In 2003, Andy Burnham – Evertonian, future Prime Minister, and then-MP for Leigh – organised a friendly between Conference side Leigh RMI and Everton Reserves in an attempt to raise money for the debt-ridden Leythers. As well as the friendly against Everton Reserves, a fun day and friendlies against Bury and Blackburn were arranged to raise funds for the club.
Ahead of the game, Andy Burnham said:
If I get a chance to score, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Although I’m still hoping someone from Everton might spot me and put me on their books!
It is really good of RMI to give me this opportunity and I can’t thank Mark Patterson enough. Games like these are very important to Leigh and it is vital we all rally behind the club.
I’ll be lucky to get a kick and it will be far more nerve-wracking than anything I’ve experienced in politics.
On 26th July 2003, 825 fans were at Hilton Park for the game. Everton almost took the lead in the opening quarter of an hour through Nick Chadwick but his shot went wide of the post. Italian forward Patrizio Pascucci also had a chance to score – he was through on goal following a slip by Shaun Dootson with only the keeper to beat, but he blazed his shot over the bar. Shaun Dootson attempted to make amends at the other end but he fired over. Eventually, after 32 minutes, Everton broke the deadlock thanks to a 20-yard strike from Leon Osman.
After the goal, Everton remained in control and had chances to double their lead. Pascucci had a shot that was tipped around the post by goalkeeper Ian Martin and a Nick Chadwick volley was cleared off the line by Paul Brown. Despite their dominance in the first half, the Reserves were only one goal to the good at half-time.
Everton continued to push for a second goal in the second half, with Patrizio Pascucci having a great chance to do so but he dragged his shot wide from six yards. Their fruitlessness in front of goal came back to bite them. The Leigh RMI substitutes mounted pressure on the Everton goal and were rewarded with an equaliser after 67 minutes. After winning the foul, Ged Courtney headed an Andy Heald free-kick into the net.
Both teams vied for a winner, and Leigh RMI came the closest to doing so with Ged Kielty hitting the crossbar and Wayne Maden narrowly missing from 25 yards. But at full-time, it was Leigh RMI 1-1 Everton Reserves.
In the final three minutes of the game, Andy Burnham was brought on as a substitute for goalscorer Ged Courtney as a thank you for arranging the friendly. His cameo was described by the Lancashire Telegraph as “hardly likely to materialise into contract negotiation.”
Everton Reserves: Iain Turner, James Potter, Brian Moogan, Sean O’Hanlon, Anthony Gerrard, Steven Schumacher, Leon Osman, Alan Moogan (Scott Brown), Nick Chadwick, Patrizio Pascucci, Kevin McLeod. (Unused subs: Sean Lake, Jack Flood, Anthony Barry, Danny Fox)
Leigh RMI: Ian Martin, Michael Clegg, Martin Lancaster, Paul Brown, Andy Heald, Ian Monk, Gerry Harrison, Shaun Dootson, Warren Peyton, Neil Robinson, David McNiven. (Substitutes – all second half: Guy Heffernan, Neil Durkin, Nicky Hill, Ged Kielty, Wayne Maden, Michael Oliver, Marcus Hallows, Ged Courtney, Andy Burnham)