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Wigan Borough Sports Council (WBSC)
welcomed former England Head Coach to the Rugby Football Union, Brian
Ashton MBE, to the new Leigh Sports Village complex last week.
Brian was invited to appear as guest speaker at WBSC’s Annual General
Meeting on Tuesday evening (22 April), alongside Trevor Barton, who made
his final appearance as Chairman of WBSC, Rodney Hill (Chief Executive
of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust) and former England and Wigan Rugby
League player and Great Britain Coach, Phil Clarke (President of WBSC).
The AGM was well attended by an array of keen sports people from Leigh
and the surrounding areas.
Phil Clarke President of WBSC said: “We invited Brian to attend our AGM
because of his strong links with Leigh and with rugby in particular. We
were delighted that he accepted our invitation, which gave us a chance
to show the work that voluntary sports groups do in the area to maintain
social cohesion in an otherwise deprived area”.
Brian took a tour of the sporting facilities in his former home town of
Leigh, including the new £6.4m Leigh Indoor Sports Centre and commented:
“I can’t believe what a transformation the Sports Village has made to
Leigh, and the range of fantastic sporting facilities now available to
the people of the town. I’d like to come back when the stadium is open
and see these excellent facilities in action”.
Noted both nationally and regionally for his services to sport, and in
particular rugby football, Brian was arguably the man responsible for
the most exciting period of English rugby when, as Assistant Coach to
Clive Woodward from 1998 to 2002, England played their most exciting
brand of rugby for many years.
Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Rodney Hill said: “We
are delighted that former Leigh resident Brian has come along to see the
facilities and the opportunities available for local people to keep fit,
be healthy and enjoy sporting activities. We believe the facilities are
some of the finest in the region and are working closely with the rest
of the partners at Leigh Sports Village to make this one of the most
vibrant sporting areas in the North West.”
Brian was controversially removed as Head Coach to the national side
last month.
In his formative years he played for local rugby union clubs including
Tyldesley and Orrell and held coaching posts as Ireland Head Coach and
RFU National Academy Manager.
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Georgina Bentley on 01942 486930 or at
g.bentley@wlct.org
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active . It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
Wigan Borough Sports Council: WBSC is a vibrant umbrella organisation
for all sports across the borough and is a close working partnership
between Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit and
all amateur and voluntary clubs and organisations located within the
borough.
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