PRICE £2.50 KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP LEIGH CENTURIONS v DEWSBURY RAMS SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER 2013 AT LEIGH SPORTS VILLAGE Kick Off 3:00pm Main Match Sponsor Match Ball Sponsor CLUB CONTACTS FROM THE Telephone: Facebook: 01942 487887 www.facebook.com/leighcenturionsfanpage EDITOR By ALAN EDGE Email: Twitter: General Enquiries – twitter.com/LeighCenturions WHO’S WHO [email protected] or tweet us @LeighCenturions At Leigh Centurions Today’s Visitors Although it is a huge ask of the team, they have already shown Hon Life President that they are capable of beating the three teams above us in the Mr Tommy Sale MBE his afternoon we table, and wouldn’t it be a great occasion to take part in a Grand Tbid a warm ‘Leyther’ Hon Vice President NEXT UP AT LSV Final, at our own stadium? Of course, there is just the small Mr Andy Burnham MP welcome to the players, matter of doing something that we haven’t achieved since 2004 – Hon Life Members officials and namely, actually winning a play-off game! Mr Brian Bowman supporters of Dewsbury Mr Tommy Coleman Kingstone Press Rams, for the final Kingstone Press Prize money is allocated to the participating clubs, as follows: - Mr Frank Taylor Championship Play-Offs Championship league fixture of the Championship leaders - £25,000; Grand Final winners - £50,000; Supervisory Board Chairman: season. Grand Final Runners up - £30,000; 3rd place (after play-offs) - Mr John Roddy If we finish 3rd or 4th, £12,000; 4th place - £10,000; 5th place - £6,000; 6th place - we will play away in Week 1 Operations Director: At the time of writing, Dewsbury occupy seventh place in the £4,000; 7th place - £2,000; 8th place - £1,000. Mr Allan Mazey Should we lose in Week 1, we will be at home in Week 2 Championship table and should, barring a freak set of results, be Board Of Management to be played between Friday 13th taking part in the end of season play-offs. That should be viewed The Whitehaven Game Mr Michael Norris and Sunday 15th September as a major achievement of new coach Glenn Morrison, who has In our previous home fixture, the 44-6 defeat of Mr Derek Beaumont If we win in Week 1, we will be at home in Week 3 invested in a number of youthful signings, to complement a few Whitehaven, our backs all registered tries. One of the Mr Andy Mazey experienced signings. We are delighted to welcome back, former Mr Alan Platt to be played between Thursday 19th features of this season is how the tries have been shared Mr Steve Openshaw and Sunday 22nd September Leigh forwards, Tommy Gallagher, and Steve Nash, in Dewsbury out among the team. colours. Mr Neil Wilcock Watch the press and club/fans websites for details Nevertheless, it is somewhat unusual to see the backs score all Ms Jackie Mottershead Whilst Dewsbury’s victories have (so far!) all been against teams All to pay eight tries, and for each one of them to score. Stuart Littler was Mr Trevor Barton MBE below them in the table, it is well worth noting that they have the ‘greedy’ back who scored twice. Company Secretary picked up bonus points against Sheffield, Featherstone and Batley, The North Leigh Park Group Mr John Massey in addition to dumping Halifax out of the Northern Rail Cup, so First Team Coach Mr Paul Rowley Paul and the boys will need to be at their best today, to gain the For the Swinton and Whitehaven home games, we Assistant Coach HONOURS CLUB RECORDS victory that would ensure fourth place in the table. received information from North Leigh Park Group too Mr Neil Jukes Championship Winners: Biggest Victory: In keeping with virtually all our visitors this season, (and late to publish in the programme. Under 20's Coach 1905-06 92-2 vs Keighley (1986) ourselves) Dewsbury’s home gates have shown a drastic reduction Their guests at the Swinton game were the Wigan, Leigh & District Mr Paul Anderson Division One Champions: Biggest Defeat: on last season’s. Their average home Championship crowd has Society for the Blind, who are a small charity working to help Under 18's Training Squad 1981-82 4-94 vs Workington Town (1995) been 828, compared with 1,134 in 2012 – a reduction of 27% - blind and partially sighted people lead full lives in the local area. Coaches Division Two Champions: Highest Home Attendance: despite finishing outside the play-off spots last season. The charity is looking for help with collections; If you can help, Mr Bob Beswick 1977-78, 1985-86, 1988-89 31,326 vs St Helens (1953) please visit www.wiganleighsocietyfortheblind.btck.co.uk. Mr Stuart Littler Challenge Cup Winners: Lowest Post War Home Attendance: Jy-Mel Coleman Junior Elite Training Squad Guests at the Whitehaven game were Cadence Cafe CIC. Cadence 1920-21, 1970-71 451 vs Hull (1975) Highly talented Rams’ half-back Jy-Mel Coleman was one Coaches Lancashire Cup Winners: Most Tries in a game: Cafe offers an oasis for young people interested in the arts, who Mr Simon Knox of coach Glenn Morrison’s first signings this season, from cannot usually access them, to nurture young talent across Wigan 1952-53, 1955-56, 1970-71, 1981-82 Jack Wood 6 v York (1947), Keighley. The former Leeds Met. Student has, despite Mr Tim Hartley Neil Turley 6 v Workington Town (2001) and Leigh. The cafe are undertaking two six month courses for BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: only being in the professional game for two years, built Mr Martin Ellis Most Goals in a game: young people to get training in music and film production; to find Physiotherapists 1969-70, 1972-73 up a strong reputation based on his ability to find gaps, Promotion To Top Division achieved Mick Stacey 15 vs Doncaster (1976) out more, please visit http://www.cadencecafecic.co.uk Jo Seddon and his astute kicking game. Steve Blakeley (Not as Champions): Most Points in a game: Club Ambassador 1963-64, 1975-76, 1991-92 Neil Turley 42 vs Chorley (2004) Unfortunately, at the end of July, Jy-Mel collapsed at a training Mr Alex Murphy OBE Other Promotion season: Most Tries in a season: session, and spent a week in Dewsbury and District Hospital, Today’s Mascot Business Manager 1997 (Division 3 to Division 2) Neil Turley 55 (2001) undergoing tests to determine the cause of his collapse. He is Rob Parker Northern Ford Minor Premiership Most Goals in a season: under strict instructions not to over exert himself for six months, Lottery Manager Winners: 2001 Neil Turley 187 (2004) and is undergoing a strictly monitored recovery process. Everyone Today’s mascot is Ms Christine Brown Trans-Pennine Cup Winners: Most Points in a season: at the Leigh club would like to extend their best wishes to Jy-Mel Corey Mather, Corey Lottery Co-ordinator 2001 Neil Turley 468 (2004) for a swift and full recovery. is seven years old and Mr Jonathan Simpkin Arriva Trains Cup Winners: Most Tries in a career: attends Leigh CE Finance Manager 2004 Mick Martyn 189 (1954-67) The Play-Offs Junior School. Ms Jane Smith LHF National League 1 Champions: Most Goals in a career: We will not know, until after today’s final round of Webmaster & Ticket Sales 2004 Jimmy Ledgard 1043 (1948-58) matches, who our play-off opponents will be next week. Mr Andrew Parkinson LHF National League 1 Grand Final Most Points in a career: Should we be fortunate enough today, to secure the one Club Accountants Winners: 2004 John Woods 2492 (1976-85, 1990-92) point necessary to keep Batley in fifth place, we will be Styles & Co Northern Rail Cup Winners: Most Appearances: Hon Programme Editor 2006, 2011, 2013 Albert Worrall – 503 (1920-38) away to either Featherstone or Sheffield in week one. Mr Alan Edge What happens after that is explained in my ‘Flat Cap’ feature, on page 12 of this magazine. 2 THE CENTURION www.leighcenturions.com www.leighlife.com THE CENTURION 3 FROM THE TOP By Chairman JOHN RODDY cannot believe how fast this relationships with so many individuals, groups and associations I season has gone; it really does connected with Rugby League and our local community. seem like only a few months since I Our supporters really do need to appreciate that whilst Paul was studying the fixtures for the Rowley looks to build his very best team to deal with the playing 2013 season and wondering, probably demands, it’s my job to build the strongest team possible to like yourselves, what the season ensure that we can support Paul, and for us to achieve the very would hold for us. best results at the end of the 2014 season. Here we are end of season, Northern Rail Cup As part of my review, I have recognised that it is vital that the RFL Champions, securing a place in the Play Offs, changes in recognise Leigh Centurions’ strengths as a club financially, its management, a more positive cash flow and a feel of resources, and the passion of our supporters. Trevor will work with real optimism around the club. me to achieve this and I cannot think of a better person to take on Things are moving very quickly, particularly on the commercial this challenge. We have much to do in this area and our progress front, and during this week the Board of Management have met during the following months I am sure will become apparent to finalise our plans to improve our financial performance further during the next few months.