Lowca are to be invited to take part in the 2024 Challenge Cup competition – a reflection on their progress as a club.
It is around 25 years since Lowca took part in the Challenge Cup and there’s general excitement that they are going to be involved again.
Coach Lee Allen said: “It’s great that we are going to be in the draw again. I can remember that we played about three times in the competition but it was tough against big name amateur sides and we never got past the first hurdle.
“We can’t wait to give it a go this time because we feel that we have made big strides as an amateur club.
“The last two years we have finished fourth in the Cumberland ARL but I think the biggest strides we have made are in youth development.
“We now have age group sides right the way through to Under-16’s and we have a squad in place for the new Under-18’s League which is being organised this coming season.
“Our first team squad has a lot of younger [players, too, and last season we were getting up to 40 for training sessions.
“The big thing from a Lowca perspective is that up to about 80% of the lads are from the village. Depending on their ages there are about three groups of lads who are all mates – and that helps.”
Lowca is certainly one of Cumberland ARL’s success stories and officials are delighted they are going to be included in the Challenge Cup.
Secretary Lorraine Degraffe said: “Distington, as champions, would have been included but with their switch to National League ruby they want to concentrate on that in 2024.
“The second and third teams – Wath Brow and Kells – have first teams who will be involved so Lowca, who were fourth in the table, are going to get a chance and we are all delighted.”
The Challenge Cup competition gets underway towards the end of January with amateur clubs involved.
