Early Days 1904 - 1928
The first football clubs in Carlisle were founded around 1880, and the origins of Carlisle United can be traced back to May 1904. In that month, Shaddongate United, a prominent local team, changed their name to Carlisle United, probably in an attempt to establish themselves as a representative Carlisle team. In 1905 Carlisle United joined the Lancashire Combination and in 1909 moved to their present ground at Brunton Park. The following year they entered the Northern Eastern league, winning the title for the only time in 1921/22. Six years later, Carlisle United were elected to Division Three North of the Football League in place of Durham City.
Into the Football League 1928 - 1946
Carlisle’s first League fixture in August 1923 saw a 3-2 victory at Accrington. A week later they overcame Hartlepool 8-0, - still United’s record League win, though it was later equalled on Christmas Day 1952 when Scunthorpe were beaten by the same score. Carlisle finished in eighth place in their inaugural campaign which proved to be the best in the pre-war era. Indeed, in 1934/35 the Club finished bottom of the table and had to seek re-election for the only time. Soon after the Second World War began in 1939, Carlisle United withdrew from national and regional competitions for reasons of travel and the club played local football only until the war ended.
A new beginning 1946 - 1962
In 1946, Ivor Broadis became football’s youngest ever player/manager at the age of 23. He stayed until 1949, when he in effect transferred himself to Sunderland for an £18,000 fee. Bill Shankley, in his first post as a manager, succeeded him and in 1951 the club attained the best ever third place in Division Three North. That year, Carlisle also hit the headlines when they held Cup holders Arsenal to a goaless draw at Highbury. Bill Shankley soon moved on and though Ivor Broadis later returned as Player/Coach, by 1958 the club found themselves in the new Fourth Division. In 1961/62, Carlisle narrowly clinched promotion to Division Three for the first time in their history.
From the Fourth Division to the First 1962 - 1974
Carlisle’s first ever promotion season proved initially to be a false dawn and twelve months later they had returned to Division Four. However, early in 1963, Alan Ashman was appointed manager and under his guidance Carlisle were promoted again in 1963/64. This time there were no doubts about the achievement as a Club record, 113 League goals were scored and Hughie McIlmoyle’s contribution of 39 made him the country’s top scorer. Carlisle’s rise under Ashman continued the following year when the Third Division Championship was clinched with a 3-0 defeat of rivals Mansfield, in the last game of the season in front of over 18,000 at Brunton Park. By 1967, when Ashman left the Club, he had taken them to third place in the Second Division. In the following years, principally while Bob Stokoe was manager, Carlisle consolidated their Second Division status and in 1972 Ashman returned to Brunton Park. Two years later the soccer world was astounded when Carlisle United were promoted to the First Division. In the words of Bill Shankley, it was "the greatest feat in the history of the game"
Division One and Cup glory 1974 - 1975
For the only season in the Club’s history, Carlisle won their first three League games in 1974/75 and briefly stood at the top of the First Division. Sadly, it did not last, and though playing attractive football, Carlisle were eventually relegated despite a notable double over Everton, and a win and a draw against champions Derby County. 1974/75 also saw Carlisle’s best ever F.A. Cup run, when they reached the Quarter Finals before losing to eventual finalists Fulham. Not that the Club were total strangers to Cup glory in that era. As a Second Division side, they had claimed several First Division scalps in different competitions, and in 1969 they reached the Semi Finals of the League Cup. Three years later, they defeated the mighty Roma 3-2 in Italy in the Anglo-Italian Cup.
Down, up and down again 1975 - 1987
After Carlisle’s brief taste of life in the First Division, the Club found themselves struggling in Division Two, and by 1977, they had returned to the Third Division. In 1981 they avoided the drop into Division Four by just a single point, but then returning manager Bob Stokoe, triggered off another revival at the Club. In 1982 Carlisle were again promoted to the Second Division, this time in Second place in the table. A four year sojourn in Division Two then followed, including the “nearly” season of 1983/84, when they just missed out on promotion to the top flight once again; after spending the majority of the season in a top three placing. However, relegation was to soon follow, and twelve months later, Carlisle United were back in the Fourth Division for the first time since 1964. Gates slumped to the lowest in the Club’s history and only 1,287 saw the League game against Chester in May 1987.
Treading water 1987 - 1992
Even back in the Fourth Division, fortunes did not initially start to improve. The introduction of automatic promotion/relegation to the Vauxhall Conference posed a new threat, and only Newport County finished below Carlisle in 1987/88. Two years later things had improved, and Carlisle once again missed out on promotion, having led the Division for much of the season, before a late slump in form cost them dearly. A new nadir was reached in 1992, when the Club ended up at the bottom of Division Four, and were only saved from relegation to non-league football by Aldershot’s mid season resignation combined with a temporary suspension of the automatic relegation rule.
A new beginning 1992 - 1996
In the Summer of 1992 Michael Knighton, the former Director of Manchester United, became Chairman and Chief Executive of Carlisle United. Knighton purchased the entire Shareholding from the former Board of Directors, some 75.6% of the Club. The next three years saw a dramatic rise in the Club’s fortunes.
In Season 1993/94 the Club achieved a Third Division Play Off Place, but failed to gain promotion, losing to Wycombe Wanderers. The 1994/95 Season was one of the Club’s most memorable, with the Club attaining only their second Championship in the Club’s history by taking the Third Division Championship with a record number of points for the Club, and only just missing out on the Industry’s all time record of 102 points, with Carlisle gaining some 91 points for the League Championship. This Season also witnessed the Club’s first appearance at the famous Twin Towers in the Auto Windscreens Shield Final against Birmingham City, with a record crowd, for this competition, of 76,663. A nail biting finish went into extra time and history was made again when the “Golden Goal” principle was used for the first time at Wembley to decide the winner, when Birmingham scored to gain a 1-0 victory.
A Club record Transfer Fee was paid in the first three years (1993) of Knighton’s reign, with the purchase of David Reeves for £121,000 from Notts County. The Club also broke its unbeaten run of games without defeat, by setting a new record of 19 games. Season 1994/95 hopes were raised for the new found Division 2 status 1995/96, and every bookmaker in the land made Carlisle favourites to win the Division 2 Championship. However, profound disappointment materialised during that Season, which culminated in a controversial relegation back to Division 3. The re-arranged Brighton- v- York fixture was completed after the formal season had finished - York knowing in advance that they only needed to win or score 3 goals to survive the drop themselves; York won, 3-1 at the Goldstone Ground - sending United back to Division 3. Knighton threatened to sue the League, unless the Football League adopted a more acceptable Code of Practice, to avoid such occurrences in the future.
From 1992 to 1996, some £4.5 million of investment had been provided to improve the Brunton Park Stadium. A new East Stand (6,000 All Seater) was opened by Nat Lofthouse in August 1996, as the first phase of the planned 28,000 All Seater Stadium.
Mervyn Day became Director of Coaching following the departure of Mick Wadsworth, who left the Club in January 1996 for First Division Norwich City, only to remain for a few months at Norwich before he left by “mutual consent”; Wadsworth found himself back in the Third Division as Manager of Scarborough F.C.
Back on track 1996 - 1997
The opening campaign of the 1996/97 Season suggested that the Club could well be in the running to bounce back to Second Division status at the first attempt. This prediction proved to be more than just unwarranted over confidence, as the Club not only returned to Division 2 and gained an automatic promotion spot, along with Wigan (Champions) and Fulham. The Club, also made their second visit in three years to Wembley, by reaching the Autowindscreens Shield Final against Colchester. A fairly tense, equal affair saw the game burst into life in extra time - the Match ended with a thrilling penalty shoot out (the best of five spot kicks), Carlisle found themselves trailing 3-1 on penalties until Cumbrian, Tony Caig, pulled off two truly brilliant penalty saves to leave the Club Captain, Steve Hayward, with the last penalty kick to score and carry the day. He scored to see the Club win 4-3 on penalties and make History for the club by lifting a Winners Trophy at the famous “Home of Football”, for the first time.
Season 1997 - 1998
As predicted and anticipated at the end of 1996/97, the Club gained promotion at the first attempt and returned to Second Division status for Season 1997 - 1998. However, although the team had started the campaign as the “fancied” favourites for the Championship, in the end they had to settle for Third position behind Wigan Athletic and Fulham, Wigan going through as Champions. “The Blues” were slightly disappointed in finishing in Third place, considering the calibre of the squad, but the fact that the end of season run-in only produced four wins from the last twelve games saw the team limp over the promotion line rather than finish with a flourish.
The new Season witnessed the team continue its disappointing form, picking up just one win out of the first six games, and when one took the previous twelve games from last Season into account it showed a poor performance of picking up just five wins in eighteen matches. Mervyn Day was relieved of his duties, and the coaching team comprising Michael Knighton, David Wilkes and John Halpin took charge of First Team affairs. Paul Devlin was recruited as Community Officer in the place of John Halpin.
The main objective for the new coaching staff for Season 1997/98 was to maintain Division Two status. Unfortunately this was not to be, and the Club finished 23rd in the table. The Club is now planning a third consecutive promotion campaign from out of the bottom division and build a platform for progress through the Football League.
The Great Escape - Season 1998 - 99
With Peter Beardsley still unable to make up his mind whether he wished to join Carlisle United as Team Coach, it was left with the Wilkes and Halpin partnership to steer the Club forward. After a mixed start the Team really began to play quite well throughout the end of September and October, and, indeed, had the Club’s game against Brentford down in London took place, the winning Team’s Manager would have picked up the Nationwide League Manager of the Month award. Ironically two Chairman might have been the recipients, Ron Noades or Michael Knighton.
Peter Beardsley finally made his position absolutely clear and said that he was not ready to take up a coaching position. In December Michael Knighton appointed Nigel Pearson as Team Manager. Pearson had had an illustrious career, taking Middlesborough to the Premier League captaining Middlesborough as they reached the Premier League on two separate occasions: Pearson also lifted the Football League trophy against Manchester United when he captained Sheffield Wednesday. Nigel Pearson came on strong recommendation to Carlisle with glowing references from the likes of Howard Wilkinson and Ron Atkinson, two of his former Managers. However, it is fair to describe that his period in charge as nothing short of disastrous, picking up just five wins from the 19th December 1999. Pearson obtained five wins out of some twenty-seven matches in charge.
No one could have predicted the climax to the end of yet another disappointing Season. However, in a perverse sort of way, the end of the Season events created one of football’s golden folklore moments. Carlisle United needed to win their last game against Plymouth at Brunton Park to retain their League survival. Scarborough (the Team in 23rd spot) merely needed to draw against Peterborough. News had already flashed through to Brunton Park that Scarborough had achieved all they needed to do, drawing against high flying Peterborough at the McAlpine Stadium 1-1 each. The score line remained 1-1 at Brunton Park on 90 minutes and should the Referee blow the whistle that was it - Carlisle United would be relegated from the Football League for the first time since 1928.
The Club finished 92nd in 1992 but the relegation trap door remained firmly closed. One had to be at Brunton Park to witness the tension of “the great escape” game of 8th May 1999. The time clicked away 91, 92, into the 95th minute as Goalkeeper, Jimmy Glass, sprinted from his goal line, arrived late in the box for a corner kick, Scott Dobie’s flashing header was parried by the Plymouth Goalkeeper straight to the feet of Glass, who wasted no time in smashing the ball home in one of the most dramatic ends to a Season ever witnessed. A high spirited but good natured mass pitch invasion took place, all pandemonium broke loose, the referee was swamped in a good natured fashion, and at least three or four minutes lapsed before the referee was able to return the ball to the centre spot - Carlisle were safe! The moment the Referee blew the whistle to re-start the game, he also signalled the end of the Match, in a glorious survival and retention of Football League status for Carlisle. It was in many ways a fitting finish. There had been much criticism over the departure of local Goalkeeping hero Tony Caig, and with pure irony, the incoming Goalkeeper saved the Club, to become a National star overnight and a folk hero amongst the greatest of Carlisle folk heroes of all time. - In just a single second Jimmy Glass made history and all became crystal clear why this game is so riveting popular. A great Club with a great heritage and a great history lives on to start the new Season 1999/2000.
There was a clear out of coaching staff in the Close Season, Pearson, Wilkes and Halpin departed from Carlisle United. Martin Wilkinson was appointed Team Manager, assisted by Neil Cooper as his Number Two.
Season 1999 - 2000
Michael Knighton resigned as Chairman in June 1999 and put his shareholding in CUFC Holdings Ltd up for sale. The forthcoming season produced yet another poor performance on the field of play. Despite one million pounds spent on players' wages and the club retaining one of the largest playing squads in the bottom two divisions - The club narrowly escaped relegation to the conference on goal difference.
Chester City lost their league status, being relegated to the Conference and replaced by Kidderminster Harriers.
Team Coach, Neil Cooper had already left the club in January and both replacement, Paul Baker and manager Martin Wilkinson had followed suit by the end of the season.
A New Dawn
A new Chairman, Mr Albert Doweck was appointed and Michael Knighton organised his shareholding to be placed in an independent trust, with a brief of finding a suitable buyer and not allowing further debt to accrue at the club.
The new Chairman and his Board appointed Ian Atkins, the former Northampton Town and Chester City manager into the 'hot seat' during June 2000.
A resurgence in optimism has now generally swept through the supporters in the hope that season 2000/01 will see a dramatic improvement on recent league positions.
Ian Atkins, said,..."This club is a sleeping giant, its a job I really wanted and know I can do well here. I am sure, if the supporters can back the club we can together achive its potential."
Perhaps because of its geographical isolation, Carlisle was a latecomer to senior football. Various local sides had been playing the game since the early 1880s, but it wasn't until Shaddongate United absorbed Carlisle Red Rose in 1903 that the city had something approaching a representative side. As if to prove their point, a year later Shaddongate changed their name to Carlisle United and in 1905 the team entered their first major league competition, the Lancashire Combination.
A crowd of nearly 14,000 turned up at United's Devnoshire Park ground to watch a cup tie against Workington in 1907, but two years later the club was ordered to leave its home by the Duke of Devonshire's estate. So Carlisle moved a little way east to would become Brunton Park, an 18 acre site next to the Warwick Road rugby ground. The team played their debut fixture there in 1909 and the following year took a step up into the Northern League.
Further progress on the pitch, though, had to wait until after WWI. Carlisle won the Northern League title for the first and only time in 1922 and six years later the club was elected to the Third Division (North) of the Football League, after the League had shown a rare sense of geographical balance in seeking a replacement for the ailing Durham City.
Carlisle began their League career with a 3-2 win at Accrington Stanley on 25 August 1928 and a week later thrashed Hartlepool 8-0 at Brunton Park - to this day the club's biggest wiining margin in the league. The euphoria surrounding such results soon ebbed away, however, and with the exception of a solitary application for re-election in 1935, the club would spend the whole period up to WW II in mid-table.
During the war, while many professional sides continued to play in specially arranged regional competitions, Carlisle were forced to withdraw totally, playing only local friendlies as travel to any otehr senior club was not practible. After the war, though, the club took the bold step of recruiting skillful insode-forward Ivor Broadis from the reserve team at Tottenham. The move was a culture shock for Broadis, who said it was "like stepping down from the Savoy Hotel to the Jungle Cafe". But he overcame his misgivings to become the youngest player-manager in League history at the age of 23, and won many friends in Carlisle before effectively arranging his own £18,000 transfer to Sunderland in 1949
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