Leigh MP to present Challenge Cup

11:09am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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LEIGH MP and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, will present the trophy to the winning captain after Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup Final at Wembley between St Helens and Hull.

Mr Burnham - who was elected as a MP for Leigh in June 2001 - was appointed to the key role in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in January 2008 having been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since the summer of 2007.

Prior to that he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the former Home Secretary, David Blunkett between 2003 and 2004. He was also a member of the Health Select Committee from 2001 to 2003.

Mr Burnham is a keen Rugby League supporter and is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group. He has also served on the board of the Leigh Centurions club as Honorary Chairman from 2003 to 2005.

He was instrumental in a move to improve facilities at Golborne Parkside and Leigh East Amateur rugby league clubs. He hopes to do the same for the Leigh Miners club.

He said: "It is a tremendous honour for me to be asked to be the RFL's special guest at Wembley, as someone who has been a supporter all my life.

“I am proud to represent an area that is one of the game's strongest heartlands and see promoting Rugby League as a core part of my job as an MP. At a national level I am working with the Rugby League to develop an investment plan that helps improve the health of the game at every level."