After 59 years as a sports reporter I must have watched hundreds and hundreds of matches – football, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, speedway, karting, golf, darts – the vast majority in the line of duty.
I remember starting work at the old Cumberland Star in September 1963 and around that time the paper ran a regular series entitled The Match I Saw – so here goes.
Now I’m going to cheat for the first one, simply because it’s topical and a major talking point with Workington Town.
I didn’t actually see the game live, and it was well before starting as a report but in April 1952 I was five-and-a-half years old and watching my first game of rugby league!
My parents had bought a television for the coronation and word got round because Workington Town were playing in their first Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
Looking back I think mam and dad should have sold tickets because our living room was bursting with people – peering to get a view of a flickering, small, black and white Ferrant TV set.
I was on the floor with the best view alongside my pal John Whinam, who lived just a few doors away. His mam and dad – Jack was the local AA patrolman – were there.
Nellie Sandwith, my mother’s cousin and her husband Bob from Tallentire were big Workington fans and they were certainly the most vociferous. Frances and Bill Metcalfe (a great local singer) were also Town fans but perhaps not quite as loud in their support.
“Give it to Gus” was continually being piped up from the back of the room which was shrouded in smoke as there were several cigarettes being consumed.
There were others present whose names escape me but I don’t think we ever had as many people in that one room.
The actual memories of the game have long since been lost in the mists of time – apart from the fact that Town beat Featherstone 18-10 and two moments which have been indelibly imprinted in the memory bank.
The sight of Johnny Mudge taking a pass from Billy Ivison and streaking asway to score a wonderful try which had our audience in Ellenborough screaming and shouting.
I can still picture those smiling faces, waving feverishly, cheering and actually shaking hands. It’s a memory that has never faded.
So, too, was the moment when Gus Risman was presented with the Challenge Cup and hoisted on his team-mates shoulders – again sparking raucous cheers back at Chagford Villas.
Just for the record Johnny Lawrenson (2) and George Wilson scored the other Town tries with Risman landing three goals.
All those memories were replayed at the weekend when the Workington Town Vice-Presidents staged one of their special nights at Derwent Park to recall that very special day 70 years ago.
