Last updated at 12:29, Friday, 23 November 2012

Workington Town began the build-up for the 2013 Championship season when they held their first training session at Copeland Stadium last night.

WORLD CUP ROADSHOW: Young fans at Maryport amateur rugby league club get a chance to see the RL World Cup ahead of next year’s competition during which the Scotland side will be based in West Cumbria

And they were joined by points machine Carl Forber, who has penned a new deal at Derwent Park.

Gary Charlton and fellow joint coach Martin Oglanby start their fourth season in charge at Derwent Park, after guiding Town to promotion.

Charlton said: “It’s going to be a big step up for the youngsters and a new era for the club.

“We still need a few more players before the season kicks off but we are targeting the right mix of youth and experience that we’ll need to compete.

“Carl’s signature has further strengthened our squad, and it’s getting very competitive.

“It’s going to take a lot of work to get the players up and running and ready for what lies ahead.

“We’ve got to get the lads prepared right.

Charlton sees the pre-season friendlies as vital to the preparation. He said: “We could play weaker teams than the amateur sides and get a bit of confidence under our belts but I feel that playing better sides is going to do the players more good in the long run and show them what they can expect.”

A product of the St Helens academy, Forber made two Super League appearances for Saints as an 18-year-old before playing four times for Leigh in the elite competition in 2005.

Town’s Jarrad Stack, Elliott Miller, Graeme Mattinson, Dan Rooney and Jonathan Dawes have all undergone surgery missing the first training session, while time will be taken over Peter Lupton after it was decided he didn’t need surgery on his knee injury.

Town’s Derwent Park is now out-of-bounds, as improvements have started in preparation for the 2013 World Cup games to be staged there but Copeland Stadium is not a new training venue for the club.

“We’ve trained there for the last few years,” added Charlton, “One thing Martin and I wanted when we first came to the club were good facilities for training. Copeland Stadium has an all-weather training surface, a running track and a gym. They are very good facilities, we can train there in all weather conditions, and we get looked after.”

l Town Flyer: Monday, M Curwen, Workington, A2018; Tuesday, R Cavanagh, Moorclose, D1965; Wednesday, Barry Cox, Workington, B0674; yesterday, Eric Clark, Seaton, B3139; today, P Wilson, Seaton, A9424.

First published at 11:01, Friday, 23 November 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk