Higham hangs up his boots
Leigh captain Micky Higham has retired from rugby league as a player, but will remain at the club in an off-field role.
Higham, 37, will make a swansong appearance in a pre-season friendly at Leigh Sports Village in January to bring the curtain down on a 19-year playing career.
He will remain with the Centurions in a dual role, working in the club’s community department and also as a member of the coaching team.
He said: “I feel very fortunate and honoured to be invited to take on a wide-ranging role at my hometown Club at an exciting time in its history.
“Leigh Rugby League Club celebrates its 140th anniversary next year and is part and parcel of the fabric of a town we all hold so dear. To be able to be part of the Club as they look to return to Super League and then build a long-term future at the top level of the sport is both a huge privilege and very exciting and challenging.
“I will approach the opportunity I have been given with the same single-minded dedication that I have adopted to my playing career.
“I started my Rugby League journey at Leigh as a teenager and to go full circle and come back to finish my playing career at the Club meant everything to me.
“I’ll never forget the reception the Leigh fans gave me when I made my second debut for the Club at the Summer Bash in 2015, nearly 15 years after leaving. The supporters have been absolutely fantastic to me and I’d like to thank each and every one of them for the backing they have given me throughout my career.
“It was a dream to captain the Club back into Super League and to captain them in Super League. They are the proudest moments of my career.
“Above all, I’d like to thank my wife Kate who has supported me every step of the way and our two boys for being there and we can now look forward to many more hugely rewarding times and occasions with this fantastic Club.”
Higham started his career at Leigh back in 1999, making his debut against Barrow having signed from Leigh East.
He went on to play for St Helens, Wigan and Warrington in Super League, as well as representing Great Britain four times.
In total he scored 129 tries in 506 games during his career, winning a Super League title with St Helens and three Challenge Cups titles at Warrington.