Lifelong Workington AFC fan Joe Holt remembers the FA Cup third round clash between Manchester United in January 1958, one of the 'Busby Babes' final ever games, a month later on February 6th the Munich Air Disaster claimed 23 lives, including eight of the United team, also injuring 19.

This year marked the 65th anniversary of the disaster and, of course, that FA Cup match. I was in attendance at Workington’s fixture against Bootle at Borough Park, very different from their Football League days as they languish in the 8th-tier of English football. At Borough Park, I spoke to life-long Workington fan, Joe Holt, who shared his memories of that day in 1958.

Holt’s knowledge of the game was fascinating. He tells me the FA Cup match saw a star-studded ‘Red Devil’s’ side including England internationals such as highly-rated youngster Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Violet to name a few - with Violet netting a hat-trick.

It was the low league ‘Reds’ who drew first blood as Clive Colbridge gave Workington the lead going into half time. A quick-fire treble by Violet handed ‘Busby’s Babes’ the victory and progression, but this was one of their final games together.

Holt has been an ever-present supporter at Borough Park, supporting Workington through demotions and promotions but continues as a regular fan.

He told me about how good the ’58 tie was for Workington, especially welcoming a team of the calibre of Manchester United. It had a massive impact on attendances, with a reported 21,000 people crammed into Borough Park.

Holt explained how much Workington struggled in that season, finishing in the low parts of the Third Division North, but home form saved them as they moved into the old Fourth Division - now League Two - but a tie as big as they got had a huge impact on the club.

From revenue, to record crowds, and a chance for a satisfactory FA Cup tie for the low league ‘Reds’, Workington took plenty of positives from the encounter. However, a month later of their cup clash United were victims of a that horrific incident, which saw the whole world in shock.

Matt Busby survived and rebuilt the team. And, where Manchester United has gone onto bigger and better things, with plenty of Premier League, UCL titles to name a few, Workington plummeted into the pits of non-league after the club was demoted, and now find themselves in the Northern Premier League Division One West, the 8th-tier of English Football and are having a great season to date, mounting a promotion push.

Despite the tragedy, the match in January 1958 will always be etched in the history of Workington. It is a double-edged sword for the people in Cumbria who lived through it, as they will cherish the day their team hosted a decorated outfit in Manchester United but also will have sadness at the events that took lives a month later.