Leigh Sports Village

It opened its doors in late 2008. The Council launched the project to bring some life back to the area, and the stadium was the main part of that plan. They spent £17.5 million on the structure itself, which is part of a larger £50 million effort that included housing and shops. Queen Elizabeth II came to cut the ribbon on 21 May 2009, which gave the place a formal start. The surface underneath is a hybrid system, Desso GrassMaster, which means natural grass reinforced with artificial fibres. It sits on top of under-pitch heating, which keeps the ground playable when the weather turns wet.

The Leigh Leopards have played here since the beginning, and the Manchester United Women’s team moved in later, bringing their Reserves and Under-21s with them. The capacity started small at 4,775 but has since grown to hold 12,000 people. A crowd of 12,005 turned up for a Challenge Cup semi-final in August 2014, which remains the highest number seen on the terraces.

The venue has hosted a few big matches, including games from the 2013 and 2017 Rugby League World Cups, as well as a quarter-final from the 2022 Women’s European Championship. An Elton John concert in 2014 brought a different sort of crowd, but the football and rugby have kept the place busy. In 2022 the Council voted to call it the Progress With Unity Stadium, though most people still use the old name.