Westhoughton Lions new head coach on his ideas

Sam Pennington, 30, from Westhoughton, has recently been given the new position of head coach for the new open age team at Westhoughton Lions.

This comes after Geoff Sheelan decided to leave the team to have a well earned rest, leaving the team in a good position according to chairman, Tony Grindley.

Sam said he is looking forward to his new venture after being with Westhoughton Lions for more than seven years.

He said: "Being head coach has always been something that I wanted to do and I've played rugby since the age of four and I've been at Westhoughton Lions for seven years and I've always said one I finish playing I want to get into coaching so after playing with the lads for seven years, I just thought it's time to get into coaching then.

"I want to bring a new order about the place, bring excitement and fresh ideas and just a different focus from what has been in the past.

"I'm going to bring in a different structure to how we play in a tack handed defence, making sure we control the game at our own speed and not be dictated by any of the positions that we play.

Sam said he has big plans for the Rugby team, hoping to get them to the premiership.

He said: "I'm really excited to have this new position, it's always something that I have wanted to do and I just thought I'd go with Westhoughton and get us to where I believe we can play at.

"I have a plan and in a couple of years I want us to be playing in the premiership in the top division and then see what happens after that and how it goes from there.

Sam Pennington is the new head coach for the open age team at Westhoughton Lions (Image: Sam Pennington)

"I'm also looking at getting a second team going so even if they are not up to the standard of being in Division Two, we will have a second team so they can play games in a lower division, that's the aim."

Tony Grindley, Chairman of Westhoughton Lions, said Geoff has left the team in a good position and he can't wait to see what Sam will bring.

He said: "The open age was quite poorly run before Geoff took over and he has had three promotions in the time he has been here and he has managed to settle the team and given us one of the better open age run teams in the North West.

"So Geoff has been absoltutely superb for the club and now Sam brings a wealth of experience as a rugby player, a world of experience so we are hoping that he can then kick us on to that next level of getting us up to the premier division.

"I know his ultimate goal is to push the lads and develop them and especially the younger players who are coming in, the goal is when a player comes to us at six years old we want to see them at turn out at the open age when they turn 18/19.

"Sam lives and breathes Rugby League so I have no concerns at all."

Sam will have his first players meeting on Tuesday October 4, all players will come together at the new Clubhouse and Sam will put his plans to them at 8PM.

The squad will be there and Sam is opening it up to new players of all abilities who can go along and see if they want to join.