Alternative History - Carlisle United

When Shaddongate United and Carlisle Red Rose merged, their fans heaved a huge sigh of relief. The 1903 union of the two sides saved a lot of shouting for each set of supporters and Brunton Park saw Division 3 (North) action for the first time in 1928, after a number of years playing in the Lancashire Combination - even though the club did not reside in that county !! There was little to celebrate in those early years, except the fact that almost every club complained about travelling to the remote Northern ground. Even their nearest rivals - Newcastle United - moaned about making the 58 mile trip. Some reporters felt that if the ball had been kicked over the wall, that it would drop off the edge of the world. Well, it was nearly Scotland !! But for all the complaints, the ground was the first outside London to have floodlights and they were needed as most games would have been played in pitch darkness even on a Saturday afternoon.

Even Bill Shankly, who managed the club from 1949 to 1951 could not rouse the sleeping beast within Carlisle and it took until 1965 for the Cumbrians to win their first trophy and the Division Three championship helped them up the League, until in 1974-75 they stood proudly at the top of Div. 1 for a couple of weeks. This didn't last and they were relegated at the end of that season. By 1984, they were back in the League basement. It was in 1995 that they won the Division Three title again, but their rise only lasted a season. Indeed it was only the famous Glass incident in the last kick of the last game that their on loan keeper kept them in the League. Recently the club have been more famous for off the field activities. Chairman Michael Knighton has ruled the roost and has tried to raise money for the club by trying to attract UFO's to land there. Sponsors - Eddie Stobart, the haulage firm - have brought notoriety to the side by changing their away strip to their livery of gold, green and red. The most recent furore has sprung up around the plan to merge with Clydebank and take their place in the Scottish League. Most English clubs have endorsed this plan as it would be cheaper for the Scottish sides to travel to Carlisle than those in the English League. Other schemes have been a renaming of the side to be Carlisle North End, to reflect their position in the country, but it was thought this would be unnecessary.

The 1999-2000 season has seen Carlisle sink to near the bottom of Division Three and in a repeat of last term, they managed to stay in the League by two goals from Chester who went into the Conference on goal difference after the results on last day of the season. 2000-01 was a little easier for them as they were safe coming into the last day and there were no need for last minute heroics.

Their league status was lost in 2004 and the side are now buoyant again, pushing for promotion back to League 2 and make a comeback after nearly floating away in the floods of early 2005 that put Brunton Park under water.

FAMOUS PLAYERS : - Alan Ashman, Norman Scott, Peter Beardsley, Alan Ross, Harry Shepherd, Matt Jansen.
FAMOUS FANS :- Lee Brennan (singer in 911 - a boy band).

Formed	1903
Turned Professional	1903
Became a Limited Company	1921
Former names	1903-1904 = Shaddongate United
Previous grounds	1903-1905 = Milholme Bank 1905-1909 = Devonshire Park
Nickname	"The CUMBRIANS" or "The BLUES"
Club Colours	HOME : Shirts - Blue and white striped shirts Shorts - White Socks - Blue AWAY : All white with green and red trim
Record Football League Win	8-0 v Hartlepool United Division 3 (North) 1.9.1928 8-0 v Scunthorpe United Div 3 25.12.1952
Record Football League Defeat	1-11 v Hull City Div 3 (North) 14.1.1939
Record Cup Win	6-0 v Shepshed Dynamo FAC R1 16.11.1996
Record Fee Paid	£121,000 to Notts. County for David REEVES (December 1993)
Record Fee Received	£1 million from Crystal Palace for Matt JANSEN (February 1998)
Record Football League Appearances	466 - Allan ROSS (1963-79)
Record goalscorer in a season	42 - Jimmy McCONNELL Division 3 (North) 1928-29
Record all-time goalscorer	126 - Jimmy McCONNELL (1928-32)
Most goals in a match	5 - Hugh MILLS v Halifax Town Division 3 (North) 11.9.1937 5 - Jim WHITEHOUSE v Scunthorpe United Division 3 (North) 25.12.1952
Record Attendance (all-time)	27,500 v Birmingham City FA Cup R3 5.1.1957 27,500 v Middlesbrough FA Cup R5 7.2.1970
Record Match Receipts	£146,000 v Tottenham Hotspur League Cup R2 2L 30.9.1997
Record total of goals in a League season	113 - Division 4 1963-64
Record League points total	3 points for a win : - 91 - Division 3 1994-95 2 points for a win : - 62 - Division 3 (North) 1950-51
Oldest Player	Bryan 'Pop' ROBSON 39 years 321 days v Shrewsbury Town 28.9.1985
Youngest Player	Rory DELAP 16 years 306 days v Scarborough 8.5.1993
Most Capped player while at club	4 - Eric WELSH (Northern Ireland)

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