Regret to Announce the Death of Harry Leyland.

We regret to report that Harry Leyland died on Wednesday Night 6th December with his family at the bedside. He has been suffering with cancer for some little time but, as typical of the man, he has only recently admitted to having any sort of a health problem.

Harry, a goal keeper of some renown, having played for Everton, Blackburn Rovers and Tranmere Rovers in his long football career developed a love for rugby as a member of New Brighton where he joined originally to play squash. He has a tremendous record of service to the club as President and later as Chairman. Both offices he filled with great distinction. He was always an active and very successful fund raiser, the most visible event being the Annual Sportsmans Dinner which has now been running for 18 years.

Our sympathies are with his family and particularly his wife Margaret at this time. For those of us who are among his very many friends, we are truly saddened by the loss of this dear true gentleman. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral Details:
Service at St Johns Church Meols at 11 am, Friday December 15^th.  Family flowers only, donations to St. Johns Hospice. 
Cremation will follow at Landican at 12 noon - family & close friends only.
Afterwards there will be a reception at New Brighton Rugby Club.

The following obituary by Joe Pinnington has been released to the local press:

There were many chapters in the life of Harry Leyland, but few of those could have given so much pleasure to so many people than his last 25 years at New Brighton Rugby Club.

Harry was universally known as an outstanding Association footballer having played as goalkeeper for Everton, Blackburn Rovers who he represented in the 1960 cup final at Wembley and finishing with Tranmere Rovers a career that lasted over 20 years in the professional game. More qualified people will write on that part of his career.

Harry joined New Brighton in the early 80’s as a squash player. Within a short time he was associated with the running of the sport and the club. These were really poor days in the clubs rugby history, both on and off the field of play. Harry showed interest in the rugby team with a professional sportsman’s insight into a game that he never played. “Nice lads” he observed about the team “what they need is a couple of old heads”. He was right-he invariably was. Within a couple of years Harry was fully immersed in the club, not only playing squash, but also now following the rugby clubs fortunes. In 1991 he was elected President of the Club, “but I’ve never played the game” don’t worry Harry you know more than most of the former players”. It was true his whole-hearted support was invaluable. His appointment coincided with Larry Conner joining the club and they built up a colossal bond, both being Evertonians, Larry perhaps even more so than Harry. It was a friendship that would endure the ups and downs of New Brighton’s fortunes from a poor local team to an outstanding national club with a great following. The respect they had was built on a foundation of mutual respect. Crowds of 3,000 plus came to support.

Harry dedicated himself to fund-raising and the financial health of the Club. He established the Sportsman’s dinner among his many activities raising well over £100,000 for the club. Without this contribution the success would have been impossible. Here was a professional sportsman giving a great deal of his time on strictly amateur bases. Oh, for his likes today, giving something back to sport for no financial gain.

A man of the greatest integrity, wonderful company who made numerous new friends up and down the country at the clubs where we visited, he was genuinely loved and admired. But heaven help the ill thought out plan. There was always the “wonder plan” that some dreamer had that would presumably solve all problems. “But can we afford it” was Harry’s reply, sending the man away with some more dreaming to be done.

Over this period the club reached heights that many in the 1980’s thought impossible. We had a good team but the outstanding member, always around; always positive, always aware that more effort was required was Harry. “We must not rest on our laurels”, he warned

In 1999 Harry was made a life member of the Club an honour bestowed on very few. There was nothing more the club could do to recognise the man. Harry had made such an impact on his adopted sport; we spoke of the future of the club on many occasions. “We must move on” he told me, “ remember no body is irreplaceable”. Regrettably for the first time I had to disagree with the great man. We send our deep thoughts to Margaret and her family a family he loved our prayers are with you all.

We close the final chapter of Harry’s life, God we’ll miss him, but he will always be Sir Harry the man with a ready smile and enthusiasm for our club, in the pantheon of the club Harry will be on the top table, the Captain of course.

Joe Pinnington