With the coming of February I tend to get a tingle running through my veins - the Doc has run many checks but he hasn't really diagnosed the problem. It is, to be candid, a feeling that has settled down a tadge recently. No, not since I've mellowed with age. More likely because some powerful(?) individuals have effectively mutated one link of my lifestyle - thereby inducing less to get aroused about these days. That sounds sad and, or, painful doesn't it?

Has anyone out there actually got my drift yet? I'm not referring to the fact that I never get a St. Valentine card any more.

Someone will surely have sussed that I am in fact afflicted by 'Challenge Cup mode'. It is (was for most clubs) the month of February when the real business of treading the 'road to the final' got underway. I am not old enough to have enjoyed an outing to a Cup Final when Town were there. The day may yet come- the dream will always linger on - but as I said earlier-' the gods of the game have made it ever more unlikely'. It really hurts to think that Town may never again be afforded the opportunity to delight the young fans of today via cup conquests.

However, even those bastions (must keep it clean) of the game cannot erase my own memories. Some of which I want to share with you now.

Remember the good old days when thirty pro clubs were in the draw from Round One? (two amateurs rounded it up to 32). As a Town fanatic, during my schooldays of the early sixties, the cup draw was nervously awaited. The fervour of it being stoked up as a home draw, versus any team, gave Workington a chance of progressing. The pack of such as Edgar, Martin, Gardiner, Foster was feared throughout the game, and especially so if visiting Derwent Park.

My very first year of the 'faith' saw Town beat Rochdale in round one, not a spectacular performance against a moderate team. Next it was Oldham away, a tough one this. At thirteen years of age I didn't have the resources to make the trip, instead all that Saturday afternoon I played (and prayed - honestly) outside with my mates, I was 'Town' and I beat all others, (my side-step was a gem) thereby signifying the Oldham result would be good.

I'll never forget our old b&w Invicta tv set, it was brilliant - sometimes - but at 5pm that day it peaked when the cup score of Oldham 0, Town 5 was announced. Roll on Monday mornings school to bait the Haven fans. And of course the next draw was for the quarter finals. Their was a song in the charts called '24 hours from Tulsa' - Gene Pitney sang it, and we Townies at Ehenside School converted it to 24 hours from Wembley. The draw at home to Hull K.R. had us aching with anticipation. Town had beaten the Robins already 31-4 at home, a recent visit to Craven Park saw HKR only just win by 12-7. Plus they were full of veterans. Who would we meet in the Semi?

15,000 were present on match day, most anticipating the slaughter. Have I told you I was a worrier in previous Chrome Domes? Well I was/am, and when one of my fave players was missing through injury - Harry Archer - my faith was unsettled. Not for long after the kick-off though, when Ike shot in at the corner flag 3-0, Wembley here we come. The next 78 minutes were the first of the worst suffered as a Townie (too many more since). All hopes of Wembley were dashed out of sight. However, it had been a special season to make the last eight, the cup was 'magical' right enough.

I could go on forever I guess - but will reserve more 'cup moments' until after we beat CLL.
K.S.