Review of the season; Summer to September

With the end of season now here, it's time to take a look back at another rollercoaster nine months for our club.

In what can only be described as an annual tradition, it was another season of trials and tribulations for Leigh Genesis (nee RMI) in the club's first season under it's new guise, with a campaign of highs and lows ending in relegation from the UniBond Premier League.

After suffering relegation from the Blue Square North at the end of the 2007/2008 season, Leigh supporters began the season with hopes of an immediate return to the Blue Square North in the plush surroundings of the club's new stadium at the Leigh Sports Village. However, little could prepare them for what was to happen in June 2008 as, under the guidance of chairman Dominic Speakman, the club underwent an ambitious re-branding, becoming Leigh Genesis FC in time for the new season.

Suddenly, the club found itself the talk of the town, and the first game under their new name attracted more than 200 spectators to neighbours Atherton Collieries for the first friendly of the summer, with Richard Chetcuti, Josh Wilson, Andy Heald, Chris Coward and Karl O'Donnell the Leigh goalscorers in a resounding 5-0 victory at Alder House.

PRE-SEASON

Steve Bleasdale's Genesis side maintained an unbeaten start to their pre-season campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 away to Warrington Town, before coming from behind to defeat Formby and AFC Fylde 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.

However, Leigh fans were given a sign of what proved to be things to come in late July 2008, with the news that the club wouldn't be taking up residency at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium in time for the new season being followed by a 1-0 defeat to Woodley Sports, courtesy of ex-Leigh man Gavin Salmon, in the only home friendly of the summer, played at Hilton Park.

It proved only a slight setback, with a Darren Mansaram goal sealing a 1-0 win away to Lancaster City before former Leigh man Ged Kielty masterminded a 2-1 victory for Trafford over Leigh, before an extensive pre-season programme ended with a 2-0 win away to Salford City.

AUGUST

The bookmakers put Genesis amongst the favourites for promotion ahead of the start of the season and, backed by a massive away support, began the season away to fellow promotion heavyweights Eastwood Town. However, Leigh were to return empty-handed from Nottinghamshire as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to the eventual champions.

The failure of Hilton Park to gain a sufficient safety certificate saw Leigh's opening home fixture of the season played at Chorley's Victory Park, with 140 spectators witnessing a resounding 3-0 victory over Ashton United by virtue of goals from Darren Mansaram, Richard Chetcuti and Brad Maylett.

The same venue played host to Leigh's next home game, with two last-gasp goals sealing a 2-1 victory for Ilkeston Town after Genesis had previously taken the lead through a Paul Booth header.

Leigh's mixed form continued with Mansaram and Maylett the goalscorers in a 2-0 Bank Holiday victory away to Ossett Town, before suffering a shock 2-1 away loss to struggling Worksop Town.

SEPTEMBER

September began with what would prove to be the final football game to ever take place at Hilton Park as over 200 supporters braved torrential weather to create a particularly boisterous atmosphere as Leigh secured a priceless 2-1 victory over local rivals Prescot Cables.

September saw Leigh play at their third ‘home' venue of the season as a Jordan Stepien penalty and a Jerome Watt strike secured a 2-0 win over Frickley Athletic at Radcliffe Borough's Stainton Park.

What followed was arguably the best footballing encounter of the season when Genesis and Nantwich Town contested a thrilling 1-1 draw, only for Leigh to once again demonstrate their inconsistent streak in their next outing as hopes of an FA Cup were dashed at the first attempt when lower division Curzon Ashton, later to hit the headlines as giantkillers against Exeter City, won 1-0 in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

With confusion still reigning over the progress of the Leigh Sports Village Stadium, Victory Park again provided the venue for a late September encounter against Whitby Town when, despite taking the lead through a Chris Holland strike, Leigh fell to a 4-2 defeat.

That pair of defeats proved a shock to the system, and Leigh finished September strongly with a polished performance away to Marine securing a 1-0 Genesis win, thanks to an Andrew Teague goal.