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Boxing Day 2025
Northern Premier League
by Alan Bateson
Lancaster City - 1 Bamber Bridge - 3 
An early start, well, if you can call 11:30 early! But we were only
heading to Lancaster, just 24 miles up the M6 from Brig, for the
always anticipated Boxing Day Lancashire Derby against The Dolly
Blues. So early enough for a bit of Boxing Day hospitality courtesy
of the great pubs in The City Centre.
30 odd Briggers on the coach superbly sorted by Nick, all piling into the pub at once? It was going to be a race to bar. Nick and John won, sneaky Devils found a shortcut to the John O’ Gaunt. Great Pub, great choice of Ales and a good Atmosphere. I’m sure Adam and his mates will agree 😂
After a couple of scoops it was on to "The Penny Bank". Football on the telly, again a good selection of beer and a bookies across the road. We opted to stay in here !! A few of The guys decided to back a horse that was running in the 2:30 at Kempton Park in The King George VI Chase. The Horse? "Banbridge".. (Come on, It's close enough!). Anyway, fair play they put a joint £70 each way bet on and the horse came 2nd in the race. A good start to The Sporting Day.
On to The Giant Axe, and the team news was that Bamber Bridge were unchanged from the side that performed magnificently last weekend to beat high flying Warrington Rylands 3-1. This was to be another tough test. Lancaster City had started the season on fire and were leaders up until a month or so ago, their form had dipped a bit of late as the slipped down to 5th. Brig had clawed back a one time 15 point deficit between the two clubs to start this Boxing day clash, 7 points behind City but with a game in hand.
The ground had
filled up nicely by kick off, a good following from Brig with many choosing to
drive up the M6. Brig I’m guessing won the toss as we were
attacking the covered terrace in the first half with the low sun
dazzling the home keepers eyes, and ours as well to be fair. Could we use
this to our advantage? Surely that was the plan. Well things didn’t
quite go according to that plan in the opening minutes or so with Brig not
really testing the home keepers baseball cap. In fact the home side
had the bulk of possession and took the lead on 15 minutes. From our
distant view, the shot from the Dolyl Blues No.11 seemed to strike the
post then rebound off the Brig keeper, Aiden Dowling into the back of
the net.
The goal seemed to bring Brig to life, and slowly but surely the lads in The Pink started to gather momentum, Just 12 minutes after going behind The Briggers were level, a free kick on the right was superbly delivered to allow a towering bullet header from Nathaniel Knight-Percival to scream in to the back of the net, to joyous scenes from the travelling Brig fans behind the goal.
The home side were the ones to respond this time, and just two minutes later we feared the worst as they had the ball in the net again, but the referee had seen a push on the keeper and the goal didn’t stand.
The game was now ebbing and flowing from end to end with Brig looking increasingly threatening on the break. From one such break on 44 minutes we took the lead. A great ball across the box found Jack Baxter wide on the left, Jack looked up and picked out Olly Molloy with a pin point cross. Olly did the rest, leaping like a salmon power a terrific header past the helpless keeper. Brig had turned it around and led at the break.
Don't mess with these guys !!😂😊🍺
Into the second half, and we couldn’t help noticing it was about 10 degrees colder on the open terrace at the other end. But we soon warmed up. For large parts, the second half was a cagey affair with Brig defending solidly to deny the home side any real opportunities. Bamber Bridge were in truth controlling the tempo of the game and keeping their hosts at arms length.
Olly Molloy was close as he held up a through ball, twisted and fired a shot just wide. Lancaster were looking frustrated as the half wore on and a triple substitution arrived on the hour. Brig were defending from the front though and not giving an inch to the Dolly Blues.
Your not looking John !! and neither is Daniellea !
Confidence was rising in the Brig ranks as the home side started leaving gaps which the visitors were keen to exploit. A series of corners from Brig had the visiting fans on their feet (We were standing anyway to be fair!). The home keeper was called into action to make a smart diving save from…… I can’t actually remember 🫨
Churchy was introduced on 70 minutes replacing Michael Potts who'd worked his socks off. Two more changes followed for the home side as they once again tried to raise the tempo, but to no avail, the Brig back line was having none of it.
That' better !
Brig were now looking the more likely to extend their lead and so it turned out. Another corner from the right was swung in by Jack Baxter, headed clear but only as far as Jamie Allen on the edge of the “D”, who met it in on the volley and sent it swirling through a sea of legs and firmly into the back of the net. The reaction on the terraces from the Briggers was just superb. We knew that was the three points sealed, the lads knew it and so did Lancaster City.
In the closing stages Olly Molloy went off to a rapturous reception he had literally run himself into the ground as well as scoring the all important second goal right on half time. Bangey then went off to an equally rousing round of applause (he's been outstanding in recent games) to be replaced by Harry Benns.
The referee added 6 minutes on at the end but the game was won. In fact it was almost four for Brig as an incredible lung busting 80 yard run from Isaac Abankwah was only stopped as his shot at the end of the run was blocked. Full time came and players and fans celebrated together, along with now familiar Team and fans photo after another 3 points at the Giant Axe.
The result lifts Brig up to 7th position in the table, 6 points off a play off spot with a game in hand and plenty more to play for. The season is shaping up nicely and we enter the new year in good form with what is now five wins out of 6 in all competitions.
That Boxing Day winning feeling 👍😊
A great day, a great Brig turn out in a very healthy gate of 896, and 3 magnificent points. Roll on 2026.
30 odd Briggers on the coach superbly sorted by Nick, all piling into the pub at once? It was going to be a race to bar. Nick and John won, sneaky Devils found a shortcut to the John O’ Gaunt. Great Pub, great choice of Ales and a good Atmosphere. I’m sure Adam and his mates will agree 😂
After a couple of scoops it was on to "The Penny Bank". Football on the telly, again a good selection of beer and a bookies across the road. We opted to stay in here !! A few of The guys decided to back a horse that was running in the 2:30 at Kempton Park in The King George VI Chase. The Horse? "Banbridge".. (Come on, It's close enough!). Anyway, fair play they put a joint £70 each way bet on and the horse came 2nd in the race. A good start to The Sporting Day.
On to The Giant Axe, and the team news was that Bamber Bridge were unchanged from the side that performed magnificently last weekend to beat high flying Warrington Rylands 3-1. This was to be another tough test. Lancaster City had started the season on fire and were leaders up until a month or so ago, their form had dipped a bit of late as the slipped down to 5th. Brig had clawed back a one time 15 point deficit between the two clubs to start this Boxing day clash, 7 points behind City but with a game in hand.
The goal seemed to bring Brig to life, and slowly but surely the lads in The Pink started to gather momentum, Just 12 minutes after going behind The Briggers were level, a free kick on the right was superbly delivered to allow a towering bullet header from Nathaniel Knight-Percival to scream in to the back of the net, to joyous scenes from the travelling Brig fans behind the goal.
The home side were the ones to respond this time, and just two minutes later we feared the worst as they had the ball in the net again, but the referee had seen a push on the keeper and the goal didn’t stand.
The game was now ebbing and flowing from end to end with Brig looking increasingly threatening on the break. From one such break on 44 minutes we took the lead. A great ball across the box found Jack Baxter wide on the left, Jack looked up and picked out Olly Molloy with a pin point cross. Olly did the rest, leaping like a salmon power a terrific header past the helpless keeper. Brig had turned it around and led at the break.
Don't mess with these guys !!😂😊🍺
Into the second half, and we couldn’t help noticing it was about 10 degrees colder on the open terrace at the other end. But we soon warmed up. For large parts, the second half was a cagey affair with Brig defending solidly to deny the home side any real opportunities. Bamber Bridge were in truth controlling the tempo of the game and keeping their hosts at arms length.
Olly Molloy was close as he held up a through ball, twisted and fired a shot just wide. Lancaster were looking frustrated as the half wore on and a triple substitution arrived on the hour. Brig were defending from the front though and not giving an inch to the Dolly Blues.
Your not looking John !! and neither is Daniellea !
Confidence was rising in the Brig ranks as the home side started leaving gaps which the visitors were keen to exploit. A series of corners from Brig had the visiting fans on their feet (We were standing anyway to be fair!). The home keeper was called into action to make a smart diving save from…… I can’t actually remember 🫨
Churchy was introduced on 70 minutes replacing Michael Potts who'd worked his socks off. Two more changes followed for the home side as they once again tried to raise the tempo, but to no avail, the Brig back line was having none of it.
That' better !
Brig were now looking the more likely to extend their lead and so it turned out. Another corner from the right was swung in by Jack Baxter, headed clear but only as far as Jamie Allen on the edge of the “D”, who met it in on the volley and sent it swirling through a sea of legs and firmly into the back of the net. The reaction on the terraces from the Briggers was just superb. We knew that was the three points sealed, the lads knew it and so did Lancaster City.
In the closing stages Olly Molloy went off to a rapturous reception he had literally run himself into the ground as well as scoring the all important second goal right on half time. Bangey then went off to an equally rousing round of applause (he's been outstanding in recent games) to be replaced by Harry Benns.
The referee added 6 minutes on at the end but the game was won. In fact it was almost four for Brig as an incredible lung busting 80 yard run from Isaac Abankwah was only stopped as his shot at the end of the run was blocked. Full time came and players and fans celebrated together, along with now familiar Team and fans photo after another 3 points at the Giant Axe.
The result lifts Brig up to 7th position in the table, 6 points off a play off spot with a game in hand and plenty more to play for. The season is shaping up nicely and we enter the new year in good form with what is now five wins out of 6 in all competitions.
That Boxing Day winning feeling 👍😊
A great day, a great Brig turn out in a very healthy gate of 896, and 3 magnificent points. Roll on 2026.
Saturday 6th December 2025
Northern Premier League
by Alan Bateson
Workington - 1 Bamber Bridge - 3 Farewell Borough Park. The end of an era dawns. Borough Park,
home of Workington Reds FC since 1937 is soon to be no more. An old
and wonderful former Football League Ground. The work on a new
stadium, to be built on the site, and to be shared by both the
Football club and Workington Town Rugby League Club is due to start
in January 2026, starting with the demolition of the current stadium.
Workington Reds will, in the interim period be playing their home
games at Derwent Park, current home of the The Rugby League Club. This
itself will be gone once the new facilities are complete.
Many will no doubt welcome this and would call Borough Park an ageing, decaying relic. To me it oozes character and will be a sad loss of what is, and has been, by some distance my favourite Non League Ground.
Bamber Bridge made their final visit to this Grand old Stadium on Sat Dec 6th and came away with a fine 3-1 victory, lifting the club up to 11th in The NPL League Table, A first half lead courtesy of Jack Baxter on 25 minutes, who latched on to fine through ball from Emerich Poilly, before calmly sliding the ball in to the keepers bottom left hand corner. The lead however was soon cancelled out as The Reds equaliser just five minutes later.
With the pitch becoming increasingly heavy, the second half looked to be hading towards a stalemate, until Millie opted for a change on the hour, Olly Molloy coming on to replace Emerich Poilly who’d had a fine game. The change worked wonders as minutes later Ewan Bange dived low to head home a great goal from a low right wing cross. Just two minutes later Bangey was on hand again to finish off a fine Brig move, sweeping the ball home at the far post to cement the victory for Brig.
Fair Play to AFC Workington for getting the game on with the deluge of rain The North West has seen lately. But a 9am pitch inspection gave us the news we’d hoped for and it was “Game on”. A two hour plus coach journey of 110 miles through torrential rain, later, and we were here. Fun fact of the day: Workington is actually only 67 miles from Bamber bridge as the Crow flies but 110 by road.
The coach driver kindly let us off the bus as we entered the Town Centre, to shorten the walk to “The Henry Bessemer” (Wetherspoons pub). Now on every previous visit to this Cumbrian outpost we have gone in this drinking establishment thinking it was pretty much the only pub in the Town Centre. However, as we turned the corner Nick spotted “The Ship Inn” and as our great sadly missed friend, Kev Walker would always say “Never walk past a pub to go to another one”, so, in we went, to be instantly transported back to the 1960’s! Wow, I’ve been in warmer and less damp caves !! The pub had one customer when we arrived and he left before we did.
Ten minutes later and we were on our way to “The Spoons”. Packed, but with a really good atmosphere. Warm and welcoming. A few scoops later we made our way to Borough Park just in time for kick off. The wonderful old Stadium now looking it’s age and ready to to be laid to rest as the Demolition Contractors prepare to move in.
The Stadium once roared to the sound of a capacity 21,000 crowd as Workington Reds hosted The then League Champions, Manchester United in the 1958 FA cup third round. This match was just one month before the Tragedy of The Munich Air Disaster when 8 of the Busby Babes lost their lives. Workington actually took the lead before eventually losing 3-1.
The clubs heyday was perhaps in the early to mid 60’s when they twice reached The League Cup quarter finals, losing to West Ham and Chelsea respectively. They also won promotion during this period from the newly created 4th division up to the 3rd division. The Football League record crowd at the ground was over 18,000 in 1964 for a local derby with Carlisle Utd.
Sadly for Workington, those days are long gone as they soon fell back to the 4th Division and languished there, applying for re-election on numerous occasions before finally losing their Football League status in 1977, to be replaced by Wimbledon. By this time the club were struggling to attract crowds of 1,000 and a return to League Football was never likely and now the days look numbered for Borough Park. The capacity now stands at around 3,500.
This season may also see The Reds suffer further pain as Brigs 3-1 victory leaves them firmly planted to the bottom of the League Table 6 points from safety.
From January 2026, The Reds will temporarily relocate to Derwent Park. Another traditional Old stadium in the town that has also hosted Speedway as well as Workington Town Rugby League Club. Known as The Fibrus Community Stadium, Derwent Park has a Capacity of around 10,000 The record attendance at the Stadium was 17,741 for a Challenge Cup match between Workington Town and Wigan in 1965.
The new Stadium, when completed will be known as The Cumberland Sports Village and looks like it will be an impressive facility for the Town. It will have a Capacity of 3,700 and is due to ready in the summer of 2027.
So, our last visit to Borough Park has been and gone. I for one will miss this throwback to The 1960’s, but will also look forward to our next visit, whether it be to Derwent Park or The new Cumberland Sports Village.
Many will no doubt welcome this and would call Borough Park an ageing, decaying relic. To me it oozes character and will be a sad loss of what is, and has been, by some distance my favourite Non League Ground.
Bamber Bridge made their final visit to this Grand old Stadium on Sat Dec 6th and came away with a fine 3-1 victory, lifting the club up to 11th in The NPL League Table, A first half lead courtesy of Jack Baxter on 25 minutes, who latched on to fine through ball from Emerich Poilly, before calmly sliding the ball in to the keepers bottom left hand corner. The lead however was soon cancelled out as The Reds equaliser just five minutes later.
With the pitch becoming increasingly heavy, the second half looked to be hading towards a stalemate, until Millie opted for a change on the hour, Olly Molloy coming on to replace Emerich Poilly who’d had a fine game. The change worked wonders as minutes later Ewan Bange dived low to head home a great goal from a low right wing cross. Just two minutes later Bangey was on hand again to finish off a fine Brig move, sweeping the ball home at the far post to cement the victory for Brig.
Fair Play to AFC Workington for getting the game on with the deluge of rain The North West has seen lately. But a 9am pitch inspection gave us the news we’d hoped for and it was “Game on”. A two hour plus coach journey of 110 miles through torrential rain, later, and we were here. Fun fact of the day: Workington is actually only 67 miles from Bamber bridge as the Crow flies but 110 by road.
The coach driver kindly let us off the bus as we entered the Town Centre, to shorten the walk to “The Henry Bessemer” (Wetherspoons pub). Now on every previous visit to this Cumbrian outpost we have gone in this drinking establishment thinking it was pretty much the only pub in the Town Centre. However, as we turned the corner Nick spotted “The Ship Inn” and as our great sadly missed friend, Kev Walker would always say “Never walk past a pub to go to another one”, so, in we went, to be instantly transported back to the 1960’s! Wow, I’ve been in warmer and less damp caves !! The pub had one customer when we arrived and he left before we did.
Ten minutes later and we were on our way to “The Spoons”. Packed, but with a really good atmosphere. Warm and welcoming. A few scoops later we made our way to Borough Park just in time for kick off. The wonderful old Stadium now looking it’s age and ready to to be laid to rest as the Demolition Contractors prepare to move in.
The Stadium once roared to the sound of a capacity 21,000 crowd as Workington Reds hosted The then League Champions, Manchester United in the 1958 FA cup third round. This match was just one month before the Tragedy of The Munich Air Disaster when 8 of the Busby Babes lost their lives. Workington actually took the lead before eventually losing 3-1.
The clubs heyday was perhaps in the early to mid 60’s when they twice reached The League Cup quarter finals, losing to West Ham and Chelsea respectively. They also won promotion during this period from the newly created 4th division up to the 3rd division. The Football League record crowd at the ground was over 18,000 in 1964 for a local derby with Carlisle Utd.
Sadly for Workington, those days are long gone as they soon fell back to the 4th Division and languished there, applying for re-election on numerous occasions before finally losing their Football League status in 1977, to be replaced by Wimbledon. By this time the club were struggling to attract crowds of 1,000 and a return to League Football was never likely and now the days look numbered for Borough Park. The capacity now stands at around 3,500.
This season may also see The Reds suffer further pain as Brigs 3-1 victory leaves them firmly planted to the bottom of the League Table 6 points from safety.
From January 2026, The Reds will temporarily relocate to Derwent Park. Another traditional Old stadium in the town that has also hosted Speedway as well as Workington Town Rugby League Club. Known as The Fibrus Community Stadium, Derwent Park has a Capacity of around 10,000 The record attendance at the Stadium was 17,741 for a Challenge Cup match between Workington Town and Wigan in 1965.
The new Stadium, when completed will be known as The Cumberland Sports Village and looks like it will be an impressive facility for the Town. It will have a Capacity of 3,700 and is due to ready in the summer of 2027.
So, our last visit to Borough Park has been and gone. I for one will miss this throwback to The 1960’s, but will also look forward to our next visit, whether it be to Derwent Park or The new Cumberland Sports Village.
