Three achievers from our Wigan Centre got the backing of Premiership manager and former Manchester United legend, Steve Bruce.

Lisa McArdle (19), Darryl Peach (16) and Lee Thomas (17) have been successfully tackling the Entry to Employment (e2e) programme in their goal of attaining a successful future. And they discovered shortly after an event to salute learners at the Princess Street Centre that someone very special also wanted to fight their corner – Wigan Athletic boss, Steve Bruce.

Steve Bruce.

“When the call came from the football club that Steve wanted the young people to come to the training ground and have their picture taken with him, they were naturally very excited” said Tracey Lappin, Senior Training Advisor at Rathbone Wigan. “Steve was happy to congratulate the young people and learn all about what they’ve been doing and everyone at Rathbone appreciates his support.”

Prior to their brush with the Latics’ boss, Lisa, Darryl and Lee were joined by seven other successful teenagers who have shown fantastic commitment to the e2e course. Would-be accountant Phil Jackson has figured out his future and is now completing a BTEC Business Administration course at Wigan and Leigh College. Laid-back Steven Gibson has also been getting into gear for a successful career – by combining his learning with work experience at JJC Autos on Gidlow Lane, Wigan. Things are stacking up well for Melissa Seddon too, as she has just landed a job as a store assistant at Morrisons.

And if our young people want someone to model a successful career on – they need look no further than Steve Bruce. At Manchester United, he won three league titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, plus the European Cup Winners Cup. Aside from winning friends at Rathbone, he has also been lifting attendances and team performances at Wigan Athletic.

As Tracey Lappin remarked, “it isn’t a bad CV, is it!”