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| News Follow the Reds on Twitter You can now follow Workinton AFC on Twitter. WAYNE NICHOLLS (1952-2010) (Fri 27 Aug) It is with sadness that we report the death of former Reds centre forward, Wayne Nicholls, who passed away at the West Cumberland Hospital last Tuesday. Wayne, just 57, had been ill for some time and leaves behind wife Maureen, son Liam and daughter Suzanne. Wayne arrived at Borough Park in July 1971 having started his professional career with Leicester City. He was a substitute in our first game of the 71-72 campaign (away to Aldershot) before making his full Football League debut in a 2-0 home win over Doncaster Rovers. His first goal for the club was in the FA Cup helping us to a 3-1 win at Southport while his first Football League goal was netted in a 2-1 Reds’ victory at Northampton Town. His first goal at Borough Park was in the Festival game v. Carlisle United (to mark our 21 years in the Football League) when he found the target in a 3-3 draw. A regular first teamer during his first season at the club, Wayne didn’t feature as often during the 72-73 season – mainly used as a substitute – but he scored nine times for the Reserves including four goals in one match. After his release in the summer of 1973, Wayne became a prominent player with several local clubs and was a popular landlord in the Whitehaven area. The funeral will be held at St. Begh’s Church, Whitehaven on Tuesday (11am) followed by cremation at Distington Hall. Gloucester City match sponsors (Sun 15 Aug) We would like to thank al our generous sponsors for their kind support. Pictured left, receiving a Workington Reds polo shirt is Match Sponsor, Paul Heron of Paul Heron Roofing. The Man of the Match sponsor, West Cumbria Scaffolding, chose Phil McLucie as the recipient of he award an presenting it to Phil McLuckie is Reds' Commercia Manager, Les Smallwood, (pictured right). The Hightlight of the Match sponsor, Steve Quinn, shortlisted Shaun Vipond's nifty footwork beating two defenders and then crossing for Phil McLuci'e goal and Aaran Taylor's wonderful save low down just inside his left hand post to preserve the Reds on goal lead. Steve finally chose Aaran's save as the winner and pictured left is Steve with Aaran Taylor. The Big Kick-Off (Fri 13 Aug) Reds will be hoping to break new ground tomorrow when they embark on their sixth successive season of Conference North football. They have failed to win on the opening day in each of the past five seasons scoring only one goal during the same period. Our first ever game at this level was against Worksop Town five years ago when we lost 2-1 at Borough Park. Subsequent first day nerves have seen us fail to score at Nuneaton Borough (0-0), Boston United (0-2) and Hinckley United (0-1) as well as the home clash with Hinckley United (0-1) twelve months ago. Kyle May is the only survivor from that Worksop game five years ago and has played in the other disappointing starts since. For the game against Gloucester City (3pm), manager Darren Edmondson has a near full squad to choose from with only Lee Andrews not fully fit. Reds Reserves (Thu 12 Aug) Reds’ Reserves played a very interesting ‘behind closed doors’ friendly at Borough Park when they came up against young players from South Africa, Nigeria, Brazil, Portugal and France.
The foreigners were part of the Inter Football Academy ‘team’, an organisation based in Lytham St. Annes which provides a genuine route back into professional football for released or undiscovered players. Making up their sixteen man squad were young players who had been associated with the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Hartlepool United, Fleetwood Town, Barnsley, Southport and Paris Saint-Germain who, for whatever reason, had found themselves on the football scrapheap.
Director of Coaching is the former Bury, Port Vale, Rochdale, Crewe Alexandra and Barrow midfielder, Peter Farrell. He is assisted by Shaun Berry.
No doubt they had talented players in their ranks but they were no match for an equally talented Reds squad who deservedly emerged 3-0 winners with Martyn Coleman (2), (pictured), and Adam Main sharing the goals.
It was an impressive performance from Dave Rodgie’s side who begin their Lancashire League campaign next Thursday (19/8) with a home match against Fleetwood Town (8pm). Squad news (Sat 07 Aug)
Dave Hewson, (pictured left), has been given the captain's armband for the forthcoming season with Jonny Wright announced as vice-captain. Striker Matty Tymon, (pictured right), and defender Alex White have agreed terms and signed for the new season. Additionally Callum Ruttledge signed forms after the Lancaster City game keep him at Borough Park. Floodlights update (Sat 07 Aug)
Work commenced last Tuesday on installing the new floodlights with the concrete foundations being laid with the embedded base plates. All six foundations are now complete and following curing of the concrete the poles will be erected next week. Lancaster City preview (Wed 04 Jul)
Reds will play their final pre-season game at Lancaster City on Saturday (3pm) ahead of the Blue Square Bet North opener against Gloucester City.
Although we have met City in league and cup action frequently over the years, this is the first friendly between the clubs in living memory.
It will be our first visit to the Giant Axe for four years when we made three visits in one calendar year.
In February 2006, we were involved in the abandoned game with Reds 4-0 ahead at half-time when the floodlights failed. When the game was replayed in April a solitary goal ensured we eventually got the points.
The following season, in October, we did win by a four goal margin when Craig Johnston scored and missed a penalty in a 5-1 Reds’ victory.
The most recent encounter was at Borough Park at the end of the 2006-07 season when City, who had ten points deducted, arrived for the final match of the season with a points tally of 0. We did the honourable thing and drew (1-1) preventing City finishing without a point to their name.
They are now playing in the Evo-Stik (formerly Unibond) First Division North League.
Darren Edmondson will travel with the trimmed first team squad following the intensive training sessions since the victory at Whitehaven last week.
The ground is on West Road near the station with the post code: LA1 5PE. Droylsden scoop Bluesq.com prize (Sat 31 Jul) Droylsden scoop a £4,000 prize with Even and Odds winning the Bluesq.com Stewards’ Cup. The results were: | 1 Evens And Odds 20-1 | | 2 Jonny Mudball 14-1 | | 3 Prohibit 33-1 | | 4 Rileyskeepingfaith 12-1 | | 28 ran |
Droylsden will recieve £2,000 for Even and Odds winning the Bluesq.com Stewards' Cup plus an additional £2,000 for the horse having the impressive odds of 20/1. HITCHENS out to land a huge Blue Square bonus for Workington at Glorious Goodwood Conference sponsors Blue Square Bet will be paying a huge bonus to Workington if the David Barron trained horse Hitchens is successful in the Bluesq.com Stewards’ Cup on Saturday over six furlongs at Glorious Goodwood. All 68 clubs in the Blue Square Bet Premier, North and South were allocated a horse from entries in this weekend’s prestigious race and Workington were paired with the speedy 5-year-old after Monday’s draw at the betting company’s headquarters in London.
The race will take place at 3.40pm on Saturday 31st July – Live on Channel 4 and Racing UK. To commemorate their new three year deal to sponsor the league Blue Square have created a prize fund for clubs centered around this showpiece race. The club with the winning horse will receive a cheque for £2000 plus an additional amount determined by a £100 bet on that horse. So for example a 20/1 winner would yield another £2000 for the lucky team.
Blue Square spokesman Alan Alger said “This is our way of giving something back to the clubs who supported us through the first three years of sponsoring this great league. “It brings together our two biggest sponsorships and the winning club will benefit by what is a significant amount of money at this level.”
Hitchens is currently a 25/1 shot with Blue Square for the race after coming through today’s elimination stage and is scheduled to line up with 27 other runners representing clubs throughout the land. Workington fans can back the horse via the special www.bluesq.com/yourclub website, where if they register by clicking on their team’s badge they will start to earn money for the club whenever they place a bet. New customers will also be entitled to double their first stake as a free bet up to a maximum of £10.
The other teams with horses in the race are as follows: Genki | Hyde | 7/1 | Palace Moon | Luton Town | 8/1 | Enact | Fleetwood Town | 8/1 | Jonny Mudball | AFC Wimbledon | 10/1 | Striking Spirit | Corby Town | 14/1 | Noverre To Go | Darlington | 14/1 | Secret Asset | Harrogate Town | 14/1 | Castles In The Air | Boston United | 16/1 | Kaldoun Kingdom | Alfreton Town | 16/1 | Rileyskeepingfaith | Ebbsfleet United | 16/1 | Johannes | Tamworth | 16/1 | Parisian Pyramid | Dover Athletic | 16/1 | Knot In Wood | Gainsborough Trinity | 20/1 | Jimmy Styles | AFC Telford United | 20/1 | Hitchens | Workington | 25/1 | Iver Bridge Lad | Vauxhall Motors | 25/1 | Prohibit | Bromley | 25/1 | Evens And Odds | Droylsden | 25/1 | Ingleby Lady | Kettering Town | 25/1 | Sir Gerry | Rushden & Diamonds | 33/1 | Edge Closer | Staines Town | 33/1 | Run For The Hills | Bishop's Stortford | 33/1 | Ancien Regime | Dorchester Town | 33/1 | Singeur | Nuneaton Town | 33/1 | Advanced | Havant & Waterlooville | 40/1 | Sonny Red | Eastwood Town | 40/1 | Prime Exhibit | Worcester City | 40/1 | Everymanforhimself | Hampton & Richmond | 50/1 |
The other 40 clubs and remaining horses were eliminated by 12noon today. Let there be light (Thu 29 Jul) Despite assurances to the contrary, Reds officials are concerned that the new floodlight system will not be ready for the new season.
Now four or five weeks behind schedule, the delays have meant that the certificate for the old system has had to be reinstated and the lights would have been useable at the Darlington game last Tuesday – if needed.
That wasn’t the case, of course, for the Carlisle United friendly when the game finished in semi-darkness!
Supporters arriving at Borough Park for the past few weeks will have walked past the six new pylons lying forlornly next to the perimeter wall.
The delays have been a regular inconvenience since the project started but now, we are told, work can be completed after various structural engineering reports have been carried out.
Reds first Blue Square Bet North fixture played under lights will be v. Harrogate Town on 24th August but the Reserves have a home Lancashire League fixture the previous week (19/8) so, ideally, the new system needs to be in fully working order by the 12th. WHITEHAVEN (away) - Thursday (Wed 28 Jul)
For the sixth successive season, Reds will play Northern League Second Division outfit, Whitehaven in a pre-season encounter.
They go to the Focus Scaffolding Sports Complex tonight (7.30pm) hoping to maintain the unbeaten sequence which has produced four Reds wins and one draw.
For the last four seasons, we have made the short journey to the County Ground and enjoyed performing on one of the best playing surfaces in the area. Prior to that, Whitehaven travelled to Borough Park.
Last season we won 4-0 thanks to goals from Callum Ruttledge (2), Andy Langford and Dan Shannon.
Whitehaven, managed by former Reds favourite, Martin Harris, start their league campaign a week before us then, on the 14th August, make their debut in the FA Cup.
Darren Edmondson will take all available members of the first team squad plus some of the promising reserves.
Summary of previous pre-season games:
2005-06 3-0 (home) 2006-07 5-1 (away) 2007-08 3-3 (away) 2008-09 3-0 (away) 2009-10 4-0 (away)
The Focus Scaffolding Sports complex is adjacent to the Whitehaven Rugby League Club and can be accessed via Coach Road (CA28 9DB). Thousands up for grabs in blue square ‘Glorious Goodwood’ competition!!! (Mon 26 Jul) Blue Square are delighted to announce our bluesquare.com Stewards’ Cup competition for all clubs within the three Conference divisions. Our prestigious Glorious Goodwood race will take place at 3.40pm on Saturday 31st July – Live on Channel 4. To commemorate our new three year deal to sponsor the league we have created a prize fund for clubs centered around this showpiece race. Each club in the Blue Square BET Premier, North and South has been allocated a horse in the race. If your horse wins you will receive a cheque for £2000 plus an additional amount determined by a £100 bet on that horse. So for example a 20/1 winner would yield another £2000 for the lucky team. The random draw took place this morning at the Blue Square offices in London and the horses/clubs are as follows: HORSE | CLUB | Genki | Hyde | Laddies Poker Too | Chelmsford City | Palace Moon | Luton Town | Enact | Fleetwood Town | Jonny Mudball | AFC Wimbledon | Hawkeyethenoo | Grimsby Town | Victoire De Lyphar | Gateshead | Striking Spirit | Corby Town | Himalya | Hayes & Yeading United | Knot In Wood | Gainsborough Trinity | Secret Asset | Harrogate Town | Noverre To Go | Darlington | Rileyskeepingfaith | Ebbsfleet United | Ingleby Lady | Kettering Town | Five Star Junior | Crawley Town | Hitchens | Workington | Bagamoyo | Barrow | Castles In The Air | Boston United | Iver Bridge Lad | Vauxhall Motors | Jimmy Styles | AFC Telford United | Olynard | York City | Deacon Blues | Newport County | Sunraider | Southport | Mister Hughie | Stalybridge Celtic | Hogmaneigh | Eastbourne Borough | Evens And Odds | Droylsden | Elnawin | Wrexham | Hotham | Stafford Rangers | Parisian Pyramid | Dover Athletic | Prohibit | Bromley | Damien | Histon | Run For The Hills | Bishop's Stortford | Kellys Eye | Mansfield Town | Pastoral Player | Guiseley | Singeur | Nuneaton Town | Sonny Red | Eastwood Town | Poets Place | Braintree Town | Medicean Man | Basingstoke Town | Irish Heartbeat | Weston-super-Mare | Johannes | Tamworth | Everymanforhimself | Hampton & Richmond | Oldjoesaid | Cambridge United | Esoterica | Hinckley United | Imperial Guest | Ilkeston Town | Edge Closer | Staines Town | Prime Exhibit | Worcester City | Big Timer | Farnborough | Quest For Success | Solihull Moors | Redford | Boreham Wood | Baldemar | Woking | Ancien Regime | Dorchester Town | Sea Of Leaves | Blyth Spartans | Advanced | Havant & Waterlooville | Kaldoun Kingdom | Alfreton Town | Abraham Lincoln | Thurrock | Sir Gerry | Rushden & Diamonds | Lenny Bee | Gloucester City | Able Master | Welling United | Mac Gille Eoin | St Albans City | Tiddliwinks | Lewes | Valery Borzov | Forest Green Rovers | Global City | Bath City | Wildcat Wizard | Kidderminster Harriers | Gallagher | Eastleigh | Fitz Flyer | Altrincham | Captain Ramius | Maidenhead United | Aye Aye Digby | Redditch United | Osiris Way | Dartford |
On Thursday 29th July – the first 28 horses that intend to run (in handicap order) will be declared for the race – meaning 40 clubs will be eliminated at this stage. The final 28 clubs will receive additional details about their horse on Thursday afternoon. Reserves update (Mon 26 Jul)
The Reserves’ squad is back training as a group following the change of manager.
Steve Lee has stepped down and succeeded by Dave Rodgie, (pictured left). Penrith based Dave has been involved with Penrith United and Shap United recently as well as a spell in the west of the county with Mirehouse.
They won a recent friendly against Harraby with Martyn Coleman, (pictured below right), who got a taste of first team football with Reds a few seasons ago, scoring two of the goals.
Last week-end, they were up against a former Reds player, Brian Dawson, when they took on Holker Old Boys and he scored in their 3-0 victory.
Reserve team players Andy Murray-Jones and Ben Jackson have been involved in the recent first team friendlies and were joined by goal keeper Lee Jolly at Whitley Bay.
The Reserves will kick-off their Lancashire League programme with a home game v. Fleetwood Town on Thursday 19th August (8pm).
Meanwhile, the FA Youth Cup tie at Ryton will be played in the north east on Wednesday 8th September. Next up - Darlington (Sun 25 Jul)
Conference Premier newcomers, Darlington, will make their first visit to Borough Park for thirty-three years on Tuesday (7pm) as they continue their preparations for the new campaign with a four day break in the Lake District. After the Reds game, they will play Kendal Town at Parkside Road on Thursday evening.
Darlington haven’t played in west Cumbria since the 76-77 campaign when they won here 3-2 to complete a league double over us towards the end of our final season in the Football League. That particular match extended Darlington’s impressive unbeaten sequence against Reds to eight (seven wins, one draw) matches. The last time we emerged victorious against the Quakers was back in the 73-74 season when, in the first Sunday game at Borough Park, we won 5-2.
Relegated from the Football League at the end of last season, Darlington will be hoping to repeat their achievements the previous time they played at this level. Back in 1990, Darlington, under Brian Little, won the Conference title at the first attempt and returned to the Football League just twelve months after their demotion.
With Mark Cooper now in charge after a flurry of managerial changes, Darlington will be looking to register their first pre-season win this week following home defeats by Sunderland (0-1) and Carlisle United (0-3) plus a draw (1-1) v. Sheffield Wednesday.
The referee on Tuesday is Steve Smith, a regular at Borough Park in recent seasons, and he has already been in charge of one of Darlington’s games at the Arena.
Kick off 7:00pm.
New kick-off time (Fri 23 Jul)
The kick off time for Reds game v. Darlington on Tuesday is now 7pm – half an hour sooner than originally scheduled. Bay watch (Fri 23 Jul)
Reds will play their fifth pre-season game on Saturday when Darren Edmondson takes his depleted squad across to three times FA Vase winners, Whitley Bay – a first visit to Hillheads Park in nine years.
Edmo could be without six or seven players once again with the majority of the absentees on holiday although more of a worry is Lee Andrews’ ankle injury.
Bay will provide a tough test for the game at Hillheads which kicks off at 2pm.
They have won their opening three friendlies and are due to play North Shields (away) on Friday night before hosting Reds sixteen hours later. Like Reds, they played in downpour conditions on Tuesday with their game at Chester le Street ended after 75 minutes with Bay 3-0 ahead at the time.
Bay retained the FA Vase at Wembley in May and, after the scoring the quickest goal at the new stadium (21 seconds), went on to record a record 6-1 victory over Wroxham.
Directions: A69 to Newcastle then take A1 (north) coming off onto A167 which, in turn, will lead to the Coast Road – A1058. When you get to the Billy Mill roundabout take a left onto Preston North Road (A192). Go straight over next roundabout until you get to the Foxhunters pub. Turn right at this roundabout and right again at the next. Once on Hillheads Road the ground can be found to the rear of the ice rink. The postcode is NE25 8HR.
The Metro runs to Whitley Bay with Monkseaton or Whitley Bay stops both about ten minutes walk to the ground. Penrith preview (Sat 17 Jul) Left with a free week-end after the cancellation of the four team Annan Athletic tournament, Reds resume their pre-season programme at Penrith on Tuesday (7.30pm).
It will be a first ever visit to Frenchfield for Reds having played many times at their former base, Southend Road. The new stadium is a superb facility and Reds directors should take the opportunity to view the standards we should be aiming for in the next two to three years when Borough Park is eventually revamped.
There is still a strong contingent of former Workington players turning out for the Northern League Division One outfit with the likes of James Holland, Alan Gray, Mark Jones, Graham Anthony, Simon Tucker and Dean Douglas all involved in their early pre-season games.
They have lost twice at Frenchfield in the past fortnight with Annan Athletic winning emphatically, 6-2, but Barrow only managing a 1-0 success there. Having lost last time out, Darren Edmondson will be hoping to revert to the winning habit against James Tose’s side but will be aware of the challenge ahead.
Last season’s contest finished in a 1-1 draw.
*Directions to Frenchfield:
Travelling east form the west of the county, go over the M6 (first roundabout) and continue on the A66 until the second roundabout. Take the second exit signposted Alston and Police HQ (A686). Go past the Carleton Farm Shop (on your right) and take the next turn to your right (signposted Cross Keys Inn, Frenchfield and Hunter Hall School. Go to the bottom of the hill and access to the Penrith stadium is via the perimeter road that circles the pitches and changing room facility. Northern Masters (Fri 16 Jul) Having stood shoulder to shoulder with Ian Bogie (Gateshead) and Graham Kavanagh (Carlisle United) in the technical area at Borough Park in the past week, Reds’ boss, Darren Edmondson, might be attempting to kick or tackle (or both) them on Saturday evening as Sky’s Northern Masters gets underway at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.
Edmo will be playing for the third time in the tournament and, once again, will be wearing the blue of Carlisle United. He will be joined in the Blues squad by two other former Workington players - Billy Barr and Tony Caig with the latter making his debut in the competition. Gateshead boss, Bogie, will be playing for Newcastle United while Carlisle’s assistant manager, Kavanagh, will be turning out for Middlesbrough.
Darren got on the score sheet last year when he netted in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United.
The other teams in the group will be Sunderland, Rangers and Celtic.
Other former Reds players who have turned out in the competition recently include John Kay, Kevin Wolfe and Tom Cowan.
The event will be covered on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday evening. Tony Caig set to leave the Reds (Thu 15 Jul) Workington AFC are to cancel Tony Caig’s contract for the forthcoming season. Tony Caig had a year left of his two year deal at Borough Park. The club didn’t want to stand in Tony’s way of getting into a full-time coaching role at Carlisle United. The club though, are very disappointed in Carlisle’s refusal to offer any compensation in lieu of Tony Caig’s remaining year of his contract. This comes on top of their reneging on the Adam Collin's deal. Carlisle United contacted the club in November 2008, when Adam Collin was 23 years old at the time, asking if he could train with them three days a week. In February 2009, Reds’ chairman Humphrey Dobie shook hands on a deal over Adam Collin with John Nixon where the Reds would get two £5,000 payments, a 25% sell-on clause and loan players for free. Following Adam Collin’s contract coming into effect on July 1st 2009, Carlisle United paid £2,500 and stated there would be no sell-on clause. John Nixon stated that he could not get any of Carlisle United’s board to agree to the deal. Adam had joined Workington AFC as a teenager and spent five seasons at Workington. When Tony Caig informed the club he had been offered a full-time coaching role, the club requested that Carlisle honour the deal struck for Adam Collin, paying up the £7,500 owed but requested only a 10% sell-on clause to facilitate Tony’s move to Brunton Park. Again Carlisle United refused to honour the deal struck and to pay any compensation for Tony Caig. The club believe they have been shabbily treated by Carlisle United and John Nixon, Carlisle United director. The club wish Tony Caig all the best for his future and know he will be a success. Tony had been a colossus for the Reds last season, his performances won a string of awards. Tony won the Reds Player’s Player of the Year award, the National Supporters Player of the year award, Sensport Kits Goalkeeper of the Year at the National Game Awards and was also named in the Blue Square North ‘Team of the Year’ at the Football Conference AGM. Morecambe friendly is now off (Wed 14 Jul)
The proposed Morecambe friendly will not now be going ahead. Shrimps' boss Sammy McIlroy has had a change of heart and the fixture is now off. This still leave the Reds with a free Saturday on the 31st July. Big boost to the fund (Thu 15 Jul) An anonymous Reds fan has donated £3,000 to The 2013 Fund. The fund has now reached an impressive £40,000. http://www.the2013fund.co.uk Morecambe friendly being lined up (Wed 14 Jul)
Morecambe Football Club on Monday announced that the opening of the new Globe Arena has been delayed, the planned opening date of 24th July will not now be achieved.
Their pre-season friendlies against Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Manchester City will not now be played but the stadium will be ready for the start of the new season. Morcambe have approached the club to line up a friendly and a fixture has been pencilled in for Saturday 31st July. CUFC preview (Mon 12 Jul)
Reds will welcome Carlisle United to Borough Park on Tuesday (7.30pm) for what will be the most prestigious game of the pre-season programme. It will be United’s second outing having won 4-1 at Kendal Town last Friday and they will be expecting a similar return tonight before they host Newcastle United on Saturday.
Darren Edmondson, who played well over 200 games for the Blues between 1990 and 1997, is looking forward to ‘squaring-up’ with Greg Abbott and hoping to improve on last year’s corresponding game when United won 3-1. Josh Gowling and trialist Yan Klukowski (2) netted for United with Matt Henney scoring our consolation goal at 0-2.
The strong contingent of Carlisle fans boosted the crowd to the 800 mark and it would be very pleasing to see a similar crowd present tonight.
Adam Collin, Ryan Bowman and Andy Cook are expected to be in the United squad this evening along with a numbers of players on trial.
Preston official, Lee Metcalfe, refereed the game twelve months ago and, by coincidence, he will be in charge again this evening.
It will be Reds third run-out following the 1-0 wins over Gretna and Gateshead last week.
The squad will have one addition tonight with, the now retired, Tony Hopper expected to play a cameo role after recently announcing his retirement. Tony first played at Borough Park some seventeen years ago when he was in the Carlisle United team that won 5-1 in west Cumbria. Tony Caig, Darren Wilson, Richard Prokas, Ian Arnold and Jason Prins were Tony’s team mates that night with Ian Arnold scoring four goals and Jason Prins getting the other.
Tony started his career with hometown club, United, making a hundred appearances for them. He subsequently appeared for Reds 250 times and will be given a great send-off by both sets of supporters tonight. FA competitions (Mon 12 Jul)
Reds have again been accepted into three of the FA’s cup competitions and will compete in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup.
A total of 460 clubs have entered the Youth Cup and Reds will begin their interest in a Preliminary Round tie at Ryton. We met them six years ago at their Kingsley Park ground but suffered a 4-1 defeat.
That tie is to be played week commencing 6th September and, should we win, a home tie against Ashington awaits in the next round.
Our FA Cup campaign will get underway at the 2nd Qualifying Round stage on the last Saturday in September.
No fewer than 759 clubs were accepted into the competition and one of the newcomers is Whitehaven. The Northern League Second Division outfit will be playing in the competition for the first time and host Team Northumbria. If results go their way, there is the potential for a home tie versus Penrith.
Reds will enter the Trophy on 20th November at the 3rd Round Qualifying stage and will be hoping to repeat last season’s achievements. The Trophy entry this season includes 266 clubs. Get Goulding on! (Sun 11 Jul)
The new Red's fans forum is up and running. 'Get Goulding on!' replaces the now defunct 'Popularside' forum. Get your fill of rants, raves, moans and occasional praise at www.workington-reds.co.uk Live Scoreboard (Sun 11 Jul) The Live Scoreboard feature has been re-established. A new format scoreboard has been adopted following the loss of the Popularside version. The new version allows for the posting of comments by anyone watching online and can send you a emailed reminder of forthcoming games. The Live Scoreboard can be found at Scoreboard City FAO calls (Sat 10 Jul)
Manchester City’s Football Administration Officer, Brian Marwood, was at Borough Park on Saturday but not to lure another player to Eastlands.
The former PFA chairman was on duty as a father supporting son James who played as a second half substitute for Gateshead.
Marwood was a prominent player throughout the eighties and nineties later becoming Chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association between 1990 and 1993. His broadcasting career has included stints for Radio 5 Live and Sky Sports while, more recently, he worked for Nike.
A one cap international for England, Brian made well over 400 appearances (scoring a century of goals) for the likes of Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal (where he won a championship medal), Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Swindon Town and Barnet. He was the subject of several big-money moves with Arsenal paying £800,000 to secure his transfer from Sheffield Wednesday back in 1988.
Brian’s son, James, made a positive contribution for Gateshead in the second half looking a carbon-copy of his father with his touch, skill and raids down the right flank. Gateshead preview (Sat 10 July) Darren Edmondson will again use an eighteen man squad for Saturday’s home fixture against Gateshead as the north-east outfit play their first public game since going full time.
While Reds cruised to a comfortable win at Gretna on Thursday, Gateshead were losing narrowly to Middlesbrough in a ‘behind closed doors’ friendly. That suggests Reds face a tough ninety minutes in what will be damp, humid conditions.
Twelve months ago, Gateshead won here 2-1 and will be expecting, at the very least, a similar outcome this afternoon.
All the goals were scored in the first half with Graeme Armstrong opening the scoring, Mathew Henney equalising and then Wayne Phillips netting the winner.
Jonny Wright skippered the side last year but, when he was injured, Shaun Vipond took the armband. When he was substituted, Anthony Wright took over to complete an unusual hat-trick. All three are expected to play today although Anthony was still feeling the effects of a strong, but fair, tackle from Gretna’s Adam McMath.
Kick off 3pm with admission prices reduced. Gretna preview (Thu 08 July)
Reds will be hoping to complete a hat-trick of pre-season wins over Gretna when they open their pre-season programme at Raydale Park on Thursday evening (7.30pm).
For the third season in a row, Reds will ‘shake off the rust’ against Gretna having won 5-0 at Borough Park in 2008 then narrowly over the border twelve months ago thanks to Dan Shannon’s spectacular 80th minute winner.
Edmo will have to re-shape his side to accommodate the players on trial but that is the purpose of these games and, hopefully, those given an opportunity will impress.
It will be an interesting contest with a strong contingent of ex. Reds in the Gretna squad.
David Seggie and Tony Nicholson scored in Gretna’s impressive 3-2 win over Queen of the South on Monday while Alan Inglis, Steven Rudd, David Renyard and Dan Rayson joined them in Stuart Rome’s line-up. One player who won’t be playing against us is the diminutive Daniel Carmichael who recently signed for Queens on a two year contract.
Reds have been back in training just less than a fortnight. The Popularside forum (Mon 05 Jul)
After many years of service to all Reds fans, the Popularside forum has finally died. The company that hosted the forum appears to have ceased operating and consequently the forum is no more. But fret ye not you whingers, moaners, complainers (and praisers) as a new forum is being setup which should be up and running at www.workington-reds.co.uk within the week. Reserves presentation (Sat 03 Jul) Reds’ Reserves and Youth team players were recognised at the presentation evening held in the Shankly Lounge on Friday evening. Sam Smith, (pictured left), capped a fine personal season by being voted Players’ Player of the Year for the Reserves while Dan Gullen took the Player of the Year award. Simon Bragg, (pictured right), was voted Youth team Players’ Player of the Year while Adam Main picked up the Player of the Year accolade. The players then made a presentation to the managerial duo of Steve Lee and Graeme Main, (pictured left), in appreciation of their efforts over the past couple of seasons. Steve has stepped down as Reserve team boss and will be succeeded by Dave Rodgie who has previously been involved with Mirehouse, Penrith United, Shap United and the Cumberland FA. Tony Hopper (Fri 02 Jul) He was never a Messi – more a Mascherano, not so much a Sneijder possibly a De Jong never had the potency of a Gerrard or a Lampard but more the Barry type. In other words, an unsung hero who put in a steady performance every week and a vital component to a Reds team which has improved year on year during his time at the club.
If I had the honour of selecting the Reds line-up, Hopper’s name would have been the first on the team sheet. I’m sure Edmo thought along similar lines.
So the news that Tony Hopper has played his last game for Workington – a team he has skippered no fewer than fifty times – is a blow for the manager, team mates and supporters alike.
At one point, last season was going to be his last but he reconsidered and thought he would be able to squeeze one more campaign out of a thirty-four year old body. Another change of heart, though, over the past few weeks and Tony decided he will no longer be leading the team with age, work commitments and family considerations all genuine reasons to call time on a career which has spanned eight seasons at Borough Park.
Like many Reds players past and present, Tony arrived at the club via Carlisle United playing a ‘one-off’ game for us in February 2001 (a Unibond League 1st Division match v. Lincoln United). It wasn’t until the 2002-03 season that he arrived on a more permanent basis.
He has played left back, right back, as a central defender, right side mid-field and central mid-field with the latter role where we have seen him at his best. After making a hundred appearances for hometown club, Carlisle United, Tony had a spell in Irish football with Dublin club, Bohemians, played briefly for Barrow and subsequently pulled on a Workington shirt 250 times. That included 200 league games (162 starts in Conference North) with the others in the Unibond League.
Skipper on a regular basis for the past eighteen months, Tony led the side in the big Trophy games against Wrexham, AFC Wimbledon and Stevenage Borough.
He made 235 appearances for the Reds (plus 17 more as a substitute) scoring 18 league goals in the process.
Players come and players go – the nature of this wonderful game I suppose – and whilst many are quickly forgotten, some are remembered fondly. Tony Hopper certainly comes into that category and will be made welcome any time he chooses to visit Borough Park. New season fixtures (Thu 01 Jul) The fixtures for the Blue Square Bet Conference leagues were released this afternoon. The season commences om Saturday 14th August with a home tie against Gloucester City followed by a trip to Hyde United on the following Monday evening. The Reds' Boxing day/New Years Day double header is against Blyth Spartans. A full list of the seasons fixtures can be found here - Results/Fixtures Lancashire League AGM (Thu 01 Jul) An influx of new teams in the Lancashire League will see Reds Reserves playing no fewer than twenty-six league games this season. They will again play in the West Division of the league which will accommodate 14 teams. Following the demise of Burscough in mid-season, champions Southport and Barrow resigned at the end of the campaign but five new teams – Bootle, Colne, Mossley, Squires Gate and Witton Albion – were duly elected. The composition of the West Division now reads: AFC Fylde, Bamber Bridge, Bootle, Colne, Curzon Ashton, Fleetwood Town, Formby, Lancaster City, Mossley, Squires Gate, Stalybridge Celtic, Witton Albion, Woodley Sports and Workington. This will be Reds’ eighth season in the league and, generally, they have finished in the lower half of the table with a next-to-bottom finish last term. The exception was the memorable 2007-08 campaign when they emerged champions and League Cup finalists. The AGM, held at the Lancashire FA’s Leyland headquarters, also ratified a fourteen team East Division. The new season will commence on 14th August. Floodlights (Mon 28 Jun)
Reds supporters have been watching floodlit football at Borough Park for over half a century but the current system is long past it’s ‘sell-by date’ with numerous problems encountered over the past decade or so. A much needed new system is about to be installed with the sky line welcoming six new poles to replace the four corner pylons that have remained sentry-like since 1957. The North Western Electricity Board installed the original system almost fifty-three years ago at a reported cost of £12,000 and revered chairman E D Smith conducted the official switch-on. The new lights will cost six times the initial outlay. The club organised a series of friendly matches to herald the new lights and a friendly against Hamilton Academical was the first played at Borough Park with a 5,614 crowd witnessing a 6-1 Reds’ victory. Five days later, Blackpool visited us for another attractive game and the inclusion of Stanley Matthews in their line-up drew a 16,000 plus crowd to the stadium with Reds emerging 4-1 victors. The first Football League game under lights didn’t go quite as well, however, with Tranmere Rovers winning 2-1 in a Third Division (North) fixture on 30th November, 1957. The system, which included thirty bulbs on each of the four pylons, remained unchanged for the best part of twenty years. Then, in the mid-seventies, we obtained some bulbs from Manchester United but the Old Trafford magic didn’t work for the Cumbrian Reds with Bradford City winning the first game under the ‘new’ lights. The pylons were 125 feet high but were reduced by fifty feet in the late eighties following instruction by the authorities (Safety at Football Grounds Act) in the wake of the tragic Bradford City fire in 1986. Lack of any serious maintenance over the years have left the pylons in a rusty, eroded condition and we have scraped through for a number of years on a wing and a prayer just meeting the minimum lux criteria. Watching floodlit games should be a better experience for Workington supporters this season and beyond. This amazing photograph perfectly illustrates the original height of the Borough Park floodlights (125 feet). Incredibly, the position of the ball marks the position of the reduced height (75 feet) from the late eighties. Groundwork (Mon 28 Jun)
There has been a delay with the installation of the new floodlight system and it is now unlikely that the lights will be ready for the Carlisle United friendly in a fortnight. That game had been targeted for the big switch-on. The six poles (four for the popular side, two for the stand side) have not been delivered yet but once on site the work will commence. Preparation work has been carried out with six square holes dug out by a purpose-built excavator. Meanwhile, the facilities beneath the old stand have had a lick of paint with the home and away dressing rooms, referees’ room, tunnel area and entrance foyer all decorated. Some of the players returned to training on Saturday morning but Darren Edmondson confirmed that it was not a full compliment with several of the lads still on holiday. The regular Tuesday, Thursday and occasional Saturday sessions will get underway this week. Good sign (Mon 28 Jun) Blue Square Bet North officials acted swiftly to rectify the incorrect sign erected at Borough Park last week. The League sponsors had inadvertently referred to us as WORKINGTON TOWN on the perimeter welcome board but replaced the wrongly worded item with the correct sign less than forty-eight hours later. Blue Square Gamble North (Mon 21 Jun)
League sponsors Blue Square Bet North have committed the ultimate faux pas with the erection of a new sign at Borough Park.
The club was aware that the sign was being delivered but the office was closed so the sign was erected by the contractor in our absence.
Situated on the new fence at the Town End, adjacent to the new road, the sign reads WELCOME TO WORKINGTON TOWN – PROUD MEMBERS OF BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH.
The Conference has been informed and the error will be rectified as soon as possible. Conference congress (Sun 13 Jun) The 31st AGM and Presentation Evening of the Conference was held over the week-end at the magnificent Floral Hall Ballroom, Southport with Reds represented at the meeting by directors Jos Taylor (pictured below with partner Jo) and Colin Doorbar along with secretary, Steve Durham.
The constitution of Blue Square Bet North was ratified and the league will kick-off on 14th August with the new season’s fixtures expected to be published early next month.
Reds will renew rivalries with Boston United, Guiseley, Nuneaton Town and Worcester City with Harrogate Town and Vauxhall Motors remaining in the league after being given a reprieve from relegation.
A Gloucester City official confirmed that they will be playing at Cheltenham Town’s ground for the next two seasons so that will mean a first ever visit for Reds to the Whaddon Road stadium.
There was more recognition for Reds’ goalkeeper Tony Caig who was named in the Blue Square North ‘Team of the Year’. Votes were cast by all of last season’s member clubs with the hypothetical team as follows:
TONY CAIG (Workington) LEE VAUGHAN (AFC Telford United) STEVE McNULTY (Alfreton United) EARL DAVIES (Southport) ALAN WRIGHT (Fleetwood Town) ANDREW HALL (Hinckley United) MATTY McGINN (Southport) SEAN CLANCY (Fleetwood Town) LIAM HEARN (Alfreton Town) ADAM WARLOW (Fleetwood Town) PAUL BRAYSON (Blyth Spartans)
Southport’s Liam Watson was named Blue Square North Manager of the Year while Fleetwood Town’s Adam Warlow was voted Player of the Year. The top goal scorer award went to Blyth Spartans’ Paul Brayson.
Gainsborough Trinity won the Fairplay Award while Eastwood Town won the Programme of the Year accolade.
In Blue Square Premier, Graham Westley (Stevenage Borough) won Manager of the Year, Richard Brodie (York City) was named Player of the Year, AFC Wimbledon won the Fairplay Award and Luton Town collected the best programme title.
The Blue Square South recipients were: Manager of the Year – Dean Holdsworth (Newport County), Player of the Year – Craig Reid (Newport County), Fairplay Award – Hampton and Richmond Borough and Programme of the Year – Chelmsford City.
The former Aberdeen, Manchester United and Scotland defender, Martin Buchan (now working for the PFA), was one of the invited guests. Pre-season update (Thu 10 Jun) Manager Darren Edmondson will be looking to play no fewer than eight friendlies in the build-up to the new season and the matches arranged so far include:
| Date | Venue | Opposition | | 8 July | Away | Gretna (7.30pm) | | 10 July | Home | Gateshead (3pm) | | 13 July | Home | Carlisle United (7.30pm) | | 20 July | Away | Penrith (7.30pm) | | 24 July | Away | Whitley Bay (kick-off to be confirmed) | | 27 July | Home | Darlington (7.30pm) | | 7 August | Away | Lancaster City (kick-off to be confirmed) |
Caig wins non-league award (Tue 08 Jun) Having already picked up the Workington Players’ Player of the Year and National Supporters’ Player of the Year awards, Tony Caig made it a hat-trick of ‘gongs’ when, at the week-end, he was named Sensport Kits Goalkeeper of the Year at the National Game Awards.
Tony was presented with his glass memento (and didn’t drop it) by non-league goalkeeping legend, Ian Senior, and said afterwards, “It’s great to be recognised like that and good for the Reds as well.”
The awards were held at the NEC, Birmingham and subsequently featured in the Non-League Paper where Tony was pictured receiving his trophy.
The popular ‘keeper had a great season for Reds and kept fourteen clean sheets in his 49 (+2 subs) appearances.
The Blue Square Premier Player of the Year Award went to York City’s Richard Brodie while Fleetwood Town’s Alan Wright and Garry Warren of Newport County were the North and South recipients respectively. Border raid cancelled (Thu 03 Jun) Reds’ trip over the Scottish border to compete in the the four-team Annan Athletic tournament has been cancelled leaving a gap in the pre-season schedule.
Annan announced the news following the withdrawal of Partick Thistle. The Jags decided not to play in the two-day tournament after being drawn against Athletic at Galabank in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.
Ayr United, operating with a smaller squad next season, had expressed concerns of playing two games in consecutive days which left Annan with no alternative other than to cancel their well established event.
Annan will now play Ayr on the Saturday (17 July) and there was a possibility of Workington travelling to Galabank on the Monday (19 July) but that idea has also been shelved.
Our only other appearance in the Annan tournament was in 2008 when we drew 2-2 (losing 4-3 on penalties) with hosts Athletic on the Saturday before inflicting a 3-0 defeat on Spartans (Edinburgh) the following day.
Manager Darren Edmondson, currently on holiday, has arranged to play Gateshead, Carlisle United, Penrith and Darlington but will add three or four games to that schedule before the season proper gets underway on 14th August. Reds players' shirt auction (Tue 01 Jun) The shirt auction towards the 2013 Fund concluded on Monday evening. A grand total of £974 was raised towards the fund after the bidding for the 34 home and away shirts from last season concluded. The 2013 Fund currently stands at over £36,000 against the target figure of £100,000. | |
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