✓999 Derwent Park

Workington 3-1 Ilkeston Town

Northern Premier League - Premier Division

Saturday 12th September 2026

Workington is a west coastal port town and civil parish in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, at the mouth of the River Derwent. The town is 32 miles south-west of Carlisle and 8 miles north-east of Whitehaven. (population over 21,000)

The place-name first appears in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 946, as Wurcingtun. It appears as Wirchingetona in about 1150, meaning "the town or settlement of Weorc or Wirc's people", with "Work" deriving from a person's name

Football was first played in Workington in the 1860s and became more popular when a group of 1,500 steel workers moved to the town from Dronfield, Derbyshire in 1884. The original Workington AFC formed in 1883 and were one of the founder members of the Cumberland Association League in 1888, playing at the Ashfield Ground before moving to Lonsdale Park for the 1909.

In 1894, they moved to the Cumberland Senior League, then in 1901 joined the Lancashire League, which closed down two seasons later. After returning to the Cumberland Senior League, they moved on to the Lancashire Combination, but in 1910, they decided to economise and join the North Eastern League, but after only one season, the club folded.

The new club was founded in 1921, returning to the North Eastern League. In 1937 the club moved to Borough Park, and in 1951 were voted into the Third Division North of the Football League, replacing New Brighton

The Reds constantly struggled in the Football League, their best ever season came in 1966, finishing 5th in the Third Division and narrowly missing out on promotion, then the following season they finished bottom and were relegated back to the Fourth Division.

The club finished second from bottom in 1973-74 and ‘74-’75, then finished at the foot of Division Four the following two seasons. In 1976-77, the club won only four games, with home attendances falling well below 1,000, which finally led to the club being voted out of the League, being replaced by Wimbledon and going down to the Northern Premier League. 

Non-League Record:

Northern Premier League 1977 - 1998

North West Counties League 1998-99 - League champions

Northern Premier League 1999 - 2005 

Conference North 2005 - 2014

Northern Premier League 2015 - present

Currently in the Premier Division after winning the D1W play-offs in 2022-23

Firbus Community Stadium

Derwent Park

Workington CA14 2HG

Derwent Park is a Rugby League and former speedway stadium. It's currently the temporary home of Workington AFC, while Cumberland Sports Village is being built on the site of Borough Park, which should be completed in the summer of 2027.

The stadium was opened in 1956, with the record attendance set in March 1965 when 17,741 spectators watched a third round Challenge Cup match against Wigan. It is a classic old style ground, with a traditional seated stand on one side with a large covered terrace opposite. There’s a large terracing block on one side which curves around the speedway track. Floodlights were installed in 1990, with the current capacity set at 12,000 including 1,200 seats. It’ll be a shame to see this “proper ground” go when Workington Town RLFC move into the Sports Village next year. 

Workington 3Ilkeston Town 1

Pitching In NPL Premier Division matchday 8

(9th v 17th)

3pm ko

Att.818

Admission £15

A brace from Luke Hunter in the opening ten minutes set the Reds on their way to three points. The deficit was halved early in the second half but the two goal lead was quickly restored. 

2-0 Luke Hunter 4’,10’

2-1 Anthony Dwyer 48’

3-1 Brennan Dickenson 57’

#Heedhopper

98 miles door-to-door

0926 Northern trains from Newcastle via Carlisle arrive 1156.

Return 1720, back to the Toon at 8pm.

An enjoyable trip over to Cumbria, where I met up with Dave Phillipson who traveled across from Hull. We called for refreshment in the Henry Bessemer, Bees Knees and the Miners Arms before the game. There were plenty of Groundhoppers at the game including Brett Price, one of the old 100FgC gang who I saw in the Workington Railway Club after the match. The Northern trains ran spot on time, so there was time for a bevvy in the Scott & Brassey in Carlisle station (which I'm very impressed with) before we all went our separate ways.