A FORMER rugby player has cemented his name in the history books after holding several records for more than 50 years.

Mick Martyn scored 189 tries during 14 seasons and in the 328 appearances he made for Leigh making him highest ever try scorer for the team.

Not only that when his tries during appearances for county and country are added on, his total is 213 meaning he is still the highest try scoring forward.

Both these records he has held for more than 50 years but the grandfather, who likes to keep people guessing about his age, is modest about his achievements.

“I didn’t really think about it at the time,” he said.

“Being a forward, people don’t really expect you to score tries but it is just the way things have turned out.

“When you’re young and fit you are taught to support the play of the ball.”

Born and bred in Leigh, Mick learned rugby at St Joseph’s School and went on to play for Bickershaw Collieries and Wigan Road.

Leigh Journal:

He was signed by Leigh in November 1952 when he was 16 years old and made his debut in September 1954 against Dewsbury but it wasn’t until March 1955 that he scored the first of his impressive try haul against Widnes.

Mick, who owned a hairdressers on Twist Lane and later a grocers in Pennington, was chosen to play for Great Britain against a touring New Zealand team and on a Lions tour in 1958 where he set another record, scoring 23 times in 16 appearances.

And the records don’t stop there – last but not least, Mick, who now lives in Culcheth, set another by scoring 15 times in 11 consecutive games for Leigh in 1959.

A fan of Micks said: “We have a world record holder in our midst. His place in rugby league history is assured.”