2025 - End of May - Sad passing of a Leicester likely Lad Legend - Dave Rossi

Over the weekend i saw that Dave had passed on after incurring an illness for some time .  I have never known him on a personal level and the few times i did meet with him i found him to be such the nicest person with not an ounce of bad in him.

His name was/is synonymous with the Famous Leicester Likely Lads who dominated many team events and opens back in the glorious 70/80's . Anglers such as Roy Marlow , Dave Downes , Brian Envis , Howard Humphrey , Ivan Marks , Phil Coles , Stan Piecha , Pete Jayes , Brian Holland, Graham Barry , John Essex , Robing Grouse and Stevie Warner ......there are more , i am sure.

Dave i used to see at Drayton Reservoir when we had mid week battles on the carp with method and bagging waggler in the 90's . He and a guy called 'Jez' ? were always battling away and were good friends and used to swap sometimes pegs during the match as the carp (so big) would go over each others lines . It was amazing they got drawn next to each other a few times .

Dave held a loft

I further used to see Dave at Holly Farm when he used to join up with some of the old team like Brian Envis with his son Gary and some great names in Leicester match angling . One year i travelled from Sweden with my swedish friend Johan Tikanen to England for 2 weeks of carping . We first went Holly Farm before transit to Whiteacres . It was at Holly that Dave and Brian were there on the day Johan was trying his first English carping on the small pool. 

Dave met Johan from Sweden

Brian met Johan

Down at Holly Farm at the Cafe .........Dave always a character

Nostalgic photo's of the past and as usual so many times victorious.

The years past but even with some passing the remained kept meeting , such was that bond they all had.

One of the greatest reads ..........

In the 70's I was fishing local club matches with the GREENHILL AC and they controlled a length of the Soar at Rothley . It was there that i learned my apprenticeship in stick float fishing but during that time you always read about the Great Likely Lads in the local Sports Mercury . Also many of them fished the Soar Valley Winter League and many of us were in awe of the LL especially when we visited the Marks and Marlow fishing tackle emporium and could see a few. 

Sad to see Dave passing but he left his smile with all of us