IT'S 30 years since a long-haired line-up of rugby league players from Leigh scooped the Lancashire Shield in the schoolboys' final at Swinton's famed but long-gone Station Road ground.

The lads from Manchester Road Secondary Modern School were trailing 11-0 at half-time to their Swinton rivals but fought back to win by 24-11.

We are grateful to reader John Corbett for procuring the team photograph from team captain Jimmy Hayes after the May 4, 1972 victory.

And, recalls Jimmy, the team lifted the trophy without the help of starman and Leigh RL legend-to-be John Woods, who missed the final having left school at Easter.

The line-up includes three others who went on to greater things in the game. There's a young Mal Yates, who went on to become a larger-than-life figure around town, and landlord of the Leigh Arms as well as starring for his home town club and Salford. Sadly, Mal died a few years ago.

And the front row shows Tommy Gittins and Steve Davies rubbing shoulders and smiling. Tommy played for Leigh and Steve was snapped up by Wigan but also played for his hometown club.

COMEBACK KIDS: (back row) Malcolm Yates, Paul Unsworth, John Parr, Paul Gudelis, Terry O'Neill, Ian Duddle, Neil Unsworth; (front row) Tommy Gittins, Steve Davies, Herbie Hindley, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Hayes, Phil Ratcliffe, Steve Downs