2020 Chris Hill Testimonial Brochure

Benson came in as head coach. We stayed full time
and my wages shot up to £12,000 a year and £200 a
win (still nothing for a loss).
In 2006 we won the Northern Rail cup which was my
first medal.
I was working part time too, with Stephen Grainey
who owned a gym with Leigh’s conditioner,
Martin ‘Dogger’ Rowden, and as many players do,
I wanted to get into personal training.
This was perfect as they both understood
training commitments and time issues to get my
level 3 qualifications.
I stayed working at the gym until I left Leigh.
In 2007, I was picked for England at under 18s, with
Rob Draper from Widnes.
We were the first two lads from National
Conference to play for the team with the likes of Sam
Burgess. We played France in France then there
were two tests against the Aussies, in which I played
the first.
I stayed a year with the club, and then a few of the team
were approached by Leigh Centurions and
joined their scholarship and development programme
on a Tuesday and Thursday.
In the early years at Leigh I was a back rower.
In 2005 at 17, I had an offer to sign for Leigh from
Stephen Grainey, the football director, who offered
me £3000 a year....
I snatched his hand off.
Back then it was an extra £50 winning bonus and
nothing if you lost. At this time, Leigh were in
Super League. I was in the under 18’s team
and was asked to play up to the u21s. There
were changes at the club with Darren Abram
moved from head coach replaced by Heath
Cruckshank.
In 2009 Paul Rowley became the head coach, which
brought a more expansive way to play.
I then found myself on the outside and not
being picked. During this time, I was contacted by
Gateshead Thunder, through Steve McCormack,
to join them the next season.
The irony of this is we played them on the last
game of the season, they beat us to relegate us.
History shows that we weren’t relegated as
Gateshead had to withdraw from the league and
Leigh were able to stay up.
Leigh were about to face St. Helens in the league and
Health called me to say I’d be playing in that game.
WOW!
I started on the bench and we took a pasting
from Saints, but I was playing in Super League!
I recall my first interaction was Nick Fozard who
shared his big arms and knees all over my face!
Steve Maiden and me shared his car to training each
day as I hadn’t passed my test. When I did, it was time to
be designated driver to Warren, Brains, Stevens and
Danny Speakman. I’d pick them up from
Tesco car park and Warren seemed always
to be asleep on his bags on the floor with one boot, a
pair of shorts and a packet of cigarettes.
The following year, after relegation, Tony