THE great day dawned cherry-and-white. Few people in the Ghost Town cared for anything other than the clock as the minutes ticked inexorably by, ever closer to 3-o-clock and a sporting date with destiny 200 miles away on the hallowed turf of Wembley.

May 15, 1971. The day Leigh went rugby-crazy.

Every shop was a cavalcade of colour, windows gaily decked in club scarves and rosettes. Hastily-procured TVs and radios were plugged in as the Home Team eagerly prepared for the kick-off in anxious anticipation.

Meanwhile, the Away Team plodded down Portobello Road, wandered down Oxford Street and gathered in Piccadilly as excitement began to mount.

Around Oxford Circus and Baker Street Stations fans, proudly sporting the cherry-and-white, mingled with the blue and yellow of Leeds as they made their way to Wembley Park.

As the tube rattled along out of the tunnel and finally above ground, the Twin Towers suddenly appeared on the horizon, patiently slumbering in the dim distance, stark against a grey skyline.

Then the glorious walk down Wembley Way...Mums, Dads, Grannies and Grandads, wide-eyed youngsters and the main buoyant group of loyal and hardened Hilton Parkers making the most of every golden step towards their date with fate. History in the making.

It was exactly 50 years since Leigh were last in the Cup Final. "Make the most of this," quipped one old bugger. "We may have to wait another 50 to reach another."

Well, now we're half-way there! Mayor's moment of glory

IT WAS, for committed Leigh fan George Macdonald, the crowning glory of his year in office.

He positively glowed as captain/coach Alex Murphy handed him the cherished Challenge Cup on the Town Hall balcony, watched by thousands of fans in a packed Market Square.

The Mayor of Leigh, his voice dripping with emotion, said: "This is my proudest moment.

"The town has never seen anything like this before - not even on VE Day."

The Sunday celebrations went on long into the night.

Murphy's Marvels had made their way back from London for a rendezvous in Boothstown. There they boarded a Southport Corporation double-decker for a 10-mile crawl through Astley, Tyldesley, Atherton and Leigh - roared on by an estimated 40,000 cheering fans.

Leigh Silver Prize Band played them into the Town Hall, almost deafened by fevered fans singing the Kop anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'

The party never flagged: the official one in the Town Hall, the unofficial one in the Market Square outside and hundred more in pubs, clubs and homes.

Eat, drink and be merry! We may never see its like again! Cheers in Church

CELEBRATING their silver wedding this week are Michael and Josie Evans. The couple, both members of AmDram company St Joseph's Players, were married at Leigh's Sacred Heart RC on Wembley Day.

But they were kept aware of the Cup Final score.

Parish priest Fr Patrick Kelly slipped into his private quarters as the newlyweds were signing the register, emerging moments later to report to a delighted congregation: "Leigh are 13-0 up."

The cheers were almost as loud as those for the bride and groom.

This week the couple received a Congratulations card from Alex Murphy.

He wrote: "Sorry you missed the match. We waited until 3-o-clock but we had to kick off without you."

Peter Smethurst

ONE man sadly missing from Leigh's Silver Jubilee celebrations is The Butcher.

Peter Smethurst, the cheery soul at the heart of Leigh's 1971 pack, died a few years ago. His funeral was the last time Murphy's Marvels got together.

It was way back in 1955 that Peter began his pro career as a centre with Swinton.

In 1969 he reached his first Wembley final when he was Salford's forward sub as they lost to Castleford.

He had been substitute in every round. Peter never played in that final match.

And he remembered that in 1971 when, as a loose-forward, he became the final cog in Murphy's Dream Team.

Roy Lester and Les Chisnall were Leigh's Wembley subs. After talks with Peter, Alex agreed that - no matter how the match was going - both would play.

Chisnall replaced Murphy after the skipper was pole-axed by Leeds captain Syd Hynes.

But sadly, in the excitement, Roy remained on the bench - Leigh's forgotten Wembley hero.

After the match, as jubilant players took the Wembley salute in scenes of fevered elation, Roy's joy was muted.

Peter walked slowly around the pitch, gazing at his prized medal and cherishing every moment. But he couldn't forgive himself later when he realised Roy had not played. "I know how he feels," he said. "It's awful - as if you're not part of the success."

Peter Smethurst, the friendly pirate with the infection grin and more broken noses than he cared to remember, later became the Leigh coach.

His reign didn't last long. Simply, no one could match his enthusiasm for "the best game in the world." The points scorers

BRAWNY prop Jim Fiddler sparked Leigh's charge to Cup Final glory.

His drop goal eased the tension in the early moments - but later Jimmy revealed: "I had no Wembley nerves. In a way, that was a disappointment."

Coach and captain Alex Murphy, who pumped over a couple of drops, said: "This was the greatest moment of my life."

Rugged centre Stan Dorrington blasted through for Leigh's first try. "I thought Alex was going through himself. I shouted and he switched, handing me the short ball to go in."

Goalkicker Stuart Ferguson, whose five goals broke Leeds hearts, hit the best from the touchline on the half-way line just before the interval. "I knew it was going over the moment I hit it," he said.

David Eckersley, who thumped over a drop goal, also added a superb try. He explained: "I was setting myself up for another drop, I shrugged off a tackle from Bob Haigh and suddenly a huge gap opened up and I was through." Winners all the way

ALEX MURPHY had a single-minded approach to the 1971 final. "We are going to hit them like a ton of bricks," he rapped. "We have no thoughts about defeat. We are geared to win.

"From No 1 to No 13 Leeds are a great side. But that means nothing to us. They are going to fall at Wembley."

And fall they did - a mighty crash that sent shock waves around the rugby world.

"It never entered our heads that Leigh might lose," agreed giant second-row Paul Grimes.

Leeds, the hottest favourites in Wembley history, believed totally in their invincibility. But the cracks began to appear as the teams walked on. "We were relaxed and confident," said centre Mick Collins. "Leeds were nervous and edgy."

Boisterous winger Joe Walsh, who had enjoyed every moment since weeks earlier Leigh were drawn to face Huddersfield in the semi-final, laughed and waved to friends and fans in the crowd.

For Leigh the carnival was about to begin. For Leeds it was the beginning of a nightmare.

Full-back John Holmes said: "It was an awful afternoon for us. All I seemed to do was to stand under our posts and watch the goals fly over."

Around 4.40pm that splendid Saturday, Reginald Maudling MP presented the Challenge Cup to Murphy.

The dream was complete.

Two days later, as Leigh folk returned to work after a weekend of astonishing celebrations, shattering news hit the streets - Murphy had signed for Warrington.

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