Your club

needs you!

LAST season the future of Leigh RMI may have been in doubt but things are changing at the club. The new stadium is a distinct possibility. Things are moving forward. In two years we could be playing in a 10,000 seater stadium.

From my point of view, and that of the players, that would be an exciting prospect. But the truth is that we can't stand still. If we don't move forward we may not be in the Conference in two years time.

The quality of players now playing in the Conference is improving due to the knock-on effect of the ITV Digital fiasco that forced so many league clubs to release good players. For Leigh RMI and other smaller clubs it is becoming more difficult to compete for these players and meet their wage demands especially when some Conference clubs are getting attendances of 1500 or more per game.

Leigh RMI's current gate receipts won't pay for the players we need. The supporters of the club who come week in week out are greatly appreciated. However, I appeal to more of the people of Leigh and the surrounding areas to come and support the club.

I realise the town has a successful rugby team but we don't play on the same days and the season only partly overlaps. Potentially we could have a fine Conference team that could compete year in year out in a new stadium.

Another 300 to 400 supporters would make a vast difference to the quality of players the club could afford. This won't happen overnight but is a possibility over the next couple of years.

Leigh have a football team as well as a rugby team that needs your support. It would be wonderful to have two successful teams in Leigh. The north west of England is a hot bed of the football world. There is no reason why we can't improve as a team but we need more people to come along to support and back us.

I am also determined to make sure that the relationship between Leigh RMI and the town develops. On Saturday afternoon 15 March our players will be out and about in Leigh town centre meeting the people of Leigh, signing autographs and we'll have a free raffle for signed footballs and tickets for matches.

If any shops or businesses in Leigh town centre would like a player to drop in on the afternoon of 15 March to meet them and their customers or help with a promotion they should call the RMI Supporters' Club Secretary (01257 482718) and we'd be delighted to arrange it.

Working together we can give Leigh a football team to be proud of.