Final friendly fixture date sorted
Carlisle United Football Club can confirm that Sunderland, who took centre stage for last season's Premier League great escape act, will visit Brunton Park for a pre-season friendly on Tuesday 22 July, kick off 7.30pm.
The Black Cats went on a run of five games unbeaten through April and May, as they ripped up the form book in response to manager Gus Poyet's calls for a miracle, and they eventually finished five points and four places above the drop zone which had been their home for much of the season.
United, of course, took just short of 6,000 fans to the Stadium of Light for what was an enjoyable FA Cup third round day out in January this year, with Sunderland fan Matt Robson netting the only Cumbrian goal in an entertaining 3-1 defeat.
"We have a great relationship with Gus [Poyet] and Sunderland and we're pleased that we will see them at Brunton Park during pre-season," manager Graham Kavanagh said.
"They'll give us a real test and it's one we can all look forward to. It fits in well with what we want to do through July, as we get ready for the new season, and we now know we have some good games coming up to help us get the pitch time the lads will need."
United v Sunderland, Tuesday 22 July, kick off 7.30pm, pre-season friendly
Click HERE for the full provisional pre-season fixture list.