Latest news with #WorkingtonTownRLFC
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Workington Cumberland Sports Village stadium design revealed
New plans have been revealed for a stadium which would house a town's football and rugby approved, Cumberland Sports Village in Cumbria will have capacity for 3,700 Workington AFC and Workington Town RLFC fans - 2,700 seated and 1,000 year Cumberland Council agreed last year to spend £235,000 on designing the new Sports Village spokesman Dave Bowden said the new ground had the potential to "create lasting benefits for Workington AFC, Workington Town RLFC and the whole community". As part of the plans, the existing stands will be demolished and West Stand, the stadium's main structure, will including seating for about 1,000 people, wheelchair viewing spaces, a large function suite, executive boxes and a sports bar and external fan stands will be built on the South and East sides of the ground, with an uncovered North Stand. The existing pitch will also be replaced with a 3G playing surface and new floodlights will be installed. 'Inspiring future generations' Workington AFC said the development would provide a "modern, high-quality facility" for the first team, youth development and the club's community programmes.A Workington Town RLFC spokesperson said: "We believe that the project will inspire future generations to want to watch and play sport in this facility. "We feel the project is of the right scale, with a sensible and realistic approach, and will provide lasting benefits for Workington and West Cumbria." The stadium will also have facilities for meetings, conferences, community Council leader, Mark Fryer, said: "It is fantastic that we now have some revised detailed designs for a venue which will cement our status as major players on the sporting map." Plans to develop a new stadium have been in the works for more than five years and have been scaled back from an initial design for 8,000 the now-defunct Allerdale Borough Council dropped the project, the region missed out on hosting a Rugby League World Cup match because it did not have a suitable stadium. Public engagement events are to be held to get feedback on the plans, which are expected to be submitted to the council at the end of approval is given, it is hoped construction will begin in early 2026 and be completed in 2027. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
ITV News
18-06-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
New 10m sports village in West Cumbria could open within the next two years
A new 10m sports village in West Cumbria could open within the next two years. The development includes a stadium for Workington Reds and Workington Town League club which will be built on the existing Borough Park site. Those behind the scheme say the stadium will hold 3,700 sitting and standing spectators. Floodlights and parking facilities will also be adjusted to fit the facility. Both Workington AFC and Workington RLFC will have the opportunity to hold engagement events over the summer. With a planning application set to be submitted by the end of July 2025, its expected construction work will begin in early 2026, finishing within 18 months. The existing pitch will also be replaced with a 3G pitch suitable for both football and rugby. Dave Bowden, spokesman for Cumberland Sports Village, said: "We're pleased to be part of such positive progress on the Cumberland Sports Village project. "It's a project built on partnership and shared vision and we're excited by the potential it holds to create lasting benefits for Workington AFC, Workington Town RLFC, and the whole community. "We thank everyone involved in reaching this stage and look forward to continue working hard to make this vision a reality." Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, added: 'We remain fully committed to supporting Cumberland Sports Village Ltd in delivering the Sports Village project. "I have been fighting for West Cumbria to have a top-class stadium for many years and it is fantastic that we now have some revised detailed designs for a venue which will cement our status as major players on the sporting map.' A spokesperson from Workington Town RLFC added: "This development marks a significant step forward for both the club and the wider area, offering modern infrastructure to support rugby league, local sport, and community events. 'We believe that the project will inspire future generations to want to watch and play sport in this facility. "We feel that the project is of the right scale, with a sensible and realistic approach, and will provide lasting benefits for Workington and West Cumbria. We're excited to play our part in this ambitious and transformative project.' A spokesperson from Workington AFC said: 'The proposed development will provide a modern, high-quality facility to support first-team performance, youth development, and the ongoing delivery of our club's community programmes across West Cumbria. "It also presents valuable commercial opportunities to help secure long-term sustainability. The Board of Workington AFC looks forward to help make these plans a reality for our club and community.'
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Workington Town rugby club's heritage celebrated at exhibition
A town's rich rugby league history will be celebrated when current and old players join fans for an Helena Thompson Museum in Workington is opening its Workington Town RLFC archives of old photos, cups, memorabilia, including footage from the team's win at Wembley in the 1952 Challenge Tony Wareing, a director at the museum, that match meant something on a personal level, as his late father James, known as Pongo, played in it."It's absolutely brilliant - you can see all the spectators with cloth caps and mufflers - it's great," he said. He also remembers his mother polishing the cup each week to make sure it always looked its best, he Mr Wareing is not the only one to have a personal connection to Town, as the team is known among fans. Tricia Poole, museum manager, remembers running onto the pitch when the team won the Lancashire Cup in late father Joe Holliday, a die-hard Town fan, is credited with gathering one of the biggest bodies of research on the club and its players."I've been brought up on rugby league - I didn't know anything else," she Holliday and his wife Dorothy, who still volunteers at the museum aged 79, spent many weekends at libraries around the country gathering information, which culminated in many books and stacks of documents still stored at their family home. Some of his memorabilia is now on permanent display at the museum, which also features an image of Mr Wareing's father."His photograph is on the landing, it's great to be able to say good morning to him every time I go up," he month a small event for current Town players was held at the museum, as the team prepares to celebrate the club's 80th anniversary this Smith, manager of the club's community trust, said: "Tricia, Dorothy and Tony are proud guardians of Joe's work and we as a club cannot thank Joe or the team at the Helena Thompson Museum enough."As a club we strive to get back to those glory days and know it will take hard work, dedication and a full team effort - the visit gave the lads inspiration and a sense of what we can aim to be again."The exhibition begins on Saturday at 10.00 GMT, with players attending from 11.00, and closes on Sunday. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
