Extreme Football Tourism: ENGLAND: Workington AFC (1937-2026)

Borough Park, Workington (Workington AFC)

England, county: Cumbria

1 I 2026 / Workington AFC - Lancaster City FC 1-1 / Northern Premier League (= ENG level 7)

Timeline

1883 / Although association football had been introduced to Workington, Cumbria, already in the 1860s, it takes until 1883 before a first football club is founded, Workington FC. The foundation was brought about following the further popularisation of local football when a large group of steel workers from Dronfield in Derbyshire migrated to the town one year previously. Due to the fact that so many of the players of the early years were from Dronfield, the club was sometimes referred to as Workington (Dronfield) and the players as ‘Dronnies’. The club settles on the Workington Cricket Field in Schoose Close.
1886 / Workington FC reaches the final of the first Cumberland Senior Cup, in which the club suffers defeat at the hands of Carlisle AFC.
1887 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the first time, defeating Carlisle AFC in the final (8-2). Also in 1887, the club enters the FA Cup for the first time, suffering a 6-0 away defeat in the first preliminary round against Bootle FC.
1888 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the second time – and the second time in a row – defeating Keswick FC in the final.
1889 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the third time – and the third time in a row – defeating Distington FC in the final.
1890 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fourth time – and the fourth time in a row – defeating Carlisle AFC in the final.
1891 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fifth time – and the fifth time in a row – defeating Frizington Rovers FC in the final.
1896 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the sixth time, defeating Carlisle City FC in the final.
1897 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the seventh time – and the second time in a row – defeating Carlisle AFC in an away match (2-4). During the ensuing ceremonies, Workington player John Robert Fisher is hit by a stone thrown by home supporters. Stricken on the left temple, he suffers a haemorrhage, dying of the results of this eight months later.
1898 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the eighth time – and the third time in a row – defeating Moss Bay Exchange FC in the final.
1899 / Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the ninth time – and the fourth time in a row – defeating Frizington White Star FC in the final.
1901 / Workington FC joins the Lancashire League.
1903 / As the Lancashire League closes down, Workington FC is left without league football for the following season.
1904 / After one year without league football, Workington FC joins the Lancashire Combination, being placed in Division 2 of this league system.
1907 / Finishing in fourth place in the Lancashire Combination Division 2, Workington FC wins promotion to Division 1 of the said league system along with the clubs placing in first to third place, Carlisle United FC, Earlestown FC, and Chorley FC. Also in 1907, Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the tenth time, defeating Carlisle United FC in the final.
1908 / Workington FC achieves the best result in its history, finishing in third place in the Lancashire Combination Division 1, behind champions Everton FC Reserves and runner-up Carlisle United FC. Also in 1908, the club reaches R1 of the FA Cup for the first time, suffering a 2-0 defeat away at Bradford City AFC – a replay organised after the original tie was abandoned after 60 minutes (0-0) due to a blizzard. Also in 1908, Workington FC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the eleventh time – and the second time in a row – defeating Wigton Harriers FC in the final.
1909 / Workington FC reaches R1 of the FA Cup for the second time running, suffering a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Manchester City FC – after having refused a £250 offer from the professional league club to switch the tie to Manchester and being rewarded with a home crowd of 5,000. That same year, Workington FC are forced to play several home matches at the Recreation Ground in Whitehaven following hooliganism in a Lancashire Combination match against Manchester United FC Reserves. In mid-1909, the club is forced out of the Cricket Field after 26 years, settling on a groundshare with the local rugby club Workington RFC at Lonsdale Park.
1910 / Due to the high costs involved in playing in the Lancashire Combination, Workington FC withdraws into the North Eastern League, replacing their reserves’ team in that division.
1911 / Pressed down by debts estimated at £1,500, Workington FC disbands, ceasing all activities. The club plays its final North Eastern League match against Hartlepools United FC.
1921 / Following a ten-year gap, a new football club is formed in Workington, Workington Association Football Club (AFC). Like its predecessor, Workington AFC joins the North Eastern League and settles on a groundsharing agreement with Workington RFC at Lonsdale Park.
1925 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup, which had been conquered by predecessor club Workington FC on no fewer than eleven occasions, for the first time, defeating Cleator Moor Celtic FC in the final.
1934 / In the 1933-34 FA Cup, Workington AFC has its best-ever run, eliminating Southport FC (1-0), Newport County AFC (3-1), and Gateshead AFC (4-1) in the first three rounds, eventually being stopped by Preston North End FC (1-2).
1935 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the second time, defeating Carlisle United FC in the final. Also in 1935, the club wins the North Eastern League Challenge Cup for the first time.
1937 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the third time, defeating Carlisle United FC in the final, while also conquering the North Eastern League Challenge Cup for the second time. That same year, the club is forced out of Lonsdale Park following a lease to a Scottish greyhound and speedway company. Workington AFC moves into the newly laid-out Borough Park, situated in the direct vicinity of the old location. Works on the new ground are carried out with the assistance of the local council. In its original shape, Borough Park sports a 1,000-seat main stand on its western touchline, with non-terraced embankments surrounding the remainder of the pitch.
1938 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fourth time – and the second time in a row – defeating Carlisle United FC in the final.
1939 / In its best pre-war season, Workington AFC finishes as joint runner-up in the North Eastern League, along with North Shields FC, 3 points behind champions South Shields FC.
1945 / Workington AFC are joined at Borough Park by the newly formed rugby league club Workington Town RLFC.
1950 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fifth time, defeating Parton United FC in the final.
1951 / Finishing in fifth place in the North Eastern League, 11 points behind champions Stockton FC, Workington AFC successfully applies for admission to the professional leagues, replacing New Brighton AFC which was voted out of the league by its peers following its last-place finish in Football League Division 3 North. For the 1950-51 season, Workington AFC is placed in Division 3 North. To bring its ground up to the standards of league football, the embankments around three sides of the pitch are replaced with terracing, with two more covered terraces being constructed in the northwestern and southwestern corners of the ground. The first home match in Division 3 against Chesterfield FC (3-1) draws 11,000 spectators to Borough Park.
1952 / In its first season as a professional league club, Workington AFC finishes bottom of the table in Football League Division 3 North, being re-elected for the new season along with the club in second-last place, Darlington FC. Also in 1952, Workington signs South African international striker George Miller from Leeds United FC. Miller would stay at Borough Park for several months only, returning to his native country before the end of the year.
1953 / Hardly doing better in its second professional league season, Workington AFC finishes second from bottom in Football League Division 3 North, being re-elected for the new season along with bottom club Accrington Stanley FC.
1954 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the sixth time, defeating Holme Head FC in the final. In January 1954, former Scottish international player Bill Shankly – who had had spells as a professional league player at Carlisle United FC and Preston North End FC – takes over the role as manager at Workington AFC. Shankly, who would be given the sack in December 1955, would go on to management glory during his fifteen-year spell with Liverpool FC (1959-74).
1956 / The terracing on the eastern touchline of the ground is equipped with a roof construction. Around the same time, the main stand, dating back to 1937, is extended to both sides. Also in 1956, rugby league club Workington Town RLFC moves away from Borough Park after eleven years, settling at its own, newly laid-out Derwent Park, situated close by.
1957 / In its best season in the 1950s, Workington AFC finishes in fourth place in Football League Division 3 North, only 5 points behind champions Derby County FC. Also in 1957, Workington signs South African international striker Ted Purdon from Sunderland AFC. Purdon, who had previously defended the colours of Birmingham City FC, would move on to Barrow AFC after one year at Borough Park, going on to have further spells at Bath City FC and Bristol Rovers FC until withdrawing into non-league in 1960.
1958 / Finishing in the bottom half of Football League Division 3 North, Workington AFC is placed in the newly created (nationwide) Football League Division 4. Also in the 1957-58 season, the club reaches R3 of the FA Cup following wins over Crook Town AFC (8-1) and Oldham Athletic FC (1-5). In R3, Workington draws a home tie against Manchester United FC, with the famous ‘Busby Babes’ cruising to a 3-1 win at Borough Park in front of an all-time record crowd of 21,000. The tie takes place merely eight months prior to the Munich Air Disaster which would kill eight members of this legendary Man United squad. Still in 1958, Workington signs 19-year-old goalkeeper Charlie Wright from Rangers FC. Wright would stay with the club for five years, although his spell was interrupted due to his being called up to perform his military service. Serving in Hong Kong, he won 5 caps for the crown colony. Following a five-year spell at Borough Park, in the course of which he played 123 league games, Wright would go on to defend the colours of Grimsby Town FC, Charlton Athletic FC, and Bolton Wanderers FC, ultimately hanging up his boots in 1973.
1963 / On Boxing Day, 1963, a crowd of 18,628 attends the Division 3 North home match against derby rivals Carlisle United FC (2-2) at Borough Park – a record for a league match at the ground. Also in the 1963-64 season, Workington AFC reaches the quarterfinal of the League Cup for the first time, suffering elimination at the hands of West Ham United FC (6-0).
1964 / Finishing in third place in Football League Division 4, merely 1 point behind champions Gillingham FC, Workington AFC wins promotion to Division 3 along with the aforementioned club as well as Carlisle United FC and Exeter City FC. The successful manager is former Workington player Ken Furphy. Furphy also leads his club to the second consecutive League Cup quarterfinal, following wins over Blackburn Rovers FC (0-0, 1-5) and Norwich City FC (3-0). It is only after a replay at Stamford Bridge that Chelsea FC manages to knock out the Cumbrian side (2-2, 2-0).
1965 / Workington AFC signs Australian striker Max Tolson from South Coast United FC. Tolson would stay at Borough Park for two seasons, returning to the same Australian club in the summer of 1967. Tolson later won 16 caps for his country, being part of Australia’s squad in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. Also in 1965, Workington youth academy defender Tony Geidmintis makes his debut in the club’s first team at the age of 15. Geidmintis, of Lithuanian descent, would stay at Borough Park for eleven years, playing a total of 328 league games, before moving on to Watford FC in 1976; following further spells at Northampton Town FC and Halifax Town AFC, Geidmintis would return to Workington – meanwhile a non-league club – in 1980. Tony Geidmintis passed away in 1993 at the age of 43.
1966 / In the best season in club history, Workington AFC, managed by George Ainsley, finishes in fifth place in Football League Division 3, finishing 17 points behind champions Hull City AFC – with Millwall FC, Queens Park Rangers FC, and Scunthorpe United FC being the other clubs finishing ahead of the Cumbrian side.
1967 / Managed by Bobby Brown, who had taken over in the course of the season following previous spells with George Ainsley and Bill Leivers, Workington AFC finishes bottom of the table in Football League Division 3, thus dropping back into Division 4 after three years, along with Swansea Town AFC, Darlington FC, and Doncaster Rovers FC. Also in 1967, Workington’s fullback Bobby Brown, who had joined the club eleven years previously from Motherwell FC, hangs up his boots, having defended the club colours of Workington in 419 league matches – thereby standing as the club’s record holder in terms of professional league games.
1968 / Finishing in second-last place in Football League Division 4, Workington AFC is re-elected into the league along with Port Vale FC, York City FC, Chester FC, and bottom club Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC. On a positive note, the club conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the seventh time, defeating Gretna FC in the final. Also in 1968, Workington signs former English international winger Edwin Holliday (3 caps in 1959) from Hereford United FC; Holliday, who had previously had spells at Middlesbrough FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC, would stay at Borough Park for one-and-a-half season, moving on to Peterborough United FC in December 1969 – and hanging up his boots in the summer of 1970 at the age of 31.
1969 / Workington AFC is joined by winger Johnny Martin of Chelmsford City FC. Martin, a former contract player at Aston Villa FC and Colchester United FC, is regarded as one of the most colourful players in the history of Workington, sometimes dubbed a ‘Poor Man’s George Best’. Following five years at Borough Park (207 league games, 32 goals), Martin would leave the club to sign a deal with Southport FC. Also in 1969, Workington’s youth academy goalkeeper John Burridge makes his debut in the club’s first team at the age of 18. Following two seasons at Borough Park, Burridge would go on to have a colourful and long career (1971-97) with spells at, among other clubs, Blackpool FC, Aston Villa FC, Southend United FC, Crystal Palace FC, Queens Park Rangers FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Derby County FC, Sheffield United FC, Southampton FC, Newcastle United FC, Hibernian FC, Scarborough FC, Lincoln City FC, Aberdeen FC, Dumbarton FC, Falkirk FC, Manchester City FC, Darlington FC, and Queen of the South FC.
1972 / In the club’s best performance in the 1970s, Workington AFC finishes in sixth place in Football League Division 4, 12 points behind champions Grimsby Town FC – and only 6 points short of number 4 Scunthorpe United FC, which also wins promotion.
1974 / Finishing in second-last place in Football League Division 4, Workington AFC is re-elected into the league along with Crewe Alexandra FC, Doncaster Rovers FC, and bottom club Stockport County FC. In the early stages of the 1974-75 season, Welsh striker Nick Deacy joins Workington AFC for a brief loan spell from Hereford United FC. Deacy would go on to defend the colours of PSV, K Beringen FC, AVC Vitesse, Hull City AFC, Happy Valley AA, Bury FC, Merthyr Tydfil FC, and Swansea City AFC, ultimately hanging up his boots in 1985; moreover, Deacy also won 12 caps for Wales.
1975 / Finishing in second-last place in Football League Division 4 for the second year in a row, Workington AFC is re-elected into the league along with Darlington FC, Swansea City AFC, and bottom club Scunthorpe United FC.
1976 / Finishing bottom of the table in Football League Division 4, Workington AFC is re-elected into the league along with Stockport County FC, Newport County AFC, and Southport FC.
1977 / Finishing bottom of the table in Football League Division 4 for the second year in a row, Workington AFC fails re-election, as they are replaced by non-league applicants Wimbledon FC and demoted to the Northern Premier League – the top non-league level in Northern England until the introduction of the Alliance Premier League (later renamed Conference and National League) in 1979. The last manager to be in charge of Workington AFC as a professional league club was Colin Meldrum, who had taken over from Alan Ashman in the course of the season. In the following years, the club fails to compete for the highest places in the Northern Premier League.
1978 / On February 10th, 1978, a crowd of 6,127 gathers at Borough Park to attend a fundraising friendly for the club, which had ran into financial difficulties. Especially for the occasion, Workington is captained by former Manchester United FC legend Bobby Charlton, with the Cumbrian side entertaining American club Fort Lauderdale Strikers, which features former England international goalkeeper Gordon Banks. The match finishes in a goalless draw.
1984 / Workington AFC wins the Northern Premier League President’s Cup.
1986 / Workington AFC conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the eighth time, defeating Gretna FC in the final. Also in 1986, as the club meanwhile finds itself in an estimated debt of £300,000, Workington AFC organised a new fundraising friendly at Borough Park, with George Best being the guest player this time around. The 39-year-old former Manchester United FC and Northern Ireland international winger captains a Workington side which takes on a Lancashire Football League XI.
1988 / Managed by Ian Hall, who took over from Colin Meldrum in the course of the season, Workington AFC finishes bottom of the table in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, thus descending into Division 1 of the said league system – i.e. the seventh tier of the English football pyramid – with the other relegated club being Oswestry Town FC, which folds following the season. Also in 1988, due to the construction having become rusty and dangerous, the main stand at Borough Park, dating back to the mid-1950s, is closed down and the roof removed. Later on, the construction as a whole is dismantled.
1992 / In spite of finishing bottom of the table in the Northern Premier League Division 1, Workington AFC avoids relegation due to two other clubs in the division, Newtown FC and Rhyl FC, joining the nascent Welsh football pyramid, while Irlam Town FC – placing second-last – chooses voluntary demotion into the North West Counties Football League Division 2.
1996 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the ninth time, defeating Cleator Moor Celtic FC in the final.
1998 / After having fired three successive managers, a committee of club officials oversees the fate of Workington AFC in the latter stages of the 1997-98 season, with the club finishing in second-last place in the Northern Premier League Division 1; as such, Workington suffers relegation into the North West Counties Football League Division 1, with Buxton FC being the other demoted club. In May 1998, former Leeds United FC, Stoke City FC, Burnley FC, Rochdale AFC, and Carlisle United FC fullback Peter Hampton takes over the role of Workington’s manager. One of his first signings is 33-year-old former English international midfielder Paul Stewart (3 caps in 1991-92), formerly of Blackpool FC, Manchester City FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Liverpool FC, Crystal Palace FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Burnley FC, Sunderland AFC, and Stoke City FC. Stewart would stay at Borough Park for two years, hanging up his boots in the summer of 2000.
1999 / Champions in the North West Counties Football League Division 1, 2 points ahead of closest rivals Mossley AFC, Workington AFC manages an immediate return to the Northern Premier League Division 1. The decisive points are acquired in a 2-1 home win over Mossley AFC, with Stuart Williamson and Grant Holt being the goal scorers. The successful manager is Peter Hampton.
2000 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the tenth time, defeating Carlisle United FC in the final. Also in 2000, In its best performance in the FA Trophy, Workington AFC reaches R5, in which the club is eliminated by Kettering Town FC (0-1).
2001 / In October 2001, Tommy Cassidy takes over the role of Workington AFC’s manager from Peter Hampton. Cassidy is a former professional league midfielder of Glentoran FC, Newcastle United FC, Burnley FC, and APOEL FC (1968-85), who, moreover, won 24 caps for Northern Ireland, being part of his country’s squad in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
2004 / In a reorganisation of the football pyramid, which sees the introduction of a Conference North and South as the new sixth tier of the English football pyramid, Workington AFC, which had finished in the top half of the Northern Premier League Division 1, is placed in the Northern Premier League Premier Division – at the seventh tier of the English football system – for the new season.
2005 / Runner-up in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 3 points behind champions Hyde United FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Eliminating Prescot Cables FC in the semis (3-1), the club goes on to edge past Farsley Celtic FC in the final (0-0 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out). As such, Workington AFC wins promotion to the Conference North. The successful manager is Tommy Cassidy.
2007 / Finishing in third place in the Conference North, 8 points behind champions Droylsden FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the semis by Hinchley United FC (2-1 aggr.). On a positive note, the club conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the eleventh time, defeating Carlisle United FC at Brunton Park in the final (2-1). Also in 2007, Workington signs former Darlington FC and New Zealand international winger Adrian Webster from Australian club Blacktown City Demons FC. Webster would only play three games for the club before moving on to Blyth Spartans AFC.
2009 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the twelfth time, defeating Penrith AFC in the final at Brunton Park in Carlisle.
2010 / Finishing in fourth place in the Conference North, 16 points behind champions Southport FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club bows out in the semis following defeat at the hands of Alfreton Town FC (4-1 aggr.).
2012 / Workington is joined by 19-year-old Welsh midfielder Will Vaulks following a loan agreement with his club Tranmere Rovers FC. Having spent the 2012-13 season at Borough Park, Vaulks would go on to have spells at Falkirk FC, Rotherham United FC, Cardiff City FC, Sheffield Wednesday FC, and Oxford United FC, while also winning 7 caps for Wales (2019-22).
2014 / Managed by Gavin Skelton, who had taken over in the course of the season following spells with Darren Edmondson and Ian McDonald, Workington AFC finishes bottom of the table in the Conference North, thus suffering relegation along with Vauxhall Motors FC and Histon FC. For the 2014-15 season, the club is placed in the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the seventh tier of the English football pyramid.
2015 / Runners-up in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 2 points behind champions FC United of Manchester, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the semis by Ilkeston FC (0-1).
2016 / Finishing in fifth place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 18 points behind champions Darlington 1883 FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Edging past Blyth Spartans AFC in the semis (3-4), the club suffers defeat in the final at the hands of Salford City FC (3-2). On a positive note, the club conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the thirteenth time, defeating Aspatria FC in the final at Brunton Park in Carlisle.
2017 / Finishing in fourth place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, 18 points behind champions Blyth Spartans AFC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in the semis by Stourbridge FC (3-2). On a positive note, the club conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fourteenth time, defeating Penrith AFC in the final at Brunton Park in Carlisle (2-1 A.E.T.). Also in 2017, defender Kyle May, who had joined Workington from Gretna FC in 2004, leaves the club, having worn the red shirt in 544 league games – an all-time club record – to sign a deal with Penrith AFC.
2019 / Managed by Lee Andrews, Workington AFC finishes in second-last place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, thus suffering relegation into Division 1 of the said league system along with Marine AFC and bottom club North Ferriby United AFC, which had folded in the latter stages of the season. In the summer of 2019, Danny Grainger takes over as Workington’s manager. Grainger is a former professional league player of Gretna FC, Brechin City FC, Dundee United FC, St Johnstone FC, Heart of Midlothian FC, St Mirren FC, Dunfermline Athletic FC, and Carlisle United FC. Also in 2019, plans are announced for a new community stadium for Workington AFC and Workington Town RLFC to replace Borough Park – involving that ground’s demolition as well as Workington Town RLFC’s Derwent Park. However, later that same year, an announcement of the Allerdale Borough Council followed to the effect that this new sports stadium was not feasible.
2020 / In the 2019-20 season, cut short due to the first COVID lockdown in March 2020, Workington AFC finds itself top of the table in the Northern Premier League Division 1 Northwest, 10 points clear of closest followers Ramsbottom United FC, after 31 of 38 matches played. In spite of this, the club is denied promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division.
2022 / Runner-up in the Northern Premier League Division 1 West, 1 point behind champions Warrington Rylands 1906 FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the semis by Marine AFC (2-3 A.E.T.).
2023 / Finishing in third place in the Northern Premier League Division 1 West, 15 points behind champions Macclesfield FC, Workington AFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Knocking out Clitheroe FC in the semis (2-0), the club goes on to have the better of Runcorn Linnets FC in the final (2-1 A.E.T.), played at Borough Park in front of a crowd of 2,506. The decisive goal is scored by Lewis Reilly in additional time. As such, Workington AFC manages a return to the Northern Premier League Premier Division after an absence of four seasons. Furthermore, the club also conquers the Cumberland Senior Cup for the fifteenth time, defeating Penrith AFC in the final at Brunton Park in Carlisle (3-1). The successful coach is Danny Grainger.
2024 / Workington AFC wins the Cumberland Senior Cup for the sixteenth time, defeating Carlisle United FC in the final at Borough Park (1-0). In the mid-season, Workington AFC is joined by 35-year-old Nigerian international defender Efe Ambrose of Bury FC. Ambrose, who was part of his country’s squad in the 2014 World Cup, had previously had spells at MS Ashdod, Celtic FC, Hibernian FC, Derby County FC, Livingston FC, St Johnstone FC, Dunfermline Athletic FC, Greenock Morton FC, and Queen of the South FC. Following one season at Borough Park, Ambrose would move on to Scottish non-leaguers Glasgow United FC in the summer of 2025.
2025 / Six years after the first plans for a new community stadium on the location of Borough Park fell through, a new design is presented by local authorities for a Cumberland Sports Village, with a synthetic pitch and a total capacity of 3,700 (2,700 seats, 1,000 terraced standing). The new ground is to replace Borough Park as the projected new home ground of Workington AFC and Workington RLFC.
2026 (projected) / Demolition works get underway at Borough Park, followed by the construction of the Cumberland Sports Village on the same location. Meanwhile, Workington AFC groundshares with Workington Town RLFC at Derwent Park.