two open Meetings were held and were well attended. Darren Morris and Darryl Gibson were our guests for the first meeting and eight members of our under 21 appeared in the next. I would like to thank them for giving me, as Chairman, an experience I am not likely to forget - A great evening!

Past President Tony Hopkins is now Vice Chairman of the National& Supporters Association who have agreed with Premier Rugby for a fixed %of tickets to be made available to away supporters. They are now concentrating on a new Structured Season.

I wou1d like to thank our Chairman, Lord Hazlerigg for his leadership and the committee for their support; to Paul Hayes for all his hard work; to Sam Rossiter Stead and David Clayton for allowing us to use Club facilities (for the LFC Association meeting); to John Griffiths for his work with the Away Supporters; to all of you who support the
Association. Lastly, to our President Bob Rowell for his guidance and support.

The aim of the Association is to support Leicester Football Club.. let's do it in style.

Tudor Thomas
Honorary Secretary

LEICESTER FOOTBALL CLUB ASSOCIATION
"Support the Association - Support the Tigers"