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Match Previews

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Portsmouth

22 February 2017

Match Previews

BIG MATCH PREVIEW: Portsmouth

22 February 2017

Everything you need to know ahead of the weekend's big game

The latest in a run of big games comes to Brunton Park on Saturday as fellow promotion chasers Portsmouth head north for what they have already billed as their biggest game of the season so far.

United go into the fixture off the back of two important and hard earned victories and Pompey, unbeaten in three, also head towards the big kick off in confident mood.

Manager Keith Curle said: "The victories kept up our own momentum at the top of the table but one thing we keep reminding everyone is that it isn’t about other people’s results at the moment. We’ve got to take care of our business. Our focus has to be completely and utterly on what we do.

"Everything we’re going to get as a group we’re going to have to earn. The good thing is that we have a fantastic work ethic and these lads want to win every single game. What we will remind them is that just because they’ve won the last two games it doesn’t mean the Blackpool result isn’t still etched firmly in our minds, because it is.
 
"That result will serve as the best reminder of what can happen if you don’t do your job. What I will say is that there’s nothing to be scared of in this division. We’ve got a very small squad, but it’s very competitive. The players have demands put on them and they are determined to see this job through."


Remember, you can purchase your tickets by telephone on 0844 371 1921* or buy online and print at home, or order for collection, by clicking HERE

*Calls to this number are charged at 7p per minute from landlines. Charges from mobiles may vary. A booking fee of £1 applies to all online transactions.

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Thank you to our Big Match Sponsors

This weekend we welcome Bendles Solicitors and Online Systems as our joint Match Sponsors, and Crossling as our Associate Sponsors.

Our hospitality lounges - Foxy’s Restaurant and Legends - are sold out for the game, as they were for the Blackpool fixture, so we hope to see a good atmosphere in these rooms both pre and post-match.

We have an extensive range of sponsorship opportunities available, from Match Day sponsorship to Player and Ball sponsorship packages. For more information please contact the Commercial Department on 01228 554 155 or email commercial@carlisleunited.co.uk.

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A very special Guest of Honour

Carlisle United have some very special guests this weekend as former-Blue Tony Hopper and his family take Guest of Honour status.

Tony [or Hoppy as he is known to United’s fans] was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of Motor Neurone Disease known as Bulbar MND – a life-limiting illness with an average prognosis of 2-3 years from onset of symptoms.

You will see a bucket collection taking place around the ground in support of the Hopper Fightback Fund – please give generously if you can.

Hoppy will be on the pitch at half time to carry out the Golden Gamble draws and is looking forward to saying thank you to the supporters who have responded to the news in such an unbelievable way.
Remember to give the Hopper boys – Dan, Adam and Jack – a wave as they carry out their match day mascot duties!

Click HERE to visit the ‘Creating Hoppy Memories’ gofundme page and to leave a message of support or make a donation.

To visit Tony’s fightback fund, click HERE.  

If you would like to help with fundraising for the MND Association - either with funds or an idea for an fundraising event - please email media@carlisleunited.co.uk and we will reply with further details on how you can assist the Hopper family.

Thank you, from all of us, for your support of Tony and his family at this time.

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CUFC Business Club Meeting

Our Business Club will be having their latest meeting in Foxy’s Restaurant on Saturday morning where they will listen to talks from current agents.

The agents will talk about the mechanics of transfer moves at all levels of the game and will give an insight into what goes in to looking after their charges on a day-by-day basis.

For more information on our popular Business Club please email our Commercial Department on 01228 554 155 or email commercial@carlisleunited.co.uk.

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The Mascots

Our mascots for this game are Dan, Adam and Jack Hopper, Maximus and Theodore Guthrie, and Conor and Finley McDermott.

All five of the Carlisle mascots went for Danny Grainger as their favourite player – a clean sweep!

The Pompey mascots went for Gary Roberts and Michael Doyle respectively.

We hope you all enjoy meeting all of the players on Saturday.

Have a great day!

Our match mascots are chosen at random from our Junior Blue membership - to find out more about our Junior Blues membership, click HERE.

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The Man in the Middle

Our match referee this weekend is Mr Richard Clark.

Mr Clark has been in charge of 15 games so far this season and has shown 56 yellow cards and three reds.

He was last at Brunton Park for our Checkatrade Trophy victory over Blackburn Rovers U23s in October. Shaun Miller and Danny Grainger scored the goals and there were no bookings on the night.

Our betting partner Sky Bet has some fantastic odds available on all match markets – click HERE for more details.

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The Match Programme

Issue 19 of The Blues is on sale from our usual programme selling points and outlets around the ground.

This week we have a fantastic interview with Tony Hopper as we talk about his career in the game – all the way from securing a place on the YTS scheme at Brunton Park to his final appearance – a pre-season friendly between Workington and Carlisle at Borough Park.

Here’s a taste of the fascinating four-page interview – in this extract he talks about making his debut for the club against Scarborough in May 1993 ...

“I only found out the day before that I was going to be involved. I was extremely nervous but it was a great occasion for my family, and my dad and my granddad made the trip across to watch it. What I didn’t realise at the time was that as soon as the game kicked off I’d become the youngest player ever to play a first team game for the club.

“Unfortunately they brought Rory Delap on at half time and he nicked the record off me after just 45 minutes – I knew I should have toppled him in the warm-up! Looking back I remember losing all of the feelings of nervousness as soon as the whistle blew for kick off. Simon Davey kept talking to me about where he thought I should be and that helped massively. I played quite well in the end, we got a 2-2 draw and, having had a taste of it, I just wanted more and more.”

50p from every programme sold on Saturday will be split equally between the Hopper Fightback Fund and our Official Charity Partners.

Packed with stats, facts, history and features, and priced at just £2, it’s one not to be missed.

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Match Day Ticket Sales

Match Day Ticket Sales are as follows:

Main Stand [B, C, Pirelli Family Stand and EWM] – from the ticket office situated on the west side of the stadium.

Paddock – from the Paddock ticket office situated at the southern end of the Paddock.

Pioneer Foods Stand and Warwick Road End – from the Pioneer Foods Stand ticket office situated on the ground floor on the east side of the stadium.

Away fans – from the away ticket office situated at the northern end of the Pioneer Foods Stand.

Remember – during the working week our Pioneer Foods Stand ticket office, situated on the first floor of the Pioneer Foods stand, is open for ticket sales for ALL areas of the ground.

The ticket office on the west side of the stadium is open on MATCH DAYS ONLY.

The ticket office is open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays (and until kick off for midweek games) and from 10am to 5.15pm on weekend match days.

It is worth noting that entry can be gained on match days by showing your ticket confirmation email on your smart phone or equivalent device. Simply present the relevant section of your eTicket for scanning at point of entry.

For full ticket office opening times and ticket prices, click HERE.

Remember, you can purchase your tickets by telephone on 0844 371 1921* or buy online and print at home, or order for collection, by clicking HERE

*Calls to this number are charged at 7p per minute from landlines. Charges from mobiles may vary. A booking fee of £1 applies to all online transactions.

Please note - ticket collections (home and away fans) are from the Ticket Office window on the west side of the stadium.

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It’s Happy Hour Again ...

We’ll be hosting a Happy Hour in the Sporting Inn and the Sunset Suite once again this Saturday between 1pm and 2pm.

Your favourite tipple is just £3 per pint for John Smiths, Fosters and Strongbow. Or you can pick up a Pie and a Pint at just £5.50.

It’s a great way to start the day – we’ll see you there ... and it’s your round!

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Golden Gamble

Keep your eye out for our Golden Gamble sellers around the ground ahead of kick off.

Your tickets can be purchased for just £1 (or at 3 for £2) and give you the chance to win either £100, or the share of a cash pot, in our half time draws.

And, while we’re on the subject, why not sign up to our exciting Blues Lotto? For just £1 you can purchase 10 lucky numbers for our weekly draw giving you the chance to win cash prizes from our fund of nearly £60,000.

There is now the opportunity to pay an additional £1 per week to upgrade to Premier Membership where there is another £17,000 cash, 3 new cars and many other prizes waiting to be won.

For more details visit www.blueslotto.co.uk or email lottery@carlisleunited.co.uk.

Alternatively call 01228 526 237 and ask for Ewan Wood.

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Catering

The catering outlets in the Paddock and Warwick Road End are now fully operational and will be serving the full range of hot and cold food for every game this season.

Fans can purchase burgers, hot dogs, pies and hot drinks inside the stadium, as well as from the catering van situated in the main car park, as normal.

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The Blues Store in the East Stand Club Bar

We are delighted to confirm that our Blues Store will be operating from the Club Bar adjacent to the Family Zone in the Pioneer Foods Stand once again this weekend.

A full range of stock will be available with the emphasis on smaller items, suitable for the younger visitors to our extremely popular Family Zone games and play area. 

Keep an eye out for our East Stand Tuck Shop which sells a full range of soft drinks and confectionery.

Replica kit sales continue to go well in our main Blues Store on Warwick Road and it would be great to see you in your favourite colour [blue, red or white] as you cheer on the lads in the big game.

Blues Store opening times: 

Monday 10am-5pm
Tuesday 10am-5pm (open until 7.45pm on a match day)
Wednesday CLOSED 
Thursday 10am-5pm
Friday 10am-5pm
Saturday 10am-3pm (open until 5.30pm on match day)  
Sunday CLOSED

Telephone sales: 01228 554 138 (during store working hours only).

Click HERE to shop at our online Blues Store.


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Challenge 25

We are operating the ‘Challenge 25’ policy at Brunton Park this season. 

Please do not be offended if you are asked for ID when purchasing alcohol and if you appear to be under the age of 25 to our bar staff.

Thank you for your cooperation.

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The Supporters’ Car Park

Our supporters’ car park is open with parking available at the stadium at just £2.50.

Please be aware that the ground is still soft underfoot, so take care when navigating and walking around the area.

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Local Match Day Travel with Stagecoach

Carlisle Footyrider – get to the match for half the cost!

Stagecoach Cumbria and Carlisle United are working together to make it easier for you to get to Brunton Park on match days.

The Carlisle Footyrider ticket will get you to every first-team home game for half the price of a normal dayrider ticket.  

Stagecoach service 76 and 685 takes you straight to Brunton Park. Simply catch service 76 from The Crescent (Stand U) near the train station or service 685 from Carlisle Bus Station.

What you'll need

To get a Carlisle Footyrider ticket you’ll need to show our driver one of the following:

+ A valid Carlisle United season ticket 
+ A ticket for that day's match

Where you can travel 

You can get to Brunton Park from anywhere across Cumbria and North Lancashire. Depending on where you’re travelling from, you can purchase a Footyrider ticket from within the:

+ Carlisle dayrider zone
+ Carlisle dayrider plus zone
+ Explorer zone

How much does it cost?

+ Carlisle dayrider - £1.50
+ Carlisle dayrider plus - £3.35
+ Explorer - £5.40

Click HERE to visit the Stagecoach website for full travel details.

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