Remembering Mr Smith

The FA will stage their showpiece game on Saturday when regular finalists Manchester City and Chelsea face each other in the 145th Cup Final.

It is nearly nine months since Reds made their exit from the ’25-26 competition, a good four months before Chelsea and City began their respective run to Wembley Stadium, culminating in Saturday’s ‘grand day out’. P

The Cumberland FA have publicly marked the milestone of it being the eightieth anniversary since ‘one of our own’ had the honour of refereeing the 1946 final, the first after the Second World War.

Ernest Donald Smith was in charge of the Derby County versus Charlton Athletic encounter which the former won, 4-1, after extra time. It is described as one of the better finals over the decades although it is also remembered because, it was reported, the ball burst just before the end of normal time.

‘ED’ was well known in Cumberland circles and was head of Lowca School and a keen sportsman himself – a footballer, a rugby player and, notably, a sprinter. For many years he was secretary of the Cumberland FA and a prominent figure with the governing body

He subsequently became an influential figure in the progression of Workington Football club and, many believe, played a crucial part in Reds’ election to the Football League seventy-five years ago.

Mr Smith joined the Board in June, 1951, and his first spell as a director lasted seven years with five of those as chairman. He returned to the Board in 1961 and served until 1968, fulfilling the role of chairman for nine seasons in total.

Appointed Club President in the late sixties, ED died in 1990 at the age of 85.

• Cup Final referee, Darren England, first took control of a Workington match at Histon fifteen years ago and one of two yellow cards he produced that day was to current assistant manager, Lee Andrews!

• Other members of the Cup Final team of officials: Fourth official Sam Barrott, Reserve assistant referee Steve Meredith, VAR Peter Bankes and VAR assistant Nick Hopton have all refereed Reds in the not too distant past and Peter Bankes actually attended last month’s epic victory at Warrington Town.