Leigh Centurions SUvN DBAAY R7TRHO AWPRI LR 2A01ID9 E@R 3S PM # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB April is a challenging month for all the teams in the Championship, especially those which have progressed into the fifth round of the cup. Five games, including This afternoon we extend a warm players I spoke to, with many appreciating two in four days over the Easter period, welcome to the players, officials and the fast, full-sized playing surface and the will test the stamina and by the time May FsuppoRrters ofO BarrowM Raiders asT we HoppoErtunity to pTlay an eOxpansivPe game in comes along the Championship season make a welcome return to LSV the ideal conditions against those that felt will be almost halfway through. We will following our travels. Barrow’s experiencing those hard, unforgiving also have a clearer idea of the RFL’s plans interest in the Coral Challenge Cup surfaces week on week would shorten for prospective new clubs in Ottowa and ended last Sunday but they now have their playing careers in the long run. New York who have both expressed an the 1895 Cup to look forward to later .............................................................. interest in joining the competition. No in the season and an opportunity to Sheffield Eagles are nearly 20 years doubt the RFL will conduct a thorough play at Wembley is a great incentive on from when they re-formed after audit to ascertain if they fit in with their for all the clubs outside Super the old club ‘merged’ with strategy and objectives and the views of League. Huddersfield Giants. I remember their the Super League clubs will also be vital. It was great to see so many Leigh fans first game, at Victory Park Chorley Among the issues to be considered are if make the trip across the Pennines for a just after Christmas in 1999. they help bring more fans, viewers, second successive Sunday for our cup-tie It was the last ever game played in the players etc to the game or whether their at Sheffield. The clash with Mother’s Day 1900s. Mark Aston remembers it too, for reliance on an already shrinking UK player meant the following, understandably, was he lost three front teeth that day and it pool will lead to more players leaving down on the usual numbers but we still was like starting out all over again just 18 English based clubs to join the adventure boasted a travelling support that must be months after he’d reached the pinnacle for overseas and thus potentially weakening the envy of many clubs. a player of lifting both the Lance Todd Super League and the Championship in The scenes at the end as the players and Trophy and the Challenge Cup following the short run. There are many other coaching staff came over to applaud the their epic Wembley win over Wigan. considerations with the potential for fans again demonstrated the tremendous increased commercial deals and television Aston, Keith Senior and the long-serving exposure balanced against other issues. bond which has quickly developed official Dick Pepper, who has been between the Centurions team of 2019 and involved with Eagles right back to their Among these are the effects of having full supporters. John Duffy has assembled a foundation in 1984 personify the fighting time teams in part time leagues, the team of players that wear their heart on spirit and determination of what remains a spend on players, where they play games their sleeves and whose pride in playing club struggling to establish the game in a amd how they play games (block fixtures for the club is evident in every soccer- dominated city. After a nomadic etc). The impact of travel on players and performance. It was personified by Mitch existence they’ve finally laid down roots at the impact on the league structure (if a Cox who produced a fine performance on the Olympic Legacy Park but the facilities limit, say, was placed on non-member the wing and then had to rush off to are obviously still far from those which clubs in Super League then this may commence a night shift at work. Such are would be expected from a professional impact on promotion and relegation). The the sacrifices part-time players make for team playing in the Championship. I terms of entry and shares of distribution the game they love. sincerely hope that the Eagles can build moneys and guarantees over financial Looking at the lacerated knees and elbows and thrive because in Aston they have a viability. Key to it is assessing what have of the players afterwards though was a leader with an indomitable spirit who Toronto brought to the table? Do the RFL reminder of the perils lurking in an never gives in. His ability to assemble deem them a success? If so, what apparently immaculate-looking 4g pitch competitive and talented teams on a statistics back that up? and again makes you question whether relatively shoestring budget time and time .............................................................. Rugby League should really be played on again is also admirable and despite the What’s evident to me talking to fans these kinds of surfaces, which are many setbacks his Eagles have at Bradford and Sheffield recently is increasingly popular for both training and encountered his love of Rugby League that many of our supporters love matches. The jury seemed split among the remains undimmed. watching the club home and away and while some may consider a one- off trip to say Toronto it’s prohibitively expensive to go every year. Many complained that some Championship clubs play Toronto in this country- Sheffield are playing them at London this weekend- but Leigh have to go over to Canada at the height of the summer. Unless there are compelling reasons and evidence as to why it’ll benefit the remaining Championship and League One clubs and they can address the many issues allowing them in would bring it’s a no from me. Team hug Enjoy the game Mike Latham- Chairman • 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: 1921, 1971 Mr Jason Huyton Retail Outlet Manager COACHand ’therSe have bee n a Clot of chanOges in LscoreUd showedM great combN ination and Mr Steve Hill Ms Gillian Jolley Lancashire Cup Winners: HEAD COACH JOHN DUFFY Chief Executive IT Manager 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 that intervening period. invention and defensively we looked Mr Matthew Chantler Mr Andrew Parkinson (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, What may be more relevant is a famous sound. We had to readjust after Stefan Honorary Life President Club Ambassador 1951, 1963, 1969) cup win Leigh had as a part-time team Marsh pulled out with a knee injury in the Mr Brian Bowman Mr Alex Murphy OBE BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: back in 1996 when they went to Rovers warm-up and Andy Thornley switched to Honorary Vice President Official Club Photographers 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) and pulled off a shock 24-0 victory. A lot centre and did a sterling job. Mr Andy Burnham Mr Jerry Lyons South West Lancashire & Border of people still talk about that win and the It was a big game for Luke Adamson, the Towns Cup Winners: 1901 way the fans went to the team hotel and 300th of his career and we marked the Life Members SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 cheered the players on to the bus as they feat with a special shirt presentation at Mr Tommy Coleman Manager Summer era (1996 to date) made their way to the ground. A lot of training on Thursday. Luke’s been a great Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart Ms Christine Brown Promotion to Super League: Leigh players that day like Paul Daniel, professional over the years having started Mr Michael Latham Assistant Manager 2004,2016 Mr John Massey Mr Jonathan Simpkin Chris Wilkinson, Tau Liku and David out playing at Leigh East in the shadow of League Leaders: ingram still watch the team regularly. This Hilton park. At Salford he made a Mr Steve Openshaw Co-Ordinator Premiership 2001, Mr Fred Parkinson Mr Paul Robinson week a few of our older supporters have reputation as a tackling machine but his National League One 2004, Mr Alan Platt stopped me and talked about their game now is far more than that. You can Championship 2014,2015,2016 Mr Frank Taylor Leigh Community Trust It was very pleasing to come away memories of that day. see how much he is enjoying his rugby Mr John Woods Programmes Director Grand Final Winners: and playing alongside his brother Toby National League One 2004, from Sheffield on Sunday evening We know where we’re at as a team and Ms Hannah Forbes with a well-earned victory and with that’s why the second half at Bradford and for Leigh. 300 games in the modern Head Coach Community Manager Championship 2014 game is a terrific achievement and Luke (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, it progression into the fifth round of was so disappointing as I felt we didn’t do Mr John Duffy Ms Heather Parker-Preece the Coral Challenge Cup. can be rightly proud of that.