History
Leigh Rugby Union Club recently celebrated its 50th season. In 1949 there was an attempt to identify the interests of the students at Leigh Technical College and a notice appeared asking for players for various sport. Under the guidance of vice-principal K.R. Isherwood, the first captain of the rugby team, Eddie Lindley, decided that they would play Rugby Union, rather than League .The Technical College was the initial headquarters, followed by stints at the Sportsman, Oak Tree Root and The Village Inn.
The first significant move was in 1956, when the club changed its name to Leigh Rugby Union Football Club. Following this change a tenancy was secured for two winter seasons at Howe Bridge Cricket Club, but it was realised that this was only a temporary move and that if the club was to really progress, permanent headquarters would have to be found.
This was finally achieved when the present ground at Hand Lane was secured, mainly through the efforts of J. Eric Davies, the Club President.
The clubhouse itself was originally an old barn and was converted by the efforts of club members, whose hopes were at last realised when, on September 13th 1961, a match was played against a representative side to mark the official opening of the new clubhouse. The members of the representative squad came from the Anchor, Ashton-on-Mersey, Burnage, De La Salle and Widnes Rugby Clubs. The match was lost by 8-3, but Brian Cain became the first Leigh player to score points for the Leigh Club at its new headquarters. In October 1973 a complete renovation of the two lounges was undertaken and this represented the completion of a five year development plan that had been developed and embarked upon in 1968. Further developments were undertaken in the close season of 1998 with extensions to the changing rooms and a complete re-development of the shower area and entrance hall.
The first significant move was in 1956, when the club changed its name to Leigh Rugby Union Football Club. Following this change a tenancy was secured for two winter seasons at Howe Bridge Cricket Club, but it was realised that this was only a temporary move and that if the club was to really progress, permanent headquarters would have to be found.
This was finally achieved when the present ground at Hand Lane was secured, mainly through the efforts of J. Eric Davies, the Club President.
The clubhouse itself was originally an old barn and was converted by the efforts of club members, whose hopes were at last realised when, on September 13th 1961, a match was played against a representative side to mark the official opening of the new clubhouse. The members of the representative squad came from the Anchor, Ashton-on-Mersey, Burnage, De La Salle and Widnes Rugby Clubs. The match was lost by 8-3, but Brian Cain became the first Leigh player to score points for the Leigh Club at its new headquarters. In October 1973 a complete renovation of the two lounges was undertaken and this represented the completion of a five year development plan that had been developed and embarked upon in 1968. Further developments were undertaken in the close season of 1998 with extensions to the changing rooms and a complete re-development of the shower area and entrance hall.
RSS Feeds