TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION
CARLISLE UNITED
Carlisle United’s origins can be traced back to 1904 and the annual meeting of Shaddongate United when members of the club voted to change their name to Carlisle United. In 1905, they joined the Lancashire Combination and four years later moved to Brunton Park. From 1910 they competed in the North Eastern League, winning the title in 1922.
In 1928, Carlisle United replaced Durham City in the Football League. Carlisle’s first fixture in August 1928 saw a 3-2 victory at Accrington Stanley. A week later they overcame Hartlepool 8-0, still the club record victory. In 1962, Carlisle clinched promotion for the first time in their history but twelve months later returned to Division Four. The following year Carlisle were promoted again with a record 113 goals scored. Carlisle were promoted to the First Division (now the Premier League) for the 1974-75 season and in the words of Bill Shankly, it was ‘the greatest feat in the history of the game’. They won their first three games and briefly stood at the top of the First Division but despite playing attractive football, the Cumbrians eventually finished bottom. This remains as their only ever appearance in the top flight. A club steeped in history and drama – none less so than when keeper Jimmy Glass scored with the last kick of the season in May 1999 to secure their
league status. But after just one win in the first 21 games of the 2003-04 campaign, the Blues did drop out of the Football League just nine days before the club’s centenary. Carlisle spent just one season in the Conference defeating Stevenage in the play off final and then twelve months later, became champions of League Two. In 2008 Carlisle reached the Division One play offs, losing to Leeds United. After several mid table finishes, 2013-14 ended with relegation back to League Two and although the Blues enjoyed an upbeat spell under Keith Curle a play-off campaign in 2016-17 ended in defeat to Exeter City in the semi-final. John Sheridan took over from Curle but was tempted away six months later by Chesterfield, and Steven Pressley was appointed during the January 2019 transfer window. He parted ways with the club 10 months later, with Chris Beech appointed at the end of November 2019. After an 18th place PPG finish last season, the Blues have made a fantastic start to the campaign this term, currently topping the table and occupying the promotion/playoff places since mid-October. Their impressive home form has been a major contributor to that as they have amassed 25 out of a possible 30 points at Brunton Park. Away from home, they have four wins from their 11 games so far and five losses.
FORMED 1904
NICKNAME The Blues, The Cumbrians
BRUNTON PARK Capacity 18,202
RECORD SCORER Jimmy McConnell 126 (1928-32)
RECORD APPEARANCES Alan Ross 466 (1963-79)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID Joe Garner £140k To Blackburn Rovers 2007 RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED Matt Jansen £1.2m From Crystal Palace 1998
POSITION
1
ST
POINTS
39
21
