Richard Prokas was this week confirmed as the new assistant to Penrith AFC first team manager Darren Edmondson as preparations continue for Northern League football kicking off next weekend.
Edmondson, who is 51 and hails from Coniston, and 47-year-old Prokas, from Penrith, are former Carlisle United team-mates who played for the Brunton Park men at Wembley in the 1995 Auto Windscreens Shield final.
More recently, the pair donned United’s famous deckchair strip in a fundraising legends fixture against a Penrith side at Frenchfield Park in May.
After being sounded out by Edmondson, Prokas attended Penrith pre-season training and held talks with club chairman Billy Williams before agreeing to rejoin a club he jointly managed with James Tose more than a decade ago.
“It probably came at the right time,” Prokas told the Herald. “It’s nice to get back into football and it’s exciting times especially with the new 4G pitch (currently being installed). It’s something to look forward to.”
Prokas was on the touchline as Penrith won 2-1 at Gretna FC 2008 on Saturday July 15 with goals from Dan Smailes and Robbie Hebson, before a 3-1 midweek win over Kendal Town with Hebson again on target along with DJ Taylor and new arrival Owen Wiggett.
The Blues travel to Workington on Tuesday (25th July, 7-30pm ko) before their Northern League Division I campaign starts with a trip to Whitley Bay next Saturday.
“We know it’s going to be a tough season. It’s a tough league. We’re under no illusions about it,” said Prokas, whose stepson, Cameron, is in the Blues squad. “There are a lot of clubs with bigger budgets. We’re also competing with Carlisle City for players so it’s hard.
“The lads finished last season strongly so we want to try and kick on from there.
“I’m sure they’ll do well this season if they’re prepared to listen to what Darren and myself have to say.
“First impressions are that they’re going to do that. We’ve got to get points on the board to make sure we’re safe, and we’ll see where we go from there to the next step.”
Williams gave his thumbs up to the arrival of Prokas, who made more than 200 appearances for Carlisle and has latterly been involved as a player at Penrith-based Westmorland League side Wetheriggs United. “We’re absolutely delighted, chuffed to bits,” said the chairman.
Prokas was in joint charge with Tose when Penrith last lifted silverware — the Cumberland FA Senior Cup in 2009-10 when they defeated Gillford Park in the final.
“He was successful when he was here then,” said Williams. “He is really big on fitness as well. He gives us that local connection which is fantastic for everybody. It’s a big plus.”
As a major revamp of Penrith’s Frenchfield Park stadium continues, the first XI will play their first eight Northern League games away from home before improvements are due to be
completed in mid-September.
It was confirmed that an FA Cup extra preliminary round home tie against Boro Rangers on 5th August will be played at Carlisle City’s Gillford Park.
