Former players, volunteers, fans and Workington Reds stalwarts have spoken to Cumbria Crack about their time at Borough Park.
Workington Reds played their last game at the stadium this weekend.
The ground will be replaced by a new Cumberland Sports Village, which will be the home of the football side and the town’s Rugby League club Workington Town.
A celebration of the ground was held as Workington Reds played Leek Town and the sun shone on the final day of Borough Park, which has been home to football since 1937.
Nearly 60 players from Workington’s past were there to swap stories, often to ignite gales of laughter, or even at times to wipe away a tear or two.
Cumbria Crack’s John Walsh caught up with the former players, fans and Workington Reds stalwarts to mark the final day.
You can listen to what each had to say in our audio clips below:
Martin Henderson
Definitely one of the nice guys of the game, he was back in the headlines last week when Reds won 3-2 at Warrington.
It was a repeat of Martin’s efforts 30-odd years before when 2-0 down at half-time he popped-up with a second-half hat-trick to win 3-2 and help stave off relegation.
Martin recalls it was never about the money travelling over from the North East – he just wanted to play at the highest level he possibly could.
Lee Copeland
Workington Reds have been blessed with a number of good goalkeeper’s throughout their Football League and Northern Premier League days and Lee was one of them.
Now a fit 61-year-old who looks as though he could still play, Lee joined Reds after Barrow disbanded their reserve team – and he stayed almost 10 years.
His daughter’s partner is Jake Carter, the Workington Town stand-off so hopefully in 18 years time he might have the opportunity of seeing him play in the new stadium.
And speaking of Reds goalkeepers, current Number One gave his gloves to my grandson Kylan, the Reds drummer boy, after yesterday’s game.
Richard Lewthwaite
Vice chairman and long-time Workington Reds fan admits to having a lump in his throat on the day.
Hugely respected addition to the board who appreciates the importance of attracting a younger audience to the club and has strong links to the Youth game in the county.
He has followed the Reds since the 1978/79 season, coming down for the first time like so many others with his late father.
John Reach and Vaughan Williams
Team-mates and long-time friends who enjoyed the camaraderie the Workington dressing room provided and particularly when they lifted the President’s Cup.
John has always had a close affinity to west Cumbria and the people of the area, and was quite emotional about the return to Borough Park.
Vaughan recalled former manager Joe Wojciecowicz and how he also played for him at Morecambe and Colne Dynamos.
Steve Durham
Rightly regarded as Mr Workington Reds after years of devotion to the club, going from fan to Supporters Club, to boardroom, to secretary and generally as club historian.
Has kept in touch with lots of former players, so yesterday’s chance to see some of them again was a bit special.
Played a bit of football at school when his father used to go and watch but Durham senior was not a fan although Steve recalls he had the shiniest boots in the school which stemmed from his dad’s Army background.
John Ogilvie
One of the all-time greats from Reds time in the Football League, the only club he played for at senior level.
Had a brief spell at Blackpool as a youngster but didn’t like it and back home made himself a permanent member of the Reds defence.
Enjoyed walking on the pitch again, and brought back memories, particularly the famous 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the League Cup.
Alec Graham
A family trip from Keswick to a Reds match started Alec on a long-time devotion to the club.
When he lived in Milton Keynes he got involved as a leading official with the Reds’ southern branch and has taken on fresh roles since coming back home.
He’s now club secretary, after a spell on the board, and like many others has fond memories of Borough Park.
Les Byers
A fan who described his appointment as chairman of the club as “a great honour” at the time.
Has many memories of Borough Park and is looking forward to the creation of a new stadium on the site.
But, from a personal point of view, believes that much of the old concrete terracing could have been retained in the new-build.
Celia Tibble
Northside-born, saw her first game as an 11-year-old and resumed her support after returning from a working life in Yorkshire.
She tells how Borough Park changed her life when she was a St John Ambulance cadet and saw a police woman that prompted her to change her career plans.
Back at Borough Park 11 years ago she became friends with Marjorie Hunter, who sold the Golden Goal tickets, and after she died took on the job.
Paul Armstrong
The man, home and away, who keeps Reds fans up to date with his Live Scoreboard.
He didn’t play much football as a youngster but was a regular into his teens and older with Workington Zebras as a very capable forward.
That was ended by a knee injury and since then he’s followed the Reds and taken on the role of reporting via the match scoreboard.
