A replica of Borough Park from the 1960’s has been created at Gen2, by a group of budding apprentices.
It is being entered into a competition to mark National Apprenticeship Week and will be judged on Friday.
It is among a number of projects that have been created at the Lillyhall campus for the competition – but the one which has attracted most interest.
Matt Holt, who has overseen the team constructing Borough Park is himself a Workington Reds fan – and says that several members of the group have actually played for the club’s junior sides.
Welder Danny Madden is a first year Sellafield apprentice while his seven colleagues are all hoping to earn apprenticeships. They have just completed a 12-week welding appreciation course.
Working alongside Danny have been Emerson Wilson, James Graham, Cohen Gunn, Louis Pattinson, Hayden Johnson, Alfie Cox and Owen Simpson.
Matt said: “When they were looking for a subject I suggested Borough Park as I don’t think enough is known about the history of this great old ground.
“The young lads who go down now don’t seem to realise that the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have played there.
“It was a way of learning to appreciate the history of the ground, and they’ve done a great job.”
Danny fronts a Gen2 video in which he says they consulted old photographs of the ground before making their plans for the replica.
As a result of their work the current Reds vice chairman Richard Lewthwaite has invited the welding team down to Borough Park to watch a game as special guests.
If they win the competition they will receive a voucher, certificate and trophy.
Lucy Kennedy, Curriculum Manager for Step In2 and Deputy Centre Manager, said: “I think the Borough Park project is a superb effort from our learners.
“They are all local lads and some have played in the youth team in the past so for them to delve into the history of the club and base their project on something they are passionate about is fantastic.
“I am particularly proud as seven of the team members Hayden Johnson, Cohen Gunn, Emerson Wilson, Alfie Cox, Owen Simpson, Louis Pattinson and James Graham are my Step in2 learners whom I recruited in September on a 12 month pre-apprenticeship programme and who will be looking for Level 3 apprentices with local employers for September 2024.
“The skills they have displayed in making the Borough Park project in such a short space of time is incredible.
“The eighth member of the team is Sellafield Welding Apprentice Danny Madden who has been able to exercise his welding expertise in some of the components of the project.
“The learners are hoping to raise money for a charity yet to be confirmed and donate the model to Borough Park where it will hopefully showcased in all of its glory.
“We just need to negotiate with the chairman of the club to see if or where they will have room for it.
“But this is all very exciting for the learners. They have even been invited to the club to watch a game as guests of the club and the chairman is due in for a visit to Gen2 to meet the learners. It shows the learners that hard work really does pay off.”
