Reds XI v Reds Legends match

The Reds XI v Reds Legends match brings the final whistle at Borough Park.

A Reds Legends team will play in what is expected to be the last ever game at Borough Park.

They will take on the current Workington squad in a 2pm kick-off on Saturday, May 18, competing for the Tony Hopper Memorial Trophy.

The match is the highlight of a family fun day which will also feature a junior football competition and the live screening of the FA Cup Final.

The event starts at 10am with the junior tournament, before fans get their first chance to see Reds players past and present warming up at 1pm, after which chairman John Mackay will address the crowd on what should be an historic occasion.

The Legends will be introduced before the match, and medals awarded afterwards about 4pm.

A big screen will be rolled onto the pitch so that fans can watch the FA Cup final live from Wembley, which kicks off at 5pm.

While the Manchester City v Watford game is shown, there will be children’s entertainment, foot golf, charity stalls, face painting and more.

Money will be raised on the day towards running costs for next season, as well as for the Tony Hopper Motor Neurone Appeal, set up in memory of the Reds legend who sadly died last year, aged 42.

There will be an auction in the Tony Hopper Bar at 7pm, at which fans can bid for items of memorabilia including players’ shirts from the day and parts of the famous old ground itself.

Entry to the day will be £8 adults, £4 children and seniors. A family ticket (two adults and two children) costs £20.

Commemorative programmes will also be on sale. Reds’ shirt sponsors D Tolson & Son will sponsor the day.

Incidentally, Workington’s only match ever played against FA Cup finalists Manchester City was a 2-1 defeat in the first round of the competition in 1910.

Workington beat Watford four times out of 14 as they met over the years, but lost home and away in their final season in the professional football league in 1977.