ON THIS DAY: 27 December – Double over the blues
A look through the archives to see what was happening to Reds on the 27th December in years gone by…….
Workington produced several pleasing Football League successes on this day including deserved victories over Barrow and Carlisle United.
The 1952 win over Barrow was a case of swift revenge as we had lost at Holker Street twenty four hours earlier on Boxing Day.
We turned the tables, though, at Borough Park and won 3-1 with George Dick (2) and Danny McDowall sharing the goals.
The 1960 success over Carlisle United was another back-to-back situation with Reds hosting Carlisle on Boxing Day before heading to Brunton Park next day for the return.
And it was Reds who finished the festive period with the local bragging rights after a quick-fire league double, thanks to a 4-2 success on the 27th.
Noel Hodgson enjoyed his birthday on Christmas day and celebrated with the opening goal at Brunton Park with Frank Kirkup and Tommy Dixon (2) also on target.
The diminutive Ernie Whittle (featured) seemed to enjoy playing on this day for Reds, playing a part in victories in both 1954 and 1955.
He scored in a 2-1 success at Southport then emerged man-of-the-match against Wrexham scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 success, respectively.
Malcolm Dawes had played over 200 games for Hartlepool before joining Reds in 1975. He had the satisfaction of scoring his first and only goal for Reds against his former club at Borough Park but it was in vain – we lost 2-1.
Bobby Owen made a great start to a loan spell with Reds in 1976, scoring twice in a 2-2 home draw against Southport. The former Manchester City player, who came to us from Carlisle, didn’t score thereafter in his brief stint with us.
Our Northern Premier League tussles on this day produced mixed results.
Keith Armstrong went on to enjoy a distinguished career in Finland as a player, manager and television presenter but, in 1980, was helping Reds to a 2-0 home win over Worksop Town. He and John Smith shared the goals.
Smith also found the target two years later in 1982 and was joined on the score sheet by Neil McDonald and Billy Gilmour, his first for the club, in a comfortable 3-0 success over Netherfield.
Brian Dawson, now doing a grand job coaching Reds’ youngsters at the club, netted for Reds back in 1999 with his goal helping us to a 1-1 draw at Ashton United.
Reds had been reduced to ten men following John Kay’s dismissal and our goalkeeper, John Armfield, also saved a penalty so a satisfactory point overall.
