o/t Workington Reds

[al1]

Plans revealed for Workington to build 8000 capacity stadium with help from local council

[Gone_Shrimping]

Isn't it for the rugby league side as well and they want it to be ready for the RL World Cup

[al1]

Yep

[Seasider9601]

In all my years of following Morecambe away in the Northern Premier League, Workington's Borough Park ground was one which always managed to allude me for one reason or another.

Never, ever been there.

[Freez]

When we first went it was an impressively large ground, main stand, decent covered terrace opposite, bother ends in the same uniform terracing, probably thirty steps giving a pleasing symmetry all around the ground. One end had a cover at the back also so plenty of places to watch in the rain. Think the record crowd was about 21 or 22,000 so it was a big place in its time. Sadly the cover behind the goal dissapeared quickly and the main stand fell into disrepair, the whole place needed a lick of paint and some TLC. Shame, as it was a nice ground at one time.

[Seasider9601]

Another place that alluded me was Holly Park, South Liverpool.

From what I've heard though from the late Dave Whalley, I'm not too arsed about missing that one.

[Freez]

No, Holly Park had a nice little stand, similar to Wittin Albion, with terracing either side and white wall painted with South Liverpool painted on it in red six foot letters.
Behind one goal was the social club with about 10 steps of terracing, no cover, the opposite end was open with a few delapidated steps, on the side was a small cover and again some very crap steps.
It's was very weather worn and decrepit when I visited in the early 80's, you didn't miss anything!

[Gone_Shrimping]

Another place that alluded me was Holly Park, South Liverpool.

From what I've heard though from the late Dave Whalley, I'm not too arsed about missing that one.

Didn't vandals wreck Holly Park ? Hard to believe round there I know

[Seasider9601]

Think that was Knowsley United you're thinking of ?

[Seasider9601]

No, Holly Park had a nice little stand, similar to Wittin Albion, with terracing either side and white wall painted with South Liverpool painted on it in red six foot letters.
Behind one goal was the social club with about 10 steps of terracing, no cover, the opposite end was open with a few delapidated steps, on the side was a small cover and again some very crap steps.
It's was very weather worn and decrepit when I visited in the early 80's, you didn't miss anything!

Three good pictures on here (under the 2 colour "banner" pictures) :

https://www.southliverpoolfc.com/gallery/

[Gone_Shrimping]

No, Holly Park had a nice little stand, similar to Wittin Albion, with terracing either side and white wall painted with South Liverpool painted on it in red six foot letters.
Behind one goal was the social club with about 10 steps of terracing, no cover, the opposite end was open with a few delapidated steps, on the side was a small cover and again some very crap steps.
It's was very weather worn and decrepit when I visited in the early 80's, you didn't miss anything!

Three good pictures on here (under the 2 colour "banner" pictures) :

https://www.southliverpoolfc.com/gallery/

A very scenic ground !

I remember when they came to Christie Park they only brought about 2 fans but one of them was the most aggressive chaps you could imagine. If a decision went against them he used to bang on the advertising hoardings very loudly !

[John L]

No, Holly Park had a nice little stand, similar to Wittin Albion, with terracing either side and white wall painted with South Liverpool painted on it in red six foot letters.
Behind one goal was the social club with about 10 steps of terracing, no cover, the opposite end was open with a few delapidated steps, on the side was a small cover and again some very crap steps.
It's was very weather worn and decrepit when I visited in the early 80's, you didn't miss anything!

Three good pictures on here (under the 2 colour "banner" pictures) :

https://www.southliverpoolfc.com/gallery/

Looks like 56 097 has had an "earth fault"... whoops!

[Keith]

My main memory of South Liverpool was walking through broken glass where bottles had been chucked over the wall by local numpties!

I went to Workington too. Remember it being a big, old, traditional ground but nothing like Mr memory man Freez who counted the steps! I *think* I went twice, drove once and once in John Statters ‘Visionhire’ van! It did some miles to Morecambe games, that van. A load of beer & an old mattress in the back!

[SimplyRed MFC]

OK, tonight's quiz question
What was the name of South Liverpool's mildly eccentric keeper during the 70s ?
(No Freez, you cant play ! )

[Westgate Wanderer]

Didn't South Liverpool build a new social club which turned into a strip joint in an evening? I thought it was set on fire once or twice and eventually it was destroyed and they folded! I vividly remember a chap walking onto the pitch at half time and shouting the winning raffle ticket numbers out!!

[Potted Shrimp]

Given the crowds at both Workingtons football and rugby league I think an 8000 capacity is a touch speculative....

The football team could get relegated again this season and the rugby league team missed out on promotion to the second tier in a hastily arranged play-off against Swinton.

[Seasider9601]

OK, tonight's quiz question
What was the name of South Liverpool's mildly eccentric keeper during the 70s ?
(No Freez, you cant play ! )

This is completely ungoogled, but I'm going for Peter Eales ???

Got a story about him if (and only if......!!!) that's the right answer......!!!!!!

[paulshrimp]

If I remember correctly South Liverpool left Holly Park after it was trashed and moved all the way into Bootle which is in the north of the city. I remember playing them in some Cup, going to Holly Park and then having to ask where they had relocated. We managed to get there about kick off time but I can’t even remember the score

[Seasider9601]

Yep, 1990/91 season that mate when they played at Bootle's ground.

They disbanded at the end of that season but have now reformed again:

https://www.southliverpoolfc.com/

They brought on some BIG names in their history.... Jimmy Case, John Aldridge, Steve Heighway to name but a few.

[Seasider9601]

Plans revealed for Workington to build 8000 capacity stadium with help from local council

Those plans in full.

Quite an interesting read as they plan to develop office blocks for Healthcare use etc etc....

http://www.workingtonafc.com/news/aller ... 19780.html

[mrpotatohead]

Shrimps legend Gerry Irving started his career at Workington, managed at the time by???????

[Keith]

Shrimps legend Gerry Irving started his career at Workington, managed at the time by???????

Bill Shankley presumably, as you asked?

[J.S.]

My main memory of South Liverpool was walking through broken glass where bottles had been chucked over the wall by local numpties!

I went to Workington too. Remember it being a big, old, traditional ground but nothing like Mr memory man Freez who counted the steps! I *think* I went twice, drove once and once in John Statters ‘Visionhire’ van! It did some miles to Morecambe games, that van. A load of beer & an old mattress in the back!

Kenneth Gardner van Keith. Don't remember a mattress but was probably for Andy Hollins to have a kip on the way back after visiting the club house wherever we were playing.

[J.S.]

Was it South Liverpool we went to one new year's day and we all piled into the club house before they'd even had chance to clear up from the night before?

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

Only went to Holly Park, S Liverpool, once but wasn't it typical of many grounds we played at back in the day? Horwich RMI and Frickley are others which readily spring to mind, even though Holly Park was probably the worst. Looking at those old pictures there's that much tall grass growing through the terrace it looks more like a corn field or a sweeping Savannah! You wouldn't stand on it or you might get eaten by a prowling lion.

Shows how far we've come when nowadays we're more accustomed to stadiums such as Valley Parade, MK Dons place, Bloomfield Rd etc' etc'.