All smiles at Borough Park (at last)

The depressing 2018-19 season was never even mentioned as fun and entertainment returned to Borough Park in abundance.

For the best part of twelve hours, the Old Lady hosted the mother of all Fun Days with young and old providing a timely reminder of how strong Workington AFC is in the community.

A mini tournament occupied every square metre of the pitch in the morning with eighty kids from five clubs strutting their stuff in the colours of Bigrigg Bulls, Bransty Rangers, Cleator Moor Celtic, Cockermouth and Workington Reds Juniors.

Their efforts were rewarded with a medal presented to each of the players by Danny Grainger and John Mackay.

Danny had already announced Nathan Waterston as his first close season signing, the first step in assembling a more competitive squad for the new campaign.

Players, past and present, began to arrive with heroes from yesteryear turning up in droves.

There was a lap of honour from Reds Ladies who proudly displayed the Cumberland Cup which they won after an exciting final at Brunton Park recently.

Darrell Thomas, and his dodgy microphone, introduced the players not taking part in the game including two stars from the fifties, Noel Hodgson and Billy Robson.

The Legends squad then took to the pitch, one by one, followed by a much younger Reds team.
Darren Hopper captained the Legends team with Gari Rowntree skippering Reds.

Reds emerged 4-0 winners on the day with Kieran Maguire (2), Tom Houghton and Sheldon Mossop sharing the goals. Jonny Wright tried his best to get on the score-sheet for the ‘old boys’ with his best effort rattling the crossbar.

The two Wrights, Anthony and Jonny, still looked as though they could ‘do a job’ for the first team but father time had obviously caught up with the majority our past heroes who fielded two sixty year olds and a spritely 59 year old, Martin Henderson.

John Hopper, father of the late, much loved Tony, presented the cup to Gari Rowntree with all the players and officials receiving a personal memento.

There was a technical problem with the giant screen which was supposed to transmit coverage of the FA Cup Final with Manchester City 2-0 ahead by the time the ‘telly on the back of a lorry’ flickered into life.

Other than that disappointment, a good day was had by all.