On this day – 16 November
Reflecting on what was happening to Reds on the 16th November in previous seasons………
This time of year often coincides with the First Round of the FA Cup and Reds have done well in the competition on this particular day in the past.
Back in 1957, we started our Cup campaign not knowing what would happen in the Third Round but it was a great start nevertheless. Faced with a tie against Northern League Crook Town, Joe Harvey’s team cantered into the next round following an emphatic 8-1win over the part-timers.
The goals were shared around with Jack Bertolini and Jimmy Currie netting twice, Bobby Brown, Tommy Kinloch and Ted Purdon scoring one apiece and a Crook defender completing the tally with an unfortunate own goal.
We also had home advantage in 1963 when league rivals, Halifax Town, made the trip to Cumberland. A near 6,000 crowd cheered the hosts to a straightforward 4-1 win and no surprise that Geoff Martin, Jimmy Moran (2) and Dave Carr were amongst the goals.
In 1968, we were again drawn at home in the First Round with Scunthorpe United our opponents. Brian Tinnion, with what would be his last Borough Park goal before his transfer to Wrexham, and Billy Griffin scored in a comfortable 2-0 success.
By coincidence, the victories over Halifax and Scunthorpe led to Second Round exits against Port Vale but the high scoring victory over Crook paved the way to that memorable clash against Manchester United.
No problem with the cup ties but we struggled to make an impact when on League duty. Indeed, of the seven league games played throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s, only one victory was recorded.
Eighteen years ago in 2002, a young Glenn Murray (inset) was starring for Workington and he emerged man-of-the-match in a home game against unbeaten North Ferriby United.
Glenn scored his 12th and 13th goals of a productive season as Reds toppled the Humberside outfit, 2-1.
Goals have been scarce in the matches played in more recent times.
A Tuesday night trip to AFC Telford United ten years ago culminated in a 1-0 defeat whilst in 2013 we bowed out of the FA Trophy after a 3-0 reverse at Hednesford Town.
Sam Smith will probably remember that game because he and brother Jake appeared together on the team sheet for the first time.
And twelve months ago, we drew another blank with Marine (pictured above) holding us to a goalless draw at Borough Park. It was Ash Kelly’s last league appearance at Borough Park.
