Looking at the other games in both the Championship leagues. Only ours and the fantastic gate at Fev really had good crowds. Apart from the Batley vs Fax game - which was about 1100 - all the other were below the thousand mark, with some well below. Is P&R really going to have an effect on the crowds or is it just slow getting going with the cold weather. It really is worrying reading those statistics how there won't be an even bigger gulf between those that have and those that have not.

Nearly 1,000 at Hunslet is a huge increase on their crowds at this level in the past. Think they got something similar in week one as well. Whitehaven is somewhat understandable given their situation at the minute but you'd have thought Workington would be getting more on.

The prospect of the "middle eight" might do a lot for our end of the table but for those towards the other end there's even less to play for and the prospect of some big defeats as well. It will also be interesting to see what happens to our crowds when we play some of the lesser lights. Realistically we should score a hat full of points or we play poorly and its a boring game, in a way a bit like the second half yesterday. How many of the new and returned supporters will keep coming back in either case?

I actually think Moimoi will be a godsend in that regard. It's always been hard to get the atmosphere going with few away fans if the game isn't the biggest or the best but Fuifui really gets the crowd going and the atmosphere seems to go up several notches every time he comes onto the pitch.

He had 2/3 rampaging runs and some monster hits yesterday that just got the crowd rocking. Especially in what was a comparatively dull 2nd half. Was exactly what I was hoping for when we signed him, some of his runs are straight out of a youtube highlights video.

Be interesting to see our next home gate, two away games and then with all due respect to Whitehaven arguably a less glamorous tie than the previous two.

The town is buzzing at the moment and the key will be to keep it there whilst no home fixture for a few weeks, but if we can get another 4500 in that game then I feel we will have truly turned a corner, and come the middle 8’s especially if we go into them on a roll, I'd be hoping we could be looking at adding at least another 2000 home fans.

I was what's known as a "lapsed Leyther" up until the start of this pre-season. And I was a proper "lapser" because I hadn't been for 22 years!!!

And it was only by chance that I am back supporting the club now because I have had no interest in rugby league whilst I've been away. I kept a tiny eyeball on Leigh and the odd match on tele' but generally my life steered me well away from the great game.

My uncle, who's been watching Leigh all his life, invited me to preseason; and having not seen him proplerly either for several years I decided to make an effort.

It was only when I started to read and catch-up with Leigh's recent history that I stared to appreciate what I had been missing. My first match back was against North Wales in preseason I had no idea about any of Leigh's players which left me feeling quite ignorant to be honest.

Anyway, I know now, that having first watched Leigh at the age of 8 in 1980 , then supporting them at Hilton Park until about 1992 - and then coming "home" to support them again all these year later at the LSV, that the club is in my heart and I should never have severed all ties.

It's more than good to be back and the future looks very bright indeed. Let's hope there are a few more like me out there that return home.

Great post ant7t2.

Cheers, Ian. Been dying to get that off my chest!! lol

Come on, yooooouuuu Leigh!!!!

Welcome back to the fold



It's always saddened me to see lapsed fans whose passion died for the game or the club. There's been a lot of fans in that situation in recent seasons because of a lack of meaningful fixtures due to no P&R to/from SL.

But this time it's a feelgood story with a happy ending. You've come back on board at a great time - this squad, this club - it's going places!

Thanks



I should have come back years ago.

I didn't even know about the league's new exciting structure or Leigh's recent success until about 6 weeks ago!

And whilst that's all fantastic, I have mainly missed cheering on Leigh. My heart's with this club. It is no wonder I have never truely had a football club in my heart because all the while I've been a Leyther.

I've watched Bolton Wanderers on and off over the years, but, I always felt something was missing deep down. Now I know why...

You sound a bit like me Ant but I gave up on football when the games were interfering with my Sunday's watching Leigh. Football would always be the poor relation to RL in my life. Welcome back to the familly.

Thanks. It's good to be back.

I still enjoy football, but it's not as good as it used to be, for me, and it's not as honest as rugby.

Just thought too, even the internet was only in it's infancy when I last watched Leigh. lol. And some of Leigh's current squad weren't even born!!

Now I feel old...

Welcome back ant7t2.

I saw many new & many old lapsed faces @ the Bradford game & also at the Wigan "unfriendly", it's no bad thing & if as a Club & as fans we can encourage 1 in 5 of these casual fans to become regulars at games then the Club & team will benefit, driving us onwards & upwards with force.

My message to you ant & all Leigh Centurions fans is to keep spreading the word, to anyone who will listen, positivity & passion are infectious, let's infect the town with "the word".

Congratulations on finding your way home ant7t2.

Hi glow.

Quite new to the forum but a Leyther (adopted) for the last 33 years.

I would be surprised if the Whitehaven game attracted 4,500 - possibly 3,000 I estimate, but as the weather gets better & we approach the middle 8's I expect attendances to pick up again.

I would also be surprised if the home ties against Fax & Fev attracted less than 5,000, what with both those clubs having many more travelling fans than London & the rest of the division.

The main thing I want to point out (not to yourself) for anyone reading is the 'Knock on Effect' of increased crowd figures.

The atmosphere is vastly better.

The increased gate receipts pay for higher quality players on longer term contracts, therefore strengthening an already strong team.

People in high places take notice (especially after the 7,500 v Bradford).

Sponsors are pleased, but more importantly, new & sometimes bigger sponsors are attracted & old sponsorships are renegotiated & improved.

Rugby League & entertainment is the product that Leigh Centurions want to sell, if lots of people like that product & buy that product by going through the turnstile then the Club grows stronger, bigger & more of a force within the game.

Not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs, just pointing out the bleedin' obvious really.

#BelieveInLeigh
#NorthStandRoar
#OriginalNoiseyNeighbours

Cheers for the welcome, Ste.

And I'll looking forward to chatting with you.

Hi Ste and welcome to the forum,

IMO the problem with simply saying “wait until it gets warmer” it’s like the old ‘build it and they’ll come’ attitude, I don’t think they will.

Generally people are creatures of habit, we drink in the same pub, we sit or stand in the same place at LSV, we watch the same TV programmes, etc. So now that we have done a great job in getting people down to LSV lets keep them coming not just sit back, and wait for the sun to shine or the big game.

We’ve had fans on here posting about being lapsed supporters who've returned, well its great to have them back, but I bet it was very easy for them to find other things to do at the time they initially gave up on Leigh, there’s lots of other things for families to do in the summer, but if we can get them routinely enjoying themselves down at LSV hopefully they’ll not look for other things to do and supporting Leigh will become part of their lives for years to come.

What’s the RL’s motto at the moment “Every game counts”, well lets make sure it does.

Every game counts unless of course we are guaranteed top spot with 4 games left

Just to add another spanner in the works how can/will these returning and new fans convince their families that Summer Sundays are for the Rugby? after all these Sundays in recent years being spent together.
Would it not benefit us in that case to go to Friday nights, also bearing in mind that the part time clubs wouldn't relish coming over the hill or down the M6 on a Friday night thereby possibly giving the team 'an edge'?

Word will spread [ianyway[/i if any local teams are doing well or things are happening in any sport.

Leigh will get talked about and especially so if all at the club continue in the current vein. I'm confident of that.

Crowds have increased dramatically already.

I went to watch little Bury FC the other week at their ground. The pitch was excellent and they played 352 with good passing football. Crowds were up!! The pitch, style of play and positivity alone put more bums on seats!! Even at that level of football.