LEIGH v HUDDERSFIELD Sept 10 2016

MOLLY’S STORY
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD MOLLY BULLOUGH PROUDLY REPRESENTED
LEIGH CENTURIONS AT WEMBLEY. IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF
A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN WHEN MOLLY WAS NOMINATED TO
REPRESENT LEIGH CENTURIONS AS PART OF A FANS’ CHOIR
ON BBC’S SONGS OF PRAISE PROGRAMME.
The 32 choir members joined Aled
Jones to sing the traditional
Challenge Cup curtain raiser Abide
With Me. Molly is an avid
Centurions fan and as well as
having a season ticket regularly
follows the team away from home.
Here is her story:
Representing Leigh Centurions on the
pitch at Wembley was the best weekend
of my life. After arriving on the Friday we
had some photos taken at the Wembley
Rugby League statue. Then we met with
all of the other choir members and our
conductor Steve in the Wembley press
conference room.
Everyone was really nice and friendly but
extremely excited as we started to
practice Abide With Me. Later on, we
had our first rehearsal at the side of the
pitch by the players’ tunnel. We had to
rehearse on the Astroturf at the side,
because nobody is allowed on the grass
until the big game!
We had an early start Saturday morning,
singing live on Radio 5 Live on a Premier
Inn car park at 8am!
After getting a coach to Wembley, we
entered the stadium through the player’s
entrance. We rehearsed with Aled
Jones, and for the first time, the military
band, who looked great in their uniform.
Before long it was nearly time for the
real thing, but we had yet another
surprise when Lizzie Jones, Jamie Jones-
Buchanan and Martin Offiah came to
say hello to us all and give us some tips.
Then it was time to go and make our
way to the tunnel. It was nice to see
some fellow Leythers from Leigh East
who were mascots for the day.
Walking out and singing Abide with Me
on the actual Wembley turf in front of
76,235 fans was the best experience
any rugby fan could ask for. What made
it even better was that we stayed on the
pitch as the players walked out!
I would recommend entering the
competition to anyone. Finally, I
would like to thanks the Songs of
Praise team, and all the Leigh
Centurions fans who sent good
luck messages before the big day.
Memories from Molly’s appearance at Wembley.
Well done Molly, you did us proud!
WWW.LEIGHCENTURIONS.COM THE CENTURION 43