Well, Carlisle United really have gone 'One Step Beyond' as a few tentative initial conversations with Nutty Boy Chas Smash, one of the driving forces behind musical giants Madness, has led to them re-recording the intro to the title track of their debut album especially for us.

As you will hear ahead of the game on Saturday, Chas now greets the players with: "HEY YOU, DON'T WATCH THAT, WATCH THIS - CARLISLE UNITED AT BRUNTON PARK," just before the main tune kicks in, and we're sure that it's going to be a huge hit with the fans.

Tannoy announcer Steve Dunn has been the go-between as the negotiations to get this unique piece of music completed by Madness gathered pace, and we at the club are all delighted with the results.

Steve explained: "It all started because we were looking to get as much new music in to our matchday experience as possible, and we decided to have a look at the tune that the lads were running out to. One Step Beyond seemed a good choice and, after a few games, I decided to speak to Paul Newton at BBC Radio Cumbria to see if he had any links, so that we could let the band know that we were using it."

"Paul directed me towards an agent who knew Chas Smash," he said, "and I made contact, more in hope than anything else. I was stunned when Chas rung me back, and even more stunned when he agreed to record this new intro. When I told him that Radio Cumbria had helped me to track him down, he recorded one for them as well!"

The album One Step Beyond was released in 1979 by Stiff Records, and it marked the arrival of one of the most popular bands of the era. The first single from the record - The Prince - written in homage to the band's idol Prince Buster, went straight in to the charts, and the follow up singles One Step Beyond and My Girl confirmed the potential shown by the fun loving septet.

Next year sees the 30th anniversary of the release of One Step Beyond and, as Chas himself told us earlier this week: "There are big plans for Madness as we celebrate 30 years at the top. We'll have more news on what we'll be doing soon."

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Various conversations and exchanges of emails with Chas have revealed that he is heavily involved in raising money for a charity called APNEEF in Ibiza (Asociacion de Niños con Necesidades Especiales de Ibiza y Formentera).

APNEEF provide full time care for over 100 severely physically and mentally disabled children, and welcome any help they can get. To find out more about the fantastic work that Chas and Madness do for APNEEF, go to http://www.myspace.com/thebutterflyball 

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