MATCH PREVIEW: Rovers return

Workington will play three pre-season matches in eight days at Borough Park as they continue their preparations for the new season.

Blackburn Rovers U23 side, fresh from a 6-0 midweek win at Darwen, will travel to west Cumbria on Saturday (3pm) for their fifth pre-season visit to Borough Park and that game will be followed by matches against Dumbarton (Tuesday) and Carlisle United (9 July).

The very mention of Blackburn Rovers sets hearts a fluttering amongst the older fraternity because it was humble Workington Reds who knocked Rovers out of the Football League Cup back in 1964, arguably our greatest ever result.

The then First Division outfit had held Reds to a goalless draw in front of an 11,800 crowd in the town and everyone assumed Rovers would canter to victory in the replay. In actual fact, Third Division Workington emerged 5-1 winners at Ewood Park against a Blackburn outfit who were a top six side in the top flight at the time.

We do brag about that wonderful result but it remains our only victory against Rovers. We made a second visit to Ewood Park in 1971 for another League Cup tie but there was no repeat of that magnificent October evening fifty eight years ago as we were comprehensively beaten 2-0.

Since then, we have welcomed various Rovers teams to Cumbria for pre-season fixtures with those games resulting as follows: 73-74 (2-2), 81-82 (1-7), 05-06 (0-0) and, 14-15 (2-2).

Following the charity match at Whitehaven last week, Danny Grainger will make his official return to Borough Park following his stint with Falkirk north of the border.

He has been pleased with Reds’ pre-season preparation so far, despite a number of frustrating injuries, but the lack of several ‘so called’ regulars enables some talented trialists to press their claims, again, for a deal at the club.

Two of the new signings, ex Marine duo Lewis Reilly and Ben Hughes, are likely to make their home debuts but supporters will have to wait a little longer to see fellow new recruit Greg McCaragher make his bow as he will be sidelined for several weeks, due to a foot injury.

Admission:
Adult – £8
Concession – £5
U18 – £2
U11 – £1

A pre-season programme, covering the three home matches, has been published and will be available pre-kick-off for £2.