Leigh Leopards are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of former player Eric Gregory (HN#704) at the age of 83.

Eric was a locally produced and talented stand-off half who signed professional terms in February 1961, aged 18.

He went on to play 14 first team games between 1962-64, scoring two tries before continuing his playing days with Astley & Tyldesley Collieries and Leigh East, of which club he was a founder member.

Former Leigh head coach Keith Latham, a professional player with Salford and Blackpool Borough and Leigh East stalwart, knew him well. “Eric was first and foremost a grafter on the field and off,” said Keith. “He was instrumental in building the Leigh East clubhouse by the side of Hilton Park and spent hundreds of hours on that project.

“He went to Wrexham and took down an army hut in a day and one of the hauliers helped him transport the building back to Leigh.

“There it stayed in a compound for six months while the groundworks were completed prior to the building going up.

“He was an unbelievable grafter on and off the field as well as holding down a full-time job in the building trade.

“He coached the first team and second team and lots of lads learned so much from his knowledge and the information he’d pass on.

“He was a big help to me when I was playing and coaching. He taught me how to manage my time to the best effect with the demands of work, training, playing and preparation. His man management skills were superb.

“As a stand-off he was quick and talented and when he played for East into his late thirties you could see what a good player he was.

“He stayed involved with the club and like us all was sad when the clubhouse was demolished as part of the transfer of the club to Leigh Sports Village.

“It was an emotional day when the club house that he and other volunteers had built with their bare hands, concreting, bricklaying and then all the joinery work was no more. With it went a lot of memories.”

The Leigh East club paid tribute: “Eric’s contribution to the Leigh East club in its first 25 years was unsurpassed.

“His major achievement was in the building of the old clubhouse. Without his skill, drive and determination and contacts in the building trade it is doubtful it would ever have been completed.

“Of course, it was the old club which gave us the opportunity to be part of the Sports Village project which resulted in us getting the facilities we enjoy today.”