After a gruelling pre-season programme that saw the Leigh Genesis management team run the rule over a vast number of trialists, the club can now confirm virtually their full squad for the new Evo-Stik Division One North season that begins on Saturday with Curzon Ashton’s visit to Crilly Park.

The pre-season began with more than thirty trialists playing in a 3-3 draw with Chadderton, and since then boss Mark Maddox, assistant Gary Scott and player/coach Andy Heald have worked hard to pick the best players available whilst also ensuring that they remain within their budget.

Chris Dykes, Heald and Scott Sephton remain from last season’s side that finished in sixth position in the league before the departure of former boss Garry Flitcroft and several players to league rivals Chorley. The signings of goalkeeper Adam Judge, strikers John Lawless, Nick Eastham, Mick Vernon and midfielders Mark King, Adam Strode, Paul Williams have already been confirmed, while Gary Scott has also featured during pre-season and will be registered as a player for the upcoming campaign.

Having begun his career with Everton, eighteen year old Kieran Molyneux is a player with bags of potential, and has found himself playing at both centre back and centre forward during pre-season, including scoring one of the Leigh goals in the 3-2 friendly defeat to league rivals Trafford, having previously played in the Welsh Premier League for Caernarfon Town.

Nineteen year old midfielder Joe Evans has also featuerd regularly in Leigh’s pre-season campaign and is another player to have played under the management of Mark Maddox at Formby last season having formerly been with AFC Liverpool.

Maddox’s attacking options have also increased with the signing of nineteen year old Brodie Kearns, who can play either on the right wing or as a striker, having previously played for Formby and AFC Liverpool, where he played alongside new full back Danny Lyons.

Commanding twenty five year old defender Simon Pendlebury has also joined the club having previously played for Atherton Collieries and Ashton Athletic, while nineteen year old goalkeeper Denis Barlow will look to provide competition for Adam Judge.

Another defender to join is twenty year old defender James Bell, who began his career with Accrington Stanley, where his father Jimmy is assistant manager, before spells with Burscough and Prescot Cables ended with a spell in the Welsh Premier League with Bala Town before joining Evo-Stik Premier League side Marine.

Given his vast experience as a non-league centre back, along with assistant Gary Scott, Maddox certainly has an eye for a young defender, and another to join is nineteen year old Rowan Garnett, returning to Leigh having previously played in the club’s youth team and most recently playing for Marine.

Completing the line up is forward Rick Gleave, who played at Manchester City as a youth and has represented England at university level.