WORKINGTON AFC

I should have done a blog on Coventry's win at wembley yesterday. Who says the Checkatrade Trophy is a waste of time? Not the 80,000 fans who turned up to watch last year's Wembley finalists, Oxford United and the Sky Blues play out the EFL Final. Well done to Coventry City for winning their first silverware since 1987. Don't mention that FA Cup Final again! BUT I have been distracted in the county of Cumbria, you know lakes, mountains and Jennings Bitter. I did pass Workington AFC, one of the ex Football League clubs that held their own for a while, then faded. Barrow did the same, maybe they will get back one day?

Workington AFC has a very nice website which may be viewed on this link:
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/workingtonafc

Known as Workington Reds, the football club has to distiguish itself from the rugby league club that shares the same "stadium", Borough Park, with a massive capacity of 3,000. There is still a "folk" or "mob" game between the "Uppies" and the "Downies" played nearby. As you know from previous information these sorts of games took place all over the country and some were "lethal".

From April 1755 there has been a report of this game known locally as the "Cumbrian paquet". Times have changed and a type of football was played in the 1860s. Some steel workers from Charles Cammel and Co, Dronfield in Derbyshire arrived in the town in the 1880s and introduced a more formal game. Dronnies formed the team in 1888. The club folded in 1911 and revitalised in 1921.

Workington AFC did not get into the Football League until 1951 replacing New Brighton. For a few months in 1954-5 the team was managed by Bill Shankly. Their stay lasted until 1977 when they were not re-elected and their place taken by AFC Wimbledon. Their most recent result in the Northern Premier was against Ilkeston (last but one) who could not raise a team and so the match was postponed.
Come on the Reds!