Workington Town is a professional
rugby leagueRugby league football is a full-contact form of football, played with a prolate spheroid ball by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. Rugby league is one of the two codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union...
club playing in
WorkingtonWorkington is a town and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport....
in West
CumbriaCumbria is a shire county in the North West of England. Cumbria came into existence as a county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
. They play in Co-operative Championship . Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with
Workington CometsWorkington Comets is a speedway club based in Workington, Cumbria. Their track is at Derwent Park Stadium, which they share with Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.They compete in the Premier League...
, a
speedwayMotorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway or flat track motorcycle racing , is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit...
team.
Their nickname is simply 'Town', though they are sometimes referred to as 'Worky' by fans of other teams.
Their local rivals are
WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league team playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
, who joined the league three years after Workington Town.
History
Workington Town RLFC was formed in December 1944 at a meeting held in the Royal Oak Hotel, Workington. It was decided at the meeting that the club should be registered as a business and that an application for membership of the
Rugby Football LeagueThe Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in the United Kingdom. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, the Rugby League National Leagues and Super League...
should be submitted. From those in attendance at that meeting the first Board of Directors was formed and the application for membership was agreed at a meeting held on 23rd January 1945 at the Grosvenor Hotel, Manchester. They were the first side from
CumberlandCumberland was a historic county of north west England, on the border with Scotland, from the twelfth century to 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
to enter the professional league, though rugby league had long been strong in the area.
They first played their home games, wearing green and red hoops, at
Borough ParkBorough Park is a stadium in Workington, England. It is home to Workington A.F.C., once members of the football league, and now one of the leading non-league clubs in the country. Capacity is 2500, with around 300 seats. The stadium opened in 1937....
. The first match against
Broughton RangersBroughton Rangers was a British rugby league club. They were based in Broughton, Salford. The club's colours were blue and black. A new club was recently formed with the assistance of Salford RLFC. They have the name of "New Broughton Rangers".-History:...
on Saturday 25 August, 1945 attracted a crowd of 4,100 to Borough Park. Workington went on to win 27-5.
http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/workington_town_s_new_strip_revealed_1_263750?referrerPath=2.1711
Gus RismanAugustus "Gus" John F. Risman was a Welsh rugby league footballer of the 1930s.A devastating three-quarter who also played at fullback, Risman was born in Cardiff and played rugby union in South Wales as a schoolboy before being offered a trial by Salford.He made his debut for Salford on 31 August...
joined Workington Town as player-coach in August 1946 when they had been in the Northern Rugby League for only one season. In his eight years at the club, he made them into a team capable of beating Wigan or anyone else in the league. He led them to Challenge Cup and
ChampionshipThe Rugby Football League Championship was the major professional competition organised by the Rugby Football League in Great Britain. Since 1996 it has been superseded by the Super League and the Rugby League National Leagues...
glory at the age of 41 in 1952.
There was a club record 20,403 for the third round Cup game against St Helens. Town won the Championship final in 1951 by beating
WarringtonThe Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club in the town of Warrington, Cheshire in England. They compete in Super League, Europe's top-level rugby league competition. Their colours are primrose and blue, though white has often featured on the home shirt...
at
Maine RoadMaine Road was a large football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England. It was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003. It takes its name from the street it was built on which, in itself, had a remarkable history. The street was originally known as Dog Kennel Lane...
. In the 1952 final of the Challenge Cup, the first to be televised, Town beat
Featherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers are a professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone , West Yorkshire in England. To many people they are known as Fev or "The Colliers", highlighting the close link between the club and the local mining community...
18-10 in front of a crowd of 72,093 at
Wembley StadiumThe original Wembley Stadium was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007.-History:...
. During the 1954/55 season, Workington Town made it to the Challenge Cup final but were beaten 21-12 by
BarrowBarrow Raiders are a British professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness.Barrow's colours are blue and white.-Early years:Barrow F.C. were formed in 1875. It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he...
.
Town moved to
Derwent ParkDerwent Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Workington, England situated beside the Cumbrian River Derwent. It is used mostly for rugby league matches and is the home stadium of Workington Town. It is also used by, and the home of, Workington Comets speedway club. It has a capacity of 10,000 people...
in 1956. Workington Town lost in the in 1958 Challenge Cup final to
WiganWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
and one week later, they lost in the Championship final at
Odsal StadiumOdsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Odsal in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls since 1934...
,
BradfordBradford is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
.
In 1962, the league was split into East and West of the Pennines;
WidnesWidnes Vikings RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the Co-Operative Championship, which is the second tier of European Rugby League...
and Workington Town met at
Central Park, WiganCentral Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, one of the most famous stadiums in rugby league. It was the home of Wigan RLFC prior to their move to the JJB Stadium in 1999, and it was used mostly for rugby league matches...
, in the first final of the
Western DivisionThe Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split into two...
Championship on Saturday 10 November, 1962. With two minutes remaining, Syd Lowdon dropped a goal to earn Workington a 9-9 draw. Later in the month Workington won the replay 10-0.
The record attendance at Derwent Park was set in 1965 when 17,741 spectators turned up for a third round Challenge Cup match against Wigan.
Paul CharltonH. Paul Charlton is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town , and Salford, playing at Fullback, i.e...
took over as player-coach in 1975 and guided them to promotion. Town also won the
Lancashire CupHistorically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
beating Wigan in the final in 1977 and appeared in four consecutive finals between 1976 and 1979 (losing the other three all to Widnes in close games).
The last of those four finals was staged at the Willows on Saturday 8 December, 1979, and attracted a crowd of 6,887. Widnes were firm favourites to lift the cup and held the Cumbrians at bay to register an 11-0 victory. Probably as a result of the three previous finals, several top class forwards caught the eye of the wealthy Lancashire clubs who enticed them away from Derwent Park.
Peter Walsh joined Town as Head Coach in the summer of 1992. Town were beaten finalists in the 1992/93 Divisional Premiership going down to Featherstone Rovers while in the 3rd Division. Workington won the Second Division Championship and Divisional Premiership trophy double in 1993/94, the Divisional Premiership was won over London Crusaders at Old Trafford. That took them into the top flight of rugby league and Town finished ninth in the Stones Bitter Championship. Peter Walsh quit as the coach of Workington Town to return to Australia in July 1995.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/peter-walsh-quits-as-workington-town-coach-1591123.html
When the
Super LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition of Europe. As a result of sponsorship from Engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the Engage Super League...
was set up, it was proposed that Workington merge with Barrow, Carlisle and Whitehaven to form a Cumbrian super club to be based at Workington. This was, however, resisted and an unmerged Workington took part in Super League but would record only two wins all season. They finished bottom of the table and were relegated to the Northern Ford Premiership with significant debts.
In 2002 Town dropped into National League Two as a result of losing to
DewsburyDewsbury Rams RLFC are a professional rugby league team based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They will compete in the Co-operative Championship in 2010 after being crowned Championship 1 champions in 2009...
in what was the fore-runner of the NL2 Grand Final.
Billy McGintyBilly McGinty is a Scottish former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played in the forwards for Wigan during the period in the 1990s when they dominated the sport, and later for Workington Town. McGiny also represented Scotland internationally....
took over as coach on May 25, 2003.
In 2003, Ged Stokes was in charge of the New Zealand A-team on their tour of England, at the end of the tour, he was offered the vacant coaching job at Town. Workington were at a low ebb and had only seven players in their squad.
http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/1.106101
A Challenge Cup game against
LeedsLeeds Rhinos, or informally Leeds or The Rhinos, are an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They are the current European Super League champions. Leeds introduced the Rhinos nickname and logo in 1997...
brought a bumper crowd that allowed the club to clear their debts. Ged Stokes was sacked, despite being completely exonerated by the RFL, following a club disciplinary hearing in April 2007, following an alleged row with a visiting supporter during the
Northern RailNorthern Rail is a train operating company that has operated local passenger services in the north of England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-NedRailways, is a consortium formed of NedRailways and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
Cup clash with Barrow two months earlier. Stokes took legal action against the club citing unfair dismissal and the club eventually made an offer of settlement in November 2007 just days before the case was due to be heard in the High Court.
http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/1.106101
Assistant coaches Craig Barker and Les Ashe took over and led the team to the Elimination Semi-Final but they were defeated by
OldhamOldham Roughyeds are a English professional rugby league club, currently playing in the Co-operative Championship 1. They are based in Oldham in Greater Manchester....
. A few weeks after Town's 2007 season had come to a close Town appointed
WhitehavenWhitehaven RLFC is a rugby league team playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
coach Dave Rotheram as their new coach. In Rotheram's first season in charge Town finished 8th in National League Two with only six wins from their twenty two games and were elminated in the first round of the play-offs at
KeighleyKeighley Cougars are a semi-professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2010 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 28-26 against Oldham...
.
Town have started rebuilding for the 2009 season with some very impressive signings already and they are hoping to be at the top end of the league table next season
2009 Squad
| No |
Nat |
| |Player |
|---|
Position |
Former Club |
| 1 |
England |
Jay Duffy |
Fullback |
Batley BulldogsBatley Bulldogs are a British professional rugby league club, from Batley in West Yorkshire. They currently play in The Championship. Batley is also one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, making them one of the world's first rugby league...
|
| 2 |
England |
Neil Frazer |
Winger |
Workington Town |
| 3 |
AUS |
Andrew Beattie |
Centre |
Barrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are a British professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness.Barrow's colours are blue and white.-Early years:Barrow F.C. were formed in 1875. It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he...
|
| 4 |
England |
Jason Mossop |
Centre |
Workington Town |
| 5 |
England |
Jamie Marshall Jamie Marshall is an English singer - songwriter now living and working in Prague, Czech Republic. He performs solo acoustic shows and tours with successful Czech musician and singing star Věra Martinová ....
|
Winger |
Barrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are a British professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness.Barrow's colours are blue and white.-Early years:Barrow F.C. were formed in 1875. It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he...
|
| 6 |
England |
Carl Forber |
Stand Off |
Rochdale HornetsRochdale Hornets is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Co-operative Championship 1...
|
| 7 |
England |
Steven Roper |
Scrum Half |
Widnes VikingsWidnes Vikings RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the Co-Operative Championship, which is the second tier of European Rugby League...
|
| 8 |
AUS |
Ryan Benjafield |
Prop |
Rochdale HornetsRochdale Hornets is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Co-operative Championship 1...
|
| 9 |
England |
Jack Pedley |
Hooker |
Barrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are a British professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness.Barrow's colours are blue and white.-Early years:Barrow F.C. were formed in 1875. It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he...
|
| 10 |
England |
Dean Burgess |
Prop |
Workington Town |
| 11 |
England |
Mike Whitehead Mike Whitehead is a professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was recently fighting as a light heavyweight for the Tucson Scorpions of the International Fight League . His last match to date was at Strikeforce: Lawler vs...
|
2nd Row |
Barrow RaidersBarrow Raiders are a British professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness.Barrow's colours are blue and white.-Early years:Barrow F.C. were formed in 1875. It is thought that Tom H. Baynes, a shipping clerk, was the driving force behind the club's foundation. As well as being a player, he...
|
| 12 |
England |
Craig Hodgson |
2nd Row |
Whitehaven RL |
| 13 |
England |
Mark Hobson Mark Hobson is a British murderer who killed his girlfriend and her twin sister in 2004 before killing an elderly couple who lived nearby. He later admitted four charges of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released...
|
Loose Forward |
Salford City RedsSalford City Reds is a professional rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. They play in the European Super League....
|
| 14 |
England |
Brett Smith |
Loose Forward |
Workington Town |
| 15 |
England |
James Robinson James "Jimmy" Robinson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s, who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Castleford.-International Honours:...
|
2nd Row |
Workington Town |
| 16 |
England |
Tom Brindle |
Prop |
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
|
| 17 |
England |
Peter Dobson Peter Dobson is an American actor who has appeared in Drowning Mona, The Frighteners, The Poseidon Adventure, and the film adaptation of Last Exit to Brooklyn. He also had a cameo role in Forrest Gump as Elvis Presley. Peter also credits himself under alternate name Derek Hoyle...
|
Prop |
Workington Town |
| 18 |
England |
Kris Coward |
Prop |
Workington Town |
| 19 |
England |
Scott Burgess |
Hooker |
Workington Town |
| 20 |
England |
Stephen Dawes |
Winger |
Workington Town |
| 21 |
England |
Mark Routledge |
Centre |
Workington Town |
| 22 |
Scotland |
Paddy Coupar |
2nd Row |
Edinburgh Eagles The Edinburgh Eagles are a rugby league team based in Edinburgh, Scotland. They play in the Scotland Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
|
| 23 |
England |
Martyn Wilson |
Winger |
Workington Town |
| 24 |
AUS |
Jarrad Stack |
Prop |
North Devils |
| 25 |
England |
Harry Kaufman |
Second Row |
Workington Town |
| - |
England |
Robert Scott |
Full Back |
Workington Town |
| - |
England |
Darren King |
Hooker |
Workington Town |
Players earning International Caps while at Workington Town
- Harry Beverley
Glynn Harry Beverley is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Dewsbury, Workington Town, and Fulham RLFC, playing at Prop forward, i.e...
, for England while at DewsburyDewsbury Rams RLFC are a professional rugby league team based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They will compete in the Co-operative Championship in 2010 after being crowned Championship 1 champions in 2009...
1975 Australia; while at Workington 1979 Wales
- Edward "Eddie" Bowman
Edward "Eddie" Bowman is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Whitehaven RLFC, Workington Town, and Leigh, playing at Second-row forward, i.e...
, for Great Britain while at Workington 1977 France, New Zealand, Australia x 2
- Paul Charlton
H. Paul Charlton is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town , and Salford, playing at Fullback, i.e...
, for England while at SalfordSalford City Reds is a professional rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. They play in the European Super League....
1975 France, for Great Britain while at Workington 1965 New Zealand; while at SalfordSalford City Reds is a professional rugby league club based in Salford in Greater Manchester, England. They play in the European Super League....
1970 New Zealand (sub); 1972 France x 2, Australia x 2, France, New Zealand; 1973 Australia x 3; 1974 France x 2, Australia x 3, New Zealand x 3 (World Cup 1970 1-cap; 1972 4-caps, 1-try)
- Brian Edgar
J. Brian Edgar is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Prop Forward, or Second-row Forward, i.e...
(#8/#11), for England while at Workington 1962 France, for Great Britain while at Workington 1958 Australia, New Zealand; 1961 New Zealand; 1962 Australia x 3, New Zealand; 1965 New Zealand; 1966 Australia x 3
- David Fraisse, for France while at Workington 1995 ?-caps
- Edward "Eppie" Gibson
Edward "Eppie" Gibson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Centre, i.e...
http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend50.htm http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#4), for England while at Workington 1947 France; 1951 Other Nations, Wales; 1953 Other Nations
- Leslie "Les" Gorley
Les Gorley is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town, and Widnes. His position was second-row forward, i.e...
, for England while at Workington 1977 Wales; 1981 Wales (sub), for Great Britain while at WidnesWidnes Vikings RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They play in the Co-Operative Championship, which is the second tier of European Rugby League...
1980 New Zealand, New Zealand (sub); 1981 France x 2; 1982 Australia
- James "Jimmy" Hayton
James "Jimmy" Hayton is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Prop Forward, i.e...
http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#10), for England while at Workington 1949 Other Nations
- John Henderson
John Henderson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s who at representative level has played for England, and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, Halifax RLFC, and York, playing at Prop forward, or Second-row forward, i.e...
England while at Workington 1953 Wales
- Norman Herbert
Norman Herbert is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Prop Forward, i.e...
(#8), for England while at Workington 1962 France, for Great Britain while at Workington 1961 New Zealand; 1962 France, Australia x 3, New Zealand
- Stephen Holgate
Stephen Holgate born 15 December 1971 is a former rugby league player. He played for Workington Town, Wigan, Hull Sharks and Halifax in the European Super League as a second-row. He was capped once by England.-External links:***...
, for England while at Workington 1995 France
- Mark Johnson, for South Africa while at Workington 1995 ?-caps
- William "Billy" Ivison
William "Billy" Ivison was a former professional Association football and rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level played for Great Britain, England, Cumberland, and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Gillingham F.C. , Workington Town, playing at Loose...
http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend50.htm http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#13), for England while at Workington 1949 Wales, Other Nations; 1951 Other Nations; 1952 Other Nations, for British Empire XIII while at Workington Wednesday 23/1/1952 versus New Zealand at Stamford BridgeStamford Bridge is a football stadium on the border of Fulham and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is home to Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green. It is nicknamed "The Bridge" by the club's supporters...
), for Great Britain while at Workington circa-1952…56 France (non-Test)
- John "Johnny" Lawrenson
John "Johnnie"/"Johnny" Lawrenson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s, '40s and '50s, and coach of the 1960s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, and Workington Town, playing at Wing, i.e...
, for England while at WiganWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
: 1939 Wales; 1940 Wales; 1941 Wales; 1946 Wales x 2; 1948 Wales, France; 1949 Wales, Other Nations; while at Workington: 1950 [Opposition?], for Great Britain while at WiganWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
1948 Australia x 3
- Vincent "Vince" McKeating
Vincent "Vince" McKeating is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Hooker, i.e...
http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#9), for England while at Workington 1951 Wales, France, for Great Britain while at Workington 1951 New Zealand x 2
- William "Bill" Martin
William "Bill" Martin is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Prop forward, i.e...
(#10), for Great Britain while at Workington circa-1962
- John "Johnny" 'Rupert' Mudge
John "Rupert" Mudge played both rugby codes in Sydney, Australia as well as well as playing rugby league in England.Mudge played for the Eastern Suburbs rugby union club in his junior years before being recruited by English rugby league club, Workington Town, where he was joined by fellow...
(#10), for Other NationsThe Other nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
while at Workington Town circa-1951 ?-caps
- William "Bill" Pattinson
William "Bill" Pattinson is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Workington Town.-International Honours:...
http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend80.htm (Testimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1986), for England while at Workington 1981 France (sub), Wales
- Tony Paskins
Tony Paskins was a rugby league footballer who played in the New South Wales Rugby League and English Rugby League competition as well as playing rugby union for the Randwick club in Sydney....
(#3), for Other NationsThe Other nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
while at Workington Town circa-1951 ?-caps
- Albert Pepperell
Albert J. Pepperell is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, Cumberland, and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Workington Town, playing at Scrum-half/halfback, i.e...
http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#7) circa-1948 (Testimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1955), for Great Britain while at Workington circa-1950
- Rowland Philips, for Wales while at Workington 1995 ?-caps
- Ike Southward
Ike Southward was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, and coach of the 1960s who at representative level played for Great Britain, and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town , and Oldham, playing at Wing, i.e...
, for Great Britain while at Workington circa-1958
- George 'Happy' Wilson
George 'Happy' Wilson is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played for Scotland , Great Britain , and Other Nations , and at club level for Team? , and Workington Town , playing at Wing , i.e. number 11 or 14,...
, for ScotlandThe Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked tenth in the IRB World Rankings as at 23 March 2009, and makes up one quarter of the...
(RU)Rugby union is a full contact team sport, a form of football which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, 100 m...
while at Team?A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
1947 3-caps, for Other NationsThe Other nationalities rugby league team regularly played international, and also county, rugby league teams in Europe from 1904 to 1975. The team, created in 1904 to play England in the first ever rugby league international match, was at first made up of Welsh and Scottish players...
while at Workington ?-caps, for Great Britain RLThe Great Britain national rugby league team is the national team of the United Kingdom in rugby league. The team is administered by the Rugby Football League , and is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"...
while at Workington 1951 New Zealand x 3 (signed for Workington [date?])
Other Notable Players
These players have either; received a
Testimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
, are "Hall of Fame" inductees, played during Workington Town's
Super LeagueSuper League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition of Europe. As a result of sponsorship from Engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the Engage Super League...
season, or were international representatives before, or after, their time at Workington Town.
- Terrence "Terry" Ackerley http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#9) circa-1962 Harry Archer http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend60.htm http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#6) circa-1962…65
- Colin Armstrong http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend90.htm circa-1990s David Beck http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend80.htm (Wing, i.e. number 5) circa-1990 (Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1988) Eric Bell (#3) circa-1965
- Edward "Eddie" Brennan http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#4) circa-1962 John "Jock" Carr http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#5) circa-1948 Anthony "Tony" Colloby (#5) circa-1965 Colin Falcon http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend80.htm (Hooker, i.e. number 9) circa-1990 (Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1990)
- Frank Foster
Frank Foster is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1970s, and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, Hull Kingston Rovers, Bradford Northern, Barrow, and Oldham, playing...
(#13) circa-1962 (to Hull K.R.Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is a British professional rugby league football club that competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006. Their ground is New Craven Park in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. In Super League 2009 Hull KR play in their traditional...
circa-1965)
- Raymond "Ray" Glastonbury http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#2) circa-1962
- Ken Goodall
Kenneth George Goodall was a former Irish international rugby union and British and Irish Lions player and vice principal at Faughan Valley High School, which is now part of Lisneal College....
- Peter Gorley
Peter Gorley is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, England, and Cumbria, and at club level for Workington Town, and St Helens RLFC, playing at Second-row forward, i.e. number 11 or 12.-International...
(Younger brother of Leslie "Les" GorleyLes Gorley is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Workington Town, and Widnes. His position was second-row forward, i.e...
) Ian Hartley http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend80.htm (Testimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1985) Lynn Hopkins http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend80.htm
- Douglas "Doug" Holland circa-1957
- Andrew "Andy" Key circa-1957
- William "Bill" Kirkbride http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=269&featcat_id=32 circa-1965 David Lowden
David Lowden is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at club level has played for Workington Town, playing at Wing, i.e. number 2 or 5.-Contemporaneous Article Extract:...
- Sydney "Syd" Lowdon (#1) http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/1.188686 http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 circa-1962
- William "Bill" Lymer circa-1957
- Dean Marwood http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend90.htm circa-1990s Iain McCorquodale http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend70.htm
- Matthew "Matt" McLeod
Matthew "Matt" McLeod is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s who at club level has played for Workington Town, Wakefield Trinity, and Whitehaven RLFC playing at Second-row forward, or Prop forward, i.e. number 11 or 12, or, 8 or 10, during the era of contested scrums.-Rugby...
(#12) circa-1962 John 'Spanky' McFarlane (#13) circa-1965 Jim MillsJim Mills is a Welsh former rugby league footballer of the 1970s. Usually playing at prop, he played club football in England with Halifax, Widnes and Workington and also in Australia for North Sydney. "Big Jim" as he was known also played representative rugby league for Wales and Great Britain...
Gary Nixon (Prop Forward, i.e. number 8) circa-1990
- xJohn 'Loppy Lugs' O'Neill http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#3) circa-1958…62
- Martin Oglanby http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend90.htm circa-1990s
- James Pickering http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend90.htm circa-1990s Piet Pretorius http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#5) circa-1962
Gus RismanAugustus "Gus" John F. Risman was a Welsh rugby league footballer of the 1930s.A devastating three-quarter who also played at fullback, Risman was born in Cardiff and played rugby union in South Wales as a schoolboy before being offered a trial by Salford.He made his debut for Salford on 31 August...
(Father of John Risman) John Risman (Son of
Gus RismanAugustus "Gus" John F. Risman was a Welsh rugby league footballer of the 1930s.A devastating three-quarter who also played at fullback, Risman was born in Cardiff and played rugby union in South Wales as a schoolboy before being offered a trial by Salford.He made his debut for Salford on 31 August...
)
- Solomon "Sol" Roper http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend60.htm http://www.rugbyleague.org/features/content.php?feat_id=276&featcat_id=32 (#7) circa-1957…62 (1958 Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs in Europe, organised by the Rugby Football League...
Captain)
- Anthony Samuel http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend90.htm circa-1990s Gary Smith (Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1994) William "Billy" Smith (#7) circa-1965 Ike SouthwardIke Southward was a professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s, and coach of the 1960s who at representative level played for Great Britain, and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town , and Oldham, playing at Wing, i.e...
http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend60.htm (#2) circa-1965 William "Bill" Telford http://www.totalrl.com/features/content.php?feat_id=268&featcat_id=32 (#12) circa-1948 Cecil "Cec" ThompsonCecil "Cec" T. Thompson was born in Hunslet, Leeds, the son of a mother from Durham and a Trinidadian father. His father died when he was very young and his childhood was spent in a succession of orphanages....
(#11/#12/#13) Arnold 'Boxer' WalkerArnold 'Boxer' Walker is a former international rugby league player who plied his trade as a Stand-off/halfback for Cumbrian rivals Workington Town and Whitehaven RLFC....
Ian Wright http://www.sandylonning.u-net.com/wtown/archive/legend70.htm
Club Honours
- Championship Winners: 1950-51
- Beaten Finalists: 1957-58
- Division Two Champions: 1993-94
- Challenge Cup Winners: 1951-52
- Beaten Finalists: 1954-55, 1957-58
- Second Division/Divisional Premiership Winners: 1993-94
- Beaten Finalists: 1992-93
- Lancashire Cup Winners: 1977-78
- Beaten Finalists: 1976-77, 1978-79, 1979-80
- Western Division Championship Winners: 1962-63
External links