I just thought I would add my programme notes on here and hope you enjoy reading them. It has been a really good week for the club on the sponsors front and I felt it would be good to acknowledge some of our supporters.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to Leigh Centurions this afternoon, in what promises to be a cracking encounter. I am particularly looking forward to catching up with Sean Penkywicz and Bob Beswick, two top blokes who I have missed since they left us. I had the pleasure of going over to Wigan to celebrate Bob’s wedding last year and had a great day. I am laughing to myself as I recall Bob smuggling cans of special brew into the very posh reception, an act which proved that all Lancastrians are a tad on the tight side. Just kidding, I don’t want our players from the Lancashire bus on my case!
Penky was a great servant to us and it’s been a bit strange this season not having him around. I have a lot of time for the Penkywicz family and Sean’s dad, Phil, has kindly agreed to sponsor today’s game. Like Sean, he is a bit of a character and was also pretty good at rugby; it must run in the families genes! Phil also sponsored the corresponding game here last season so we really are indebted to everyone from Hamilton Fabrications for their fantastic support.
It was with sadness that I heard of the passing of Arthur Thomas, just a couple of weeks ago. The former Leigh Chairman was a well known character in rugby league circles and I have fond memories of some of our interviews over the past few years. He was a straight talking man and was so passionate about his club. My thoughts are with his family and colleagues of the Leigh club at this sad time. RIP Arthur.
I would also like to welcome tonight’s match ball sponsors, our friends from Trace + Connect. They have been very supportive over the years and I would like to pass on my thanks to David Williams and Christopher Thompson.
Why not check out the websites of tonight’s sponsors and find out a bit more about them?
www.hamiltonfab.co.uk. And
www.traceandconnect.co.uk
Last week we progressed in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup after beating Oxford. What a memorable debut it was for former Stainland Stags player Freddie Walker. He scored two tries in a man of the match performance and our coach, Rhino, referred to his performance as sensational – praise indeed! I was delighted that our President, Roger Harvey OBE, offered to become his player sponsor after the game. Freddie spoke well in the post match interview and I’m sure he will become a great player for our club over the coming years.
Local lad, Iain Davies, has also been catching the eye of late. The former King Cross Park junior looks to be doing well under the tutelage of Rhino. A good friend of mine, Andy Binns, has kindly arranged to sponsor Iain through the King Cross Park club.
I had a lovely chat with Jennifer Pearson during the week; she is a regular down at the Shay and the widow of the late Stephen Pearson, a man who will always hold a special place at our great club. Without him we may have folded, he is still fondly remembered by us all. Jennifer has kindly offered to sponsor Ben Heaton – thanks Jennifer.
Finally, I was chuffed to bits when Leo Casey, a player you may remember after a distinguished career, agreed to sponsor his son Callum. Thanks Leo, it’s great to have you on board – I reckon he could pull the boots on and still do the business!
