Former Leigh favourites to come out of retirement in support of Martyn Ridyard

Former Leigh favourites including Gareth Hock, Tommy Goulden, Micky Higham, Tom Armstrong and Fuifui Moimoi are coming out of retirement to wear the Centurions colours once again.

They will form part of a Centurions Select side that will take on a team selected from the Leigh Miners Rangers and Leigh East community clubs to kick-off a year events to mark Martyn Ridyard’s testimonial season.

The game takes place this Friday, January 17, at Twist Lane, home of Leigh Miners.

Ridyard, 33, became only the third player in history to score 2,000 points for the club last season and made his Leigh debut in the first competitive game at Leigh Sports Village, where he also scored the first try in the stadium.

He said: “It feels a little bit surreal and I sometimes think ‘where has the time gone? There have been ups and downs but I would not swap anything. I’ve had a good time and made some friends for life.”

Ridyard was part of the Leigh squad that won promotion to Super League in 2016, but left the club mid-way through the Super League season to first join Huddersfield on loan, and then moved to Featherstone the following year.

He returned last season and penned a deal to play on in 2020.

Club owner Derek Beaumont added: “His records speak volumes and he has placed himself firmly in the club’s history books. The club and myself personally will be supporting Martyn’s testimonial and it would be great if our loyal fans and sponsors can get behind him.

“Martyn is someone who hasn’t taken a lot from the club over the years especially in relation to what he has given back. It’s a short career and a difficult one on his body and anything he can generate from this testimonial is well deserved and will put him and his family in a good place for the start of life without a rugby income.”