End of an era for James

Club stalwart James Standing has brought an end to his nine year association with his hometown club, leaving Leigh Genesis after a difficult season that has seen James fulfill several different roles, and open new doors as a result.

James has taken any number of tasks for the love of the club since coming on board in 2000, assisting as kit man, helping the Hilton Park groundstaff whilst in the past year alone carrying out the roles of Team Performance Co-ordinator, Reserve Team Assistant Manager, Youth Team Manager, programme contributor and running the club's official website.

With his departure from the club, James has issued the following statement;

"I would like to place on record my thanks to the club as a whole over the years that I have been involved. It has been a pleasure to work with the club's managers during that period; Steve Waywell, Mark Patterson, Phil Starbuck, Geoff Lutley, Steve Bleasdale, Andy Nelson, Stuart Humphreys, Lee Merricks, Garry Flitcroft and their assistants. Not to mention former Premiership players in the shape of Steve Redmond, Mark Ward and Gary Kelly, along with some of the club's goalscoring heroes, namely Tony Black, Steve Jones, Michael Twiss and Dino Maamria. As well as representing the club as a youth team and reserve team player, it's been a pleasure to work with important members of the backroom staff including previous physios, reserve, youth and junior team management, including more recently Mary Croasdale and Donna Middleton."

"Having been with Leigh since the year 2000 in the Football Conference, I have followed the side through some difficult years including relegations from the Conference National in 2005, relegation from the Conference North in 2008 and, most recently, dropping out of the UniBond Premier League at the end of last season. However, I did enjoy winning the Lancashire Trophy in 2003, and during my time with the club have met many, many people who I am proud to call friends and, most importantly, have supported me both inside and outside of football."

"Leaving Hilton Park in 2008 was a very sad day for me but to be part of the club that helped it settle into the new Leigh Sports Village Stadium, it was great to over see the move, and I have recently spoken to former chairman Dominic Speakman to thank him for giving me the chance to live my dream of working on a full-time basis with the football club."

"I would also like to thank the club's fantastic supporters who have been with the team every step of the way, whether it be a pre-season fixture down the road at Atherton Collieries, or a 6am start to support the team down in Dover and Margate. I too have have great days stepping on the pitches at club's that now grace the Football League, such as Carlisle United, Exeter City, Yeovil Town and Burton Albion.

I wish Leigh and everyone connected with the club the very best of luck in the future.

Regards

James Standing"

On behalf of the club's supporters, I'd like to sincerely thank James for his tireless efforts behind the scenes since the turn of the decade, and remind him that he's more than welcome to join his many friends on the terraces over the coming years. After all, it's not just a job when you've supported the club for as long as he has.

Good luck in whatever the future holds, James.

Always known as a bit of a strongman...