Carlisle United Football Club, in association with CFM Cash for Kids, will be hosting a 'Legends Reunited' evening in Foxy's Restaurant here at Brunton Park on Thursday 15 December.
Popular CFM presenter Robbie Dee will host the evening and your panel consisting of Greg Abbott, Paul Thirlwell, John Halpin, George McVitie, Hugh McIlmoyle and Billy Rafferty will be available from shortly after 7pm for a question and answer session, where you decide what to ask.
The running order for the evening is:
7pm - Bar opens
7.15pm - Introduction from Robbie Dee
7.20pm - Question and answer session with the panel
A buffet will be available when the main session has finished, and the bar will remain open all night.
Tickets cost only £15 - book now to avoid disappointment!
Tickets can be collected from Main Reception at Brunton Park. Call 01228 526 237 for more details.
The panel:
Coventry-born Greg Abbott joined the Carlisle United Playing Staff as First Team and Reserve Team Coach in July 2006. He left his position as the Leeds Academy U18 Coach to take up the new challenge at Brunton Park. He started his playing career at his hometown club in Coventry as a youngster before moving to Bradford as an 18 year old, where he was to play 318 games. Such was his versatility that he was used as both a right back and a midfielder, scoring an impressive 44 goals along the way. His 9 year spell at Valley Parade came to an end in the summer of 1991 when he moved to Halifax, but he would spend just one season with the Shaymen, scoring 1 goal in his 34 appearances. Three months with Guiseley followed, but this was to be a prelude to a move to Hull in December 1992, where he would see out his playing career, making 141 appearances and scoring 18 goals. Having hung his boots up in May 1996 he went on to hold senior positions with Non-League outfits, including the joint managership of Thackley during the 1998 / 99 season. He then had 9 years with Leeds United in a variety of roles including Football in the Community, Academy Coaching and the U18 team Coach. He stepped up to the caretaker manager role with Carlisle when Neil McDonald left the club and was the natural successor to John Ward when his tenureship ended during the 2008/09 season. Guided the team to a mid-table finish and a Wembley final in the JPT in his first full season in charge, he repeated the feat ... and went one better by bringing the Trophy home in April 2011 with a well deserved 1-0 victory over Brentford beneath the famous arch.
Paul Thirlwell initially joined the Cumbrians on a three-month loan deal from Derby County in September 2006. He started his career at Sunderland, making 77 first team appearances, and enjoyed a loan spell with Swindon prior to signing for Sheffield United in the summer of 2004, before moving on to the Rams in the summer of 2005. His loan spell at Brunton Park went extremely well - so well, in fact, that he signed a two and a half year contract during the January 2007 transfer window. A holding midfielder, he has taken on the duty of breaking up the play and doing the hard work across the centre of the park. Injury wrecked his 2007/08 campaign, but he put that behind him and regularly gives a real captain's display as he leads by example. His solid displays earned him a new one-year deal this summer and he has once again been given the nod to wear the captain's armband.
John Halpin was born and raised in Armdale, twenty miles outside Glasgow, and he played for many junior local teams before being spotted by the mighty Celtic. Three seasons followed with the Glasgow giants until Carlisle manager Bob Stokoe expressed an interest in the nippyy wide man in October 1984. Carlisle were doing well in the Second Division and Halpin jumped at the chance, though it hurt to leave his beloved Glasgow. Just three games into his Brunton Park adventure he broke his cheek bone and was sidelined for two months. In a fantastic Carlisle career that spanned the next seven years he unbelievably broke his leg three times, fighting his way back to full fitness on every occasion. He made a total of 153 appearances and scored 17 goals before he moved on to Rochdale in July 1991. After a final year of professional football Halpin returned to Carlisle and, after a chance meeting with David Wilkes, accepted the offer to become part of the Football in the Community staff. He carried out his duties to the full, never tiring of visiting schools, organising training days for kids, attending and organising open days and holding open training sessions. When called upon to step in as first team manager after the departure of Mervyn Day, he again reacted admirably. He parted company with the club during the Knighton years and found himself in the Press Box at Brunton Park reporting on the fortunes of his adopted home town with an unerring accuracy and undying passion that few can match. It came as no surprise to anyone when he was reappointed as Football in the Community Officer in August 2004.
Hugh McIlmoyle became a legend at Carlisle, spending a total of 4 years and 5 months with the club, in three separate spells between March 1963 and May 1975. Born in Cambuslang in 1940, he entered the English game when he signed for Leicester City August 1959. He made an appearance in the 1961 FA Cup Final but a move to Rotherham followed prior to the start of his love affair with all things Cumbrian. In the 1963/64 season a Carlisle United legend was born. 113 goals were scored in the league by the team that season, with 39 of those coming from McIlmoyle. He moved on to Wolves in October 1964 for a fee of £30,000 and then south to Bristol City. Three years later, in September 1967, a bid of £22,000 was tabled and McIlmoyle returned to Brunton Park. Hughie played in all 42 League games in 1968/69 but shocked everyone in September 1969 when he signed for Middlesbrough ahead of the League Cup game with Blackburn. But the much travelled McIlmoyle was to return to Brunton Park for one last farewell. After spells with Preston and Morton the 34 year old was contacted by Alan Ashman, enjoying his second spell of management at the club. He was offered a one year contract and the chance to play in the countries highest Division. Hughie bit his hand off. In a stop/start Brunton Park career Hugh McIlmoyle bagged 91 goals in 189 appearances League and Cup (including substitute appearances) and gained himself a well earned chapter in the annals of CUFC history.
George McVitie is a true local hero, born in Carlisle and playing some of the best football of his career for his home town club. He made his League debut in December 1965 and went on to make 129 appearances for United, scoring 21 goals. George was an exciting player to watch, holding the ball before dropping his shoulder, twisting past a defender and disappearing down the wing. Many fans expressed their disappointment when, in 1970, George was sold to West Bromich Albion. He went on to star for Oldham for four seasons where he made 113 appearances and netted 13 goals before making a very welcome return to Brunton Park in 1975. Another 200 appearances firmly placed him in the 'hero' category with the fans and he left with best wishes to finish his career north of the border with Queen of the South.
Billy Rafferty made 83 appearances for United, scoring 37 goals, and was undoubtedly one of the best strikers Carlisle have had. William Rafferty was born in Port Glasgow and at the age of 19 he finally made the decision to take the step into professional football and signed for Coventry City. Despite two years of hard work he found it difficult to secure a regular first team spot, and he moved to Blackpool in October 1972 to work for Bob Stokoe. In March 1974 Plymouth signed him for £25,000 and soon realised they had landed an absolute bargain. Rafferty exploded on the scene and made his mark as a regular goalscorer, as well as someone who could both hold up and link play. Two excellent years with Argyle came to a surprising end when Carlisle manager Dick Young tabled a £25,000 bid in May 1976, and the club accepted. Rafferty didn't miss a game all season, making 47 appearances League and Cup and scoring 20 goals. Despite his efforts the team could only manage a third from bottom finish and were relegated to Division Three. That brought the scouts, but he still had time to make a further 36 appearances for the club, scoring 17 more goals. He signed for Wolves in an impressive £125,000 deal and scored in his last game for the club on 25th February 1978, a 2-2 draw against Colchester. From Wolves he moved to Newcastle, and then south to Portsmouth. His final move took him to Bournemouth and he ended his English playing career at Dean Court in 1985. 3 seasons in Portugal followed until, aged 38, he completely retired from football in 1988.
