Leigh RMI F.C.
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Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute Football Club, usually known as Leigh RMI, are an English football team who play in the Conference North as of 2005–06. They are based in Leigh in the borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.
The club was founded in 1896 and was known as Horwich RMI F.C. until 1995 when the club, realising their ground Grundy Hill would not be able to help the clubs' prospects of achieving success up the football pyramid, made the desision to relocate from Horwich to Hilton Park, Leigh, home of rugby league club Leigh Centurions. As part of the deal a new company, Grundy Hill Estates, was formed to take over the ownership of the ground. Once the move had been finalised and agreements had been made to share the 10,000 capacity stadium, Horwich officially changed their name to Leigh RMI to reflect their new surroundings.
Five years after this move Leigh RMI reached the Conference, the highest level of non-league football, after a few seasons at this level, things seemed to be going well for the club but because of their second bottom finish in the 2003-04 season, they were to be placed in the new Conference North division for 2004-05. However they were spared relegation that season because the lack of a promotable Northern Premier League club spared the team above them and Margate were then demoted because of failing to meet ground standards. This reprieve only lasted one season as they were relegated after finishing bottom in 2004-05 with only 18 points from 42 games.
With Leigh being known as a rugby league town, the football club attracted particularly low attendances of less than 250 on several occasions. The club is planning to relocate to a new purpose built stadium in Leigh, at which they will continue to ground share with Leigh Centurions.
In their short history Leigh R.M.I. have reached the F.A. Cup First Round on three occasions. The first came in the 1998/99 season when they met Fulham, then in Division Two, at Craven Cottage. Leigh achieved a 1-1 draw and the attention of the British media. Leigh's Goalkeeper, David Felgate, received plaudits for his performance in this match.
The replay at Hilton Park, was televised and shown live on Sky Sports. Leigh lost the replay 2–0, their defeat witnessed by a club record crowd of 7,125.
Leigh's second F.A. Cup First Round appearance in the 2000/01 season also ended in defeat. They lost 3–0 to Millwall who at that time were in Division Two. The venue for this match was switched from Hilton Park to The New Den in Bermondsey, Millwall's home ground.
A third appearance in the F.A. Cup also ended in defeat for Leigh — losing 2–1 away to Conference South side Cambridge City.
Grounds
- Grundy Hill 1896-1995 (as Horwich RMI)
- Hilton Park 1995-date
Famous players
Steve Jones - Northern Ireland and Burnley attacker.
External links
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