I know its a Wanderers forum, but know a good few lads who watch Non league. Its shit or bust tomorrow with a meeting at Leigh East Rugby Leagues club. We are meeting the directors to see if this club can continue with the main sponser pulling out. In reality the LSV have shafted both us and Leigh East. Its supposed to have been built for the sporting community of LEIGH, not fucking Roooovers reserves.

Pretty much so. Sad isn't it?

 

They threatened to evict Leigh East because they could not afford the rent, which is/was about 5 times what they paid at their old place. Easts keep about 150 local kids off the streets and into sport, run girls teams, healthy lifestyle programmes, all sorts. Their community work has won awards and are Sport Englands local golden boys. Means nowt to LSV. Pay your rent or fuck off.

 

Look at it another way though, if you had no interest in sport whatsoever, why should your council tax subsidise Leigh Genesis, Centurions, or Easts?

 

I've said I dont care too much for LSV, though in fairness to them they are trying to rebuild bridges but at the same time have to balance the books like any other council department.

 

 

 

 

 

Fair point, East Leigh give us our voice tonight. Keith Lathom was at the other side of the bar, thank fuck, he gave a mate a right twatting outside the Eagle and Child in 1980. He asked me do you fancy a go, i declined.

My old man used to watch Wanderers one saturday then RMI the following week when he was a nipper, its a shame they couldnt get them back in Horwich on some of the land near the Reebok. Nothing substantial just a covered terrace with changing facilities etc.

 

Be good for wanderers reserves / youth teams to play local on a decent pitch and i think there would be a few wanderers fans who would attend a few RMI games again.

Fair point, East Leigh give us our voice tonight. Keith Lathom was at the other side of the bar, thank fuck, he gave a mate a right twatting outside the Eagle and Child in 1980. He asked me do you fancy a go, i declined.

 

You did right mate, I worked with his brother John for about 14 years and he was a bloody hard lad, but he didn't use it in a nasty way, if that makes sense?

Pretty much so. Sad isn't it?

 

They threatened to evict Leigh East because they could not afford the rent, which is/was about 5 times what they paid at their old place. Easts keep about 150 local kids off the streets and into sport, run girls teams, healthy lifestyle programmes, all sorts. Their community work has won awards and are Sport Englands local golden boys. Means nowt to LSV. Pay your rent or fuck off.

 

Look at it another way though, if you had no interest in sport whatsoever, why should your council tax subsidise Leigh Genesis, Centurions, or Easts?

 

I've said I dont care too much for LSV, though in fairness to them they are trying to rebuild bridges but at the same time have to balance the books like any other council department.

 

i don't use the local library

 

should we shut that as well?

 

 

i thought we'd pretty much decided as a nation that we had a commitment to sport

 

theres a cost involvced

I'll vote for you

Genesis also have a quality youth section.

 

Some info from last nights meeting is on the LGFC website

 

Personally, they are fooked imo.

Ironically, in the centre of Wigan right next to the ex-JJB, is a smart athletics stadium (Robin Park). From what I've read, when Robin Park was opened, the management actively sought (or at least supported) the setting up of a NEW and SECOND football club in Wigan to make use of the facility on a regular basis.

Wigan Robin Park are in the NWCL 1st Division, 2 levels below LG. They seem to average around 50 as a home crowd.

Wigan and Leigh are in the same Metro area, aren't they ? So the support (or otherwise) from Council Tax should be the same, you'd imagine. I wonder how all that stacks up.

John, Keith and Dereck Latham all worked at BICC cables in Leigh, I worked there for a spell, all great lads and Loyal to their town no matter what the sport.

Sad really as Genesis, then RMI were in the conference league only a few years ago, I watched them many times when Bolton were not playing.

Ironically, in the centre of Wigan right next to the ex-JJB, is a smart athletics stadium (Robin Park). From what I've read, when Robin Park was opened, the management actively sought (or at least supported) the setting up of a NEW and SECOND football club in Wigan to make use of the facility on a regular basis.

Wigan Robin Park are in the NWCL 1st Division, 2 levels below LG. They seem to average around 50 as a home crowd.

Wigan and Leigh are in the same Metro area, aren't they ? So the support (or otherwise) from Council Tax should be the same, you'd imagine. I wonder how all that stacks up.

 

Spot on. Same borough- different attitudes when it comes to Wigan and Leigh. Colls played them earlier this season and beat them 4-3 after being 3-1 down at half time. The official attendance was 87, and although I'm not a fan of athletics grounds, the facilities were excellent. No overzealous stewards either, which surprised me as a council venue. Location-wise, it's a pain, but for relatively low crowds it isn't much of an issue. There is a lesson there for those at the LSV.

Leigh Genesis are in the semi final of this years Lancashire Trophy (ex Lancashire Junior Cup). The final is to be played at the Reebok. It would be a shame for Leigh to win this competition and then go out of business. Perhaps the way forward for them is to groundshare with Daisy Hill or one of the Atherton clubs in the short term while finding a new ground. I know some Chorley supporters who went yesterday and are complaining about the cost of everything, something Leigh Genesis have no control over. BTW was yesterday the first time Leigh have lost at home this season?

Leigh Genesis are in the semi final of this years Lancashire Trophy (ex Lancashire Junior Cup). The final is to be played at the Reebok. It would be a shame for Leigh to win this competition and then go out of business. Perhaps the way forward for them is to groundshare with Daisy Hill or one of the Atherton clubs in the short term while finding a new ground. I know some Chorley supporters who went yesterday and are complaining about the cost of everything, something Leigh Genesis have no control over. BTW was yesterday the first time Leigh have lost at home this season?

 

Unfortunately, Daisy Hill and Atherton Collieries' grounds would probably not meet ground grading criteria for Leigh's division, and Atherton LR's ground might not pass muster.

 

If the league would allow such a move, I'm sure that our local NWCL clubs would be grateful of the extra income. Whether our pitches would survive long enough is another matter.

Leigh Genesis are in the semi final of this years Lancashire Trophy (ex Lancashire Junior Cup). The final is to be played at the Reebok. It would be a shame for Leigh to win this competition and then go out of business. Perhaps the way forward for them is to groundshare with Daisy Hill or one of the Atherton clubs in the short term while finding a new ground. I know some Chorley supporters who went yesterday and are complaining about the cost of everything, something Leigh Genesis have no control over. BTW was yesterday the first time Leigh have lost at home this season?

It was, apart from the trophy defeat with Redditch. The Lancs cup semi is being played at Leyland against Clitheroe this Wednesday. Its going to be tough with a few players jumping ship for pastures new.

Interesting stuff. One or two thoughts, or rather concerns...

 

So, back when the new ground was being touted Leigh were in Super League and it's difficult to dispute that getting our feet under the table there was much more on the cards then than it is now, even though it was a pretty traumatic season. So obviously from the rugby point of view, LSV was built with getting a franchise - and keeping it - very much in mind. However, on the field it's become fucked and it's been quite a struggle since. Was the on field side of it neglected? Was there a sense that all Leigh had to do was put a side out and they'd reach the play off final 'because we're Leigh and we're a big club at this level?'

 

How long is the new place sustainable for on 2k crowds as opposed to the 5 or 6k average super league rugby would bring? In short, what is the longest that the current state of affairs is tolerable? And how profitable will the place be on Super League crowds? What is the minimum crowd needed once a fortnight before LSV will pay for itself, if such a prospect even exists?

 

Smiffs and me have spoken in person about certain individuals being convinced that by hook or by crook a franchise is coming, or else they'd never have ploughed their own money in. I have to wonder though, is it really such a foregone conclusion? Are we really a long way ahead of other competititors? A cynic might say we're unfashionable, we're in an already established catchment area, we're not French or from London or Wales, unlikely to add anything to Super League overall which a competitor (Widnes, Salford in a new ground, similarly Cas or Wakefield) could not, would be a club which might bring crowd trouble and so on. How many people in the RFL really advocate Leigh? Or are we relying on the French and Welsh experiments being canned in the fullness of time?

 

I dunno, I'm not as well sighted on this as some, but what is it that makes certain individuals convinced that a franchise is coming? Or is that perception the result of nudges and winks? And what is the best and worst case scenario for LSV and the club overall if no franchise is in fact forthcoming for the next decade or so?