Carlisle United Football Club is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.

History

League

The club was formed on 17 May 1904 at Shaddongate United's annual general meeting[1] where the club's members voted to change the team's name to Carlisle United. The newly formed club initially played at Milhome Bank and later at Devonshire Park, finally settling at their current home Brunton Park in 1909.

In 1905, Carlisle United joined the Lancashire Combination but were only admitted after agreeing to pay all visiting teams’ travel expenses for two years, due to Carlisle not being located in Lancashire. After the league reorganised four years later the board at United decided it did not suit the club's best interests to be there any longer and the club entered the North Eastern League in place of their reserve team who had previously played in the league and been a founding member. When the Carlisle United first team left to join the Football League the reserve team resumed its place in the competition.[2] Carlisle United were crowned champions of the North Eastern League in 1922.

The 1927–28 season was Carlisle's last in the North Eastern League. The close season meant the usual round of applications to join (and be re-elected to) the Football League. Carlisle received the second-most votes with 33, and replaced Durham City, who had received just 11 votes, as members of the Football League.

Carlisle were members of the Third Division North until 1958 when it combined with the Third Division South to become the Fourth Division. They remained there until 1962 when they won their first promotion, they were relegated the following season but immediately bounced back to begin the most prosperous period in the club's history.

Upon gaining promotion to the Third Division in 1964 United immediately won the Third Division Championship the following year. Over twelve years the club cemented themselves as a solid Second Division (Then 2nd Tier in English football) side. Within that period Carlisle finished 7 out of 11 seasons in the top half of the table including 3rd in 66/67, 4th in 70/71 and a 3rd in 73/74 which saw them promoted to the top tier of English football.

Carlisle won their first three fixtures in the First Division to go top of the English football pyramid. The success was short lived however, they finished the season in bottom place and were relegated. Highlight victories include doing a double over Everton, and home victories over eventual champions Derby County, and former title holders Ipswich Town, Arsenal, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Carlisle ended their most prosperous period as rapidly as it had started. Back to back relegations in 1986 and 1987 saw them enter the Fourth Division for the first time in 21 years. Their first season in there saw them finish second from bottom but 19 points ahead of relegated Newport County. The lull in league performance continued. A promotion push in 1990 was thwarted by a last match defeat to Maidstone United.

Some good then came of a new owner in the form of Michael Knighton whose financial input helped the club steer clear of relegation in 92/93 gain two promotions in 95, 97 to the second division (now 3rd tier) and gain success in the Football League Trophy. Unfortunately the promotions were immediately followed by relegations in 96 and 98 respectively.

In the 1998–99 season Carlisle found themselves in their second successive relegation battle and needing to gain three points from the final game of the season at home to Plymouth Argyle. At 90 minutes the crowd at Scarborough (Carlisle's relegation rival) were already celebrating before the fourth official stated four minutes of extra time would be played at Brunton Park. In the last kick of the game goalkeeper Jimmy Glass, who had signed in an emergency loan deal from Swindon Town after the transfer deadline, scored from a corner kick which he came up to in a last gasp effort to win the match.[3]

In the following years Carlisle continued to narrowly avoid relegation one season after the other. From the 97/98 season through to 03/04 the club only once finished above 22nd in the English fourth tier. The bullet dodging did eventually cease however when in 2004 they lost Football league status for the first time since 1928, becoming the first former top flight club to fall into the fifth tier.

Carlisle were promoted out of the non-league at the first time of asking in 2005, winning the play-off final at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke. Carlisle's excellent form under manager Paul Simpson continued into the following season as they returned to the Football League with a bang, clinching the League Two title. Simpson then departed for Preston North End, and was succeeded by Neil McDonald. The following few seasons saw Carlisle achieve their highest league finishes for 22 years and the highest average crowds for 30 years. This coincided with several seasons at the top half of League One including a playoff finish in 2008.

Football League Trophy

Since its inception Carlisle have competed in almost every season of the Football League Trophy, including in 2004–05 when they did not hold Football League status. In total they have reached the final six times, more than any other team. The club first won the competition in 1997, beating Colchester United. The game, which took place at Wembley Stadium, was drawn 0–0 in 90 minutes and continued to a penalty shoot-out. Thanks to Tony Caig's heroics in goal Carlisle won the shoot-out 4–3. The second win came in 2011, a year after suffering a 4–1 defeat to Southampton in the previous final. This time Carlisle were able to defeat Brentford by a single goal.[4]

Key

Seasons

Year League Lvl Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Position Leading league scorer[5] FA Cup FL Cup
FA Trophy 		FL Trophy Average home
attendance[6][a]
Name Goals Res Rec Res Rec Res Rec
1904–05 QR1 0-1-1
1905–06 Lancashire Combination
Division Two 		36 14 6 16 70 73 -3 34 13th of 19 QR2 1-1-1
1906–07 38 23 10 5 113 46 +67 56 1st of 20
Promoted 		QR4 3-0-1
1907–08 Lancashire Combination
Division One 		38 23 8 7 79 55 +24 54 2nd of 20 R2 7-1-1
1908–09 38 18 8 12 79 70 +9 44 6th of 20 R1 1-2-1
1909–10 38 14 11 13 69 60 +9 39 7th of 20 R1 2-2-1
Quit from the Lancashire Combination and replaced reserve team in the North Eastern League.
1910–11 North Eastern League 34 8 8 18 44 76 -32 24 15th of 18 QR5 1-1-1
1911–12 36 7 6 23 37 98 -61 20 17th of 19 QR4 0-0-1
1912–13 38 12 5 21 61 98 -37 29 14th of 20 QR4 0-0-1
1913–14 38 11 10 17 48 84 -36 32 13th of 20 QR5 4-1-1
1914–15 38 8 7 23 50 108 -58 23 17th of 20 QR3 2-0-1
No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the World War I.
1919–20 North Eastern League 34 12 3 19 47 76 -29 27 13th of 18 QR5 4-1-1
1920–21 38 18 10 10 79 46 +33 46 6th of 20 QR2 2-1-0
1921–22 38 24 8 6 85 39 +46 56 1st of 20 QR4 4-1-1
1922–23 38 19 8 11 56 43 +13 46 6th of 20 QR6 2-1-1
1923–24 38 13 8 17 46 61 -15 34 11th of 20 QR5 1-0-1
1924–25 38 16 6 16 67 63 +4 38 11th of 20 QR4 3-0-1
1925–26 38 19 9 10 83 76 +7 47 5th of 20 R1 1-0-1
1926–27 38 23 3 12 106 75 +31 49 5th of 20 R3 3-0-1
1927–28 38 25 5 8 111 61 +50 55 2nd of 20 R2 2-0-1
Elected to the Football League replacing Durham City.
1928–29 Football League
Third Division North 		3 42 19 8 15 86 77 +9 46 8th of 22 Jimmy McConnell 42 R2 1-0-1 7,796
1929–30 42 16 7 19 90 101 -11 39 15th of 22 R3 2-0-1 6,060
1930–31 42 20 5 17 98 81 +17 45 8th of 22 Jimmy McConnell 37 R3 2-0-1 5,838
1931–32 40 11 11 18 64 79 -15 33 18th of 21 R2 1-0-1 4,689
1932–33 42 13 7 22 51 75 -24 33 19th of 22 R2 1-1-1 5,210
1933–34 42 15 8 19 66 81 -15 38 13th of 22 R2 1-0-1 4,452
1934–35 42 8 7 27 51 102 -51 23 22nd of 22 R1 0-0-1 4,063
1935–36 42 14 12 16 56 62 -6 40 13th of 22 R1 0-0-1 6,481
1936–37 42 18 8 16 65 68 -3 44 10th of 22 R3 2-0-1 6,488
1937–38 42 15 9 18 57 67 -10 39 12th of 22 R1 0-0-1 6,408
1938–39 42 13 7 22 66 111 -45 33 19th of 22 Wally Hunt 32 R1 0-0-1 4,996
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the World War II.
1945–46 R2 2-0-2
1946–47 Football League
Third Division North 		3 42 14 9 19 70 93 -23 37 16th of 22 R3 2-0-1 10,263
1947–48 42 18 7 17 88 77 +11 43 9th of 22 R1 0-0-1 13,128
1948–49 42 14 11 17 60 77 -17 39 15th of 22 R1 0-0-0 11,129
1949–50 42 16 15 11 68 51 +17 47 9th of 22 R3 2-0-1 11,800
1950–51 46 25 12 9 79 50 +29 62 3rd of 24 R3 2-1-1 11,696
1951–52 46 19 13 14 62 57 +5 51 7th of 24 R1 0-0-1 10,100
1952–53 46 18 13 15 82 68 +14 49 9th of 24 Jimmy Whitehouse 29 R1 0-0-1 8,103
1953–54 46 14 15 17 83 71 +12 43 13th of 24 Alan Ashman 32 R1 0-0-1 6,955
1954–55 46 15 6 25 78 89 -11 36 20th of 24 R2 1-1-1 5,619
1955–56 46 15 8 23 71 95 -24 38 21st of 24 R1 0-2-1 6,894
1956–57 46 16 13 17 76 85 -9 45 15th of 24 R3 2-1-1 7,430
1957–58 46 19 6 21 80 78 +2 44 16th of 24 Alf Ackerman 35 R2 1-1-1 8,525
Regional Third divisions merged creating nationwide Third Division and Fourth Division. Club has not qualified to join Third Division.
1958–59 Football League
Fourth Division 		4 46 19 12 15 62 65 -3 50 10th of 24 R2 1-1-1 7,172
1959–60 46 15 11 20 51 66 -15 41 19th of 24 R1 0-0-1 5,308
1960–61 46 13 13 20 61 79 -18 39 19th of 24 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 4,446
1961–62 44 22 8 14 64 63 +1 52 4th of 23
Promoted 		R3 2-0-1 R1 0-1-1 6,664
1962–63 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 13 9 24 61 89 -18 35 23rd of 24
Relegated 		R3 2-0-1 R3 2-1-1 5,699
1963–64 Football League
Fourth Division 		4 46 25 10 11 113 58 +55 60 2nd of 24
Promoted 		Hughie McIlmoyle 39 R5 4-0-1 R2 1-0-1 8,346
1964–65 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 25 10 11 76 53 +23 60 1st of 24
Promoted 		R1 0-0-1 R3 2-1-1 10,789
1965–66 Football League
Second Division 		2 42 17 5 20 60 63 -3 39 14th of 22 R4 1-2-1 R2 0-0-1 12,067
1966–67 42 23 6 13 71 54 +17 52 3rd of 22 R4 1-0-1 QF 3-2-1 11,201
1967–68 42 14 13 15 58 52 +6 41 10th of 22 R4 1-0-1 R2 0-0-1 10,414
1968–69 42 16 10 16 46 49 -3 42 12th of 22 R3 0-0-1 R3 1-0-1 9,212
1969–70 42 14 13 15 58 56 +2 41 12th of 22 R5 2-2-1 SF 5-1-1 9,388
1970–71 42 20 13 9 65 43 +22 53 4th of 22 R4 1-0-1 R4 2-0-1 10,657
1971–72 42 17 9 16 61 57 +4 43 10th of 22 R3 0-1-1 R3 1-0-1 9,479
1972–73 42 11 12 19 50 52 -2 34 18th of 22 R5 2-2-1 R2 0-1-1 7,606
1973–74 42 20 9 13 61 48 +13 49 3rd of 22
Promoted 		R4 1-2-1 R3 2-1-1 8,270
1974–75 Football League
First Division 		1 42 12 5 25 43 59 -16 29 22nd of 22
Relegated 		QF 3-0-1 R3 1-0-1 14,530
1975–76 Football League
Second Division 		2 42 12 13 17 45 59 -14 37 19th of 22 R3 0-0-1 R3 1-0-1 8,279
1976–77 42 11 12 19 49 75 -26 34 20th of 22
Relegated 		R4 1-0-1 R2 2-0-2 7,680
1977–78 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 14 19 13 59 59 0 47 13th of 24 R3 2-1-1 R1 0-2-1 5,319
1978–79 46 15 22 9 53 42 +11 52 6th of 24 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-1-1 5,204
1979–80 46 18 12 16 66 56 +10 48 6th of 24 R4 3-2-1 R1 0-1-1 4,406
1980–81 46 14 13 19 56 70 -14 41 19th of 24 R4 3-3-1 R2 1-1-2 4,064
1981–82 46 23 11 12 65 50 +15 80 2nd of 24
Promoted 		R3 2-1-1 R2 1-2-1 4,409
1982–83 Football League
Second Division 		2 42 12 12 18 68 70 -2 48 14th of 22 R3 0-1-1 R1 0-1-1 5,944
1983–84 42 16 16 10 48 41 +7 64 7th of 22 R3 0-1-1 R2 1-0-1 5,611
1984–85 42 13 8 21 50 67 -17 47 16th of 22 R4 1-0-1 R2 0-0-2 4,016
1985–86 42 13 7 22 47 71 -24 46 20th of 22
Relegated 		R4 1-0-1 R1 0-1-1 4,010
1986–87 Football League
Third Division 		3 46 10 8 28 39 78 -39 38 22nd of 24
Relegated 		R1 0-1-1 R1 1-0-1 R1 2-0-1 2,644
1987–88 Football League
Fourth Division 		4 46 12 8 26 57 86 -29 44 23rd of 24 R1 0-0-1 R2 3-0-1 R1 2-0-1 2,236
1988–89 46 15 15 16 53 52 +1 60 12th of 24 R3 2-1-1 R1 0-1-1 G 0-1-1 3,176
1989–90 46 21 8 17 61 60 +1 71 8th of 24 R2 1-0-1 R1 1-0-1 R1 1-1-1 4,740
1990–91 46 13 9 24 47 89 -42 48 20th of 24 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-2-1 G 0-1-1 3,006
1991–92 42 7 13 22 41 67 -26 34 22nd of 22 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-1-1 R1 1-1-1 2,481
Football League divisions renamed after the Premier League creation.
1992–93 Football League
Third Division 		4 42 11 11 20 51 65 -14 44 18th of 22 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-2-1 G 1-0-1 3,611
1993–94 42 18 10 14 57 42 +15 64 7th of 22 R3 2-1-1 R1 0-1-1 AF 6-0-1 5,524
1994–95 42 27 10 5 67 31 +36 91 1st of 22
Promoted 		R3 2-1-1 R2 1-0-3 F 6-0-2 7,422
1995–96 Football League
Second Division 		3 46 12 13 21 57 72 -15 49 21st of 24
Relegated 		R1 0-0-1 R1 1-0-1 AF 3-2-2 5,704
1996–97 Football League
Third Division 		4 46 24 12 10 67 44 +23 84 3rd of 24
Promoted 		Allan Smart 11 R4 3-0-1 R2 2-1-1 W 5-2-0 5,440
1997–98 Football League
Second Division 		3 46 12 8 26 57 73 -16 44 23rd of 24
Relegated 		Ian Stevens 17 R1 0-0-1 R2 2-0-2 AQF 2-0-1 5,381
1998–99 Football League
Third Division 		4 46 11 16 19 43 53 -10 49 23rd of 24 Ian Stevens 9 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-2 AQF 0-1-1 3,319
1999–2000 46 9 12 25 42 75 -33 39 23rd of 24 Steve Soley 8 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-1-1 ASF 2-0-1 3,192
2000–01 46 11 15 20 42 65 -23 48 22nd of 24 Scott Dobie 11 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 3,670
2001–02 46 12 16 18 48 56 -8 52 17th of 24 Richie Foran 14 R2 1-1-1 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 3,204
2002–03 46 13 10 23 52 78 -26 49 22nd of 24 Craig Farrell 11 R2 1-1-1 R1 0-0-1 F 4-1-1 4,776
2003–04 46 12 9 25 46 69 -23 45 23rd of 24
Relegated 		Craig Farrell
Brendan McGill 		7 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 AQF 2-0-1 5,617
2004–05 Conference
Premier 		5 42 20 13 9 74 37 +37 73 3rd of 22 Karl Hawley 13 R2 2-1-1 R5 2-0-1 R2 1-0-1 5,513
Promoted through play-offs.
2005–06 Football
League Two 		4 46 25 11 10 84 42 +42 86 1st of 24
Promoted 		Karl Hawley 22 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 F 3-2-2 7,218
2006–07 Football
League One 		3 46 19 11 16 54 55 -1 68 8th of 24 Karl Hawley 12 R1 0-0-1 R2 0-1-1 R1 0-1-0 7,907
2007–08 46 23 11 12 64 46 +18 80 4th of 24 Joe Garner
Danny Graham 		14 R1 0-1-1 R2 1-0-1 AQF 1-0-1 7,835
Lost in the play-off semifinal.
2008–09 46 12 14 20 56 69 -13 50 20th of 24 Danny Graham 15 R2 1-1-1 R2 1-0-1 R2 0-1-0 6,268
2009–10 46 15 13 18 63 66 -3 58 14th of 24 Ian Harte 16 R3 2-1-1 R3 2-0-1 F 4-1-2 5,210
2010–11 46 16 11 19 60 62 -2 59 12th of 24 James Berrett 10 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-0-1 W 4-1-1 5,207
2011–12 46 18 15 13 65 66 -1 69 8th of 24 Lee Miller 14 R2 1-0-1 R2 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 5,247
2012–13 46 14 13 19 56 77 -21 55 17th of 24 Lee Miller 9 R2 1-0-1 R3 2-0-1 R1 0-1-0 4,302
2013–14 46 11 12 23 43 76 -33 45 22nd of 24
Relegated 		David Amoo 8 R3 2-1-1 R2 0-1-1 AQF 0-1-1 4,243
2014–15 Football
League Two 		4 46 14 8 24 56 74 -18 50 20th of 24 Kyle Dempsey 10 R1 0-0-1 R1 0-0-1 R2 1-1-0 4,376
2015–16 46 17 16 13 67 62 +5 67 10th of 24 Jabo Ibehre 15 R4 2-2-1 R3 2-1-0 R1 0-0-1 4,838
2016–17 46 18 17 11 69 68 +1 71 6th of 24 Charlie Wyke 14 R2 1-0-1 R2 1-1-0 R2 3-0-1 5,114
Lost in the play-off semifinal.
2017–18 46 17 16 13 62 54 +8 67 10th of 24 Jamie Devitt 10 R3 2-2-1 R2 1-0-1 G 1-0-2 4,609
2018–19 46 20 8 18 67 62 +5 68 11th of 24 Hallam Hope 14 R2 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 GS 1-1-1 4,712
2019–20 37 10 12 15 39 56 -17 42 18th of 24 Harry McKirdy
Olufela Olomola
Nathan Thomas 		5 R3 2-2-1 R2 1-0-1 GS 1-0-2 4,140
2020–21 46 18 12 16 60 51 +9 66 10th of 24 Jon Mellish 11 R2 0-1-1 R1 0-0-1 GS 1-0-2 – [b]
2021–22 46 14 11 21 39 62 -23 53 20th of 24 Omari Patrick 9 R2 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 R3 2-2-1 4,966
2022–23 46 20 16 10 66 43 +23 76 5th of 24 Kristian Dennis 20 R2 1-0-1 R1 0-0-1 GS 0-1-2 6,659
Promoted through play-offs.
  1. ^ Average home attendance = for league games only
  2. ^ COVID-19 prevented fans from attending games

References

  1. ^ "The Carlisle United Story". Carlisle United FC. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Carlisle United Reserves". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  3. ^ Roger Lytollis (1 September 2004). One Hit Wonder: The Jimmy Glass Story. The History Press.
  4. ^ Sachin Nakrani (3 April 2011). "Carlisle's defeat of Brentford born of Peter Murphy's desire to atone". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Carlisle FC club details". Soccerbase. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  6. ^ "English attendances archive". EFS. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
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