A BRONZE statue of Leigh Centurions legend John Woods will be officially unveiled this month after more than £30,000 has been raised for the special tribute.

The 30ft statue of the top points scorer in the club's history will be located outside the reception of their Leigh Sports Village stadium.

It will be unveiled by Woody himself at 12.30pm on Saturday, September 17 – just a few days after his 60th birthday.

Other former Centurions players championed 'Woody's statue' idea and fundraising efforts and donations have enabled the plan to become a reality.

Jason Donohue, 44, who lives in Leigh and played in 93 games for the Centurions after making his debut in 1989, was part of a committee leading the fundraising.

He said: “It should be a great event as John himself will be unveiling the statue in front of his family, the community who admire him and officials.

“People in Leigh should be proud of raising the money needed to get this project off the ground, and it shows how much people love John by how they have taken to this idea.

“For the town of Leigh to do this for him has overwhelmed him a bit, but I know he is proud to have inspired so many people.

“It will look fantastic and be a real focal point as people drive onto the LSV site off the bypass.

"And each and every person will be able to look at it and know they had a part in making it a reality."

Mawdesley sculptor Stephen Charnock, of Scartworks Ltd, took on the mammoth task of creating the bronze statue, which will be placed on its plinth this week.

Leigh MP Andy Burnham and Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council, will be among the guests for the grand unveiling.

Woody scored 2,492 points for the club when he starred for them in the 1970s and 80s.