By Alfie Irving
4,236 days ago. My first Carlisle match. A home game against Charlton Athletic and as I would become accustomed to, a loss. Funnily enough, the dawn of a new era for the club starts in less than a week, against no less than Charlton. Yet, it has never been plain sailing being a Carlisle fan.
Despite the loss, I had become hooked. My experience of football prior to this had been the Premier League on television at home. The experience of a match day and a game in front of my eyes encapsulated me so much more. What then entailed was an 11-year rollercoaster supporting the club.
The first 5 years were made up of my dad taking me to sit in Stand B in the East Stand. I loved it, results would maybe make an outsider think that going to games was a chore but that was far from the case. Having lived in the city all my life, I have such an affinity with the club and the players. Every point matters more. Every goal matters more. Every game matters more.
The really poignant part about this time was that I got to experience it all with my best mate, my dad. Football was everything to us and Carlisle was such a vital part of this. Our Saturday trip to Brunton park was like a pilgrimage and Brunton Park was our Mecca.
However, this time was cut short as my dad passed away from Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 41 in December 2017. A ritual that was ever linked to my dad, no longer involved my dad. This was a tricky time in my life but one that I don’t think I could’ve gotten through without the escapism of my Saturday trip to Brunton Park. Yet, there was some comfort in the fact that my dad was always attached to the club for me. From here on in, every result felt like it was for him.
Results never really fell our way, over my first 10 years of supporting the Blues.
The 2015-2016 season seemed like our year, but the loss of Charlie Wyke in January halted our progress. Despite sneaking into the playoffs on the last day of the season with a spectacular 3-2 away win at Exeter, a 3-2 away loss to the same opposition in the playoffs sealed our fate for the season.
Another promising season petered out in 2018/19, one in which we played the best football I’ve ever seen Carlisle play. Yet, changing room bust-ups and a lucrative offer from Chesterfield, saw manager John Sheridan leave in January, despite a run of 6 wins in a row and a 3rd place position in the league. Steven Pressley replaced him but a combination of losing quality loan players and a different management style saw us finish 11th.
There were some high points during these seasons of dismay wallowing in League Two. A League Cup away game at Anfield, where we took them to penalties, was a huge high point of supporting the club. I’ll never forget me and my dad’s reaction to Derek Asamoah slotting the ball past Adam Bogdan to make it 1-1.
Another poignant moment was being made mascot for the Everton FA Cup game in early 2016. It was my first time being mascot and one which I will never forget. There were several big names at the ground, but the one that I really wanted to meet was Jabo Ibehre. Jabo was a huge idol for me growing up and has been my favourite player so far in my time supporting the club.
It was always a case of so close, yet so far in our pursuit of trying to get back into League One. For years, I felt that we were destined to remain in League Two for the rest of my life.
However, it was at one of the club’s darkest moments that a shining light saved us and then revitalised us, Paul Simpson. A man that needs no introduction to Carlisle fans. A hero within the club and the community.
We looked destined to sink towards Conference football when Keith Millen had us in the relegation zone and any remaining confidence all but lost. But there was life in us yet.
Simpson won 6 out of his first 7 games and then went on to make sure that our Football League place remained intact. However, what happened the following season was beyond any Carlisle fan’s wildest dreams.
A season of resilience and determination resulted in our promotion to League One for the first time in 8 years. The season culminated with Taylor Charters’ slotting home the winning penalty at Wembley against Stockport County in front of over 14,000 Carlisle fans.
My heart swelled up with emotion at that point. I had a feeling that we were going to do it. It felt like the team were doing it for my dad. It was a moment surrounded by friends, that was nothing short of perfection.
The days following were packed with celebrations and being able to celebrate with the players in Carlisle on the Monday was just sensational. If someone would have told me at the start of the season, that I would be singing “That’s What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction, led by Kristian Dennis and the rest of the squad, I would have called them a liar.
It just means so much more when you have a connection to a club and a group of players. Waking up at 7 most Saturdays because I was desperate to come back and watch us play or waking up at 4 to catch the National Express to Salford, was all worth it. I was and still am very much in love with the club. The low points were all worth it to watch my hometown club, captained by a local lad and managed by a local lad, seal promotion at Wembley.
“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that” (Bill Shankly, former Carlisle manager)
A statement that an outsider may find quizzical but as all football fans will tell you, Bill is spot on. Carlisle United has meant so much to me over the first 19 years of my life and long may it continue.