ON THIS DAY: 21 December – Scotty hat-trick
A look through the diaries to see what was happening to Reds on the 21st December in years gone by………..
Life in general, and particularly for Workington supporters, was more straightforward just twelve months ago.
We were still in the pre-Covid era and Reds were enjoying a productive, goal-scoring December. On this corresponding day we were making our first visit to Pickering Town and, despite conceding the opening goal, emerged comfortable 4-1 winners.
Scott Allison helped himself to a hat-trick, including two from the penalty spot, and Dan Wordsworth netted the fourth just before the final whistle.
But wins on this day have been few and far between and, prior to the success at Pickering, we hadn’t won since 1996. On that occasion a first half George Corrie goal was sufficient to secure the points at Eastwood Town, a match watched by just 93 spectators!
Only four Football League matches were played on the 21 December and two of those were against Chester.
We lost 2-1 at Sealand Road in 1963 with Bill Hopper scoring the Workington goal while, eleven years later, in 1974 Mike Rogan kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw.
Playing for Chester at Borough Park were Stuart Mason, a future Workington player, and Terry Owen, the father of superstar, Michael Owen.
Seven years ago, we introduced our new manager, Ian McDonald, to Conference North football when he took charge for the first time in our fixture at Leamington. There was no pre-Christmas cheer and Ian’s five month reign in the hot-seat began with a 2-0 defeat.
