LEYTHERS have revelled in the celebrations this weekend as Leigh Leopards won their first Challenge Cup trophy for 52 years.
With Lachlan Lam's golden point drop goal securing a historic 17-16 victory over Hull KR, fans, coaches and players have been celebrating the long-awaited trophy.
Fans that were lucky enough to go to Wembley described an incredible atmosphere at the final on Saturday, August 12, as the players made cemented themselves in Leigh history.
READ > Crowds line the streets for Leigh Leopards ‘incredible’ trophy parade
Speaking to the BBC after the Challenge Cup win on Saturday, captain John Asiata said: "The heartbeat of rugby league at the moment is Leigh.
"Everyone calls us 'little Leigh' at the moment but we're climbing and we're coming, so this is just the beginning of our journey, the beginning of something big.
"We're gonna keep working hard, keep striving for more and hopefully we can make everyone proud."
With celebrations continuing with the Leopards' homecoming trophy parade on Sunday, August 13, the team's open-top bus made its way through Astley, Atherton, and Tyldesley as fans lined the streets to congratulate the triumphant team.
With thousands of fans waiting in anticipation of the team bus in Leigh town centre, thunderous applause and chants of 'Oh Leigh, Oh Leigh, Oh Leigh' boomed around the town as the bus approached its final stop at Leigh Town Hall.
The celebrations continued at Civic Square as Head coach Adrian Lam, Lance Todd trophy winner Lachlan Lam, captain John Asiata, and chairman Derek Beaumont spoke to the crowd of adoring Leythers - with the chairman getting every member of the club to lift the trophy.
With fans out in full force, it was plain to see how much the Challenge Cup win meant to the fans, players, and town.
L L E E I G H….Oh Leigh!🥳 pic.twitter.com/Jig1VhjJbi
— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) August 12, 2023
Good morning @LeighLeopardsRL can somebody pinch me 🙈🏆🐆how good the boys! Now to give this thing the maddest homecoming! Over to you leythers 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZL1Hf8vGiH
— Derek john beaumont (@derek_beaumont) August 13, 2023
Take one owner who invests and believes in a club he loves…add a world class head coach who is a man manager and trusts his players to deliver… what do you get? A Challenge Cup Championship wining combo.🏆 pic.twitter.com/r5h7RJJPeW
— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) August 13, 2023
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