Last updated at 07:59, Friday, 05 March 2010

WORKINGTON Town officials are hoping a visit to their former Challenge Cup winning player Jackie Thomas can be the inspiration behind an upset of Featherstone Rovers on Sunday.

CUP WINNER: Jackie Thomas, who played in Town’s Challenge Cup winning side of 1952 that beat Featherstone in the final, with Town officials, from left, Ken Wilson, Dave Bowden and Mark Fryer

Thomas was part of the Town team that famously lifted the Challenge Cup after beating Featherstone back in 1952.

And he wished the new generation all the best for Sunday when they tackle their old foe once again – this time in the third round of the prestigious competition.

The stand-off, who is now 86 and still living in the house where he was born in Crynant, Neath, was delighted to get a visit from Town president Ken Wilson, chairman Dave Bowden and vice chairman Mark Fryer on Sunday before their game with the South Wales Scorpions.

Bowden said: “He wished us luck against Featherstone and also said he was pleased to see we had beaten Whitehaven and that he still watches out for our results.

“His son got in touch with us to see if we could go and see him. And we were only too happy to go across last Sunday and meet him, it was marvellous to catch up with him.

“It was fantastic, he showed us his championship medals and the Challenge Cup medal and told us some fantastic stories, including the one when he signed for Workington.

“Crynant is a little mining village in Wales and one day Tom Mitchell turned up on his doorstep trying to sign him at the same time as the president of the club he was then at was nearly crying, trying to persuade him to stay.

“He signed for Town, moved up to Workington and lived on King Street. He said he had fantastic memories of being in Workington and enjoyed every minute of it.

“He still remembers everything about the Challenge Cup final but he gave his cup final shirt to his son and it was torn and all he now has left is the badge so we presented him with a club tie.”

Jackie’s son Alan thanked the club for their visit, saying: “He was delighted that they took the time to come and see him and was the brightest he’d been for some time due to his ill health.

“Sorry that Town didn’t manage to pull off the win but it was great to be there to see the first ever rugby league game on Neath’s ground.”

All adult season ticket holders will be admitted free for the Challenge Cup clash against Featherstone, at Bigfellas Stadium, on Sunday, 3pm ko, upon production of their valid season ticket.

Junior Rover ticket holders will also be admitted free upon production of your valid Junior Rover ticket at the turnstile.

Town Flyer: Monday, EL Mulcaster, Northside, B2617; Tuesday, C Hampson, Wigton, C0362; Wednesday, RA Hurrell, Maryport, C3578; yesterday, K Hodgson, Workington, C3572; today, Alice Clark, Seaton, B9987.

£200 monthly winner: DJ Warbrick, St Bees.

First published at 19:29, Thursday, 04 March 2010
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk