Football clubs are built upon the fabric of loyalty, character and commitment. Sadly, the Sydney Swans have lost one of their most dependable and faithful match-day staff in Les Trigar who died of cancer last Saturday, aged 82.

Les worked behind the scenes for 27 years as a statistician with the Club since the Swans' relocation from South Melbourne in 1982. Les himself grew up in South Melbourne and loved his Swans from a very early age. He displayed his loyalty to the end when he commented recently to his daughter how sad he was that he would not get to watch another Sydney Swans game.

Initially, he was a key member of the senior stats team when paper stats and carbon copies were the forerunner to today's extensive stats systems which are now available from Champion Data on computer. His accuracy and attention to detail was uncompromising. When technology took over, Les continued his service to the Club, being a member of the Reserves stats team until he and his wife, Carlene, moved to Bundaberg in 2008 to be closer to their daughter and her family. Carlene passed away in 2009.

In 1999, Les was awarded Life Membership for his services to the Club. An honour he was proud to share with Carlene. Les and Carlene shared their love of the Swans with their five children, nine grandchildren and five great grand children.

Les will be cremated at 11:30am Thursday, 29 March at Bundaberg Crematorium. One of his final wishes was for his signed 2005 Premiership jumper be draped over his coffin at the memorial service.

The picture below shows Les and Carlene enjoying the Club’s 25th Anniversary function with fellow friend/statistician, Dave Pearlman.

The team will wear black armbands for the match versus Fremantle at the SCG in recognition of Les' service to the Club.

The thoughts of the Sydney Swans are with Les' Family.