Leigh Centurions SvUN SDHAYE 5FTFHI EMLAYD 2 E01A9G @L 3EPS M # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB Welcome to LSV for this afternoon’s most respected playing teams outside the The connect between the team and the Betfred Championship game against top flight and in a new home built on the fans is something really special this year Sheffield Eagles. It’s game number 13 footprint of Don Valley. I may be in a and long may that continue. In such a of the league campaign so by around minority, but I loved going to Don Valley, punishing sport as Rugby League the F5pm thisR evening wOe will haveM played not leTast for a pHre-match viEsit to the TdemanOds on part-P time players are each one of our Championship Cocked Hat, sadly just like the stadium no incredible and their bravery and dedication opponents and the season will be longer with us. is something to be admired. virtually halfway through. It’s Anyone who’s visited Olympic Legacy Park I shared everyone’s anguish when Jonny amazing how quickly the last few will be under no illusions of the task facing Pownall sustained that serious injury months have flown by. Mark and the Sheffield stalwarts in against Dewsbury and wish him and Luke Sheffield are always tough and establishing an infrastructure worthy of a Adamson- facing an operation on his redoubtable opponents and in Mark Aston Championship club off the field but if broken elbow- every best wish in their have a vastly talented, experienced and anyone can do it, they can. It was good to recovery. committed person at the helm who lives see Dick Pepper, an Eagles stalwart since It was fantastic to learn that the injuries to and breathes the club. Mark and me go Gary Hetherington formed the club in Gregg McNally and Josh Woods were not back a long way and I well remember 1984, at our recent Challenge Cup game as serious as first thought. I know how some of the Eagles’ great days in the and doubtless, we shall meet up again much our supporters appreciate the 1990s when he was steering them around today. sacrifices our players- and those of every the park from scrum half. The Challenge .............................................................. club- make for our entertainment. Cup semi-final defeat of Salford and I’ve really enjoyed the season so far subsequent amazing cup final victory over Batley’s a dog-friendly stadium- it could and it was great to stand behind the hardly be anything else with the moniker Wigan at Wembley in 1998 were two posts with the Leigh fans at Batley. unforgettable occasions and Mark of Bulldogs- so Joe Cator’s dog Benji was Mount Pleasant holds special able to come along and Jerry Lyons able course won the Lance Todd Trophy on that memories for my wife Janet who was famous day. to capture a photo that’s gone viral on two weeks overdue expecting our social media. I used to report for League Express on a first child back in September 1990. Finally, it’s great to welcome Mike Clegg lot of games back in those days and With a Leigh game at Batley looming and covered a lot of the Eagles’ games and a and his Atherton Collieries squad as our me not having missed a Leigh game for guests this afternoon. Three promotions, stunning World Club Championship win many years there was only one thing for over Perth Western Reds at Don Valley to level three of the non-league game is a it- she came with me, sat on the then simply outstanding achievement, reflected Stadium is another game that lingers long grass bank at the far end and fortunately, in the memory. in Matt Lawton’s excellent article in this not only did Leigh win but we got back programme. The North Stand will give I remember too when I used to write over to the right side of the Pennines in them a raucous ovation at half-time which plenty of articles and interviews for time for Jennifer to be born in Lancashire. they fully deserve. League Express’s Friday paper which, Here we were 29 years on at Mount when edited by the estimable Tony Enjoy the game Pleasant in the sunshine and not only was Mike Hannan, was a wonderful publication and Janet with me but on the very same spot is much-missed. Eagles players like Paul where we sat all those years ago, we met Broadbent, Darren Turner, Paul Carr, up again with our great friends, the Lynton Stott and Richard Price became Smallshaw family whose three generations personal friends and it was great to see all follow the club avidly. Alan and his son the former recently with his son Blake, David were both at that game with us in now part of the Eagles playing squad. 1990. Only in rugby league could you So, too, the Eagles’ win at Chorley in the create memories like that. last ever game of rugby league played in Please pardon the trip down memory lane the 1900s when Mark led from the front but as I write this I am in a reflective mood as the re-formed club started out all over as our youngest daughter Sarah is getting again following the ‘merger’ that saw married on Friday, two days before the Sheffield ‘merge’ with Huddersfield. John Sheffield game. If she has learnt one thing Ledger, then writing in the Yorkshire Post, from her dad, it’s not to schedule things famously wrote that as part of the merger like weddings on a day when Leigh might the ‘new’ club took the ‘Hudders’ from be playing so at least I’ve taught her Huddersfield and the ‘field’ from Sheffield something. to arrive at Huddersfield. .............................................................. But for Mark’s unswerving bloody- mindedness the Eagles, just over a year It was brilliant to meet up with so after that Wembley win would have folded many Leigh fans at Batley and enjoy Joe and Benji but here they are, 20 years on one of the a great win in the sunshine. • 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: AOwTner LEIGH CENTURISOtatNisticS ian 1905-06, 1981-82 Mr Derek Beaumont Mr Cliff Sumner Division Two Champions: Operational Board Of Directors Social Media Manager 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89 Mr Michael Latham (Chairman) Mr Darren Lilly Challenge Cup Winners: Mr Jason Huyton Retail Outlet Manager 1921, 1971 COACH’S COLthey’Ure going toM have a thinN k and get rid Mr Steve Hill Ms Gillian Jolley Lancashire Cup Winners: HEAD COACH JOHN DUFFY Chief Executive IT Manager 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 of these Easter games because it kills Mr Matthew Chantler Mr Andrew Parkinson (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, your season off. We lost three or four Honorary Life President Club Ambassador 1951, 1963, 1969) players with injuries and it always Mr Brian Bowman Mr Alex Murphy OBE BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: happens around Easter. It’s silly asking Honorary Vice President Official Club Photographers 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) part-time teams to play two games in four Mr Andy Burnham Mr Jerry Lyons South West Lancashire & Border days as you invariably get injuries and we Towns Cup Winners: 1901 saw that with both sides having lads Life Members SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 being seen by the doctor. Mr Tommy Coleman Manager Summer era (1996 to date) Thankfully a couple of the injuries weren’t Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart Ms Christine Brown Promotion to Super League: as bad as we feared but sadly Jonny Mr Michael Latham Assistant Manager 2004,2016 Pownall’s season is over after he suffered Mr John Massey Mr Jonathan Simpkin League Leaders: Mr Steve Openshaw Co-Ordinator Premiership 2001, a serious knee injury late in the game, Mr Fred Parkinson Mr Paul Robinson National League One 2004, confirmed by an MRI scan. Jonny’s been Mr Alan Platt Championship 2014,2015,2016 outstanding for us and we’ll be doing all Mr Frank Taylor Leigh Community Trust we can to support him in his recovery. Mr John Woods Programmes Director Grand Final Winners: Ms Hannah Forbes National League One 2004, I think we have got to deal better with Head Coach Community Manager Championship 2014 teams coming trying to frustrate us. (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, Mr John Duffy Ms Heather Parker-Preece This afternoon we welcome Sheffield those qualities in abundance. Going in at That’s what teams have been doing on us National League One 2003) Assistant Coaches Youth Mental Health Officers Eagles to LSV in what is our only half-time with a lead meant everything. when they come to Leigh. Joe Cator, 80 Mr Paul Anderson Mr Mick Nanyn National league Cup Winners: minutes through the middle backing up 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013 home game during the month of May. We knew how hard it was defending that Mr Micky Higham Mr Michael Ostick It’s always special to step out in slope against the big Batley forwards. after Friday was outstanding. He’s a fit lad (Strength & Conditioning) Mens Health Officer (runners-up 2003) front of the North Stand and the and he’s been great for us and Micky Mr Jason Duffy Mr Ste Maden Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: Josh, Ridy and Ryan controlled the game (Higham) and Hoody (Liam Hood) at 6 and Match Day Support Staff Sky Try Primary Lead Coach 2001 (runners-up 2000) players will be going all out to and Ryan, on his second debut looked continue our good run ahead of a 7 at the end there – I don’t think that’s Mr Simon Svabic (team manager) Tom Simms really classy for us.