Pass the wash leather (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh RL greats should be welcomed

9:13pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Letters

AFTER Paul Rowley's squad's promising start to the season, and director John Roddy's statement that Leigh Centurions need to boost the crowd to 2,000 to meet financial obligations, I was saddened to hear about the rift between the club and Leigh Past Players Association.

I know we can't live in the past but every other Sunday at Hilton Park people could get a decent pint at a fair price before and after the game while sitting in friendly surroundings. Not only did past players mix with the fans but the present team members were there too and the fans felt like part of the set up.

But the Centurions don't own the new stadium, Wigan Council do and that's the problem.

You can't get a pumped pint of lager in the North Stand, only a plastic bottle costing £3.20. Neither the stand nor the bar have any posters, scarves, shirts or anything to make the punters feel like it's their own.

Two years ago fans were asked which day they would like to watch rugby and the majority voted for Sundays. The new fixture list shows the home games are on three Sundays, three Thursdays and five on Fridays. Why?

If it was stewards who denied Mick Martyn entry it wouldn't surprise me as they have no idea of Leigh's history. If Murph, Woody and Dessy had showed up they might have been given a ladder and three chammy leathers?

But if Mick and Co. were stopped because of club policy the club should make the first move to them and kiss their feet, not alienate them. Then see what Wigan Council will let the Centurions do to personalise the stadium and make it 'Leyth's Coliseum'.

Mick Harvey Pennington (full address supplied)

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