This week marks one of most important ones in the history of our famous club.
On Sunday Leopards’ unbeaten first team take on Hull KR in a top-of-the-table Super League Round 5 game at Sewell Group Craven Park.
But prior to that Leopards’ scholarship and academy teams play their first games of the season. After the successful academy bid spearheaded by Head of Youth Kieron Purtill this marks the significant progress made in developing the infrastructure of the club.
On Wednesday the scholarship team play Wakefield Trinity at DIY Kitchens Belle Vue Stadium (7pm) and on Saturday the Leopards Academy play Hull KR at Sewell Group Craven Park (1pm).
Head Coach Ian Gladwin has named his squad for Wednesday’s game:
The support of our sponsors has been invaluable in supporting this vital growth in the club’s infrastructure with the aim of ultimately supplying a flow of players through to the first team.
Leigh Leopards are delighted to express their gratitude to the following businesses for their backing:
Sponsors
Main Front
JJ Harrisons P.V.C Products Ltd
Chest opp badge
ESS(CE)
Left Sleeve Upper
Caton Lloyd
Left Sleeve Lower
Aspire Joinery
Right Sleeve Upper
My Dream Escape
Right Sleeve Lower
Paul Lester Transport
Rear Collar
The Leigh Fans
Front Collar (upper chest)
WJ Structures
Rear Upper
Roofing Group LDM
Rear Lower
Cloud4 Technology
Short Rear Main
Rowleys Pool Hall
Short Rear Right
Lacey Darwen Structural
Shorts Rear Left
Trojan Mechanical
Shorts Main Front
Simply Green Turfing
Here are a selection of quotes from sponsors showing their pride in being involved in this hugely significant initiative:
The Leigh Fans
The Leigh Fans is a group of over 40 Leigh fans that got together around Christmas of 2018 to support Leigh through a difficult time. The group has sponsored 10 players and coaching staff over the years, with an emphasis on local talent, apart from the year that Edwin Ipape was sponsored ! As the club has progressed mightily since 2018 the Leigh Fans wanted to further support the future of the club by becoming the collar sponsor for the Academy sides. We look forward to seeing home grown talent breaking through into the first team and helping to bring further success to the club. The Leigh Fans wish good luck to every Academy player as they strive to break through to the first team.
WJ Structures
Founding director Lloyd Jolley said: “As a family business based in Leigh, we’re proud to invest in the future of rugby and give back to the community that’s supported us for so long. We’re delighted to be official kit sponsors of Leigh Leopards Academy team for the 2025 season. Youth sports play a vital role in shaping the values of young people, and we’re excited to see how this partnership will positively impact the players of the Academy.
“As a company, we’re passionate about teamwork and perseverance, so I think our values align well with the Leigh Leopards Academy. We hope the continued success of the Leigh Leopards by the development of the Academy will contribute to a sense of community spirit and pride in the town.”
For more information about Structures Group, please visit www.structures.co.uk
Caton Lloyd
It’s an honour to support the clubs academy and be part of Kieron’s vision for how we can shape the clubs future. The Acadamy is a vital part for the club to sustainably complete at the top of the table in future years (Dave Lloyd Managing Director)
Cloud4
Phil Donoghue, Managing Director of Cloud4 said, “We have been supporting the club for a few years now, but the minute we heard that Leigh had been granted an Elite Academy we wanted to be involved. We have always supported young people as a business so this was a great fit for us and we can’t wait to get the season started”.
Cloud4 Technology is an award-winning cybersecurity and IT support company based in Leigh, specialising in protecting businesses from evolving cyber threats around the clock. Its flagship service, Cyber Protect 247, provides 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR), combining AI-driven threat detection with expert human intervention.
They offer a comprehensive range of cybersecurity solutions and are one of only around 300 NCSC-certified cyber assessors, helping businesses achieve Cyber Essentials and Cyber Assurance certifications, ensuring compliance and resilience against cyber risks around the clock.
My Dream Escape
Owner of My Dream Escape Lynda Donoghue said “We’re all huge Leigh fans in our house and it’s always been frustrating how many great young players from the area we lose to other clubs because we didn’t have an academy. So, when it was announced that Leigh had been granted one, I jumped at the chance to support it.”
My Dream Escape is an Independent Travel Agency dedicated to providing a high-quality, personalised service to help clients find their perfect getaway. Whether it’s a family holiday, city break, luxury bucket list trip or a dream cruise, we take pride in offering expert advice and tailored solutions to suit every need and budget.
With a passion for travel and a commitment to exceptional customer care, My Dream Escape goes beyond simply booking trips—we create unforgettable experiences and work closely with clients to understand their preferences and provide expert recommendations, ensuring every journey is seamless and stress-free.
Trojan Mechanical
Aaron Barker Managing Director, whose son Kadan is also in Scholarship squad said: “Trojan Mechanical are excited to be sponsoring the youth of Leigh Leopards and helping them on their journey. Youth development is at the front of our business model with our 2 full time apprentices. We are a local business who specialises in industrial pipework and gas services. We have nationwide call out and 24/7.
