Deano - some statistics and memories.

Tjs10:

Dean Richards: 'Deano'

Born: 11 July 1963 in Nuneaton

Tigers appearances: 306 starts + 8 reps

Tigers points: 431 (105 tries)

Tigers debut: 10 April 1982 away at Neath

Final match: 30 December 1997 home vs Newcastle

England caps: 48

Test points: 24 (6 tries)

England debut: 1 March 1986 vs Ireland

Final cap: 16 March 1996 vs Ireland

Lions caps: 6

Lions test points: 0

Lions tours: 1989, 1993.

Barbarians appearances: 5

Barbarians points:

Barbarians debut:

(1983: vs Penarth, Cardiff, Cornwall. 1987: vs Bristol. 1996: vs Ireland XV)

Previous club: Roanne (France)

England appearances:

1986: Ireland(2T), France.

1987: Scotland, Australia, Japan(1T), USA, Wales.

1988: France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Australia(1T), Fiji, Australia.

1989: Scotland, Ireland(1T), France, Wales, Romania(1T).

1990: Argentina.

1991: Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, USA.

1992: Scotland(rep), France, Wales, Canada..

1993: New Zealand.

1994: Wales, South Africa, Canada.

1995: Ireland, France, Wales, Scotland, Sam, Australia, New Zealand.

1996: France(rep), Scotland, Ireland.

Record at Leicester:

European Champions 2001, 2002

English Champions 1988, 1995,1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Zurich Championship Winners 2001

English Cup Winners 1993, 1997

Stopsy: A few memories of the great man.

In his first season I remember seeing him come on to the pitch, there was this huge pair of shoulders with what seemed like a very small head on them, what a funny shape. The game began and this new letter G started foiling the opposition by apparently being prepared to put his head between boot and ball to prevent their getting it away. My early memories are of a player who makes Lewis Moody look conservative in his approach to danger!

Orrel away in the cup: I had gone with a party which included Dewi Morris, after the game the club house was packed with barely enough room to raise your glass to drink. The Leicester players were at one end of the bar when Deano spotted Dewi across the other side, the crowd parted as he walked over and greeted Dewi and his wife, then he remembered: 'You haven't seen my girl, have you?' - back across the bar to re-appear with a very small bundle of pink. To see this huge man with the usual marks from the game on his face, cradling his baby with such tenderness was a joy. In spite of the difficulties raising glasses, we managed to drink the club house dry that afternoon.

Sale Jets v Leicester Development 2003 - walked into the ground quite late hoping to go by the dug outs, there was the massive frame of Dean bent over the railings standing next to Andy Key and John Wells, my mates from Sale were laughing at me for talking to him at half time (apparently I looked like a small boy with his hero).

Numerous games when he wasn't fit or fast enough for England, but no-one had told the ball, with unerring accuracy the ball managed to go to wherever Dean was on the pitch and stick to him. I listened to one Calcutta Cup match on the radio, England were being rushed off the ball, then on came Dean. From the commentary, every other player must have been called Richards as his name was so frequently mentioned, single headedly he turned around the game.

When Chris Sheasby was selected for England ahead of Dean we played Quins at Welford Road. Sheasby charged up the wing with one of his trade mark bursts and was suddenly plucked from the ground, Dean held him in one arm, ripped the ball off him with the other and then tossed the player aside as though he were a feather.

Bath v Leicester 1993 in a game that would have been called off had the cameras not been there, the pitch was under water in large parts. Just the weather for our man. Huge static maul (they were allowed then Zara!) Jon Hall is revelling in it, Dean ambles up to this melee, inserts an arm and comes out with the ball despite the attentions of all the others.

Dave Egerton (Bath no. 8) told me he has never come across such strength, when Dean grabbed you, you wondered whether you would ever breathe again.

Brian Moore told me that there was no-one he would rather have with him when things got a 'bit tricky' - Dean would never let you down.

Tigerchick:

After the Sarries game this year, I bumped into the whole Tigers team in the Red Lion, opposite the ground!!

See attached piccies!

They're not terribly flattering of me, as I was: a. drunk and b. very 'pink' from the sun that day - honest!!! They show the 'human' side of Deano: the man that we rarely see on camera.

After the game, all the Tigers fans left to go back to Leicester (or at least sit in traffic for several hours!!) and I went over to the Red Lion with the Fez-boys. Anyway, slightly drunk I scanned the pub thinking: 'ooh, that's Harry Ellis and Sam Vesty'.

It was a heck of a surprise when I realised that the whole Tigers entourage was in there. The look of shock must have been plainly visible on my face, because a drink was placed in my hand within seconds!

Needless to say, the Fezheads are a friendly bunch and they bullied me into having my photo taken with both Josh and Deano!!

Gaz:

I may have been one of Deano's critics this season, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate all he's done for the club over the years.

As a player - a superb reader of the game - always in the right place at the right time. So proud to be a Tiger.

So proud to play for his country.

So proud to be a Lion.

As a captain -leading from the front, leading by example.

Undoubtedly an inspiration for England's first world cup winning captain. What better apprenticeship for the difficult job of captaincy?

I remember Deano holding aloft the Courage League trophy at the end of the 1994 – 1995 season, with the usual chant of 'Deano' all round the ground.

I remember Deano having to be persuaded to go and collect the Pilkington Cup in 1997- and him insisting John Wells went up to collect the trophy with him - a selfless act indeed.

I remember his dignity in the post match interviews after the 1996 cup final - how easy it would have been to criticise the referee’s decision - last minute penalty try costing us the cup - how difficult to take the dignified path - typical of the man.

As a manager - taking up the reins at a difficult time: we can only imagine the atmosphere behind the scenes following Bob Dwyer's departure, Dean must have been apprehensive about taking the role on. Many were critical about the appointment of someone with no track record whatsoever - he proved them wrong over the next few seasons.

I remember the crowd at Paris, Cardiff, and Welford Road for 4 consecutive seasons chanting 'Deano, Deano' in appreciation of his management and of bringing us so many trophies.

Between then and now something has changed, but I for one will never forget being amongst various crowds at various times chanting with the best of them.

Here's to Deano - a legacy that will live on for many years in all our memories.