Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 10 July 2008

JUST two months after winning four trophies including the Sunday County Cup a Workington football club has folded.

GONE: Portland FC with the four trophies they won last season

Portland FC don’t have enough players to mount a defence of their league and cup successes in the coming season.

Eleven players have departed the club which, as well as the County Cup, also won the Workington and District Sunday League premier division plus the League Cup and the President’s Cup.

Portland became only the third club - Distington and Westfield being the others - to ever win all four trophies open to Workington Sunday league clubs in one season.

Graeme Peers, the club secretary, said: “After 13 years in the Workington and District Sunday League I regret to announce that Portland FC have resigned from the league.

“Portland officials had been discussing the future of the club

over the summer and informed league secretary Kenny Bragg that they felt that they were in no position to continue.”

Six players have left so as to concentrate on playing on Saturdays with Whitehaven Amateurs, two senior players announced their retirement and three other playes are signing for other clubs.

Peers said: “With the remainder of the squad also having increased family and work commitments and unsuccesful attempts to sign new players the decision was reached to withdraw from the league before the start of the new season rather than disrupt the whole set up.

“This action was greatly appreciated by Kenny Bragg as other sides in the past had started fresh seasons only to withdraw once the fixtures and league set- up had been established and this had caused major disruption.”

Portland started their life as West Bank Utd before changing to Travellers Rest FC where they won their first trophy, the Divisional Cup Final.

Graham Caton became manager and help mastermind a rise to the premier in the 2000-01 which the club that year and following season.

After a couple of bleak years Portland burst back on the scene in 2006-07 season to win the premier, the President’s Cup and League Cup, all of which they retained last season.

Peers said: “Portland FC officials would like to thank all players past and present for playing their part in the club’s success and also all the pubs and business's who have supported the club over the years.”