On this day – 22 April
A look through the diaries to see what was happening to Reds on the 22nd April in previous years………….
Twelve months ago there was a sombre mood around Borough Park as our final home game of a disastrous campaign had gone like many matches before.
Reds were beaten on home soil – a club record ninth loss in a row – as Lancaster City became the latest club to head out of town along the A66 with three points in the bag. It was the umpteenth 2-0 defeat in that painful run-in, the fourteenth at home overall.
There have been numerous 2-0 score lines involving Reds on this day but, thankfully, quite a few have gone in our favour.
And whilst it was doom and gloom after relegation this time last year, there was a feeling of elation back in 1964 when Workington clinched promotion from the old Fourth Division on a memorable night in Yorkshire.
They didn’t have ‘six-pointers’ in those days, more a four-pointer, but fifth placed Bradford City were hosting Reds who were in fourth.
A near 18,000 crowd turned up for the Wednesday night fixture at Valley Parade with City optimistic of success having won five games in a row. Reds had won three on the bounce, without conceding, to set-up a winner takes all encounter.
And two first half goals secured our ninth away win with the 2-0 success clinching promotion to the Third Division, delighting many Workington supporters in the big crowd.
An own goal from John Kelly and a tenth of the season from Geoff Martin (pictured), clinched promotion for Ken Furphy’s side, regardless of what happened on the final day of the season a few days later.
We had won 2-0 on this day at Oldham Athletic in 1959 and, by the same score, v. Hartlepools United two years later but then lost by two goals in matches at Reading in 1967 and at Barrow in 1972.
John Ogilvie was sent-off in the defeat at Elm Park, sparked by a spat with future Reds boss, Colin Meldrum.
The reversal at Barrow was our final Football League game at Holker Street prior to their harsh demotion a few weeks later. They had done the double over 6th placed Reds that season and finished five points above Stockport County (23rd) and were eight points better off than Crewe Alexandra (24th).
Another two goal match ended in victory for Reds when we contested the 2009 Cumberland Cup Final (pictured) against Penrith at Brunton Park. Extra time was needed before Gareth Arnison and Callum Ruttledge scored the goals which secured the trophy for a 24th time.
And two players scored their first Workington goals on this day in the past.
Dan Kirkup did so in 2008 when he headed the only goal in home win over Worcester City and Tom Cowan’s first in 2006 helped us overcome Alfreton Town with Mathew Henney also scoring in yet another 2-0 success.
It wasn’t the best of days for Nigel Dustin in a mediocre 1-1 home draw against Atherton LR back in 1997. ‘Dusters’ was introduced as an 87th minute substitute, only to be sent off less than two minutes later!
In contrast, Chris Simmonds enjoyed his afternoon in the red shirt way back in 1953 after his hat-trick contributed to us toppling Wrexham 4-0, Danny McDowall also on target. Wrexham finished 3rd in the table, we were 23rd!
And, as was the case in 1964 and 2009, Reds were celebrating end of season success in 1937. We lifted the North Eastern League Challenge Cup in a replay, overcoming Blyth Spartans 3-1 before a near 4,000 attendance at Lonsdale Park. Messrs Huddart, Sewell and Torney shared the goals.
