Saturday, September 20, 2008

Memories of Leigh RMI's Stadium

Leigh RMI, now renamed Leigh Genesis, have played their last game at their Hilton Park stadium because the powers that be have deemed that the ground doesn't conform to current health and safety rules.

The closure has come earlier than hoped as Leigh were due to move to a new stadium but delays have kept them at Hilton Road.

They will play their home matches at nearby Chorley FC who has accepted at short notice an application by Leigh to rent their stadium.

Whilst it is four seasons since Hereford United last played at Leigh, supporters will have some fond memories of the ground.

It was one of the last stadium where you could move from one end to the other at half-time but not one to be at on a cold, windy and wet day or evening.

The food was, no doubt, some of the best found in the Conference at the time. Perhaps the fact that rugby league was also played at the ground helped. And there was always plenty of parking on football days as their gates seldom averaged more than 400 or so.

Except that is when Hereford United played there. Well, just.

It was back in September 2004 when the Bulls last played at Hilton Road and it was a seven goal thriller watched by just 585 supporters of which 300 which from Hereford.

Leigh draw level in the 89th minute but Adam Stansfield found the bottom corner of the net in injury time to give the Bulls three, perhaps rather luckily on the day, points.

The Hereford United team from that game: Gould, Travis, James, Tretton, Smith, Robinson, Stanley, Hyde, Williams, Brown, Mills. Subs: Mkandawire, Scott, Gwynne, Stansfield, Carey-Bertram.