Sixties star pays a visit

One of Reds heroes from the sixties made a surprise visit to the ground this week, delighting the staff who welcomed him.

Clive Middlemass, who played League Football for Workington for seven seasons during the sixties, was in the county visiting relatives and took the opportunity to pay his first visit to Borough Park for several years.

Clive started his career with Leeds United but signed for Ken Furphy in November, 1963 with one of his early Reds’ games against West Ham United in the League Cup.  It took two seasons to establish himself in the team but he was a regular thereafter wearing the number six shirt more often than not.

In January, 1969 he was involved in a RTA which, ultimately, would curtail his promissing career.  After the accident, he only made eleven further first team appearances as a professional.

He did play four games in our inaugural season in the Northern Premier League before returning to the professional ranks in managerial capacities.  Clive was assistant manager at both Bristol Rovers and City during the eighties before returning to Cumbria and managing Carlisle United.

After his time at Brunton Park, he served time with Darlington, Burnley, Preston North End and Derby County – coaching, managing and scouting.  His last three years in the game were with Everton where he was part of David Moyes’ scouting team. Now in his mid-seventies, Clive settled in the Preston area.