Leigh Leopards welcomes James Winterbottom as Honorary Life President
Leigh Leopards are delighted to announce that James Winterbottom has graciously accepted the role of Honorary Life President of the club.
James Winterbottom is a director at Wigan Council and a director of Leigh Sports Village, a Leigh lad who was the inaugural recipient of the Town of Leigh Award at the club’s annual presentation evening last Thursday.
Owner Derek Beaumont said: “At the start of the season we sadly lost our highly respected Club President, Brian Bowman. The position has remained vacant since as we considered who would be best placed to take on this prestigious and important role.
“As this year has progressed, we have seen the direction the club has taken, particularly with James’s valuable role in influencing the bridging of partnerships between the Club, Council, Leigh Sports Village, and our community. This will protect and preserve our club for the future.
“As a measure of the respect with which we hold James, it was unanimously decided to formally invite him to become our Club President in recognition of his commitment and effort to the club and town. We are delighted that he has graciously accepted.
“James will bring a wealth of experience and insight to our team. We look forward to working closely with him to strengthen our club and our community.”
Mr Winterbottom has been a prominent figure in the Leigh community for many years, contributing significantly to various local initiatives and partnerships, also demonstrating a deep commitment to the club and the sport of rugby league. His passion for the club and dedication to the community align perfectly with the values of Leigh Leopards.
James Winterbottom said: “I am honoured to accept the position of Honorary Life President at Leigh Leopards. The invitation came as a massive surprise and I’m incredibly honoured and overwhelmed to be asked.
“At the awards presentation I was so grateful for Derek’s very kind words and the incredibly generous award that he presented me with. It was such an honour. I hope I got across how thankful and appreciative I was and how humbled I felt to be part of the club’s celebrations of so many amazing players, staff and community members.
“I can’t wait for another outstanding year on and off the field, building our great partnerships between the club, council, LSV and our communities to the next level. We are all so excited, particularly about the opportunity to support the development of the academy.
“This club has a rich history and a passionate fanbase, and I am excited to contribute to its growth and success. Together, we can build a brighter future for our community and the sport we love.”
Leigh Leopards are excited about the opportunities ahead and believe that James Winterbottom’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping the club’s future. We encourage all supporters and community members to join us in welcoming him to this vital role.
