Story of Mr Rugby Leigh, Tommy Sale, ready to be told (From Leigh Journal)

Story of Mr Rugby Leigh, Tommy Sale, ready to be told

6:31pm Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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THE story of a man whose name has long been synonymous with rugby league, and Leigh RLFC in particular, is ready to be told.

Mr Rugby Leigh is the story of Tommy Sale, a rugby league hero, who has devoted more than 80 years of his life to the sport whether as a player, coach, administrator and fan.

Since his initial involvement as a scoreboard operator for his beloved Leigh at the age of 10, Tommy's enthusiasm for the 13-a-side code has rarely wavered.

He broke into Leigh's first team at the age of 20 and became their first post-War captain.

Away from the playing action, he spent month after back-breaking month overseeing the construction of the club's old Hilton Park stadium.

And that dedication continued after retirement when, among a string of other roles, he triggered the audacious coup that lured all-time great Alex Murphy to Leigh.

Tommy has remained at the heart of the Leigh club into his 90s and still serves diligently as timekeeper, while providing a friendly face as president.

Only the Second World War interrupted Tommy's love affair with rugby league, and his time at Leigh is punctuated only by a brief stint at Warrington and one glorious, career-defining spell at Widnes.

Yet this is a story about much more than rugby.

It is a tale of how one man came from humble beginnings to being a pillar of society.

Tommy Sale overcame an abusive father, survived the horrors of war and suffered intense personal tragedy.

He has been a shopkeeper, council official, teacher and headmaster.

Told with characteristic warmth and remarkable modesty, Mr Rugby Leigh encapsulates the life of a true rugby league legend.

The book is now finished and it is due out tomorrow, Friday, while it will be officially launched with two signing sessions on February 14.

The first will be after the Leigh v Featherstone game in the Legends Bar at Leigh Sports Village from 5pm to 6pm and then on to Leigh East from about 6.15pm.

Further signing events are planned at Leigh RUFC and the Scrum Down Under sports shop on Railway Road, Leigh.