Workington v Salford.

It’s over thirty years since we last met Workington in a league fixture and come to think of it we’ve not played them at all since that First Division match at The Willows in April 1995. Our last two League visits to Derwent Park have ended in nilling’s, 7-0 in 1991 and 34-0 in 1995. We did win a Premiership semi final replay at Workington in 1991 before going on to beat Halifax in the final at Old Trafford. However you’ve  got to go back to April 1980 since we last won this fixture so it just shows it’s a bit of a bogie fixture.

Two of Salford’s greatest ever players spent significant parts of their careers with Workington Town, Gus Risman and Paul Charlton. Two legends of the sport in different eras. Risman was part of that terrific Salford side of the 1930s. He captained us to our only Challenge Cup final success in 1938. After playing over 400 matches for Salford he signed for Workington in 1946 and won the Challenge cup with them in 1952 at the age of 41. He retired two years later after a 25 year playing career that saw him play almost 800 matches. As well as playing huge amounts of matches for both clubs he also coached both.

Paul Charlton was born in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven. He played over 200 games in the 1960s for Workington before signing for Salford in 1969. Charlton won the Lancashire Cup with Salford in 1972 and the First Division championship in 73/74 season. Charlton returned to Workington in 1975 and played in four consecutive Lancashire Cup finals for the club. He won the World Cup with Great Britain in 1972 and was a regular international player. One of the best fullback’s to grace the sport, a fantastic character and fitness fanatic. Some of the tackles he used to pull off were pretty special.

After success in the 1970s Town spent most of the 1980s on a demise with relegations. In the 1990s they ended up in the third division before a real revival. Workington won the Second Division Championship and Divisional Premiership trophy double in 1993–94. This got them back into the top flight for the 1994/95 season when we last met them in the League as I ment earlier. As the summer era started in 1996 Town were in the inaugural Super League. With just two wins from twenty two matches they were relegated and have played outside the top flight ever since. 

I am really looking forward to the trip to Derwent Park on Sunday. It’s real traditional Rugby League ground where Speedway has been an attraction over the years so behind the posts you are quite a distance from the pitch. 

On the pitch in 2026 Town were beaten 40-0 at Barrow in the opening fixture of the season before losing two tight matches against Rochdale Hornets and Widnes respectively. Last weekend they got their first league point of the season with a 16-16 draw at Keighley.

League away record.

Workington 26

Draws 0

Salford 7

 

1995 Workington 34 Salford 0

1991 Workington 7 Salford 0

1982 Workington 41 Salford 16

1980 Workington 5 Salford 20

1980 Workington 15 Salford 12

1979 Workington 5 Salford 0

1978 Workington 9 Salford 7

1977 Workington 6 Salford 12

1972 Workington 3 Salford 12

1971 Workington 9 Salford 5

1969 Workington 4 Salford 6

1969 Workington 5 Salford 4

1967 Workington 13 Salford 8

1966 Workington 30 Salford 13

1965 Workington 8 Salford 10

1964 Workington 19 Salford 12

1962 Workington 60 Salford 5

1961 Workington 52 Salford 0

1961 Workington 21 Salford 0

1960 Workington 15 Salford 8

1958 Workington 19 Salford 12

1958 Workington 32 Salford 2

1956 Workington 7 Salford 4

1955 Workington 31 Salford 17

1954 Workington 7 Salford 0

1954 Workington 10 Salford 5

1952 Workington 23 Salford 14

1950 Workington 15 Salford 2

1949 Workington 7 Salford 20

1948 Workington 18 Salford 0

1947 Workington 19 Salford 0

1947 Workington 9 Salford 3

1946 Workington 8 Salford 13

They played for both.

Neil Alexander, Bob Blackwood, Greg Burke, Ged Byrne, Ed Chamberlain, Paul Charlton, Gil Dudson, Joe Faimalo, Matty Gee, Joe Hartley, Harold Henney, Russell Henney, Brad Hepi, Stuart Howarth, Jordan James, Mark Johnson, Phil Joseph, Jack Murphy, Gus Risman, Jon Roper, Lokeni Savelio, Adam Sidlow, Adam Walne, Jordan Walne, Ian Watson and Ian MacCorquodale.

A match to remember Sunday 21st December 1980

Workington 15 Salford 12.

A bitterly cold afternoon just before Christmas 1980 saw former Salford hero Paul Charlton play fullback for Workington at the age of 39. Charlo always seemed to up his game against Salford and this game was no different. 

Keiron O’Loughlin was instrumental in the halves for the home side scoring a try and dropping a goal. Town were very well organised under coach Tommy Bishop and their big pack of forwards were difficult for Salford to contain. Charlton was a good runner, particularly when returning kicks and his defence was still very solid despite his advancing years. 

Salford’s Cumbrian forward Harold Henney scored a try along with winger Maurice Richards. Colin Whitfield kick three goals but the kicking of Town winger Lyn Hopkins proved to be the difference in this festive fixture.

At the end of the 1980/81 season Workington finished 15th out of 16 teams below Salford on points difference but both sides were relegated. 

The teams that day,

Workington, Charlton, Hopkins, Thompson, Maughan, Beck, O’Loughlin, Todd, Cunningham, Banks, McCarron, Hartley, Pattinson, Lewis.

Subs, Beattie, Falcon.

Salford, Whitfield, Driver, Latham, Wilson, Richards, Fletcher, Nash, Coulman, O’Neill, Yates, Williams, Henney, Major.

Subs, Fielding Jamieson. 

Attendance, 1,982.

Referee, Jim Smith.

Sunday’s match.

Salford received a huge boost on Thursday this week with some loan signings from Wigan and St.Helens. Jonny Vaughan became a huge fans favourite last season when he joined on loan from Saints. Vaughan signed for Wigan at the end of last season and he’s back at Salford with two other familiar faces who played for us against Hunslet a few weeks ago, Lukas Mason and George O’Loughlin. Also joining from Wigan is Dayon Sambou. Harvey Braddish joins from Saints alongside the very experienced Agnatius Paasi. The 34 year old Tongan international has played over a hundred NRL games for New Zealand Warriors and Gold Coast Titans as well as surpassing a hundred matches for Saints. 

Salford coach Mike Grady will be glad of the physical size presence these loan signings will bring to his young, inexperienced side. This should allow Salford to be competitive in this fixture after last week’s very one sided defeat at Doncaster. 

Workington have players to keep an eye on. Jake Carter is a tricky player in the halves, after good spells with Barrow and Whitehaven, Carter is in his second season with Town. Zarrin Galea is a Maltese international and has a good try scoring record. 

Safe travels and enjoy the match. Alex Donaghy spent six seasons with Newcastle where he became a solid player with an eye for the try line. Captain Steve Scholey is in his twelve season with the club.

The action gets under way at 3pm.

Paul Whiteside. 

Big thanks to Steve McCormick for the photos and the Salford match day programme.