Workington Town is preparing for a Keighley invasion on Sunday – on and off the pitch.
Chris Thorman’s men entertain the Cougars in the play-offs with the winners going straight through to the final, and with home advantage on October 10.
Keighley will certainly not be short of support with four coaches of supporters booked and a fifth well on the way to being full.
It is a crucially-important season for all clubs, especially in League One, as the two lower tiers are going to be restructured in 2022 – with a reduction in Sky TV sponsorship to the sport, meaning that income for lower clubs is likely to be hugely reduced.
Hence the scramble to get out of League One, a feat already accomplished by Barrow who will be going up as champions.
Keighley director Ryan O’Neill said: “If we can progress to the final and then win promotion to the Championship it will be a huge boost for the club – and the town.
“Given the importance of the play-off games, it has created a surge in interest in the town and the club has agreed to subsidise the cost of the travel to cap the price at £5 per passenger.”
Workington finished second behind Barrow and intriguingly of the other four qualifiers, Town only beat Keighley at Derwent Park. North Wales, Doncaster and Hunslet all won there.
Town coach Thorman insists all the focus is on preparation and performing on Sunday against the Cougars.
“It’s been frustrating dealing with the Covid but over the next few weeks all our attention will be on performing and training and performing on the Sunday,” he said.
Town have been badly hit by injuries over the last few weeks and Thorman will be assessing the treatment room before Sunday.
