By Matt Lawton
July 24 2003

A delighted Tommy Martyn was unveiled as Leigh's latest signing at a press conference this morning and declared his determination to lead the Centurions to a Grand Final victory this season both on the field and off the field in his role as assistant coach to Paul Terzis. The long awaited signing of St. Helens stand off Tommy Martyn was officially confirmed this morning at a press conference at Hilton Park this morning, with all parties visibly delighted at bringing Martyn to his home-town club.

Martyn has been appointed in the dual role of player and assistant coach following his early release from his contract at St. Helens after a decade at Knowsley Road following a transfer from Oldham in 1993. Martyn has won every honour in the club game and although he will continue to be out of action for at least three weeks, he is possibly the best signing ever made by the Centurions will make his Leigh debut within five weeks.

"This is the biggest ever signing by a National League One club in the history of the game" - Paul Terzis

Martyn began his career as a youngster at Leigh Miners Rangers before joining Oldham in 1989 from where he moved to St. Helens in 1993 and played a prominent role in their huge success over the past decade.

Centurions coach Paul Terzis was probably the most delighted of all present, including Martyn himself and directors Derek Beaumont and Tommy Coleman. Terzis proclaimed it as "the biggest National League One signing in the history of the game" and believes it is "one step closer" to achieving the "dream" mentioned in Leigh's promotional slogan of "A town. A team. A dream".

"There will be another significant signing within six weeks" - Paul Terzis

Terzis thanked both the Leigh board and Leigh supporters for their financial support which helped pave the way for this momentous signing. Director Derek Beaumont described the £3,100 raised at Thursday's L.I.S.A. meeting as "fantastic" and was grateful for the fantastic support for the signing from supporters and sponsors alike, believing that the signing will swell crowds at The Coliseum.

Terzis was obviously glad at the arrival of Irish international half back Martyn and believes that Leigh are full of ambition as they aim to finally achieve their quest for promotion to Super League and such ambition is perfectly illustrated by such a huge signing.

"It was a wrench to leave Saints but if I was to go anywhere, it would be to Leigh" - Tommy Martyn

Both Terzis and Beaumont are personal friends of Martyn and approached him about a possible transfer to Leigh as soon as it became apparent that Martyn's Saints contract wouldn't be renewed at the end of the season. Martyn was thankful to the St. Helens board for releasing him from his contract early in order for him to make the transfer to the club he has supported "since he was a little boy".

Martyn said that "It was a wrench to leave Saints but if I was to go anywhere, it would be to Leigh", which just illustrates his passion for the club and his home town, where he has lived throughout his career. He said that if it wasn't for Saints coach Ian Millward he would've signed for Leigh "three or four years ago". Martyn had all but signed on the dotted line at Hilton Park when Millward was still Leigh coach but Millward had moved to become St. Helens coach before the signing was completed and Millward persuaded Martyn to stay at Knowsley Road.

Derek Beaumont proclaimed it to be "the best signing Leigh's made" and both he and Terzis whetted the appetite for more when they announced that another "significant signing" will be confirmed within six weeks which they feel will be just as significant as today's signing.

Welcome 'home' Tommy.