Chris Willcock will put sentiment behind him when he takes his Workington team to Glossop North End on Saturday.
He spent four seasons in charge of the Hillmen and left as the most successful manager in the club’s history.
“I have some wonderful memories of my time there so I’m looking forward to going back and seeing the chairman, the board and the fans.
“At the end of the day I want to leave with the three points as it’s important now that we get back to winning ways,” he said.
Willcock took the Glossop job in late May 2013 and led North End to third place in the North West Counties League, the highest the club had finished in any League for 33 years.
They had put together a record-breaking unbeaten run of 22 games, which included only five draws. It started on Bonfire Night 2013 and the fireworks continued until the side lost to Bootle on April 8, 2014.
It was to get better as the 2014-15 season was the most successful season in the Hillmen’s recent history.
Glossop beat Nelson FC to confirm their North West Counties League Premier Division champions title and they also reached two cup finals.
They faced Atherton Collieries at the Tameside Stadium, where they completed the league ‘double’ by winning 2-0 in front of a crowd of 1,012.
Willcock’s men also reached the FA Vase final, by beating St Austell over two legs 2-1, and met the Northern League First Division side North Shields at Wembley Stadium.
The final went to extra time and Willcock’s side were beaten 2-1 but many considered them unlucky not to have won it in 90 minutes.
Glossop began the 2015–16 season in the Northern Premier League Division One North and competed in the FA Trophy for the first time since 1986.
The team finished fourth and qualified for the play-offs but lost 2–1 to Northwich Victoria in the semi final.
At the end of the following season Willcock resigned as manager, leaving after four seasons as the most winning manager in recorded history.
“They were good times and I am looking forward to going back but for 90 minutes the focus will be on Workington and making sure we leave with three points,” he says.
But as so often has been the case this season, Willcock will be carefully monitoring his players and their respective fitness issues.
Iyrwah Gooden (hamstring) and Donae Lawrence (ankle) were both hurt in training last week while Brad Hubbold (hamstring) limped off after only seven minutes of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with 1874 Northwich.
Although skipper Conor Tinnion and tough defender Dan Wordsworth returned to the bench on Saturday, Willcock is still without a host of key players in Scott Allison, Brad Carroll, Nico Evangelinos, Dav Symington, Ruben Jerome and Rowan Roache.
