Chris Humphrey is preparing to send out Penrith for the first time at Frenchfield this afternoon when West Auckland provide Northern League opposition.
The new manager has previously overseen four games away from home – three in the League and an FA Vase tie – which yielded two draws and two defeats.
He is looking for his first win to start the climb from the danger zone in Division One, and might be hoping a reminder of Penrith’s glory days will inspire his young charges 40 years on.
For today is reunion time for the Bonny Blues with members of the teams who enjoyed FA Cup success in the early 1980’s returning to watch the current squad in action and reminisce over past exploits.
On November 21, 1981 Penrith beat Third Division Chester 1-0 at Southend Road with Geoff Fell’s goal providing progress to the second round.
A tie with Doncaster Rovers, then managed by former Leeds and Scotland ace Billy Bremner followed and a battling performance before going down 3-0.
Two years later they played Hull City in the first round and lost 2-0 with future England manager Steve McLaren in the Tigers line-up.
Finally in 1984 they reached the first round again but this time were walloped 9-0 by Burnley.
Manager of the time, Billy Williams, is now chairman of the club and is looking to welcome back the vast majority of the players involved in those heart-warming confrontations with League clubs.
“It should also be remembered that we played Manchester City in 1981 two weeks before they were in the FA Cup final at Wembley against Spurs. It was a friendly but they sent virtually their full squad – which certainly wouldn’t happen with top clubs these days,” says Williams.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the lads again and talk about old times and those very special games when they gave the whole town a real buzz.
“We are going to get them pictured in the current Penrith kit and they will watch the game with West Auckland and select a man of the match.
“We have a very young team at the moment but there are some promising players among them and if we can just maintain our First Division status this season I am sure we can go on to consolidate next year.
“Hopefully the glories of the past will inspire the lads today,” said Williams who arranged the reunion to coincide with the weekend of this season’s first round FA Cup ties.
