AT the end of the week Carlisle United announced plans to disappear into the blue yonder – or at least the Championship – their on-field credentials will be put to the test at Bramall Lane.
More significant than completing a Steel City double in November, victory at Sheffield United will put the Cumbrians level on points with their illustrious League One hosts. At a time when fans are being asked their views on the club’s future, it could be an extremely influential three points.
Brunton Park, home to Carlisle United for 102 years, has “character” – ie it is so out-of-date filmmakers recently used it for scenes in a picture about 1950s football. The “Blue Yonder Project” commissioned by the board has come up with a radical suggestion.
Having ruled out a revamp estimated to cost £18m, the proposal which will be laid out to fans on Thursday, is that Carlisle move to Kingmoor Park, north of the city near the M6/A7 intersection.
“We have long had aspirations of playing Championship football and we believe it is within our reach,” said managing director John Nixon. “However, the basic ground requirement at that level is to have an all-seater stadium within three years of promotion.
“We would also need additional Press and media facilities and costly improvements to our floodlighting. The Football League regulations stipulated minimum ground standards which we are currently struggling to meet within Brunton Park.
“The board would be doing a disservice to the fans if we didn’t look into the future options for the club and report back to them for their input.”
The option on the table is a 12,000 all-seater stadium with up to date training and playing facilities, offices and conference suites. Fans can see for themselves at Brunton Park’s Sunset Suite between 12.30pm and 4.30pm for season ticket holders, and for another two hours after for anyone else. Club officials will be available to answer questions.
So far, so ambitious. But grand plans can mean nothing without results.
“Although it’s always good to be playing against a very good team in one of the best grounds in the division, we aren’t just going there for the day out,” warned captain Paul Thirlwell.
“We want to pick up all three points and we’ve shown in the past against the likes of Leeds United and Norwich City we are capable of doing that against the bigger clubs in their own ground.”
October’s 3-2 home win over Sheffield Wednesday not only quickly put a hammering at league leaders Charlton Athletic to bed, it also started a run of four games without defeat.
Although centre-back Peter Murphy is pushing for a recall having struggled with a bad back recently, manager Greg Abbott could stick with the players who romped to a 4-0 FA Cup victory at Alfreton Town last week. Either way, right-back Christian Ribeiro seems sure to make his first league start for the club having joined on loan from Bristol City last week. Paddy Madden scored a hat-trick for the reserves this week, his first outing since fracturing a bone in his foot during pre-season.
Carlisle’s impressive progress under Abbott may have escaped some, but not Blades’ manager Danny Wilson. “Carlisle are a good passing team, Greg and Graham (Kavanagh, his assistant) have always had that mentality but they have some steel in the team too,” noted the former Hartlepool United boss. “JP McGovern is a terrific player, Lee Miller is vastly experienced and scores plenty. (François) Zoko is another lively player who has plenty of ability going forward.”
If Wilson has his finger on the pulse, Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell is more in the dark. He responded to rumours the Tractor Boys had been scouting one of Carlisle’s strikers by saying: “I don’t know Rory Loy.”
