Year Formed: 1904
Previous Names: 1903 - Shaddongate United; 1904 - Carlisle United
Club Nickname: The Cumbrians or The Blues
Previous Grounds: 1903 - Millholme Bank, 1905 - Devonshire Park, 1909 - Brunton Park
First League Game: 25 Aug 1928 v Accrington Stanley (a) W 3-2
Record Victory: 8-0 v Hartlepool, Division 3(N), 1 Sep 1928, 8-0 v Scunthorpe, Division 3(N), 25 Dec 1952
Record Defeat: 1-11 v Hull City, Division 3(N), 14 Jan 1939
Most League Points (2 for a win): 62, Division 3(N), 1950-51
Most League Points (3 for a win): 91, Division 3, 1994-95
Most League Goals: 113, Division 4, 1963-64
Highest League Scorer in a Season: Jimmy McConnell, 42, Division 3(N), 1928-29
Most League Goals in Total: Jimmy McConnell, 126 (+ 7 FA Cup goals - note, the official figures state 126, but only 124 are on record), 1928-32
Most Capped Player: Eric Welsh, 4, Northern Ireland
Most League Appearances: Allan Ross, 466, 1963-79
Youngest League Player: John Slaven, 16 years and 162 days, v Scunthorpe, 16 March 2002
Oldest League Player: Bob Kelly, 41 years and 295 days, v Gateshead, 7 September 1935
Youngest Goalscorer: Robert Edwards, 17 years and 250 days, v Maidstone, 8 September 1990
Oldest Goalscorer: Bob Kelly, 41 years and 169 days v Darlington, 4 May 1935
Record Transfer Fee Paid: £140,000 to Blackburn Rovers for Joe Garner, 10 August 2007
Record Transfer Fee Received: £1,000,000 from Crystal Palace for Matt Jansen, February 1998
Longest Sequence of League Wins: 7, 18 Feb 2006 - 8 Apr 2006
Longest Sequence of League Defeats: 12, 27 Sep 2003 - 13 Dec 2003
Sequence of Unbeaten League Matches: 19, 1 Oct 1994 - 11 Feb 1995
Longest Sequence Without a League Win: 14, 19 Jan 1935 - 19 Apr 1935 and 16 Sep 2003 - 20 Dec 2003
Top Scorers - coming soon, 1928 to present day
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The Men in Charge
Harry Kirkbride: 1 Aug 1904 to 31 May 1905 - Records are probably slightly inaccurate as Harry was club secretary and it is widely acknowledged that Jimmy Hind took control of team affairs until well in to 1908.
Jack Houston: 1 Aug 1906 to 31 May 1908 - A relatively successful period, again masterminded by Hind, assisted by Tom Paley, driven by Jack Houston, saw United finish as runners up to Everton in LCL 1.
Bert Stansfield: 1 Aug 1908 to 31 March 1910 - Oversaw the running of the club and a period of stabilisation but left the training of the team to Paley for the most part.
Jack Houston: 31 March 1910 to 31 May 1912 - Very tough going for Jack this time round as the team struggled in the league for two seasons running.
Davie Graham: 31 May 1912 to 31 May 1913 - Found consistency with little resources and local players, finishing in a very respectable 14th place.
George Bristowe: 1 Aug 1913 to 28 Feb 1930 - Easily the longest serving manager the football club has ever had. Brought League football to the club in 1928 and said, "This is the greatest achievement of my life, I am so pleased for everyone in Carlisle."
Bill Hampson: 1 Mar 1930 to 1 May 1933 - His first managerial role, he struggled somewhat, as his team finished in 15th position having conceded 101 goals in his first campaign.
Bill Clarke: 1 May 1933 to 1 Mar 1935 - Remained with the club for almost twenty years in one capacity or another. His first season in charge saw a mid-table finish and the following season - 1934/35 - United finished bottom of the pile with just 23 points.
Robert Kelly: 1 Mar 1935 to 30 Nov 1936 - Bob signed for Carlisle in March 1935 as player/manager but played just 12 games for the club before hanging up his boots. In his first season he released the entire team and assembled a new squad for less than £1,000. United finished the season in 13th position, a dramatic improvement.
Fred Westgarth: 1 Dec 1936 to 31 Mar 1938 - Fred never actually played professional football nor any League soccer. United were inconsistent under his reign and he struggled to make any real impact.
David Taylor: 1 Apr 1938 to 1 Sep 1939 - Taylor had a torrid time at Carlisle, his first and only full season saw the team finish fourth from bottom of Division Three North.
Howard Harkness: 1 Sep 1940 to 31 May 1945 - Howard saw the club through the war years.
Bill Clark: 1 Aug 1945 to 31 May 1946 - Club secretary who stepped in to try to cut costs following the end of the war.
Ivor Broadis: 1 Aug 1946 to 1 Jan 1949 - One of the most famous player/managers ever to play for the club. An England international, with 14 caps, he played in the 1954 World Cup finals. Sold himself to Sunderland for £18,000 claiming that it was in the best interests of the club.
Bill Shankly: 1 Mar 1949 to 1 Jul 1951 - One of the greatest football club managers in the English game, if not the world. Improved everything about the club before moving on to Grimsby, and was adored by the Brunton Park crowd.
Fred Emery: 1 Jul 1951 to 30 Apr 1958 - Had very little resources and failed to inspire the fans after the departure of such a big name. Kept the club in mid table without really challenging with conviction.
Andy Beattie: 1 May 1958 to 1 Mar 1960 - Had previously managed the Scotland national side but, taking over when United were dumped in to the newly formed Division 4, had little success in Cumbria.
Ivor Powell: 1 May 1960 to 1 Feb 1963 - The first Carlisle manager to attain any kind of real success in competitive first class League football when he won promotion to the Third Division with a 4th place finish in 1962.
Alan Ashman: 1 Feb 1963 to 1 Jun 1967 - The most successful manager of Carlisle United ever. Transformed the style of play into neat passing interchanges and took the club to a Third Division Championship.
Tim Ward: 1 Sep 1967 to 30 Sep 1968 - Stepped into the void left by Ashman's departure, and faced a difficult task. Results were average and the club never looked like mounting a promotion challenge.
Bob Stokoe: 1 October 1968 to 20 Dec 1970 - High profile and a dedicated servant to the club. Took United to the semi-final of the Football League Cup in 1969 and introduced a new fresh style of football to the United faithful.
Ian MacFarlane: 1 Jan 1970 to 1 Jun 1972 - Had all the credentials to lead United to greater things, only to find himself out in the cold. MacFarlane was the main reason the talented Stanley Bowles came to the club, as he believed in the man who told him he would kick-start his career.
Alan Ashman: 7 Jun 1972 to 31 Oct 1975 - Ultimately he led United to Division One and for a proud few days the team topped the whole of the Football League. A wonderful period to be a United fan.
Dick Young: 1 Nov 1975 to 10 Nov 1976 - A tremendous character and a marvellous ambassador for Carlisle United. Served as club coach for some twenty years. An uphill battle as manager saw him return to his favoured post as team coach.
Bobby Moncur: 16 Nov 1976 to 1 Feb 1980 - At the end of his first season United were relegated to the Third Division and the introduction of Peter Beardsley was about all he will be remembered for whilst at the club.
Martin Harvey: 1 Feb 1980 to 1 Sep 1980 - A good start was followed by a dip in form and he was asked to stand down - resigning within a few days of being asked to do so.
Bob Stokoe: 1 Sep 1980 to 31 May 1985 - Returned to United as a scout in August 1979 then stepped up to take over from Harvey. Enjoyed a very solid period of consolidation with the club.
Bryan Robson: 27 Aug 1985 to 15 Oct 1985 - 'Pop' Robson first came to United in March 1983 on loan from Chelsea. Took over as manager but walked out on the club after just a handful of games.
Bob Stokoe: 15 Oct 1985 to 20 May 1986 - Had to step back up as Robson disappeared and steadied the ship in what could have been a very unpredictable time. Was hugely disappointed in the man he had groomed as his successor.
Harry Gregg: 20 Oct 1986 to 17 Nov 1987 - A survivor of the horrific Munich disaster, he actually pulled people from the wreckage saving many lives. Sadly struggled to make a real impact and suffered relegation to Division 4.
Clive Middlemass: 23 Nov 1987 to 14 Mar 1991 - His first season in charge of United saw them finish second bottom of the League, 19 points above Newport County! Almost achieved a Play Off place in a revival during his reign but the crowd turned on him and he was left with no choice but to resign.
Aidan McCaffery: 11 Apr 1991 to 1 Sep 1992 - Had been a coach for 3 years at the club and took over when Middlemass left. Finished third bottom and was ousted when Knighton bought the club.
David McCreery: 29 Sep 1992 to 31 Jul 1993 - Tasked to revitalise a side which had almost slipped out of League football, this was never going to be easy. Had to resign but was clearly disappointed that things hadn't worked out for the better.
Mick Wadsworth: 1 Aug 1993 to 19 Jan 1996 - Huge amount of success in his period with the club including the first ever trip to Wembley in 95 and a runaway Third Division Championship win to go with it. Left Brunton Park in tears to join Norwich and rumours circulate to this day as to the real reason behind that departure.
Mervyn Day: 23 Jan 1996 to 11 Sep 1997 - Hugely popular and vastly experienced Day won promotion at the first time of asking to make sure United bounced straight back. Won the AWS at Wembley in 97 but, with his best players being sold around him, decided it was time to move on.
Michael Knighton: 11 Sep 1997 to 17 Dec 1998 - Least said soonest mended with this one. Appointed club favourites John Halpin and David Wilkes to take the reins when the going got tough and gave them no support at all. To their credit, the pair served the club loyally, as they had before and still do now. If they hadn't, anything could have happened.
Nigel Pearson: 17 Dec 1998 to 17 May 1999 - Shrugged his shoulders and said, "ah, what the heck" before waving a certain keeper forward in to the penalty box with seconds left on the clock. Achieved the impossible by making sure United stayed up.
Keith Mincher: 18 Jun 1999 to 25 Jun 1999 - He was appointed, then he went home. Not much else to add really.
Martin Wilkinson: 25 Jun 1999 to 10 May 2000 - A widely travelled coach Wilkinson failed to inspire the team or the fans and another last day nail biting session had to be endured as United survived the drop by the skin of their teeth.
Ian Atkins: 1 Jun 2000 to 12 Jul 2001 - Became one of the most popular managers Brunton Park has seen for years. Turned around the poor run of form with some adept signings, ran Arsenal close in the FA Cup, and achieved survival with room to spare.
Roddy Collins: 1 Aug 2001 to 6 Apr 2002 - A man with an often confrontational nature Collins had an excellent record in the EIRCOM and came to set United back on track. Introduced John Courtenay to the idea of buying the place and was duly sacked by Knighton.
Billy Barr: 6 Apr 2002 to 1 Aug 2002 - A fantastic servant of United, Barr took control during a summer of player sackings and complete mess. Did well to keep the players focused at what was a difficult time.
Roddy Collins: 1 Aug 2002 to 29 Aug 2003 - Was reinstated as Courtenay's right hand man but failed to deliver on the pitch, despite a trip to Cardiff in the LDV. A terrible start to the 03/04 season saw him sacked as fans started to turn.
Paul Simpson: 29 Aug 2003 to 17 Jun 2006 - Local born lad who took over as Player / Manager, but suffered relegation to the Conference in his first season. Two promotions followed (including a League Two title), making him one of our most successful managers, but the lure of the Championship proved to be too much as he moved on to Preston North End.
Neil McDonald - 29 Jun 2006 to 13 August 2007 - Former Youth trainee returned to take control and brought some excellent football to Brunton Park. Steered the club to 8th in League One in his first season as a manager, and left 3 days in to the 2007/08 campaign.
Greg Abbott - 13 August 2007 to 3 October 2007 - Stepped in to the Caretaker role admirably, guiding the team to 4th spot in League One with passion and pride. Slipped back in to Assistant spot on arrival of the new manager having done his reputation absolutely no harm at all.
John Ward - 3 October 2007 to 3 November 2008 - Joined on a four-year deal and came within a whisker of taking the team into the Championship. Lost out to Leeds United in a two-leg play-off semi-final and suffered a poor run of results the following season. Eventually parted company after an away defeat at Stockport made it ten League games without a win.
Greg Abbott - 3 November 2008 to present day.
