If clubs were full time i would have written into contract about the working in schools jnr clubs etc I have said it before a good idea with full time (and thats a laugh with the hours they do -or don't do) personell but not with playes who work through the day as they have no time and those who do wish to do so usually coach or assist at their local clubs, its not a new idea we were doing it years ago when more of our players didnt have full time jobs.

No I know it`s not a new idea every club did it but it`s to how benificial it`s done. There ought to be more clubs taking up the grants you can get them for cheer leading as well. The grants would help pay for the players to be full time, it helps promote the club and gives the kids at schools a treat.

Kids respond to players, we need players in schools to get the kids to games.

took over the riegns at our club



Yes in my opinion we need to get them more involved F/T or P/T but it seems at bthe moment nothing in life is that simple



So you were a teacher Lynda

The club has been into my daughters school for the last few Thursdays, think it was Hannah but under the Centurions Moniker.

I think 'Arty' needs to be in attendance though to give it the wow factor for the kids.

Saying that though, my daughter loved the sessions!!



Well done Hannah and the club!

The pies came over to my daughters school in westhoughton



Tapping into the Bolton market?

Another bad decision made by Leigh - I think that for a player you get working in the community on a full time contract (dual contract playing and community) you get an extra (it's in the rules) £10,000 on your salary cap. So if Halifax have six players, they'll be allowed an extra £60,000 on top of the £400,000.



I was at a meeting the other week with 'big names' in football and they said that the main principle that they work from (this was Premiership Football Clubs) is to get players and club officials into the community. They have to have contact with the Club - whether it be coaching, education etc.



Every young child in our borough should have contact with our club at least once a year - contact by going to the LSv for lessons, players going to their school, officials going to their school, etc

We used to do this , Paul Rowley, Pat WEisner, Richard Marshall, Rob Smythe have all worked for our community Dept.

the list is endless of ex players 'working' in the youth dept but did they do it efficiently? the community dept 3 plus manager all work damned hard and to not applaud their efforts in what they do is in my mind not only unfair but downright disrespectfull, if you dont believe it i suggest you contact Hannah and ask if you can work shadow them over a week.

I do not think for one moment anyone is suggesting the community dpt do not work hard ,far from it I was merely pointing out that grants can be sought to enable players to have some of thier wages paid for going into the community to spread the word about healthy eating and Leigh Centurians .I know my grandchildren if offered a choice between spending time at school with players or the ones from the Fax office I know what they would pick. They are children for goodness sake so like to see thier heroes and this is in no way disrespectful to anybody who does community work .It`s just the way it is.

Not at all mate - just trying to make suggestion which allows the links with schools within the constraints of a part time squad who all have day jobs.



Having taught in Bradford (and Leeds) I am fully aware of how active the Bulls PR machine is (or at least was) and, as mentioned above, Wigan are now beginning to follow suit to some extent.



I now work in Bolton and we regularly see the Wigan players around the Authority - which has led to an amusing picture in our Reception of the Head (who is about 4ft2) next to Feka (not even gonna try to spell his surname?!) presenting awards to our kids!



If Leigh's players can't get out to schools during the day due to work commitments, perhaps Presentation Evenings and weekend Fayres are another way to go?

I'm sure the community department do very goos work - but its quite simple they are unkowns with leigh gear on - to have a 'star' basically are better players doing it, say in partnership with a memeber of the current lot would work far better.



It's not rocket science - you spend the most money and recruit quality in the main positions - 1,6,7,9 and 13. These are the ones that usually cost you the most money - recruit them on a player/community employee contract and make the most of the extra money.



Another option is to do what a number of football league clubs do and run the communty scheme through a charity - get more grants, gift aid, other benefits etc.