aaa Leigh v Toulouse 56pp.qxp_Layout 1 01/02/2019 08:49 Page 1 aaa Leigh v Toulouse 56pp.qxp_Layout 1 01/02/2019 08:39 Page 2 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB aaa Leigh v Toulouse 56pp.qxp_Layout 1 01/02/2019 08:39 Page 3 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB MIKEFROM LATHAM THE TOP CHAIRMAN,Welcome to Leigh Sports Village OPERATIONAL for that day would soon be our BOARD Messiah. Chris Hall came along and filmed the this afternoon’s Betfred On 1 November we had to file our new-look Leigh, working to put the Championship opener against preliminary 2019 squad list to the RFL. pride back into the club. His fantastic Toulouse Olympique. On it were just two names. By three-minute feature on ITV Granada It’s great to be back isn’t it? Last Christmas we had 20 and the reached out to 750k viewers. Sunday’s Warm Up game against metamorphosis was almost complete. The last few weeks have been hectic, London Broncos was a really The key to it all, appointing John Duffy preparing for the season and at the worthwhile exercise and it was great to as coach. He immediately injected Championship launch at York there was see over 2,000 Leigh fans in the positivity, local knowledge and a ready a palpable air of excitement for the ground, despite the bitterly cold smile, a bulging contacts book and with prospects of a great competition to weather. it a long list of players who were come. We are extremely grateful to our bursting to play for the club. And all fantastic sponsors and supporters who Premier Club was also very busy and within the new, self sustainable and have committed to the club with shirt Des Drummond really enjoyed himself heavily reduced budget. and player sponsorship and by buying as guest of honour and got a fantastic season tickets and supporting LISA in reception from everyone in the room One by one I interviewed the newcomers for club press releases, a their valued fund-raising efforts. and at half-time when he made the .......................................................... draw. job I've done on and off for over 30 years. I must admit you can get weary It’s been great to welcome local 2018 was an Annus horribilis for Leigh with the banalities and the sanitised businessman Steve Hill on the fans and as Chairman I felt a heavy nature of quotes. But I realised this was operational board. responsibility on my hunched different. Every player laid bare their shoulders. From missing out on the top emotions in a way you just don't get four by a point and the resultant loss of from elite athletes these days. over £1m in central funding July, August, September and October were For four successive Saturdays I saw months of great uncertainty and that in evidence. Arduous, old school concern. It was a case of so near, yet fitness training. Rivington was visited so far. Derek’s detailed statement, twice, the punishing Japanese Garden issued on 29 November, outlines the steps where elite boxers and cricketer process and he deserves unequivocal Freddie Flintoff trained, the Two Bobs support and gratitude for the selfless ascent off George's Lane, Haigh Hall way he worked tirelessly, supported by and Swinley close to the old Central others to save the club and put it on a Park and Borsdane Woods near Hindley safe footing. where the climb up the steps from the river bank is a true test, of both Steve Hill .......................................................... character and stamina. It was weird. Just as I felt at my Steve, through his company Hilltop With no kit available the first session lowest, the true spirit of Rugby Products Ltd, is the main shirt sponsor we looked like Ragtag and Bobtail- until and has already brought so many League shone through. The the training started. By week three, Dewsbury officials and staff were qualities to the running of the club. when the gear arrived, we looked a After many years of devoted service as fantastic to us, their hospitality and team. Just before Christmas, in friendliness outstanding. operations director Steve Openshaw obligatory Christmas dress special bond has stood down due to increased And 600 Leigh fans made their way to had been achieved between players business commitments. Steve’s Featherstone for the Shield final, and coaches, with Joe Cator, newly contribution has been immeasurable turning what could have been a funeral recruited from Hull KR, looking every and it was a pleasure to invite him to into a celebration. They cheered one of inch a future Brendan Foster in a become a life member of the Club. their own, Martyn Ridyard, little fetching elf outfit and local lad Mitch realising that just a few weeks later Cox, straight off a night shift, smashing Mike Latham, he'd be back. Or that the Fev coach a circuit used by elite fell runners. Chairman • THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF LEIGH CENTURIONS RLFC THE CENTURION 3 aaa Leigh v Toulouse 56pp.qxp_Layout 1 01/02/2019 08:39 Page 4 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB HONOURSWinter era (1895-96 to 1995-96) WHO’S WHO Championship Winners: AT LEIGH CENTURIONS 1905-06, 1981-82 Division Two Champions: Owner Kit Managers 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89 Mr Derek Beaumont Mr Sean Fairhurst Challenge Cup Winners: Operational Board Of Directors Mr Frank Taylor 1921, 1971 Mr Michael Latham (Chairman) Statistician Lancashire Cup Winners: Mr Jason Huyton Mr Cliff Sumner 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 Mr Steve Hill Social Media Manager (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, 1951, 1963, 1969) Chief Executive Mr Darren Lilly BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: Mr Matthew Chantler Retail Outlet Manager 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) Honorary Life President Ms Gillian Jolley South West Lancashire & Border Mr Brian Bowman IT Manager Towns Cup Winners: 1901 Honorary Vice President Mr Andrew Parkinson ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 Mr Andy Burnham MP Club Ambassador Summer era (1996 to date) Mr Alex Murphy OBE Promotion to Super League: 2004,2016 Life Members Official Club Photographers League Leaders: Mr Tommy Coleman Mr Jerry Lyons Premiership 2001, Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart National League One 2004, Mr Michael Latham SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) Championship 2014,2015,2016 Mr John Massey Manager Grand Final Winners: Mr Steve Openshaw Ms Christine Brown National League One 2004, Mr Fred Parkinson Assistant Manager Championship 2014 (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, Mr Alan Platt Mr Jonathan Simpkin National League One 2003) Mr Frank Taylor Co-Ordinator National league Cup Winners: Mr John Woods Mr Paul Robinson 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013 (runners-up 2003) Head Coach Leigh Community Trust Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: Mr John Duffy Programmes Director 2001 (runners-up 2000) Assistant Coaches Ms Hannah Forbes Mr Paul Anderson Community Development Mr Micky Higham (Strength & Co-Ordinator Conditioning) Ms Heather Parker-Preece CLUBHighest Score For:RECORDS Match Day Support Staff Social Inclusion Officers 92-2 v Keighley, 1986 Mr Jason Duffy Mr Mick Nanyn Highest Score Against: Mr Dean Gaskell Mr Michael Ostick 4-94 vWorkington Town, 1995 Physiotherapist Mr Ste Maden Highest Home Attendance: Mr Joe McLoughlin 31,326 v St Helens, 1953 Highest Home Attendance at LSV: 10,556 v Batley Bulldogs, 2016 GAME RECORDS Tries: 6 by Jack Wood in 1947 and Neil Turley in 2001 Goals: 15 by Mick Stacey in 1976 Points: 42 by Neil Turley in 2004 LeighCONTACT Centurions DETAILSor tweet us @LeighCenturions SEASONAL RECORDS Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Tries: 55 by Neil Turley in 2001 Sale Way, Leigh WN7 4JY Email: General Enquiries - Goals: 187 by Neil Turley in 2004 Telephone: 01942 487887 Points: 468 by Neil Turley in 2004 Commercial Sales: 01942 487898 enquiries@leighrl .co.uk Commercial Sales - CAREER RECORDS Facebook: neil.barker@leighrl .co.uk Appearances: 503 by Albert Worrall facebook.com/leighcenturionsfanpage Lottery Tries: 189 by Mick Martyn lottery@leighrl. co.uk Goals: 1043 by Jimmy Ledgard Twitter: Points: 2492 by John Woods twitter.com/LeighCenturions aaa Leigh v Toulouse 56pp.qxp_Layout 1 01/02/2019 08:39 Page 5 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB HEADCOACH’S COACHAs I say, JOHN we started reallyCOLUMN well andDUFFY got our and we look forward to their fantastic completions up high in that first 20 and support throughout the year at home and once we made a few subs it dropped a away. little bit. We knew we may be a bit rusty ............................................................. in certain areas but I thought we might I’m grateful to St Helens for agreeing have handled things and scenarios better a dual registration agreement which than we did. will benefit us greatly throughout the We had chances throughout the game, year. Today Luke Douglas begins a but I thought our one on one finishing loan spell. could have been a little bit better because He is an outstanding player who I know we’ve done a lot of work on that area. It’s well from our time together with Scotland a learning experience but we’ve got to get and I went on record as saying he was better because the games come thick the most professional player I’ve ever and fast. seen. I’m really proud of the players’ efforts, the Luke will have a big impact during his way we defended the line in the first 40, time with us and the younger players can was outstanding. You can see the pride in only benefit from having someone with the jersey straight away with that. But Welcome to LSV and also the players, his experience in the squad. we’ve just got be smarter. We knew the officials and supporters of Toulouse I was delighted to invite Micky Higham to Olympique.