OCTOBER

October began with a credible 0-0 draw away to Buxton that featured the late arrival of the Genesis supporters coach halfway through the first half after what can only be described as a navigational malfunction.

In torrential conditions on the Wirral, hosts Cammell Laird overcame the sending off of ex-Leigh man Lee Atherton to grab a shock 2-1 victory before Leigh took a break for league duties to secure a 1-0 FA Trophy win away to Harrogate Railway Athletic, with Leigh once again backed by a vociferous support that made up almost three-quarters of the crowd at Station View.

A stylish second half performance at Wincham Park saw goals from Jordan Stepien, Brad Maylett and Tom Field secure a 3-1 victory away to Witton Albion, before ending October with a 0-0 draw with Marine at Victory Park.

However, matters on the field would soon prove to be the least of the worries of Leigh's dedicated supporters, with the announcement at the end of October that chairman Dominic Speakman was withdrawing his financial backing for the club after a series of setbacks in the project progression of the club, largely revolving around the failure of Wigan MBC to provide the Leigh Sports Village Stadium when promised, and as such decimating the club's business plan and income streams.

As such, it was a scratch side of youngsters that represented the club in a 5-1 FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round defeat to Cammell Laird at Victory Park, with only Steve Dickinson, Josh Wilson, Chris Holland and Jordan Stepien remaining from the previous squad in what would turn out to be Steve Bleasdale's final game in charge of the club.

NOVEMBER

There were certainly fireworks on November 5th as Steve Bleasdale resigned from his position as manager, to be replaced by reserve team manager Lee Merricks ahead of the visit of North Ferriby United to Ashton United's Hurst Cross home. It proved to be a tough baptism for Merricks and his young side as Genesis crashed to a harsh 3-0 defeat. The following week, however, was to provide a huge amount of hope as Leigh's youngsters made the mammoth trip to the North Yorkshire coast and returned from Whitby Town with Chris McCaughtrie's late goal securing a point from a 2-2 draw, ten years to the day since Leigh secured a famous 1-1 draw away to Fulham in the FA Cup.

What followed was an incredible run of postponements, with a Lancashire Trophy postponement away to Atherton Collieries being followed by league games being called off away to Bradford Park Avenue and Ashton United.

DECEMBER

Having made their last appearance on November 15th, Leigh would play just two further games before Christmas, with a 2-0 win at Atherton Collieries, at the seventh attempt of the game going ahead, was followed by a Lancashire Trophy exit with a 3-2 loss to Radcliffe Borough. 2008 ended with a 2-0 defeat to Witton Albion at Warrington Town's Cantilever Park home, while the New Year began in typical fashion, with fixtures against Kendal Town and Cammell Laird falling victim to the weather.

JANUARY

Leigh's first appearance of 2009 was to prove a harsh lesson as Genesis fell to a heartbreaking 3-1 League Cup defeat to Ashton United as the hosts scored two goals in extra time after the sides were locked at 1-1 after ninety minutes of play.

Clitheroe's Shawbridge ground was the sixth different ‘home' venue for Genesis, but Leigh struggled against a strong wind and eventually succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Eastwood Town, with the ruthless visitors emphatically underlining their championship credentials.

The following Tuesday brought yet another rainstorm, and another defeat for Leigh as local rivals Prescot Cables ran out 2-0 victors in the Valerie Park mud, while a trip to Derbyshire hiking country brought little luck in a 5-0 defeat to Matlock Town.

After an eternity of waiting, Genesis finally made their long-anticipated bow at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on 27th January when neighbours FC United of Manchester were the inaugural victors at the new stadium, winning 2-0 in front of a hugely encouraging crowd of 1,302.

Despite hopes to the contrary, that encounter didn't represent a sustained period of games at the LSV Stadium, and instead Leigh were back to Radcliffe's Stainton Park the following Saturday, when Worksop Town ran out 2-1 victors.

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