ON THIS DAY: 24 December – Hectic schedules
A look through the diaries to see what was happening to Reds on Christmas Eve in years gone by…….
It has never been a regular slot on the football calendar but Workington’s past record on the 24th December is quite good and, of six matches played, four victories have been obtained.
Reds’ most recent outing on this day was sixty five years ago, 1955, with our heroes overcoming Bradford City 2-1 at Borough Park.
Jackie Bertolini and Jimmy Dailey scored the goals which secured the win and started one hectic schedule over the festive period.
After playing on Christmas Eve, Reds travelled to Wrexham on Christmas Day in time for the Boxing Day match, before returning home to play Wrexham at Borough Park on the 27th!
To cap one busy eight day period, they were back on the road on the 30th December in readiness for a fixture at Scunthorpe United on New Year’s Eve.
Not sure what Jurgen Klopp would have thought of that itinerary!
All our other Christmas Eve encounters were played during our time in the North Eastern League, often producing 2-0 score lines.
We recorded 2-0 wins at West Stanley and Spennymoor United in 1921 and 1927 respectively but lost, by the same margin, at Jarrow in 1932.
In 1949, we held Sunderland Reserves to a 2-2 draw at Borough Park with Jackie Oakes and Willie Harkness sharing the goals.
Billy Boyd netted twice in the 1938 win against Carlisle United Reserves at Brunton Park with his 30th and 31st goals of a productive season helping us to a 2-1 success.
