By Matt Lawton
March 19 2009

Leigh Genesis fans favourite Phil Marsh has left the club to join fellow UniBond Premier League outfit FC United of Manchester after well-publicised interest from the Rebels over a long period of time.

Twenty two year old striker Marsh joined Leigh in December 2008 and made a goalscoring debut in a 3-2 defeat to Radcliffe Borough in the Lancashire FA Co-Operative Challenge Trophy Second Round at Stainton Park, making his full league debut on Boxing Day 2008 in a 2-0 defeat to Witton Albion at Cantilever Park, Warrington, before scoring his first league goal for Leigh in the 3-1 defeat to Hednesford Town at the Leigh Sports Village Stadium on 7th February 2009.

Marsh started his career as a youth player with Manchester United and Blackpool, more recently appearing for Northwich Victoria and Hyde United.

At seventeen years old, Marsh was the innocent victim of a car crash which saw then-Man Utd team-mates Calum Flanagan and Mads Timm sent to a young offenders' institute. He recovered from his injuries to become a right back in the reserves and made his only first team appearance in a Carling Cup tie away to Crewe Alexandra in 2006.

He was first a target for FC United last month, but Marsh turned down the move in favour of remaining with Genesis, and he certainly proved his worth days later with a stunning hat trick in Leigh's amazing 4-2 victory over the Rebels at Gigg Lane, undoubtedly Leigh's best result of the season.

Marsh leaves the club after scoring seven goals, five of them in the league, in nineteen league and cup appearances and joins FC United with the best wishes of the club and supporters after his hard work and dedication.