07/02/2025

Date: 6th Feb 2025 @ 9:06am

Progress with Unity Summit

Some of our children were extremely proud to attend the ‘Progress with Unity Summit’ held at The Edge, Wigan. The event was promoted by Wigan Council to showcase opportunity and inclusion through sport, with over 400 school children listening attentively and engaging proactively with the inspiring messages from the speakers.

Hosted by dual international, former Wigan Warriors winger and Sky Sports Rugby League presenter Brian Carney began with a One-to-One Q&A with the Leader of Wigan Council, David Molyneux MBE. Wigan Warriors ambassador Martin Offiah MBE was next on stage looking back on his record-breaking career including his length-of-the-field try in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final against Leeds. ’Maybe in 30 years’ time someone in this room will be sat here reliving a similar moment’ he said.

Leopards’ Umyla Hanley and Wigan’s Junior Nsemba then shared the stage as they shared their experiences of inclusion. Head coach Adrian Lam then joined his Warriors counterpart Matt Peet to drive him the importance of community. The audience then heard from England head coach Shaun Wane who discussed his journey from humble beginnings in Wigan to being head coach of his country. He emphasised the importance of resilience.

Empowering girls through sport was the topic discussed by Hayley Stewart, head of operations of women’s football at Wigan Athletic and her Manchester United counterpart Matt Johnson, whose team play home matches at LSV. They were joined by former professional footballer and Gladiators contestant Betti Worth.

Shaun Maloney, manager of Wigan Athletic then spoke about the importance of investing in young people. The afternoon ended on a high as respective Leopards and Warriors’ owners Derek Beaumont and Mike Danson together with Cllr Molyneux drove home the message of working together to make Wigan Borough a pace of ambition, inspiration and opportunity for young people. 

Some key quotes from the day

‘The greatest sporting borough in the world’ (Cllr David Molyneux MBE)

‘Run towards the challenge. You’ll have ups and downs but be resilient and have visions of a better day coming’ (Martin Offiah MBE)

‘It’s not about what other people think of you but what you think of yourself’ (Martin Offiah again)

‘As you get older you’ll get opportunities. Take them.’ (Junior Nsemba)

‘If you don’t lose belief and stick with it, you’ll come out of the other side’ (Umyla Hanley)