Leigh Centurions V ROCHDALE HORNETS
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Leigh Centurions SUvN DRAOY C17HTDH AMLAREC H O20R1N9 @ET 3S PM # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB engage with the fans at games and to see the players acknowledged for their efforts at the Toronto game, despite the narrowness of the defeat, was something Welcome to Leigh Sports Village for day 48 years ago. With a new community that will linger long in the memory. this afternoon’s Betfred stadium in the offing for both the city’s Games are coming thick and fast at FChamRpionshOip gameM agains t oTur HfootbEall team s iTt could Oalso welPl also be present and the start of our involvement in friends from Rochdale Hornets. the last time Leigh play there. the Corals Challenge Cup and the newly- Carl Forster is to be commended for It’s great to see the Knights back on the instigated 1895 Cup and the prospect of taking on the dual role of player and coach up after years in the doldrums and to see playing at Wembley present great at such a young age and after cutting his interest in the professional game revived opportunities and goals for Duffs and his teeth in two years at Whitehaven, where under James Ford’s astute coaching. players. The immediate task though is to he built himself a good reputation, he now Watching York back at their much-loved carry on the good form in a tight and has the difficult task of preserving Wiggington Road ground was always one competitive Championship where every Hornets’ hard-won Championship status in of the best away days in the season and I win is hard-earned and valuable. an increasingly competitive environment hope that new ground isn’t one of those .............................................................. while maintaining his own high playing sterile, sanitised new stadium designs that Several players have achieved standards. have made visiting new grounds, for an significant career milestones recently ardent groundhopper like myself, such an and today Sam Brooks is due to make Last Sunday the Swinton Lions showed a increasingly hollow and deflating tremendous level of commitment and skill his 100th career appearance while experience. Luke Adamson, Gregg McNally and in what was another great advert for the .............................................................. Championship despite the testing weather Jonny Pownall are all nearing big conditions. Swinton are always great hosts Mentioning grounds, there was personal targets. All the details are on and the Leigh fans who travelled to nothing quite like going to Hornets’ the player statistics page elsewhere Heywood Road in tremendous numbers old Athletic Grounds on the Milnrow in today’s programme. appreciated being in what is a real rugby Road and it’s amazing to think it’s I think it’s fantastic that Duffs marks environment. over 30 years since they left to take significant milestones with a shirt up permanent residence at Spotland. Though everyone hopes Swinton finally presentation in the dressing room before can achieve their long-held goal to return What an experience it was to be at a sold- the game, a nice touch and one that the to the town after more than a generation out Spotland for the Fiji-Ireland World Cup players really appreciate. All the players since leaving Station Road, they seem to game in 2013 which was one of the best also really value their heritage numbers have a good fit at Heywood Road after occasions of a simply memorable and it’s amazing to think that we are playing at so many different venues in the tournament. closing in on number 1,500. intervening years. In retrospect, however, despite the interest Hornets had a successful heritage Leigh’s first-ever visit to Bootham generated in that game what was the numbers launch a season or so ago and Crescent was ultimately disappointing and legacy for rugby league in the town other there are many players that have worn the frustrating but again, the effort and than great memories? Legacy is going to colours of both clubs, the great Stan Owen commitment of the players was something at the forefront of the minds of and John Woods to name but two. tremendous and the fans have certainly the organisers behind the 2021 World Games between Leigh and Hornets date warmed to that. It was a strange Cup. With three games to look forward to back to the first season of the Northern experience for me as I first visited the at Leigh Sports Village it would be great to Union in 1895 and in these changing ground for an FA Cup-tie watching Bolton recreate the magical atmosphere at the times it’s reassuring that two historic clubs Wanderers back in 1971 and it seems to Cook Islands-Tonga game here in 2013 continue to fly the flag for the greatest have changed little since then. It was but also to generate long-lasting benefits game of all in their respective spooky that one of the first people I met for the game in our town. communities. inside the ground was an old friend, Phil From talking to many supporters at recent Enjoy the game. games I know how much they appreciate Hall, also a long-standing Leigh and Mike Latham - Chairman Wanderers fan who was also there that the willingness of the staff and players to Luke Adamson Sam Brooks charges forward • THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF LEIGH CENTURIONS RLFC THE CENTURION 3 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB HWiOntNer OeraU RS (1895-96 to 1995-96) WHO’S WHO Championship Winners: AT LEIGH CENTURIONS 1905-06, 1981-82 Owner Retail Outlet Manager Division Two Champions: Mr Derek Beaumont Ms Gillian Jolley 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89 Operational Board Of Directors IT Manager Challenge Cup Winners: 1921, 1971 Mr Michael Latham (Chairman) Mr Andrew Parkinson COACH20s ’andS the way h e exCpressed hiOmself. LmatcUhed them Mevery step oN f the way. The Mr Jason Huyton Club Ambassador Lancashire Cup Winners: HEAD COACH JOHN DUFFY fans were just brilliant again. Mr Steve Hill Mr Alex Murphy OBE 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 The Saints coach Justin Holbrook and his Chief Executive Official Club Photographers (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, staff have been great with us and the At the end of the day it was a loss and we Mr Matthew Chantler Mr Jerry Lyons 1951, 1963, 1969) dual registration partnership is working knew there are a lot of things we can do Honorary Life President BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: well with mutual benefits. better, but we are making progress and Mr Brian Bowman SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) We have a great relationship and the the fans appreciate what we are trying to Honorary Vice President Manager South West Lancashire & Border Saints boys love coming down to Leigh do. Mr Andy Burnham Ms Christine Brown Towns Cup Winners: 1901 and being involved here. Aaron Smith and Luke Douglas was outstanding again, but Assistant Manager ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 Jack Ashworth, for example, both played you look across our team and everyone Life Members Mr Jonathan Simpkin Summer era (1996 to date) impressively in Saints’ win over London played really well and gave their all. Mr Tommy Coleman Co-Ordinator Promotion to Super League: while Matty Costello did well in the win at 2004,2016 We were under no illusions that we faced Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart Mr Paul Robinson Salford. League Leaders: a really difficult task against York, who are Mr Michael Latham Premiership 2001, That shows how Saints are closely a really good side. The game was always Mr John Massey Leigh Community Trust John Duffy applauds the fans National League One 2004, monitoring their performances while with going to be tough and tight with just a Mr Steve Openshaw Programmes Director Championship 2014,2015,2016 us and that they will get their rewards for few opportunities. Watching the tape back Mr Fred Parkinson Ms Hannah Forbes Grand Final Winners: It’s good to get back to Leigh Sports playing well and putting in the effort. time and again was very frustrating Mr Alan Platt Community Manager National League One 2004, Village this afternoon as we welcome because we did so many things right, but Mr Frank Taylor Ms Heather Parker-Preece We lost Luke Douglas just before the Championship 2014 Rochdale Hornets for an important game at Swinton through a virus. He’s we didn’t take our opportunities in attack Mr John Woods Youth Mental Health Officers (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, Betfred Championship game. when they came. Again, the fans Mr Mick Nanyn been our talisman so far this season and National League One 2003) We were delighted to earn our first away been outstanding. But our lads stood up appreciated the effort the boys put in, but Head Coach Mr Michael Ostick National league Cup Winners: win of the season against Swinton Lions the small margin of the defeat and the Mr John Duffy Mens Health Officer to be counted and produced a really top 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013 at Heywood Road last Sunday and reward effort. Luke still managed to get along to missed chances made it a case of what Assistant Coaches Mr Ste Maden (runners-up 2003) the travelling supporters for their might have been. Mr Paul Anderson Sky Try Primary Lead Coach the game and support the lads which Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: continued tremendous backing of the demonstrates what kind of bloke he is. It was great to get Liam Hood back to the Mr Micky Higham (Strength & Tom Simms 2001 (runners-up 2000) side.