Leigh Centurions V HALIFAX

Leigh Centurions v HALIFAX SUNDAY 9TH JUNE 2019 @ 3PM FROM# LEYTHERS THE TOP# OURTOWNOURCLUB Welcome to Leigh Sports Village for conditioning work and took part in some For Jamie Acton, sadly his playing days this afternoon’s Betfred punishing Saturday morning training are over. Jamie announced his retirement Championship game against Halifax. sessions at places like Rivington Pike and from the game recently due to injury, a The visit of ‘Fax is always one of the Borsdane Woods. Seeing at first hand the career sadly cut short far too early. The highlights of the season and it’s great to extent to which our players push board have invited Jamie and his family meet up with old friends and chew the themselves to prepare for playing the down to LSV to celebrate his career and fat. Halifax are one of a declining number game for our enjoyment is a humbling say thanks to the Leigh fans in the north of clubs who really make you welcome at experience. and west stands and hopefully he will be their ground and MC Pete Emmett does a Doubtless the Halifax players went able to do this shortly. It goes without brilliant job hosting their banqueting suite through exactly the same kind of rigorous saying that we all wish him every success before the game. It was great to spend pre-season activities. After all, there are and happiness in the future. time chatting with Wilf George when we far more hills around Halifax than there ............................................................. visited The Shay earlier this season and are around Leigh and great days like last Maurice Bamford Wilf must have been as proud as anyone Sunday, beating Bradford at Odsal in front last Sunday after the tremendous of a national television audience must Challenge Cup win at Bradford. make those arduous winter sessions Wilf, of course, was a member of that worthwhile. great Halifax side that lifted the Challenge Luke Douglas played his 350th career Cup in 1987 at Wembley when Leigh’s game against Toulouse and head coach own John Pendlebury played such a John Duffy put together a moving video crucial role in the thrilling victory. John presentation with contributions from some was one of my all-time favourite players of the great players he has played and his attitude and dedication to the alongside over his career. Luke has really game was second to none. Halifax will enjoyed his time at Leigh and his high represent the Championship with pride in levels of professionalism and willingness the semi-final and we wish them every to impart his wisdom to other members of success in their daunting task against St the squad make it very easy to Finally, it was sad to learn of the Helens. understand why Duffs rates him so highly passing of the great Maurice What Halifax’s achievement does do is as the most professional player he has Bamford, a Rugby League man reinforce the belief that the playing coached. through and through and someone I standards in the Championship continue Pre-match in Premier Club there was got to know well over the years. to rise every year. I was having this chance for a fascinating chat with James Maurice coached Wigan, Leeds and Great discussion with Martyn Ridyard before the Laithwaite, looking back on the highs and Britain but also was not afraid to get his game last Sunday and Ridy confirmed lows of his career and how he managed hands dirty at some of the game’s less that in his opinion the Championship is a to continually come back from serious fashionable clubs. I remember him superb competition with some very injuries, including four broken legs over coming to Chorley and immediately talented and committed players. his career to return to the field. James is imbuing everyone with his passion for the The next two home games could well go a another who has relished playing at Leigh game. He’s remembered fondly for his long way towards deciding our hopes of a and is really enjoying his rugby this time at today’s visitors Halifax. Maurice top-five finish and it will be great to see season. Many people who heard his regularly came on the radio show I used two big LSV crowds with lots of noise interview told me later they found James’ to host on BBC Radio Lancashire and I generated from the passionate fans of s words very inspiring. only wish I’d kept copies of some of the both sides. By contrast last week’s game Jake Emmitt should today become the recordings as the tales he told were quite against Workington was a relatively low- latest member of the Leigh Hundred Club, brilliant. key occasion but looking back on the an ambition he wanted to quickly realise Maurice was a fantastic character whose LCTV highlights some of the quality of the when he returned to the club earlier this love of the game shone through in every 11 tries Leigh scored was outstanding season. On the club website there’s a full word he spoke and every word he wrote and reinforced the skill levels of the list with accompanying photo and stats of in his latter career as a prolific writer and players. every Leigh player to achieve this feat. author, I helped Maurice in his biography Brad Holroyd earned heritage number The list makes impressive reading. The of my good friend Kevin Ashcroft and it 1488 on debut last Sunday and I know pride of players achieving a career was a laugh a minute dealing with those how proud he was to mark the occasion milestone is great to see and it’s two and recalling some of the great with a try in front of the North Stand. I got fascinating to be reminded of just how stories of the past. It was entitled Last of to know Brad in pre season when he was today’s players greatly value their part the Dinosaurs. RIP. involved in all the stamina and shaping the continuing history of our club. Enjoy the game, Mike THE CENTURION • THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF LEIGH CENTURIONS RLFC 3 # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB HONOURS WHO’S WHO Winter era AT LEIGH CENTURIONS (1895-96 to 1995-96) Championship Winners: COACH’S COLUMN Owner Statistician 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 HEAD COACH JOHN DUFFY Mr Michael Latham (Chairman) Mr Darren Lilly Challenge Cup Winners: Mr Jason Huyton Retail Outlet Manager 1921, 1971 Mr Steve Hill Ms Gillian Jolley Lancashire Cup Winners: professional, the best I’ve ever worked Chief Executive IT Manager 1952, 1955, 1970, 1981 with and he deserved the recognition and Mr Matthew Chantler Mr Andrew Parkinson (runners-up 1909, 1920, 1922, 1949, he spoke with great passion and humility Honorary Life President Club Ambassador 1951, 1963, 1969) at the after-match presentation. Mr Brian Bowman Mr Alex Murphy OBE BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: We now move on to two massive games Honorary Vice President Official Club Photographers 1969, 1972 (runners-up 1968, 1976) against Halifax and Bradford. As I’ve said Mr Andy Burnham Mr Jerry Lyons South West Lancashire & Border Towns Cup Winners: 1901 before, the table will change week by Life Members SuperLeigh (Hilton Park Society) ITA TV Trophy runners-up 1955 week and it’s so tight in the top half with Mr Tommy Coleman Manager Summer era (1996 to date) maybe eight clubs vying for a play-off Dr Morris Doublet-Stewart Ms Christine Brown Promotion to Super League: place. Having lost both of the away Mr Michael Latham Assistant Manager games we need to learn the lessons and Mr John Massey Mr Jonathan Simpkin 2004,2016 Mr Steve Openshaw Co-Ordinator League Leaders: give it our best shot to get the result we Mr Fred Parkinson Mr Paul Robinson Premiership 2001, want. Mr Alan Platt National League One 2004, For the first time in a long time there’s a Leigh Community Trust Championship 2014,2015,2016 Mr Allan Rowley real competition for places this week with Programmes Director Grand Final Winners: Mr Frank Taylor several players coming back to fitness Mr John Woods Ms Hannah Forbes National League One 2004, Community Manager Championship 2014 having missed out last week and in Paul Anders and John Duffy compare notes Head Coach Ms Heather Parker-Preece (runners-up: Premiership 2000, 2002, recent games. As Nick Gregson and Mitch Mr John Duffy Youth Mental Health Officers National League One 2003) Cox showed last week the success of any Assistant Coaches Mr Mick Nanyn National league Cup Winners: Welcome to LSV for this afternoon’s Holroyd for his debut. I thought the lads team is based upon the strength of your Mr Paul Anderson Mr Michael Ostick 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013 game against Halifax. Grixy’s done a who played went in and stood up and squad and every player has to be in the Mr Micky Higham Mens Health Officer (runners-up 2003) great job since he took over at Fax young Brad was absolutely superb as (Strength & Conditioning) Mr Ste Maden right frame of mind and condition to take Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: and apart from a defeat at Batley his well. It was a good win and we didn’t get Mr Jason Duffy Sky Try Primary Lead Coach their place when selected. 2001 (runners-up 2000) Match Day Support Staff Tom Simms side have been flying.

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