Former Widnes Vikings player Tommy Sale has died

After turning pro with Leigh, he played seven games for Warrington in the 1945-46 season and went on to join Widnes for whom he figured in the 1950 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

But it is in Leigh where Tommy, who was 97, built the majority of his life.

Tommy, who was Leigh Centurions' life president, is considered the single most influential person in the Championship club's history.

Tommy, born in Hindsford on 21 July 1918, had a rich and varied life in many other ways, with distinguished war service and as a respected headteacher and devoted family man.

When he left school he trained with the local council in their parks and garden department, skills which were to serve Leigh well in the future.

But when as a 20-year-old stand-off from the Cable works side he made his Leigh debut against York just before Christmas 1938 Tommy realised a childhood dream.

His involvement with Leigh started much before that though when he worked on the scoreboard from an early age at the old Mather Lane ground.

He made nine appearances in his debut season, but his career was interrupted when he was called up for war service, serving in Italy and in the Middle East.

Tommy returned to a post-war Britain that was unrecognisable from the country he left.

The war years had been especially damaging for Tommy’s beloved Leigh RL Club which closed down in 1941 after losing their Mather Lane ground when the Cable works took it over as part of an expansion programme.

Tommy briefly guested for Warrington in the 1945-46 season, the first post-war campaign, making seven appearances.

But his thoughts were always with Leigh, who re-formed and entered the Rugby League again in time for the 1946-47 season. They used the Charles Street Athletic Ground as a temporary home, with Tommy as their captain.

Tommy re-trained as a teacher and used his previous experience as a groundsman to mastermind the building of Leigh’s new ground at Kirkhall Lane.

He eventually lost his place in the Leigh side and started playing for Wigan Road WMC in the amateurs.

He had made 82 appearances for Leigh, scoring 16 tries and kicking two goals.

Another chapter in his life was about to start and he joined Widnes for a £450 fee in December 1949 and famously scored two tries as they beat Bradford Northern 8-0 in the Challenge Cup semi-final at Wigan in April 1950.

If that game was Tommy’s personal highlight, the final, at Wembley against Warrington was one of the lowest days of his career as the Wire won 19-0 and Tommy only touched the ball on a few occasions.

He often looked back at that day and as time passed was immensely proud to have played in a Challenge Cup Final. His brother John also played for Widnes and another brother, Frank, played for Leigh A.

Tommy’s professional career ended in December 1950 and he later embarked on a coaching career with Wigan A, Leigh A and Liverpool City among others.

He was also busy in his new career as a schoolteacher and was responsible for introducing the game of Rugby League to so many schoolchildren.

Tommy continued his links with Leigh by becoming a director of the Club and serving in many roles including secretary, assistant secretary, secretary of the Supporters’ Club and he was also the long-serving timekeeper.

He was a regular attendee at Leigh Sports Village right until his death.

One of the approach roads to the new Leigh Sports Village was named Sale Way in his honour.