It was a special night at Brunton Park on Wednesday as 2,000 United fans came back for the first time since the government called a halt to the trial process in September – and what a night it was.
Speaking about the return of supporters, and what it meant to the dressing room, manager Chris Beech said: “I’ve been saying it for a while, the fans haven’t been able to come, all they’ve been able to do is listen to BBC Cumbria, so now they can see it themselves.
“I’m just pleased we’ve shared that with them, I’m very thankful of that. There were a lot of pre-event comments about us being the first game with fans and that could have affected the players, but it didn’t.
“I just think it’s good for football that they’re back, and good for life in general. It’s great for us, you’ve got a response, noises, difference.
“It didn’t help some of the referring decisions, but there you go, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the players did as well and I’m thankful we’ve represented our club against a very good opponent.”
On celebrating with the fans at the end of the game, he told us: “There were goosebumps on my neck when we won the game. I’ve not had that before.
“I know winning’s vital and important, but if you can’t share it with anybody, sometimes it’s like what the heck’s going on? We always knew we’d get to this point.
“I just know the club, talking to the girls in the office, they’ve received 12,500 phone calls. I got messages off scouts, Les, Manchester United who wanted to watch his left-sided centre-half and see how George is getting on, he couldn’t even get through.
“So he’s texting me last night to try and get a ticket. It’s amazing we’ve got so many people who are so interested. I suppose we’ve helped create that interest, and we’ve fed the lions.”
“Am I right in thinking, the fans haven’t seen Jon Mellish score? It was great before the game, I spoke to a few of the supporters, good to see them, good to talk to them, because I’ve not seen anybody since March, besides a few people when you walk around the ground in the week.
“It was all just great, really good.”
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