Back in the early 1980’s, when I was eleven years old, Everton FC were going through one of their slumps, in fact it was pretty dire at the time, I think it was the end of the Gordon Lee era at the club. We just weren’t going anyway, so my brother Nick and I were on the look out for a passing bandwagon!
We lived just a few miles out of Leigh in a little place called Culcheth. I was in my first year at secondary school when my older brother told me Leigh’s Rugby team were doing well, “Everyone at school is talking about them, let’s go watch them”.
We actually lived next door but one to Mick Martyn, who for me, could easily be described as the Dixie Dean of Leigh Rugby. For a family full of Evertonians, that was our connection, he was encouraging us to go, so off we went!
Me and my brother headed off on the 587 bus from Culcheth to the old Hilton Park Stadium. The ground was absolutely packed out to see a team that was at the top of its game. Des Drummond was flying down the wing, John Woods was like a mighty oak at the centre of the pitch and I think Tommy Martyn was playing for us then too. I’ve vivid memories of following them that year, right up to the moment they clinched the championship and paraded around the pitch after winning it.
I think sometimes when you become an MP you have to think of a reason to support your local club, but I’ve followed Leigh Rugby from my early years. Everton will always be my first and second love but Leigh and will always be part of my early sporting memories. That team, under the guidance of Alex Murphy, were magnificent to watch and the whole place was just buzzing.
Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham is supporting the Sporting Memories Network, read more here
Memory added on June 30, 2014
Comments (Add your voice)
No comments have yet been added to this memory.
