A York student got a Long Boi tattoo in Portugal with the Uni’s Volleyball Club

‘I do not recommend getting a tattoo whilst violently hungover and sleep deprived’


A  York student got a Long Boi tattoo in Portugal on a trip with the University of York Volleyball Club.

Tom Howes, a third-year environment, economics and ecology student got the tattoo on tour to remind him of his time at uni in York and of the holiday.

He told The York Tab: “I wanted to get something that encapsulates York and would remind me of my time at uni. So what better than Long Boi himself?”

Tom got a similar small and simple tattoo last summer when he was last in Portugal with friends and loved it as it “was a nice reminder of the trip” so said it “only felt right to get another on my return. For some reason, I can apparently only get tattoos in Portugal.”

As a third year and it being a uni tour he said he “wanted to get something small that encapsulates York and would remind me of my time at uni, so what better than Long Boi himself? Playing beach volleyball all week meant my window was quite small so had to squeeze it in in the morning just before our flight.”

When asked whether the tattoo was preplanned or a drunken antic, he said: “While the context surrounding the tattoo sets the story up to be some outrageous alcohol-fuelled adventure, unfortunately, the reality is quite boring. I went into the shop and showed them a photo of Long Boi and they drew it out in the style I wanted, then I went back the next morning to get it done.

Tom got the tattoo yesterday morning before their flight and said he’s “very happy with the finished tattoo, I want more in the future and I find little ones like this really good as they remind me of good times and have a story behind them.”

He continued: “The only downside was it was the morning that we flew home at 10am and we had been out the night before and didn’t get back until 5am. Whilst it didn’t hurt much I do not recommend getting a tattoo whilst violently hungover and sleep deprived!”

We asked whether Tom was a huge Long Boi fan and he said: “The ironic thing is I have only ever seen him once during my first year. I often keep an eye out for him on campus but wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan. I just thought it was quite a nice and iconic outline. This tattoo might provide me with a reason to go and find him though.”

What a legend.

Featured image via @longboiyork

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