A NEW Millennium and a brand new challenge for Leigh Athletic FC.

After 40 years in the Lancashire Amateur League the Madeley Park outfit has taken the ambitious step of moving into the Manchester League.

Allied to significant summer changes behind the scenes, the transfer marks the next big step in the club's steady onward and upward development.

New man in the hot seat as club chairman, Rick Wilson, faces the daunting prospect of stepping into previous incumbent Ian Smith's shoes. The club has enjoyed tremendous success over recent season's during Smith's reign. It won't be easy for Wilson but then again the whole club faces a testing time.

Rick explains: "We've been in the LAL since 1961 and we felt it was now time to move on. It'sa marvellous league but it always has been relatively unknown round here and these days even more so. "We had the problem of trying to attract new players to the club and when we informed them which league we were in they didn't know anything about it. Understandably many of them then decided to go for other clubs which weren't such an unknown quantity.

"Players round and about Leigh know all about the Manchester League because Atherton Town, Pennington and Hindsford all play in it. While there may be mixed emotions about leaving the LAL, and certainly many happy memories, we are really pleased that we have been accepted into the Manchester League and it presents a big, fresh challenge for us. "Obviously there is the problem of leaving a competition where we were one of the top dogs in the Premier Division and going into a whole new ball game in what will effectively be a rung lower down the ladder in Division One. But what we felt we had to do was look at the broader picture and we decided that the long term benefits make taking this risk worthwhile.

"The first team will play in Division One and the Reserves in Division Three. Our third and fourth teams have been accepted into the Warrington League and we are currently trying to procure pitches at Dootson Park at Butts Bridge as a home base for them. All in all it's a very exciting

time for the club."

The recent end of season presentation evening saw Wilson Junior, Danny, pick up the Players Player award for the first team. Two other Danny's with the club got the nod in the Reserves with Smith the Players vote and Melling the Manager's choice.

For the thirds Chris Wilcock was his teammates' choice as the star player and Neil Partington the managerial selection while in the fourths Frank Gaskell got the Players Players award and Brian Dowling the Manager's Players.

Top goalscorer in the club was Tony Lewis with 36 and the Clubman of the Year award went to Mel Parry. It was a double celebration for the latter as his role as manager

of the third team saw the club's only LAL success of the season with a Knockout Cup triumph. The major story of the season for the club was a fantastic run in the Carlsberg Pub Cup under the name of Leigh Harriers which ended in semi-final defeat, one step away from Wembley, but with the massive consolation of the game being played at Anfield.

Missing from the list of the usual annual presentations was that of first team Manager's Player. Team boss Andy Pickles decided that it would not be correct to present this year as he only took over the reigns well into the campaign.

His elevation to team boss may have come as a bit of a surprise to people outside the club but internally there was never any doubt that one of the top strikers in Latic's history was the man to take over from Ted Roberts. Of tender years in managerial terms the new role doesn't daunt him in the slightest.

"The season was one of high and lows," he explains. "Sadly the league campaign was virtually dead before I took over from Ted as we had a bad start. But there had been the bonus of a semi final place in the Goldline Trophy when we lost 3-2 at Crilly Park to a strong attacking Pennington side. "The lowest point for me came when we lost four games on the run in the league just after Christmas. Up to then my first seven games in charge had seen us unbeaten. I've already learnt that as manager you find out more about your players in defeat than in victory and the next 11 games saw us win eight and draw one.

"During that sequence the real character in the side shone through with captain Gordon Walker, Dave Stead, Gordon Spowart, Darren Barclay, Steve Hilton, Neil Sumner and Danny Wilson lifting the team, and myself, out of that low point." "At the other extreme was the high of the Carlsberg Cup. When we got to the last 16 and in the quarter final ties the squad produced two of the best defensive, counter-attacking performances I have ever seen at our level in all my time in football.

"In both games we played sides containing several players from Non League outfits but we more than matched them. The discipline and commitment from our lads was simply outstanding and to do it in front of 300 of our own spectators on our own ground was tremendous. The semi-final at Anfield was a great experience even allowing for our heavy defeat and everyone will remember the day for the rest of their lives."

"Next season can't come soon enough for me. Having gone in the Manchester League we have some great local derbies to look forward to. The club's main focus has to be promotion to the Premier Division where we would be up against some of the best amateur sides in the North West. With this in mind we have brought Alan Urmston in to help on the coaching side.

"Bundles of enthusiasm and determination combined with a great squad of players with the right blend of youth and experience has me convinced that we can challenge for one of the top spots this term."

Pickles has planned an early start for his players with pre-season training getting underway on July 1 at 1pm at the Harriers ground.