Leigh Leopards are delighted to confirm the club’s Reserves and Academy home fixtures will be staged at venue partner Golborne Parkside ARLFC.
This coming Saturday, 8th March, Leopards Reserves entertain Leeds Rhinos Reserves at Golborne with a noon kick-off in the first league game of the season.
Leopards CEO Neil Jukes said: “Golborne Parkside’s a club that has hosted games in previous years and with some slight improvements made to the facility it can now host these games.
“It’s great to see the club entering into an agreement this year which I think will be beneficial for both parties. We are excited to see the Parkside facility packed with fans to build on what was a really successful Reserves competition last year and with the chance to see our first year under 18s in competition.
“I’d like to thank the Golborne committee for their work and consultation throughout the previous few months around this, in particular Leanne Wright and Scott Williams.
“I would also like to thank Tim Hilton from JJH Building Contractors and his team for providing some critical work on moving the fence line to bring the playing surface to the required minimum standards. Steve Parry, Fielden Factors Building Merchants, provided the crane lift to remove the posts and materials to reinstate them. Steve Hugo, from Weldfast Services Ltd, provided the sleeves to rejoin the rails.”
Leanne Wright said: “On behalf of Golborne Parkside Board we would like to thank Leigh Leopards for the opportunity to be the playing home of the Academy and Reserves for the 2025 season. We look forward to supporting the teams.
“We encourage all of our members, supporters and the local community to come down for what we’re sure will be an incredible year.
“On match days the kitchen and bar will be open serving food and snacks along with hot and cold drinks.
“Car parking is available on site however, if you choose to park on nearby streets please park responsibly respecting our neighbours.”
Leopards Head of Youth Kieron Purtill said: “It seems a long time since our last competitive Reserves game last year. In that time, we have overseen major changes to our youth structures, which in the long term will have major benefits for the club.
“With the successful application of our Elite Academy from 2025 onwards, preseason started in November 2024 with introduction of three new teams, with our Under 15s and Under 16s scholarship and our Under 18s Academy all joining our reserve players for the start of preseason.
“During preseason we have integrated all the teams (including the Women’s Super League team) into training to create a one club feeling which has been very successful. We have held joint training sessions across the age groups which have been very beneficial for all involved.
“We are now training around 80 players on a weekly basis underneath our first team in the Elite pathway with similar numbers starting up again on our development pathway feeding into our LEAP squad which was very successful last year.
“This year’s reserve program has also seen a change in focus with only a small squad of reserve players retained (ten in total) with the rest to be supported by the Academy squad, first team and through some of our established connections at Championship clubs. It will be a good test and transition for our players in 2025.
“This has two focuses. One is to try and help the players who are second year Under 18s to get consistent week-to-week rugby, being able to play Under 18s one week then reserves the following week. There are eight players in this group. Secondly, to allow the first year Academy players time to adjust to playing at a higher level. Certainly, some of these will get an opportunity to step up and play reserves when the time is right, with the bigger picture in 2026 with this group, currently at 20 players, will be involved in academy and reserve fixtures.
“I would like to finish off with a big thank you to Golborne Parkside in coming on board as our venue partner for 2025 for both the academy and reserve team, giving us one base to call home for the season. We look forward to seeing everyone down there in 2025 giving support to all the teams.”
