Scott Allison was recently presented with a special memento to mark over 300 appearances for Workington Reds.
He has scored more goals for the Reds than anybody else in almost 100 years.
I caught up with him this week and put a few questions to him about his splendid career for the west Cumbrians.
Just to start with Scotty can you tell me how it all started?
It’s always been football for me. My mum and dad have always said that I’ve had a ball with me since the first day I could move.
I remember always playing football, by myself or with my friends. I played for Kirkby Stephen from under 8’s up to under 16’s. I then got selected for the county of Westmorland at Kendal before playing locally for Kirkby Stephen for a few years.
I eventually joined Penrith where I played for three seasons before joining Reds.
You have had a long and successful career at Workington can you remember how you got to Reds in the first place from Penrith and who was responsible?
I remember we were having our end of season presentation night at Penrith and Matt Henney pulled me to one side and said Darren Edmondson wanted to have a look at me during pre-season, I then spoke with Darren the following week and that was that. it was an opportunity I couldn’t really turn down.
You have scored more goals for Reds in your time with the club than anyone for almost 100 years. Have you any particular favourites?
Sadly, I don’t have a highlight reel like Dav does. I cant really remember many goals that would fall into the bracket of ‘worldie’ but I have two goals that I’ll always remember.
My favourite goal was probably the goal when we beat Hartlepool in the cup. everything about it, the finish but also the moment. In front of the town end, late in the game and to beat a team two leagues higher than us.
The other goal was the one to complete my hat-trick goal against Blyth, again, more than just the finish, but the occasion and the relevance of it.
The fans regularly break into song over their Ginger Messi. What’s been your reaction to that over the years – and incidentally who is your favourite footballer and why?
The ginger Messi shout always makes me laugh even though it is slightly embarrassing for me. Maybe I was more like Messi in my younger days but feel my game changed when I got to Reds.
I have absolutely no idea where the name came from but to be compared to the greatest of all time (in my opinion) can’t be a bad thing.
My idol growing up was always Alan Shearer as a Newcastle fan that then moved onto Ronaldinho, before then becoming Messi. So they are probably my top three.
You would surely have had many more goals for Reds but for injuries. Can you recall all the injury set-backs you’ve had and do any still affect you?
I did pretty well with injuries when I was younger. Apart from the odd knock here and there like everyone gets, there wasn’t really anything major. I always remember when I was about 26/27 my dad told me that he never got injured until he turned 30 and that’s basically what has happened to me.
It all started with my sports hernia when I was 30, which I’ve never really recovered from even after having an operation, it still bothers me to this day. The other is my shoulder. Four dislocations in six months and one operation. Thankfully that one seems to be just fine now.
I hear you were quite a useful cricketer but a shoulder problem has put that on hold. Tell me a little of your cricketing exploits?
I wouldn’t call myself ‘useful’ but I do enjoy cricket. Playing for Kirkby Stephen has always been a nice welcome break from football. Sadly, I’ve not played during the last two seasons due to my injury issue’s but it is something I plan on getting back to once my football days are over.
My best bowling figures were 7-15 including a hat-trick and I have one century to my name against local rivals Appleby.
You are one of several current Reds players who are now the wrong side of 30. How long do you plan to keep playing?
I wouldn’t like to put an exact date on when I plan to ‘call it a day’ but the body is talking to me more and more. I think I’ll play football for many more years if I can but it’s becoming increasing difficult to get the body in the right shape to compete at this level.
I think when my time is done at this level with Workington I’ll go back to Kirkby Stephen and help them out as best I can.
When you do finally hang up your boots are you interested in going into the coaching/managerial side of the game even at youth level?
I don’t think so no. Although I do take a keen interest on the tactical side of things I just don’t think it’s for me. But you never know and if an opportunity presented itself then it would maybe be something I’d consider.
Over the years who have been the most influential people on your career and why?
That’s a good question. From my Penrith days I would probably say Graham Anthony and Matt Henney. Graham came in as player manager and although he was getting old, I just couldn’t believe how good he was.
I enjoyed playing under Matt Henney because he basically just told me to go and express myself. He basically gave me a free role and specifically told me not to track back, which as a winger I’d never heard before.
At reds I’d start with Gav Skelton. After our relegation from Conference North I pretty much thought my Reds career was done. I’d hardly played that season and just didn’t think it was for me.
Gav took over as manager and was on the phone straight away and convinced me to stay. This is very similar with Danny currently, after relegation and one season full of injuries I was ready to call it a day until Danny got the job and convinced me to keep going. So I owe them both for that.
Loyalty is a rarely used word in modern football. What is it in your case that has seen you stay at Workington and play so many games for the club?
I think everyone knows that when you live where we live, the opportunities don’t come around as often as they would if we lived further south.
There have been a few opportunities over the years but I’ve always been happy to stay with Reds. I remember when my goal tally was about 65/70, I remember thinking I wanted 100. I’ve been lucky to have some good managers and good players in the dressing room that make the environment one that you don’t really want to leave.
