Leigh Centurions are delighted to confirm that Brian Bowman has accepted the
unanimous invitation from the Board of Directors to become the Club’s
Honorary Life President.

Mr Bowman takes over in the figurehead role from his long standing friend
Tommy Sale MBE who sadly passed away earlier this month. He had no
hesitation in accepting the position when contacted by Club owner Derek
Beaumont on behalf of the Board.

“I am really honoured to accept this position,” Mr Bowman said.

"Tommy was a great friend of mine and we always got on very well. We had a
great relationship and would speak two or three times a week about rugby
almost right up to Tommy’s passing."

“I celebrate my 60th wedding anniversary later this year but my wife Marian
always jokes that really I have been married to Leigh Rugby Club, such has
been my involvement over the years.”

Born in Southend, Brian moved to Leigh during the early years of the war
when he and his mother were evacuated to the town.

A regular Leigh supporter since the Club was reformed in 1946, Brian
developed his own successful joinery business and became a Club Director in
1973, serving as Chairman from 1977 until 1983.

That period coincided with some of the Club’s greatest times notably in the
1981-82 season when Leigh lifted the Lancashire Cup and then became
Champions of the Rugby League with a never-to-be-forgotten last day victory
at Whitehaven.

“Winning the title was the proudest day of my life,” Brian says. “What made
it even more special was having so many Leigh born players in the side, many
of whom had come up through Colts rugby.”

During his time as Chairman Brian was responsible for signing on two of the
greatest players in the Club’s history in Des Drummond and John Woods who
both went on to achieve great things in the game.

“I signed Des after he had played as a triallist in an A Team game at Barrow
and scored three tries,” Brian recalls. “You could see his potential but
other members of the Board at the time were reluctant to offer him a signing
on fee.

“Des would have signed for nothing but I gave him £50, thinking that the
other seven members of the Board would do the same and he’d at least get
£400. But no one else coughed up!

“John was a brilliant rugby player and he had everything. On top of that he
is such a nice lad, modest and humble. He’s the greatest player Leigh have
ever had in my opinion which is a big statement from me as previously my
all-time favourite Leigh player was the great Australian, Trevor Allan."

“Trevor lived with my mum and dad when he first came over and he was a
fantastic player. He arrived just before Christmas time in 1950 and I
remember it was snowing. In my excitement I rushed round to see my friend in
Schofield Street to tell him and I slipped on the ice and broke my wrist!”

Brian also served on the Rugby League Council between 1977 and 1983 and was
vice-chairman of the Disciplinary Committee for five years as well as being
co-opted onto the Great Britain Selection Committee. He was also Lancashire
RL President in 1982 and served on the County’s selection committee.

“I’ve had a lifetime’s involvement in Rugby League and loved every minute of
it,” he says. “I’ve made some great friends and met many characters and it’s
great to catch up with old friends going to Leigh games."

“These are really exciting times for the Club and you can sense the
excitement in the town. Derek’s done a fabulous job and has put his money
where his mouth is and I’m really looking forward to the season and
representing this fantastic Club in my new role."

“I’d like to place on record my humble thanks to Derek and the Board for
inviting me to take on this position which, as I said earlier is a great
honour.”

Leigh Centurions Owner Derek Beaumont said: "It is always going to be
difficult when such a high profile Club representative like Tommy Sale MBE
passes away and it is almost as if there would never be an appropriate time
to appoint someone to take up his role."

"But knowing Tommy, he would expect people to move on and resume normality
as quickly as possible. I also know he would be personally delighted for
Brian Bowman to take the honour of replacing him as the Honorary Life
President of the Club."

"When I broached the difficult issue with my fellow Board Members and
nominated Brian it was unanimously supported within seconds. Brian’s
achievements in the game speak for themselves and he is widely respected
within the game as a whole which is a vital attribute to the role."

"He is arguably the Club's most successful chairman and has been so
committed in the past to the Club he even put his home up as surety!"

Mr Beaumont added: "Behind every successful man is a supporting woman and,
in Marion, Brian has had a remarkable wife whom I know will be very proud of
him receiving this appointment officially on the pitch before the first home
game of the season."

"Brian was overwhelmed when I called him and was emotional it meant so much
to him."

"To me it is richly deserved and I set him the challenge as difficult as it
may be to reach the fine age of Tommy Sale MBE as our figurehead
representing the Club."

"I have no doubt the fans will be pleased for Brian and look forward to
congratulating him when they see him."

A lovely gentleman and a richly deserved honour. It would never be easy to follow Tommy, but the club has found a highly qualified successor. Congratulations Brian.

Good news, a very worthy successor to Mr Sale.

I agree with Alan (as usual) and Reffy (for once)

A true Gentleman is Brian, and if ever there was a more than worthy candidate to follow Tommy, Brian is it.

Actually 'reffy' in what's generally been a bad news week for Leigh, it's worth re-iterating what you say, that this is a GOOD news item.