Retro: Worksop Town recover after inconsistent start to 1938/39 season

September 1938 ended with an away Yorkshire League game for the 1st XI against Selby Town (writes Steve Jarvis).
The 1938/39 Worksop Town team.The 1938/39 Worksop Town team.
The 1938/39 Worksop Town team.

That this was won by 2-1 was a bit of a surprise after the earlier indifferent form.

The reserves, having beaten Beighton MW 3-2 at Central Avenue in a Sheffield Association League game, then proceeded to lose the return fixture by 7-1 in the very next match, so the inconsistency was not just confined to the first team.

Saturday October 1st brought the opening round of the Yorkshire League cup, and the “Robins” as Worksop were then known due to their Red and White strip, had drawn a “plum” home tie against Sheffield United “A”, which was sure to draw a good crowd.

Worksop didn’t disappoint their fans, winning through to Round 2 after a 3-1 win. Unfortunately “normal” service resumed a week later as Upton Colliery came to Central Avenue and won 2-1.

The second XI, meanwhile, picked up with home wins v Sheffield FC (5-3), South Kirkby Reserves (3-0) and Armthorpe Welfare (4-2), adding a further point from a 4-4 draw at Lopham.

The game against Sheffield FC was actually a Sheffield Senior Cup tie, following which Worksop were “informed” that the 1st XI MUST appear in the following rounds.

After the Upton defeat, the Yorkshire League side saw out October by drawing 2-2 away to Huddersfield Town “A”, and then winning at home against Yorkshire Amateur 4-2. A 5-2 away win at bottom markers, Altofts West Riding Colliery, saw Worksop Town move up to a mid-table slot. Leeds United “A” were top, followed by Sheffield Wed “A” and York City reserves.