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Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Back to the future: Edmo hoping for fresh success at Workington Reds
Darren Edmondson says the chance to return to Workington Reds as manager came 'out of the blue' – but he's excited by the prospect of going back. Edmondson has rejoined the Borough Park club some 12 years after his previous stint in charge came to an end. That first six-year spell saw Edmondson become Reds' longest-serving manager and the club have now turned to the 53-year-old to replace Mark Fell. The Cumbrian has left Northern League Division One club Penrith to return to west Cumbria to lead Workington in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. And Edmondson believes it is a good time to be heading back to the club, even if it was not an opportunity he had expected. 'It came totally out of the blue,' he told the News & Star. 'I was talking to my wife about whether we would keep going with Penrith or whether we might have weekends back as a family. 'Being a part-time manager is a big old slog – I don't think people realise what it takes. You're never off the phone, you've got your own daytime job to look after, then you've also got training on an evening, and the modern player is different to the old player – there's always an issue. 'But this was a different conversation. The standard of football is higher, there is the potential of the new stadium at Reds, and crowds show they seem to be going in the right direction again. 'So it's an exciting moment for myself.' Edmondson will be joined at Borough Park by his Penrith assistant Richard Prokas. The pair will work with existing Reds coaches Brian Dawson and Billy Redden, who guided Workington to NPL Premier safety in the closing stages of the 2024/25 season after Fell's departure. In the end Reds shot up to 12th on goal difference on the final day, before pressing on with their move to appoint Edmondson. Fans rally behind Edmondson in 2009 - the new boss hopes for more good backing from the faithful now (Image: PAUL JOHNSON) 'The two clubs [Penrith and Workington] spoke and there was an agreement that Reds would be able to speak to me,' he added. 'It has progressed slowly but quietly, and that's what everybody wanted. Everybody needs to be happy with certain situations, otherwise you're not going in with the right frame of mind. 'We're all happy with where we are. Bringing Richard in is great, and I know Brian and Billy and I'm sure we'll all work well. 'I also know a lot of the players so I think it will be an easy transition for us.' Edmondson believes there is potential for growth at Workington after two seasons back at NPL Premier level. 'The directors realised that the squad had maybe been underachieving last year,' he said. 'In the event they finished ten points off the play-offs, when everyone had been saying at the back end that the second half of the season was dreadful. 'I think it shows that maybe there was a gulf from the top three or four, where all the money was, but then the rest is very similar and very close. 'So the club are quite positive with what we can do next season. We've just got to start recruiting as soon as we can and see if we can pull in as much local talent as we can and see if they're all interested in coming to be part of a new project. 'Then, beyond that, we'll have to look outside the Cumbrian perimeter, which is always a difficult one but we have to consider everything.' Edmondson led Reds to the FA Cup first round in 2008 during his first spell, when they faced Bury (Image: ROBERT RATHBONE) Edmondson enjoyed some good times at Workington from 2007 to 2013, when he was in the infancy of his managerial and coaching career. He led the club in Conference North and also guided them to the FA Cup first round proper in 2008 – the last time they have reached that stage. What, then, about the old maxim of 'never go back'? 'I think that is different as a player to a manager,' he said. 'As a footballer, if you leave and go back two years later, you might be just bringing the same stuff back. 'As a manager, and certainly in my case at Workington, you're talking different times, different people at the helm – and you're different in yourself, differences in how you mature as a coach and a person. 'I was just starting out back then. There were some fantastic times. I'm not thinking about that now. If we can get anywhere near that, it'll be great, and if we don't there'll be reasons for it. 'I'll just give everything I can and try and push what's here and to try and take the club as far forward as we can go.' Certainly the support has grown for Workington of late, the club recently announcing that aggregate numbers through the Borough Park turnstiles (16,372) were at their highest level since the season Reds went out of the Football League (1976/77). Their average home gate of 780 was also their second highest since that campaign. Edmondson hopes to tap into this. 'I think with any club, when the fans are positive and coming down in numbers, that helps the team, doesn't it?' he said. Edmondson and assistant Richard Prokas have left Penrith for Workington (Image: Ben Holmes) 'That's vital and it seems to be what's been happening recently. So there's obviously a good connection between the club and the players and the fans, which is great. 'That was one of the reasons for me – that it seems to be uniting in the right direction, and I think that proved the case over the last few games where they picked up results and the crowd were back supporting the players. 'The first thing that has to be said is that fans have got to keep coming and being positive with the players, and the players will react in the way that everybody responds correctly to praise and positivity.' Edmondson, after his first spell at Workington, had two years at Barrow but, from 2015, other than a short stint with Bradford Park Avenue, was out of front line management for the next seven years, as he spent time as Carlisle United's academy manager and also pursued other opportunities, such as running the Cumbria Institute of Sport at Newton Rigg. His involvement with the latter saw him more closely on Penrith AFC's radar and he returned to the dugout with the Bonny Blues in 2022. He says that opportunity whetted his appetite for the role again. 'I've thanked Billy [Williams, Penrith chairman] for giving me that opportunity, for getting me back into the dugout and reigniting the spark again,' Edmondson said. 'The excitement and the stresses of it all…it comes as a package. But if you're a football person, that's what you enjoy and that's what you like. 'I had three great years at that club. The stadium is now fantastic and I wish everybody there all the best.' Edmondson, from his playing and coaching days, is closely associated with Carlisle United and hopes links between Blues and Reds can be strong, even as he laments United's drop into non-league themselves following consecutive relegations. 'I'm gutted about that,' he said. 'Hopefully it can be a one-year spin-around to get them back [into the EFL]. 'But any help they can give us, and vice-versa…that's got to be positive. I've had Dan Hopper at Penrith, and I've definitely seen a change in him since he came in, got roughed up a little bit and put himself about. 'Hopefully that will set him in good stead, and then likewise I know the directors at Workington have been impressed with the lads they've had from Carlisle. 'I always think it's win-win.' In terms of the immediate in-tray at Workington, Edmondson said: 'Making sure the players the club want to keep, sorting those lads out, is the first thing. 'And then it's looking to see what we can do recruitment-wise. 'In terms of what success looks like…that's a difficult one. 'Some will say now, even though I've done it before, I'm new to this level now and it's like starting again, almost. 'But we need to finish higher than we did last season and be pushing into the top half. We've got to start on a high, with the way the season finished and the fans that came down. 'I think we should be pushing towards play-offs, but that depends on how well we can recruit and retain. It's early days, but we've got to go in with a positive mindset in that if we can finish mid-table, there must be something in that squad that says we can go better than that.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Back to the future: Edmo hoping for fresh success at Workington Reds
Darren Edmondson says the chance to return to Workington Reds as manager came 'out of the blue' – but he's excited by the prospect of going back. Edmondson has rejoined the Borough Park club some 12 years after his previous stint in charge came to an end. That first six-year spell saw Edmondson become Reds' longest-serving manager and the club have now turned to the 53-year-old to replace Mark Fell. The Cumbrian has left Northern League Division One club Penrith to return to west Cumbria to lead Workington in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. And Edmondson believes it is a good time to be heading back to the club, even if it was not an opportunity he had expected. 'It came totally out of the blue,' he told the News & Star. 'I was talking to my wife about whether we would keep going with Penrith or whether we might have weekends back as a family. 'Being a part-time manager is a big old slog – I don't think people realise what it takes. You're never off the phone, you've got your own daytime job to look after, then you've also got training on an evening, and the modern player is different to the old player – there's always an issue. 'But this was a different conversation. The standard of football is higher, there is the potential of the new stadium at Reds, and crowds show they seem to be going in the right direction again. 'So it's an exciting moment for myself.' Edmondson will be joined at Borough Park by his Penrith assistant Richard Prokas. The pair will work with existing Reds coaches Brian Dawson and Billy Redden, who guided Workington to NPL Premier safety in the closing stages of the 2024/25 season after Fell's departure. In the end Reds shot up to 12th on goal difference on the final day, before pressing on with their move to appoint Edmondson. Fans rally behind Edmondson in 2009 - the new boss hopes for more good backing from the faithful now (Image: PAUL JOHNSON) 'The two clubs [Penrith and Workington] spoke and there was an agreement that Reds would be able to speak to me,' he added. 'It has progressed slowly but quietly, and that's what everybody wanted. Everybody needs to be happy with certain situations, otherwise you're not going in with the right frame of mind. 'We're all happy with where we are. Bringing Richard in is great, and I know Brian and Billy and I'm sure we'll all work well. 'I also know a lot of the players so I think it will be an easy transition for us.' Edmondson believes there is potential for growth at Workington after two seasons back at NPL Premier level. 'The directors realised that the squad had maybe been underachieving last year,' he said. 'In the event they finished ten points off the play-offs, when everyone had been saying at the back end that the second half of the season was dreadful. 'I think it shows that maybe there was a gulf from the top three or four, where all the money was, but then the rest is very similar and very close. 'So the club are quite positive with what we can do next season. We've just got to start recruiting as soon as we can and see if we can pull in as much local talent as we can and see if they're all interested in coming to be part of a new project. 'Then, beyond that, we'll have to look outside the Cumbrian perimeter, which is always a difficult one but we have to consider everything.' Edmondson led Reds to the FA Cup first round in 2008 during his first spell, when they faced Bury (Image: ROBERT RATHBONE) Edmondson enjoyed some good times at Workington from 2007 to 2013, when he was in the infancy of his managerial and coaching career. He led the club in Conference North and also guided them to the FA Cup first round proper in 2008 – the last time they have reached that stage. What, then, about the old maxim of 'never go back'? 'I think that is different as a player to a manager,' he said. 'As a footballer, if you leave and go back two years later, you might be just bringing the same stuff back. 'As a manager, and certainly in my case at Workington, you're talking different times, different people at the helm – and you're different in yourself, differences in how you mature as a coach and a person. 'I was just starting out back then. There were some fantastic times. I'm not thinking about that now. If we can get anywhere near that, it'll be great, and if we don't there'll be reasons for it. 'I'll just give everything I can and try and push what's here and to try and take the club as far forward as we can go.' Certainly the support has grown for Workington of late, the club recently announcing that aggregate numbers through the Borough Park turnstiles (16,372) were at their highest level since the season Reds went out of the Football League (1976/77). Their average home gate of 780 was also their second highest since that campaign. Edmondson hopes to tap into this. 'I think with any club, when the fans are positive and coming down in numbers, that helps the team, doesn't it?' he said. Edmondson and assistant Richard Prokas have left Penrith for Workington (Image: Ben Holmes) 'That's vital and it seems to be what's been happening recently. So there's obviously a good connection between the club and the players and the fans, which is great. 'That was one of the reasons for me – that it seems to be uniting in the right direction, and I think that proved the case over the last few games where they picked up results and the crowd were back supporting the players. 'The first thing that has to be said is that fans have got to keep coming and being positive with the players, and the players will react in the way that everybody responds correctly to praise and positivity.' Edmondson, after his first spell at Workington, had two years at Barrow but, from 2015, other than a short stint with Bradford Park Avenue, was out of front line management for the next seven years, as he spent time as Carlisle United's academy manager and also pursued other opportunities, such as running the Cumbria Institute of Sport at Newton Rigg. His involvement with the latter saw him more closely on Penrith AFC's radar and he returned to the dugout with the Bonny Blues in 2022. He says that opportunity whetted his appetite for the role again. 'I've thanked Billy [Williams, Penrith chairman] for giving me that opportunity, for getting me back into the dugout and reigniting the spark again,' Edmondson said. 'The excitement and the stresses of it all…it comes as a package. But if you're a football person, that's what you enjoy and that's what you like. 'I had three great years at that club. The stadium is now fantastic and I wish everybody there all the best.' Edmondson, from his playing and coaching days, is closely associated with Carlisle United and hopes links between Blues and Reds can be strong, even as he laments United's drop into non-league themselves following consecutive relegations. 'I'm gutted about that,' he said. 'Hopefully it can be a one-year spin-around to get them back [into the EFL]. 'But any help they can give us, and vice-versa…that's got to be positive. I've had Dan Hopper at Penrith, and I've definitely seen a change in him since he came in, got roughed up a little bit and put himself about. 'Hopefully that will set him in good stead, and then likewise I know the directors at Workington have been impressed with the lads they've had from Carlisle. 'I always think it's win-win.' In terms of the immediate in-tray at Workington, Edmondson said: 'Making sure the players the club want to keep, sorting those lads out, is the first thing. 'And then it's looking to see what we can do recruitment-wise. 'In terms of what success looks like…that's a difficult one. 'Some will say now, even though I've done it before, I'm new to this level now and it's like starting again, almost. 'But we need to finish higher than we did last season and be pushing into the top half. We've got to start on a high, with the way the season finished and the fans that came down. 'I think we should be pushing towards play-offs, but that depends on how well we can recruit and retain. It's early days, but we've got to go in with a positive mindset in that if we can finish mid-table, there must be something in that squad that says we can go better than that.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Guiseley fall just short in play-off final as side fail to make most of reprieve
GUISELEY were unable to grasp their second chance in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs, after losing 2-1 at Worksop Town in the final. It means the hosts go up to National League North alongside champions Macclesfield, while condemning their visitors to a fourth consecutive season in the seventh tier of English football. Guiseley finished fourth in the regular season under Mark Bower, putting them into a tricky away play-off semi-final at third-placed Stockton Town last Tuesday. The North-East side won the game 1-0, but were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in captain Adam Nicholson, who should have been suspended for the fixture. After several days of deliberation, the NPL eventually ruled in favour of Gusieley, reinstating them into the play-offs in time for the Bank Holiday Monday final at Worksop. With home advantage after coming second in the regular season, Worksop started the brighter of the two sides, Liam Hughes flashing an early header wide. At the other end, Gabriel Johnson forced a save out of Tommy Taylor, while Prince Ekpolo cut inside and fired over the bar. Gabriel Johnson came close to giving Guiseley an early lead on what proved to be a devastating afternoon for them. (Image: The Yorkshire Photographer) The game burst into life just before the break, with Will Longbottom clearing a Worksop effort off the line, before the striker almost headed home at the other end. Adriano Moke then blazed Ollie Brown's cut back over the bar for the visitors, which proved costly as Worksop took the lead right on half-time, Jordan Burrow powering home a Joe Leesley set-piece. The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half, Joe Cracknell making a cracking initial save after Ben Grist's throw-in caused problems, only for Burrow to head the rebound into the net. Guiseley's fans travelled in good numbers to Worksop, especially as their side only got reinstated in the play-offs on Saturday, but they must have known it was not going to be their day when Worksop went 2-0 up. (Image: The Yorkshire Photographer) Jake Lawlor and Lewis Whitham both had shots that went agonisingly wide for Guiseley, before the latter played through Longbottom, who halved the deficit after keeping his composure when in on goal. Taylor made a good late save from Whitham and Longbottom curled a shot over the bar in second-half stoppage-time as Guiseley failed to find an equaliser, meaning their season ended in heartbreaking fashion.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stockton Town respond to play-off heartbreak with review & 'exciting plans' promised
STOCKTON Town have apologised for the "administrative error" that led to the Anchors being kicked out of the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs. And the club say they will be fuelled by their heartbreaking end to the season and come back stronger, promising some "exciting plans" for the future. Stockton were due to be playing Worksop on Monday for a place in National League North next season but were ejected from the play-offs after fielding an ineligible player in last week's semi-final victory over Guiseley, who took their place in the final. Captain Adam Nicholson was sent off on the final day of the regular season but played against Guiseley, with Stockton saying their understanding was that his suspension wasn't due to start until Saturday, May 3. They were charged by the FA before attending two hearings. It was then decided by the league over the weekend that Stockton wouldn't be allowed to play in the final. RECOMMENDED READING: Stockton then released a fresh and lengthy statement on Monday morning, saying: "Stockton Town Football Club has this week found itself in a difficult position which arose out of an administrative error due to a complex chain of events. "We admit that this shouldn't have happened and apologise to our players, management, supporters and the wider community of Stockton that we have been left in the position of being disqualified from the end of season play-offs. "The club shall review and reflect on the causes of this and we are committed to act on findings to ensure as a club we improve and never again end up in this position. "The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to all that hold this club close to their heart for their understanding, support and commitment to the club over the past week and we are truly humbled by all your messages of support." Stockton have enjoyed a remarkable rise over the course of the last decade and club bosses have vowed to learn from this week's setback and continue their upward trajectory. The statement continued: "Stockton Town Football Club has grown out of adversity and has experienced many difficult days over the years but we have never let any of those define us, and the events of the last week will be another of those. "We have exciting plans for the future and we believe a future that can bring further success and pride to our club and community, but this will only be achieved with the whole club pulling in the same direction. "The club is already well advanced with its plans for the 2025/26 season and we hope to be in a position to begin to share news of those plans coming to fruition in the next few weeks. "Finally we would like to wish both Worksop Town and Guiseley our best wishes for the play-off Final, may the best team win."
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eight key players sign up for Workington Reds next season
Eight key Workington Reds players have committed to the club for next season. The Borough Park club have announced the retention of the players after securing their survival in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. The eight players signing up for 2025/26 include top scorer Steven Rigg and captain Dav Symington. They are joined by goalkeeper Alex Mitchell as well as Jordan Little, Charlie Barnes, Tom Stephenson, Cieran Casson and Kai Nugent. The news comes as a boost to Reds during a spell of upheaval following the recent departures of manager Mark Fell and assistant Graham Lancashire. Caretakers Brian Dawson and Billy Redden have been in caretaker charge for Reds' last two games, and will oversee their final game of the campaign at home to Ashton United on Saturday. Former Carlisle United and Penrith forward Rigg has led the way with 17 league goals this campaign. Steven Rigg (Image: Barbara Abbott) The 32-year-old's experience will remain key at Borough Park under a new manager, while Symington has long been an influential figure at the club. The news of the eight players' deals comes with Workington 18th in the NPL Premier table with one game to go. They secured their safety last week when a 2-0 home win over Prescot Cables was followed by rivals Matlock Town having three points deducted over fielding an ineligible player. Reds' subsequent 1-0 defeat at Morpeth Town did not come at any cost, with the west Cumbrians left eight points clear of the four-team relegation zone with one game to play.
