To Leigh fans everywhere. It is 40 years ago on Sunday by the date that Leigh beat Leeds 24 - 7 in the challenge cup final. Happy days.

Nowhere near enough is made of that win, I reckon. Would love to read people's memories of the day etc.

Well I was a handsome 22 year old with long hair.

I stayed in the Ivanhoe Hotel and had a very enjoyable hour or two in a barmaids room that evening (might have been mine) Left early because we had to get back for the Victory parade down Bradshawgate.

I have been happy before and since but that weekend will stay with me forever.

Well I can remember a very long journey down by coach and an extremely long one on the way back. I was only an 8 year old so can`t recall too much about the actual game but that coach trip I`m still having nightmares about.

I went on a coach from the Foundry Arms on Chapel Street. Singing all day. Seeing all the Leythers on Wembley Way was something i will always remember. So many of the older generation had waited so long for that day. The final is always talked about as an upset but no one in Leigh doubted the result for one moment. The celebrations were fantastic, but tempered by the immediate news that Alex was on his way to Warrington.

Was only ten myself, but I WAS THERE! remember walking down wembley way and seeing all the people in red and white, and loads of home made banners.

We went for the weekend we should have only come home on Monday, but we came home early to see them come back, the story goes it wasn't by choice though it was because the adults in our group, were still celebrating whilst the rest of the hotel were trying to sleep .


Another story from the day is my outlaws (who I didn't know at the time ) car broke down on the way back and they ended up stopping at a pub somewhere on the A1, think they over celebrated as well, 9 months later my Sister in Law was born.

I was 18 and went with my dad on a coach trip arranged from David Browns tractors, cant remember much TBH only having an odd tear or two in m eyes when all around us were singing 'you will never walk alone' got back in Atherton about 4am and waited for the paper shop to open so I could buy all the papers, couldnt get to Leigh for the celebrations as all the buses were full but was in Market Street Atherton when the team came through on the open top bus, one (if not THE) happiest days of my life.

I was only a little rugrat, but went home and away, and watched them train in the evenings as well........my vivid memory, which will always stay with me , was prior to the final, and seeing one of my idols "Chissy" at training, having learned of his suspension............he was in bits, and i still feel for him, even to this day!!

You are right he was indeed.

Just shows how things change. Him Murph Woody and Des all ended up at Wire.

I still have vivid memories of the late Franny Costello leading the people of Navigation St up Twist Lane. Mams and Dads young and old and marching down Leigh Rd to the Town Hall with their enormous banner' "Leigh Supporters Navigation Street Branch."

I was six and at my Aunties wedding
I still feel for my Dad and my now deceased Uncle Eric. They both watched Leigh for over 60 years and my Dad was best man and my Uncle a groomsman that day so missed it also. I remember it being on a tiny black and white TV in the hall way outside the reception.
My one big hope is that Leigh get into Super League while my Dad is still able to get to the games

I was actually walking home from Atherton when the team bus came up Tyldesley rd and I was wondering what all the fuss was about ,didn't watch rugby then started 8 years later

I was 11 and still one of the most memorable, most exciting days ever.
Apart from the fantastic team effort as underdogs to win the cup after 50 years other memories that stand out are visiting the sights of London on a sunny May morning - all the family there and decked out in red and white - even Grandad. Twenty five thousand Leythers on Wembley Way, sitting on the kerb outside after the match with a load of jubilant fans eating fish n chips, waiting for so long at the Town Hall on the Sunday that my mum passed out and had to be lifted over the barrier by a policeman, devastating news that Murph was off to Warrington, the following week watching the cine film of the match at the Liberal Club, having my photo taken with the Challenge Cup a few weeks later at Leigh Cricket Club.
Seems like yesterday. Still have the scrapbook I made with all the newspaper cuttings and memorabilia, I'm off to get it out now the memories are flooding back.

Not being from a RL following family I didn't attend , I do remember watching on the Telly and if I remember Correctly I insisted on going up to Leigh road to watch the bus come past with the cup

Frank, the barmaids room was our room and it was about 1977 not 1971-i didnt go with you to the cup final that year if you remember. I remember seeing you at the ground well ed in 1971! Good day though shame about the Monday afterwards

Oh yeh.

Well I was right about the Navigation Street folk.

Hope you had a great time in Portugal. Cya soon.

Do you think my memory is playing tricks ? What did you think of the Elgin Marbles know all.