Happy St. George’s Day- Celebrating Sporting Excellence at LSV
Happy St. George’s Day. Today we celebrate local pride, sporting excellence and the journey from community sport to the global stage.
Reflecting on St. George’s Day
St. George’s Day is a time to celebrate pride, dedication and perseverance, values that sit at the heart of sport and our community. It’s also the perfect opportunity for Leigh Sports Village to reflect on the incredible talent that has trained, competed and performed on our pitches and tracks over the years.
From grassroots participants to elite athletes, LSV has been proud to support individuals who have gone on to represent Leigh and their country on both national and international stages.
LSV’s Role in Creating A Thriving Sports Community
At LSV, we are fortunate to be home to a thriving sporting community, where many people are inspired by high performance environments and role models who have represented LSV, and their country at international level. Whether this be from Manchester United Women and U21’s, Leigh Leopards Rugby League or via our amateur sporting clubs, their achievements showcase the strength of local talent and the role community sport plays in developing future stars.
Representing LSV and England on the Global Stage
Leigh Leopards Rugby League
Robbie Mulhern and Josh Charnley have made numerous appearances for England Rugby League, while several of their teammates have also represented their country in England Knights fixtures.
Manchester United Women:
Maya Le Tissier, captain of Manchester United Women, along with Millie Turner, Gabby George and our local star Ella Toone, have all shone on the international stage representing England.
Ella was a key member of England’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 winning squad and featured in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Maya Le Tissier continued to rise at international level, earning England a place in the most recent international competition, the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2025.
Leigh Harriers Athletics:
Our local hero Keely Hodgkinson, who began her running career at Leigh Harriers Athletics Club, has represented England in prestigious competitions including the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she achieved a gold medal. Keely has also recently set the women’s indoor 800m world record in France.
Our Community Sport Links:
Leigh Sports Hub, our 3G pitch complex, is home to Amateur Rugby League Club, Leigh East where four of their current Open Age players have represented their club on the international stage.
- Adam Holland Played for BARLA lions in Australia in 2011
- Connor Grainey represented England Lions in 2021
- Keiron Prescott represented England Community Lions in Australia in 2024
- Adam Wilkes also represented Leigh East and his country at international level.
This is a fantastic achievement and highlights the strength of community rugby league at LSV. Meanwhile, many of the young Leigh Harriers athletes continue to represent their club and country at national level, demonstrating the depth of talent being developed locally.
Celebrating Success for Leigh and England:
Today, we celebrate not just past successes, but the next generation of athletes currently training at Leigh Sports Village, whether this is through Leigh Sports Hub, Leigh Harriers or Leigh Leisure Centre. These athletes continue to dream big and push boundaries. We are incredibly proud of the achievements of everyone who trains and competes at LSV and look forward to supporting many more journeys from community sport to the global stage in future.
