Aspatria’s home game with Lowca on Saturday should be a bit special as the club is celebrating a 40-year anniversary of the Hornets winning the old Carlisle League for the first time.
The league had been formed in and around Carlisle following Carlisle’s professional rugby league side playing at Brunton Park when interest in the game was at its highest level in the north of the county.
Current Hornets’ chairman Mark Ridley says: “The league consisted of ourselves and Wigton, with the remaining teams being from Carlisle. That season the Hornets finished the league unbeaten and our nearest rivals were the Horse and Farrier.
“The highlight of the season was beating Stanningley from Leeds in the National Cup, ironically a game played at our current home, Beacon Hill, as the Park pitch was unavailable.”
At the time the Hornets were led by player coach Tony Anderson from Maryport who was supported by his brother Keith, Alan Perry and Kevin Holiday all with experience of playing in West Cumbria.
The remaining players were all from Aspatria and included the current vice chairman and club stalwart, Algie Reynolds.
The following season the Hornets joined the West Cumbria league but for one season they also had a reserve team still in the Carlisle league.
The following years fluctuated between the second and third divisions and at one point there were four leagues and over 50 clubs.
Mark recalls: “Over the years we have had several players who have played for our local semi-professional teams including Martin Oglanby, Steven McGuire, Danny Penman, Cliff Walker, Kevin Gartland, Kevin Hetherington, Les Wilkinson and Peter Lunt.
“The Hornets folded following the 1998 season and reformed again in 2011. This period has seen the club be the nearly-men, competing in several finals and league deciders only to come up short.
“A tremendous amount of work has been undertaken on our current facilities and we have just secured some funding to install a pitch side barrier and new goal posts. We are also delighted with the progress of our juniors and this season we have grown from 40 to 105 youngsters all enjoying their sport with our Under-12s recently winning the County Cup.
“We would like to welcome anyone who has played for the club over the years to Saturday’s home game against Lowca. It will be great to catch up and remember old times. Any old players are invited to join us from 12.30pm onwards for refreshments.”
