This weekend on the fixture calendar always seems to throw up a trek, and it's no different this time round as we head to Nailsworth and the home of Forest Green.
Of the five away games we've played down there over the years we've won three and drawn two - possibly not enough hard evidence to say we're a bogey team, but definitely a place where we tend to do well, whatever the reason for that may be.
Rovers, of course, became the world's first football club to achieve 'carbon neutral' status in 2017, having already turned to an all vegan menu around their match day catering facilities two years earlier.
October saw Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja join the club as their artistic director, with the band having commuted around their European tour venues by train, to reduce their carbon footprint.
Back in September Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin became the club's second largest stakeholder as he invested in the club on an agenda of 'seeking to raise the environmental agenda in football' having recently raised funds to plant 60,000 trees in the Amazonian Rain Forest.
Like Carlisle United, Forest Green have been bouncing around the top seven spots pretty much all season as they once again mount a solid challenge.
Tuesday night took them to Port Vale, where they scored both goals in the game ... one of them being an own goal with Aaron Collins netting just before the break to cancel out a nightmare moment for skipper Chris Stokes.
Leading into that fixture they had put together a run of five league games without defeat (that has obviously now been extended to six), and were level pegging with the Blues on points earned at that stage.
Away results have been steady, with victories picked up at Harrogate and Southend as part of their climb up the table.
We've said this before, but the lively Jamille Matt always seems to find the back of the net when he plays against us.
He's bagged eight times already this season, with his last strike coming from the penalty spot in the 2-0 home win over Cambridge last weekend.
Mobile, and with the knack of being in the right pace at the right time, he gets the nod as our one to watch this weekend.
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The 2019/20 season was one of those years where it felt like we played each other at least 200 times, and the fourth occasion we came together was again down at the Lawn, and it was a thumping away win for the Cumbrians as Josh Kayode complemented a Nathan Thomas hat-trick, with the score ending at 4-1.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
December 2019's FA Cup second round replay went the way of the Blues courtesy of a first-ever goal for the club for big defender Aaron Hayden. It was nip and tuck, but Carlisle went through to face Championship side Cardiff City in the third round.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
United had to come from behind when Aaron Collins netted with just 10 minutes on the clock at Nailsworth in the November 2019 second round FA Cup clash. Goals either side of the break from Nathan Thomas put the Cumbrians in the ascendency, but an own goal from Gethin Jones just two minutes after Thomas had bagged his second left the teams with it all to do again as the game ended 2-2.
Unfortunately we do not hold the rights to the first round match footage.
It was a stalemate here at Brunton Park when these sides met in league action in September 2019. Chances came and went, but the feisty encounter went without goals as five players were booked and one sent off (James Morton).
Watch the highlights from that game here:
United came away from the New Lawn with a 1-1 draw in March 2019, having largely dominated the game. Nathan Thomas bagged the goal, but there were a number of opportunities missed by the Blues as they battled, but ultimately failed, to take all three points.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
It was Rovers who took the honours when they came north in November 2018, earlier in that season, with goals from Ben Morris and Carl Winchester giving them a two-goal cushion. A late penalty from Jamie Devitt gave the Blues some hope, but the away side held out to take all three points.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
The December 2017 away trip to the New Lawn brought an early Christmas present for the Blue Army as Richie Bennett headed home what turned out to be the winner just before the half hour.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
It was the same scoreline here at Brunton Park in January 2018 with the only goal of the game coming in almost the same minute. This time it was Jamie Devitt who found the back of the net when he arrived late to smash a volley into the bottom corner as the ball fell nicely at his feet.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
Referee - Alan Young
Assistant Referee 1 - Andrew Laver
Assistant Referee 2 - Conor Farrell
Fourth Official - Kevin Johnson
Our referee for this game is Mr Alan Young.
So far this season he has shown 69 yellow cards and two reds from 16 games.
Now in his third season as a Football League official, this is just the second time he's taken charge of a game involving Carlisle United.
Our first meeting with him was at Home Park in October 2019. Plymouth won the game 2-0, and Jack Iredale and Jarrad Branthwaite had their names taken for the Blues.
Away fans are not permitted at this fixture. See above for details on how to get your iFollow match pass so that you can watch the lads live, as it happens, in the comfort of your own living room.
