Leicester Tigers' Legendary Announcer Steps Down

0:00It's March 24th. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Lester News today, local news powered by AI. Martin Ballard, the voice fans know best that Lester Tigers' Welfare Road Stadium is stepping away from his announcer role after 21 years on. The job. He grew up cheering for the team since the 1970s and first worked with them on BBC Radio Lester before taking the mic full time, starting with a home win over North Hampton Saints on September 3rd, 2005. For those two decades, Ballard called nearly 400 matches, making him the longest serving announcer in the premier ship, and he stuck around. Through 13 head coaches and even empty stadiums during the COVID pandemic, beyond game days, he boosted the club's media with its first podcast and a radio show, plus he hosted player Q&As and pub quizzes early on. Fans can still spot him in the stands with a beer, as he looks forward to staying connected with the supporters who made his time there special.