By John Walsh

Last updated at 15:59, Friday, 29 August 2008

WHEN Workington stages its Paint the Town Red tomorrow, the football club will be playing its part.

Bank Holiday success: Reds’ Anthony Wright in action during the victory against Burscough

For, with Liverpool and Manchester United represented at the all-day event throughout the town, the real Reds had to be represented.

Workington, apparently, were the second team in the whole of the country to have their colours registered as red behind Accrington Stanley.

Phil Neal and Mike Duxbury, former heroes of the Kop and the Stretford End will be taking part and are being joined by some famous names from Workington’s history.

Bobby Brown, the man who played more League games for Workington than any other player and captained the team to promotion in 1963/64 is now the club patron.

Peter Foley, the first black player to represent the Reds – who both played and managed the club – has done so much in the community to improve racial harmony.

Billy Robson, a member of the Workington side which played Manchester United on the famous day in 1958 when they actually led the great Busby Babes 1-0 at half-time, is now the proud president of Whitehaven Amateurs who are enjoying their first season in the Northern League.

Billy Watson, who was groundsman throughout Workington’s 26-year Football League existence, is bringing his famous scrapbook which was recently assessed by memorabilia experts and said to be virtually priceless.

Hoping to be there, too, is Tommy Cassidy Reds longest-serving manager and most successful of modern times, taking the club from the Unibond League First Division to its current place in the Blue Square North.

Cassidy was looking forward, in particular, to meeting up with Neal as they worked together in 2000 on a coaching assignment.

But the former Reds boss may have to fly to Belfast for a business appointment.

The current Workington side will be out of town, playing at Alfreton in the Blue Square North – and that was by arrangement.

When Paint the Town Red day was first mooted there was a suggestion that Borough Park might be used for a special match between Man Utd and Liverpool legends.

Workington asked the League for an away fixture just in case, but unfortunately the veterans match couldn’t be fitted into the senior players’ busy schedule.

Manager Darren Edmondson said: “I’m just glad that the club is getting involved in some way because it sounds a great day for the town. You couldn’t have Paint the Town red in Workington without some participation from the Reds.

“I hear they are expecting 50,000 people in town during the day so it sounds a great day in prospect.”

Reds reserves entertain Bamber Bridge at Borough Park tonight (8pm) and will include a 6ft 2ins trialist centre forward.

There’s also a return to the club for local forward Lee McCullough who has been playing for Salterbeck in the Tesco Cumberland County League for the last three years.

Matthew Blake, a left back from Thursby, will make his Lancashire League debut while Matthew Charters will take over in goal from Stuart Pettit who suffered a head injury in last week’s 1-1 draw with Fleetwood.

First published at 11:47, Friday, 29 August 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk