First of all I must thank Mike and his mechanics for allowing me the opportunity to add some dialogue to the wonderful Workington web site. Secondly perhaps I should explain the page title. This transpires from my early days as Town academy manager when 'kipper', Craig Fisher, to those who aren't in nickname mode, used to rib me with such as "hey chrome dome why the long face?". He, and others, still greet me using the affectionate(?) c.d. handle, and on reflection I usually manage some polished replies.

Enough of the demeaning preamble though and lets get into Town gear. The friendly result at Chorley seems to have given the perennial 'unknown warriors' a boost following their rather (dare I say ?) ..'decent' effort at Widnes. The thing is you really can't take these jaunts as a form guide , they are used primarily as a function to shake off any pre season cob webs and the subs bench gets red hot from over use. The true guide will come when the season kicks off in anger.

I have commented in the main Town programme regarding my gut feeling of optimism for this coming campaign. Mainly hope springs eternal from the strength in depth of the new look squad. With the pack looking the best combination of power and guile since Jimmy Pickering and co. dominated our section of the RFL.

Surely that disastrous opening of twelve(ish) months ago will not occur,ever again. I notice on the Town.net message board some are having a gamble on the attendance's at Derwent Park. All good fun, and it's another useful tool for relaying the 'word' that Town are back, almost from the brink in some respects. Hopefully the Internet gamblers will indeed log off on Sundays and storm the turnstiles along with hundreds (thousands preferably) of others, I'm confident they will. I also have observed that the 'site' unfortunately provides a vehicle for the marras down the road to air their wicked, warped, waffling. But hey, let's assist our team to supply the better/best 'hits' out on the park, and in a more mature way from the terraces.

Finally. for now, congratulations to my good friend Paul Penrice on becoming the Town Alliance coach. I know how committed he was to the Academy cause and I'm sure he will carry on in that manner with his new role.

Now where's that sponge while I spruce up the 'dome' for the new season.

K.S.

History Corner
FROM A DISTANCE....
TOWN 19 v. ROCHDALE HORNETS 0
(played at Borough Park, March 9th. 1946.)
Town scorers:-
Tries: Carr 1, Hughes 1, Jepson 1, Proud 1, and Rodgers 1.
Goals: Holding 2.
Town Team: Holding, Irving, Carr, Proud, Rodgers, Jepson, A.Pepperell, F.Hughes, Bradshaw, J.Hayton, Cavanagh, C.Hughes, S.Hayton.