CLUB NEWS: Bizarre end to AGM

A sparsely attended shareholders meeting heard a positive report from the hierarchy, with Workington Association Football Club Limited making good progress on and off the field.

Chairman Phil Norman informed the meeting that the financial situation was as good as it has been for some considerable time, the community links with West Cumbria had never been stronger, attendances continued to grow as did our marketing and media presence, the first team had attained it’s highest position in the pyramid for several years, hundreds of children were being provided with an opportunity to play football, the Soccer Hub was a well-used facility and all happening with an ongoing new stadium development starting to gather momentum.

The four directors had to stand for re-election and, individually, Simon Collins, Richard Lewthwaite, Phillip Norman and Christopher Root were all re-appointed to serve the club.

The Board was increased to five with David Yates (pictured) formally accepted to the group having been a member for the last few months.

David Yates

An update on the new stadium development from the chairman revealed that they had been working on relocation to Derwent Park after the Lancaster City game on 2nd January, 2026 but it was now more likely that we will remain at Borough Park until the end of February, at least.

The Board’s stance is that we will not leave Borough Park until satisfactory agreements for both the temporary groundshare at the Fibrus Community Stadium and the new stadium are all in place.

We have worked closely with Workington Town over recent months preparing Derwent Park for our move, and await details of the agreements covering the return to the new facility which have to suit both clubs.

The work at Derwent Park will be completed and signed off well ahead of any new deadline.

Other matters discussed under ‘AOB’ included the very successful Budget Booster, and the National Grid’s ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ advertising campaign.

But the meeting ended in confusion when a shareholder voiced concern about the temporary move to Derwent Park, which he claimed needed official approval from the shareholders before any such action could be taken. He quoted a proposal, made at the AGM in 2019, that any such move could only happen on the strength of a shareholders’ vote.

The meeting closed with all shareholders assured of an update as soon as possible.