Homeless Leigh fold senior side
10:00am Thursday 2nd June 2011 in Non-League
LEIGH Genesis – formerly Horwich RMI – have scrapped their senior side after being forced to withdraw their application to join the North West Counties League.
Relegated from the Evo-Stik League First Division North last season, which they spent as temporary tenants at Atherton LR’s Crilly Park ground, Genesis had hoped to relocate to Leigh Sports Village, which they were forced to quit a year ago.
But plans to share the pitch at the Leigh Harriers athletics arena with Leigh Athletic FC have fallen through, and, with no other suitable venue available, officials have scrapped the club’s semi-professional side. Leigh Genesis Juniors, who boast 30 teams and provide coaching for hundreds of local youngsters, will continue to operate its full-time youth programme.
Board members had hoped the intervention of Leigh MP Andy Burnham would help find a solution, but they were frustrated and bitterly disappointed that they were left without a home base just three years after moving to the main stadium at Leigh Sports Village from Hilton Park, which they shared with the town’s rugby league club, Leigh Centurions.
“This is an absolute disgrace” said secretary Mary Croasdale.
“We left Hilton Park in 2008 on a long standing promise from the council that Leigh Sports Village Stadium would be our permanent home. But the original promises seem to have been ignored and financial gain has overtaken the original ideal of a ‘community stadium’ for the town.
“Blackburn Rovers Reserves play all their home matches at the ground and do not seem to struggle getting a lease at the ground, whilst the town’s own team is given the cold shoulder.
“Maybe Wigan MBC should look at the success of Chorley who have enjoyed record crowds and secured promotion, all on the back of a supportive council, not to mention the coaching team, several board members and the majority of the playing staff that was in place at Leigh last season. I’d like to say well done Chorley for embracing their team and recognising the potential for growth and, most tellingly, the benefits that can be brought to a town’s credibility and economy with a successful side.”
Manager Alan Kershaw, who stepped up from his role as youth coach last season, said: “This is incredibly disappointing.
With a bustling junior section and 30 full-time youth players affiliated to the club, we have the most amazing foundations and it is difficult to understand why Leigh Genesis can’t play in Leigh and cannot be given the base that it deserves.”
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