Carlisle United was formed in 1904 following the controversial merger of two local clubs, Carlisle Red Rose and Shaddongate United. The merged side initially competed in the Lancashire Combination League after agreeing to pay the travelling expenses of visiting teams after it was pointed out that Cumberland was as far from Lancashire as London is, well, almost. The club moved into a new, purpose built ground at Brunton Park in 1909 - still their home today - and transferred to the North-Eastern League a year later, where they remained until elected into the Football League in 1928, at the expense of Durham.

Slightly unusual Main Stand with seating up the top, a standing area known as The Paddock down below Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

Many seasons followed of what can only be described as complete mediocrity, with the club a permanent fixture in the basement of the Football League, until, in 1962, United were promoted to Division 3. They were relegated back down to the basement a year later, but the smell of success was in the club's nostrils. Alan Ashman was appointed as manager and Carlisle were again promoted back to Division 3 in the 63-64 season. The rise of the club under Ashman was now well underway and the Division 3 Championship was won the following season.

Ashman left the club in 1967 and some years of consolidation in the Second Division followed under new manager Bob Stokoe, including reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup in 1969. Alan Ashman returned as manager in 1972 after Stokoe moved to Sunderland, and two years later Carlisle enjoyed their one and only season in the top flight of English football, even heading the Division One table for a brief period in the early season. That was as good as it got for the Cumbrians however and by the end of the 74-75 season they were relegated back down to Division Two.

There followed a long and gradual decline for the club, apart from a brief revival under the returning Bob Stokoe in 1982 when United were promoted into the Second Division, where they remained for four more years before slipping back down the leagues again. The nadir seemed to have been reached in 1992 when the club finished bottom of Division Four and broke, only surviving the drop into the Conference because Aldershot went bust themselves and dropped out of the league. Carlisle's finances weren't in a much better state, and the club seriously considered going part-time to save money when what appeared to be a white knight rode into view to save the day.....

Traditional terraced stand for the home support behind the goal. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

Former Manchester United director, UFO spotter and famous self-publicist Michael Knighton took over at Carlisle and for a while Blues fans thought that they were in heaven. Money was invested in the club and performances on the field improved with the 3rd Division play-offs being reached in the 93-94 season and the title itself being won the year after, as well as the club reaching the Auto-Windscreens Shield Final at Wembley, where they lost 1-0 to Birmingham. Instead of 2nd Division consolidation the following season the club found itself relegated back to Division 3 after a desperately disappointing campaign; but their impression of a yo-yo continued apace when in the 96-97 season they not only won automatic promotion to Division 2, but also returned to Wembley for the Auto-Windscreens Shield final which this time they won, beating Colchester 4-3 on penalties.

It was around now that Carlisle fans realised that the man they initially thought was the club's saviour was, in fact, losing the plot. Chairman Knighton appointed a new 3-man coaching team to guide the club through the 2nd Division, including someone called Michael Knighton. Are you Terry Smith in disguise? Inevitably the club were relegated back down to Division Three at the end of the 97-98 season, escaping relegation to the Conference by the skin of their teeth at times, most famously in the final match of the 98-99 season when on-loan keeper Jimmy Glass saved the Cumbrians by scoring an injury-time goal in the final game of the season which kept Carlisle in the Football League at the expense of Scarborough.

The open terrace of the Petteril End is available if enough away supporters are expected. You'll be shocked to hear it's rarely used. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

Off the field the club remained in turmoil with fans protesting about Knighton's continuing reign and organising boycotts and protests. Eventually, after several false starts, including a farcical episode when a feted supposed purchaser turned out to be a waiter in an Indian restaurant, and amidst talk of receivership, administration and even possible liquidation, a credible buyer for the club emerged and in 2002 John Courteney bought out Knighton. On the field United continued to struggle in the league but in 2003 under manager Roddy Collins once again reached the final of the LDV Vans Trophy (formerly the Auto-Windscreens Shield), losing to Bristol City.

In recent years, it certainly hasn't been boring at Brunton Park. They have been relegated to the Conference, bounced straight back into the Football League through the play-offs, and then immediately followed that with promotion to League One as Champions. There was another failure in the Football League Trophy Final as well, in 2006. Whilst that was going on they also changed owner again. A finish in the top half of the table in their first season back in League One was also an impressive return.

They have gone from strength to strength, although taking a strange route, with managers coming and going. Paul Simpson, who had been part of their successful leap from the Conference to League One, disappeared off to Preston North End. His replacement, Neil McDonald, appeared to have done well enough during the 2006-07 season and so there was shock ... no wait let's call that total astonishment..... when on August 13th 2007 he became the earliest sacking of the season, with the Carlisle board saying they'd lost confidence in their manager.

Somewhere in that boardroom madness though, Carlisle must have known what they were doing - perhaps. Greg Abbott became a pseudo-caretaker for a couple of months, and then Carlisle made their big move, nobbling Cheltenham Town manager John Ward. From that the Cumbrians built and progressed although failing at the last, just missing out on automatic promotion and then losing in the play-offs. However they then lost patience again a few months into the 2008-09 season and sacked Ward, who they'd taken so much trouble, and expense in the form of compensation, to secure hardly more than a year earlier. Abbott was made caretaker again, but this time went on to take the position on a permanent basis. They finally finished in 20th.

League form has been patchy this season, but the club has continued its love affair with the Football League Trophy, reaching the Final for the fifth time in a decade and a half, which is why we find our lengthy trip switched to mid-week.

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RECENT RESULTS

07/08/2010	Brentford	Home	NPL1	W	2-0	5913		Madine 22, Harte 45
14/08/2010	Plymouth Argyle	Away	NPL1	D	1-1	7782		Harte 68
21/08/2010	Milton Keynes Dons	Home	NPL1	W	4-1	5205		Zoko 42, Berrett 45, Madine 55, Taiwo 61
27/08/2010	Colchester United	Away	NPL1	D	1-1	4475		Thirlwell 90

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Ian Harte	2	0	0	0	0	2
Gary Madine	2	0	0	0	0	2
Paul Thirlwell	1	0	0	0	0	1
Francois Zoko	1	0	0	0	0	1
James Berrett	1	0	0	0	0	1
Tom Taiwo	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 5913, vs Brentford, 07/08/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 5205, vs Milton Keynes Dons, 21/08/2010
Average League Attendance: 5559

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	1		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	2		Games Without Defeat:	4
Games Without A Home Defeat:	2		Games Without An Away Defeat:	2
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	4		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:	WW
Away Results Sequence:	DD		Overall Results Sequence:	WDWD

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The East Stand, called the Cumberland Building Society Stand on our previous visits but now The Story Homes Stand. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

Away fans are stuck in a corner of the East Stand that isn't even in line with the pitch. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

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Local Pubs :

Carlisle Rugby Union Football Club: Not our usual sort of recommendation, but this outlet is right next to the football ground, and is much frequented by Association fans as well as egg chasers. The bar is open from 12.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. on Saturdays in the rugby season. Beers are Theakston Best and Yates plus a guest at the weekends. Renovated and extended after the floods. There's a patio area for smokers. Carlisle Rugby Union Football Club, Rugby Ground, Warwick Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1LW. Tel: 01228 521300. Map: Click Here.

Friendly traditional boozer © Hugh Gleave Cumberland Inn: Popular town centre outlet of the traditional drinking and pub games variety. Very convenient for those arriving and/or leaving by train. Opening times are 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Beer was Black Sheep Best and Deuchars IPA, and there's usually a guest at the weekend. Friendly welcoming landlady on our last visit. No children under 16 though. Cumberland Inn, 22, Botchergate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1QS. Tel: 01228 536900. Map: Click Here.

Gosling Bridge Inn: Large modernish place which had a major refurbishment in 2006 on the A7 (No. 63 bus route), about a mile and a half north from the centre of Carlisle. Right next to a Premier Inn if you're looking to stay over. Opening is 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11.00 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Serves Pedigree, Theakston's Best and a guest as the real ales, Carlsberg, Fosters, Kronenbourg, Stella, John Smiths Smooth, Guinness and Strongbow Cider as the other stuff. Food served from noon to 10.00 p.m. and children are welcome up to 9.00 p.m. Plenty of parking, disabled provision, patio area, plasma screen TV. Gosling Bridge Inn, Kingstown Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 0AT. Tel: 01228 515294. Map: Click Here.

Howard Arms: Town centre pub by the Lanes shopping area and not far from the railway station. Open from 11.00 a.m. -11.00 p.m. and does lunchtime meals. Real ales are Theakston Best and a guest. Has large-screen TV and shows the major sports events. Howard Arms, 107, Lowther Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8ED. Tel: 01228 532926. Map: Click Here.

Fingers crossed the landlord has changed © Hugh Gleave King's Head: Bang in the centre of the city near the cathedral and castle, this pub was reopened in 2002. The principle outlet in Carlisle for Yates beers. An upstairs dining area serves food from 12.00 noon - 3.00 p.m.; the pub itself is open from 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Children were only allowed in the dining area. On our previous visit we found the landlord to be, not to put too fine a point on it, a rude anti-social misery who made it abundantly clear he didn't want the custom of this particular group of Yeovil fans. Could have changed hands by now.........? A new all-weather covered yard facility with large screen TV has been created for smokers. King's Head, Fisher Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 8RF. Tel: 01228 540100. Map: Click Here.

Opposite the stadium © Hugh Gleave The Beehive: Closest pub right opposite the ground on the A69. Serves Theakston's. Allows away supporters. The Beehive, Warwick Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1LH. Map: Click Here.

The Griffin: Converted from the old Midland Bank, and right in the centre of Carlisle, close to the railway station. Usually has two or three real ales, like Caledonian Deuchars IPA, a Jennings and a guest. The gassy stuff is Carling, Fosters, Fosters Super Chilled, Kronenbourg, Stella, John Smiths Smooth, Young's Scotch, Guinness, Guinness Extra Cold, Strongbow Cider. Opening is Sunday to Thursday 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m., Friday 10.00 a.m. - midnight, Saturday 10.00 a.m. - 12.30 a.m.; with food served from 10.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Sunday. It's an over 18 only pub, with two pool tables and Sky Sports & Premiership Plus on a multitude of screens and TVs. Wheelchair access and disabled adapted toilet facilities. Street tables in the summer. The Griffin, Court Square, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1QX. Tel: 01228 598941. Map: Click Here.

© Hugh Gleave The White House: The next pub on the mainroad after The Beehive, as one gets further from the ground towards the town centre, and about half way between the railway station and Brunton Park. We hear it won't allow away fans in colours. The White House, Warwick Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1DN. Tel: 01228 532546. Map: Click Here.

The Woodrow Wilson - the U.S. president visited Carlisle once © Hugh Gleave Woodrow Wilson: Close by the Cumberland Inn and the railway station this is a J D Wetherspoon. Has a couple of local beers as well as the usual Wetherspoon range. Children allowed. Opening 9.00 a.m. - midnight on Sunday - Thursday, 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday - Saturday. Since our last trip to Carlisle a second Wetherspoon has opened, The William Rufus, a Lloyds No.1 bar, further along the same road at 10-16 Botchergate. Opens slightly later, to 2.00 a.m. Thursday - Saturday. Woodrow Wilson, 48, Botchergate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1QS. Tel: 01228 819942. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Slim at best - unless you're fluent in Gaelic? Perhaps you are.

Top-Tip :

Do tell Carlisle fans that we had that Jimmy Glass at our club once..... No need to mention that he was on trial for a week and then released for being pants.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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