Workington
Formed
1884: wound up in 1910
Re-formed 1921
Elected to Division Three (North) 1951. Failed re-election 1977.
Kit History
Workington
1884-1910
Club wound up
1888 a
1902-1903 b
Workington
1921
Re-formed as a new club
1921-1932
1932-1934 b
1934-1935 b
1949-1950 b
1951-1954 b
1954-1956 b c
1956-1957 b
1957-1960 b
1960-1961 b
1963-Nov 1964 b
Nov 1964-1965 b
1965-1966 b d
1966-1967 b d
1968-1969 b
1969-1970 e
1971-1972 b
1972-1974 b e
1974-1975 b
1975-1976 b
1976-1977 b f
Background
Situated on the far north-west
coast of Cumbria, Workington is one of the most remote towns to have had
a team play in the Football League. Furthermore, the area is a rugby stronghold
and the Reds faced strong competition from the local rugby league side,
Workington Town. There have in fact been two Workington AFCs: the first
club was formed in 1884 by Sheffield emigres who came to the area to work
in the steel industry. Workington played in the Cumberland Senior League
for seven years before joining the Lancashire Combination. Because of
the high travel costs they incurred, the club joined several different
leagues in an effort to economise but in 1910 they went into voluntary
liquidation.
For the next ten years the town was without a senior association football club but in 1921, a new club was formed and elected to the North Eastern League. They had a modestly successful career and in 1951, they made a successful application to join the Football League, replacing New Brighton. Their 16 page brochure made light of their isolated situation ("derby" games against Carlisle and Barrow involved a round trip of 70 and 132 miles by train respectively) stating, "We are not in an area where we would rob any other League clubs of their present supporters."
The Reds were lucky to survive having to apply for re-election in their first two seasons. In 1953-54 it seemed they would wind up in the re-election zone once again and surely lose their League status but the appointment of Bill Shankly as manager proved a turning point. Shankly lifted the team who finished two places above the re-election positions and in the following years they finished comfortably in mid-table.
When the regional divisions were scrapped, Workington were placed in the Fourth Division but in 1964 they finished in third place to win promotion to the Third Division. After only two seasons, they were relegated back to the Fourth Division and faced re-election the following year. The early 1970s brought severe economic decline to the area and as the club's lacklustre performance continued, attendances dwindled to less than 1,000. In 1974 the Reds applied for re-election for the first of four consecutive seasons. After finishing last in 1977 with only four wins, the patience of their fellow League clubs was exhausted and Workington lost their place to Wimbledon.
Despite everything, Workington survive to this day, rising to the Blue Square Conference (North).
Sources
- (a) Unofficial Workington AFC website
- (b) Workington AFC - Images of Sport (Paul Eade 2003)
- (c) Football Focus
- (d) Pete's Picture Palace
- (e) Football League Review
- (f) Alick Milne