Workington Reds are hoping for a bumper crowd tomorrow when they welcome former skipper Tony Hopper back to Borough Park.

The ex-Reds midfielder and his family will be guests of honour at the club's Northern Premier League clash with Stourbridge, ko 3pm.

It comes after Hopper, 40, was diagnosed with bulbar-onset motor neurone disease.

Reds are keen to play their part in supporting their inspirational former player, and help to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Reds joint managers Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews were team-mates of Hopper's at Workington, along with current players Gari Rowntree, Anthony Wright and Aaran Taylor.

Hewson said the ex-Carlisle United star was a real role model and that he hoped everyone showed their support by packing Borough Park to the rafters.

"We don't want a big crowd for any other reason than to support Tony tomorrow," he said.

"He has played with a number of different people over the years and we hope that as many of them as possible will come down.

"This is a good opportunity for everyone involved with the club to show their support for Tony and what he is going through.

"And also to say thanks for everything he has done for Workington Reds over the years."

Hewson took over the captaincy from Hopper when he retired and said that he was a big act to follow.

He said: "I was a team-mate of Tony's for a number of those years and he had a big influence on me as a player, as he did for a lot of the younger boys around the club at that time.

"He was a role model and a positive influence both on and off the pitch to both players and everyone associated with the club.

"A lot of people also knew him outside of football as a friend so it just adds even more meaning to this game.

"We just want everyone, staff, players and supporters to show their support and appreciation to Tony tomorrow."

Tony and his family have been invited to the match and will have a meal in the Shankly Lounge before the game.

He will then walk down the tunnel and acknowledge the Borough Park crowd before kick-off.

The Hoppers have set a target of raising £10,000 for MNDA in the hope that their efforts will help others avoid having to endure the same heartache as them.

And they are around halfway to that target thanks to the efforts of fundraisers and his former clubs.

Reds face one of their toughest tests of the season against third placed Stourbridge but Hewson admitted it would cap a great day if they could pull off the win.

"To get a win would just top it all off," he added. "It is a big game, made even bigger by Tony being there.

"Every game from now until the end of the season is massive and to get a win tomorrow would be the icing on the cake."

Reds held a bucket collection for Hopper at the match against Skelmersdale which raised £475 and there will be another tomorrow.

After making over a hundred appearances for his hometown club, Carlisle, Tony joined Reds and played 269 games, 54 as captain.

His career spanned nine seasons at Borough Park with the 2007-08 campaign probably his best when he was voted Players’ Player of the Year and made 50 appearances.

Reds director, Steve Durham, added: "Tony was inspirational throughout. He is even more inspirational now and Reds supporters are keen to acknowledge his contribution to the club and the impact he has made throughout Cumbria."

Anyone wanting to donate to the Hoppers appeal can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tony-Hopper.