The draw for the quarter finals of the Fred Conway County Cup is being made tonight.
Several familiar names are involved like Carlisle United, Workington Reds, Penrith and holders Carlisle City to lesser-known clubs like Unisun Athletic and Kirkoswald.
There’s a substantial history to the competition, which dates back to the 1885-86 season – 140 years ago when Carlisle beat Workington 2-1 in the final.
It was played at Highmoor Park, Wigton and there were only five clubs entered in the first-ever Cumberland Cup competition.
According to Barry Hoggarth’s book The Cumberland Senior Cup 1886 to 2019 the Cumberland FA of the time decided that Workington should play Distington, which they did and won 6-1 to go through to the final.
Carlisle, however, had to beat Wigton 2-1 and then Arlecdon 4-0 to earn their place in the final.
After Harpwood had given Workington the lead, two goals from White won it for Carlisle.
However, as the author points out there was confusion afterwards when Workington lodged a protest, which apparently was commonplace in association football at the time.
They claimed that when Carlisle scored their first goal the referee gave it before the Carlisle players had appealed (as in cricket). The dispute went on for weeks until, after many meetings the matter was dropped by Workington.
Perhaps the most infamous final was in March 1897 when Workington beat Carlisle City at the Warwick Road rugby ground in Carlisle.
But after the trophy presentation violent scenes erupted and the Workington players were stoned as they went to their wagonette for the journey home.
One of the players John Robert Fisher was struck on the head and took ill shortly after returning home. He was bedridden for 19 weeks, paralysed down one side, and died at the age of 20.
A subsequent inquest ruled manslaughter against some person or persons unknown.
Carlisle United, Workington and Penrith have most wins in the competition and all three will be bidding to extend their records this time.
But there have been some less well-known names among the winners and finalists over the years,
For instance 100 years ago the 1925/26 final was played at Lonsdale Park, Workington in front of a 2,000-strong crowd. Frizington Harriers beat Carlisle, Glasgow and South West Railway 4-2.
Other winners of the trophy have been the likes of Carlisle Red Rose, Shaddongate United, Moor Row Villa Rovers, Moss Bay Exchange, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Wellington Villa and, of course more recently, the ill-fates Celtic Nation.
Tonight’s draw involves Carlisle City (holders), Penrith, Workington, Carlisle United, Unisun Athletic, Cleator Moor Celtic, Windscale, Kirkoswald.
