Carlisle United

It’s all about history in Carlisle, much of it distant and not terribly significant outside the immediate area. It’s true of the city (see below) as well as the club. Formed in 1904 and at Brunton Park since 1909, they climbed through the leagues to reach the Second Division (now Championship) in the 1960s and, for one season, the First in 1974-75.

They were basically in the third or fourth tier ever since, with one season in the fifth, and they have won the Football League Trophy (for Leagues One and Two) six times, more than anyone else. The glory years were the 60s to 80s, including their one season in the top tier, when they beat eventual champions Derby County and beat Everton twice among other victories. They finished last, and were third tier two years later, but no doubt it was a magical time.

There’s one event we should definitely tell you about, as it’s one of the more famous incidents in English football history. On the last day of the season in 1999, Carlisle needed to win at home against Plymouth Argyle to stay in the Football League, where at that point they had been for 71 years. It went into injury time level, when goalkeeper Jimmy Glass–a name most old-time English fans will remember–went up and scored off a corner with about 10 seconds to go. Look for it on YouTube sometime.

Carlisle finished their 2022–23 season in 5th in League Two, qualifying for the playoff, and went on to beat both Bradford City and Stockport to earn a promotion to League One. Sadly, they have since suffered two straight relegations to fall out of the Football League for the first time in 21 seasons.

2024–25 SEASON: 23rd in League Two (relegated), 1st Round FA Cup, 1st Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: National League (relegated in 2025)

The main one seems to be Barrow, who at 85 miles are actually their closest neighbors in England. Last year was the first time they’d played in years, but with Carlisle relegated again, it’s off. This rivalry is officially known as the Cumbrian Derby.

Carlisle Ladies play in the North West Women’s Regional League, Division One North. Home games are at Creighton Rugby Club.

“Proud to be a Cumbrian”

Brunton Park, which holds 17,949 people, looks exactly like what it is: a place where football has been played for a long time and pieces of a stadium have been added here and there. None of it seems to quite match up, which adds to the charm, really. The uncovered Petteril End has terracing, about two dozen seats, and a police control box. The East Stand doesn’t even line up with the pitch; its center is off by a few yards because, at some point, the club intended to rebuild the whole place and move the pitch, but they ran out of money.

It’s also known, among the hardcore groundhoppers, for its floodlights. You might not think this is important, but in some (odd) circles, Carlisle’s vertical, as opposed to horizontal, alignment of lights is noteworthy.

The most interesting bit is the Warwick Road Stand behind one goal; it has a distinctive roof with three peaks over a set of terraces where the rowdiest home fans stand. Away fans are in the East Stand over near the Petteril.

TOURS: None

GETTING THERE: It’s about a mile from the train station, so a fairly straightforward walk. Bus 63 also goes there from just outside the station.

PUBS: Right next door to the ground is the Carlisle Rugby Club, whose bar opens for game days. The Beehive, just down Warwick Road, is a nice option, as are The Griffin and The Caledonia by the station. 

GRUB: Right next to the ground is Claire’s Bakery, where long lines for pies attest, we assume, to the quality. What’s in the ground is nothing special, so look for food in the center.

AROUND TOWN: Carlisle, for most travelers, is a stop (or just a view) on the main train line to Scotland. But trust us, you should hop off for a day, catch a game at Brunton Park, and have a walk around. At least. The city goes back to Roman times and is best known for a large castle overlooking the River Eden. There’s also a beautiful cathedral in a fairly large medieval quarter that includes some of the old city walls and several buildings that are hundreds of years old.

Carlisle also lies just between two fantastic natural areas, the North Pennines and the Lakes District. So it could be worth even more time than a simple footy day trip on the way to Scotland.