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{{GBmap|Workington - Cumbria|NX998288}} | |||
'''Workington''' is a town on the west coast of ], ] at the mouth of the ]. The area around Workington has long been a producer of ] and ]. | |||
Workington has a population of around 25,000 people (1991) and is an industrial town. It is the seat of ], which is one of five ] ]s in Cumbria. | |||
Workington has a non league and former professional football team, ], as well as a Pro rugby league and former challenge cup winning team, ], and a professional ] team, the ]. | |||
The town has rail and bus connections to other towns and villages in West Cumbria, ], ], ] and occasional through trains to ]. | |||
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Workington once celebrated its own version of 'Easter Football'. | Workington once celebrated its own version of 'Easter Football'. | ||
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The Downies, traditionally from the Marsh & Quay area of the town which no longer exists, have won every series (of three games) since 1999. | The Downies, traditionally from the Marsh & Quay area of the town which no longer exists, have won every series (of three games) since 1999. | ||
This year's games raised more than £7,000 for a children's respite home in nearby St Bees. | This year's games raised more than £7,000 for a children's respite home in nearby St Bees. | ||
] after the defeat of her forces at the ] fled to England by crossing the Solway Firth, and landed in the vicinity of Workington . She spent her first night in England as an honoured guest in Workington Hall, but was soon moved on to ] Castle. | |||
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The 'Jam Eaters' - a very old rivalry between Workington and the neighbouring town of ] has led to both parties in this rivalry calling each other "jam eaters" as a form of insult. Legend has it that it arises from the mining days and the sandwich filling preference of miners from each town. (Another version is that rates of pay were marginally better in one of the two towns; the inhabitants of one could afford jam on their bread when their poorer neighbours could not). The insult isn't just exclusively used by Workington and Whitehaven, towns such as ] which lies north of Workington also makes heavy use of the insult against Whitehaven. Strangely enough, jam was in fact produced in Maryport for many decades and as a result Whitehaven accuses Maryport of being the "real" Jam Eaters. | |||
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Revision as of 14:22, 27 July 2005
Workington once celebrated its own version of 'Easter Football'.
The somewhat questionable glories of Workington Easter football play have passed away, partly in consequence of the occupation of a portion of the playing ground by railways and works, and not less because of a change of feeling. How long these Easter Tuesday matches between "Uppies" and "Downeys" have gone on no man can tell. In the 19th century it was reported in the Pacquet that the game in 1849 "was played with all the vigour of former days, from times beyond 'the memory of the oldest inhabitant.'" The goals are about a mile apart, one being a capstan at the harbour, and the other the park wall of Workingham (?? Workington) Hall. There are no rules except those suggested by cunning and skill, while brute force is of the greatest importance. If the ball is "haled" over the park wall a sovereign is given by the owner of the estate to the winners, and of course it is spent in liquor. The players sometimes number hundreds, and thousands of people attend as spectators.
Workington still holds annual Uppies and Downies matches every Easter and all though not as popular as they once were, they still attract a fair-sized crowd. The Downies, traditionally from the Marsh & Quay area of the town which no longer exists, have won every series (of three games) since 1999. This year's games raised more than £7,000 for a children's respite home in nearby St Bees.