ON THIS DAY: 28 January – Millwall televised and Nathan hat-trick
A look through the archives to see what was happening to Reds on the 28th January in previous years…….
Workington’s home game against Millwall fifty five years ago was slightly different to the norm.
The Football League Third Division fixture was watched by two audiences after becoming only the second football game in this country to be recorded by closed-circuit television.
This innovative idea was not our doing but it was staged on our patch with live pictures transmitted back to London with the Millwall supporters able to watch the game on giant screens at The Den.
A crowd of 4,323 was recorded for the official game at Borough Park but, amazingly, over 9,000 supporters watched the action on the screens in the New Cross area of London.
Inevitably, the outcome was a goalless draw with goalkeepers, Ian Ower (Reds) and Alex Stepney (Millwall), no doubt satisfied by keeping a clean sheet.
Here is a summary of our other exploits on this day:
2020 Keswick (home) 3-0 This time last year we entertained our good friends from Keswick in a Cumberland Cup tie at a bitterly cold Borough Park. It was a straightforward run out for a team including half a dozen teenagers and, thanks to Nathan Waterston’s hat-trick, we progressed to the semi-final of the competition.
2017 Whitby Town (home) 4-0 The visitors started brightly in this Evo-Stik Premier Division clash but eventually got bogged down in the Borough Park mud. Two goals in each half saw Reds emerge emphatic winners with Rob Wilson, Scott Allison (2) and Sam Joel sharing the goals.
2012 Worcester City (home) 0-0 A fair outcome in the Blue Square Bet North fixture in what was the first goalless draw at Borough Park during that particular season.
2009 Gateshead (away) 1-2 David Hewson was stretchered off, Anthony Wright limped off and Jonny Wright was sent-off in a frustrating evening at the International Stadium. Phil McLuckie had equalised for Reds but it was the ‘Heed who bagged all three points.
2006 Worcester City (away) 1-1 Reds’ first visit to City’s historic ground resulted in a draw with the hosts taking the lead only to be pegged back by Matt Henney’s deserved equaliser.
1995 Mossley (home) 1-2 Wayne Harrison’s second spell as manager didn’t get off to the best of starts with Mossley completing a league double over Reds. John Holliday headed home our goal but we were already 2-0 down at that point.
1989 Newtown (home) 0-3 Now members of the Cymru Premier, Newtown’s first visit to West Cumbria was on NPL First Division business. The mid-Wales club eased to a comfortable win with one of their goals coming from Ian Woan – Sean Dyche’s assistant at Burnley.
1978 Goole Town (away) 0-3 There wasn’t much joy in our first NPL encounter at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds and, as the score line suggests, we were soundly beaten.
1969 Scunthorpe United (away) 1-0 Kevin Keegan was still a ‘Scunny’ player at the time but this was our day or, to be fair, Derek Trail’s day as he scored the goal which secured our first win at The Old Show Ground.
1961 Southport (away) 0-3 No complaints about this setback at Haig Avenue with the home side finishing worthy winners.
1956 Grimsby Town (away) 2-1 Goals from Jim Dailey and Rex Dunlop secured a first ever win at Blundell Park against a team who would finish as Third Division (North) champions that season. Town dropped only five points at home, winning no fewer than twenty league matches, but were unable to topple the mighty Reds that day!
