The term ‘loyal servant’ is used in many different contexts in today’s modern game, and often when, perhaps, it may not necessarily be fully warranted, but there’s absolutely no doubt that United’s Community Sports Trust manager John Halpin falls firmly under that very banner.
It’s some 38 years ago now that scout Jack Watson alerted Bob Stokoe to the fact that there was a ‘nippy young Scottish winger’ that was available at the right price and who he felt could ‘do a job’ and some £10,000 later the deal was done ... apparently for just the two years.
To say he graced the hallowed turf would be an understatement and, had he managed to avoid three horrendous career-threatening injuries, well, quite frankly, who knows what he would have gone on to achieve.
To return from two leg breaks and a broken jaw was testament to the man and showed character in itself, but to go on to become a genuine club legend through just over nine years of appearances despite all of that – with one of the most talked about goals ever scored to brag about to boot – isn’t such a bad thing.
A spell managing the club during the Michael Knighton era with friend and colleague Dave Wilkes adds to the sense of legend, and his return to the club under the ownership of Fred Story (suggested by then manager Paul Simpson) acted as a spark which has propelled the club’s Football in the Community (now Community Sports Trust) venture into the modern era.
From an outreach programme that serviced the needs of local primary schools it now has schemes and projects which cover every area of society, providing much needed contact for those who otherwise perhaps wouldn’t even get the chance to leave the house, let alone interact with like-minded people.
But where is this preamble leading?
It’s with a huge sense of regret, but also pride, that we confirm that Mr Halpin is to retire from his current role as Community Sports Trust manager at the end of December this year as he looks to spend more time with his family.
And we think it goes without saying that he leaves with the very best wishes of everybody associated with the club for the work done in so many areas cross so many aspects of our (his) football club, on and off the pitch.
Chairman Andrew Jenkins said: “John was first spotted by our scout Jack Watson in the Stokoe days, when he was out on-loan from Celtic to Sunderland.
“There was a transfer fee involved but everybody at the time felt it was business well worth doing. When you think about it, it’s proved to be a bargain considering he’s been at the club for nearly 40 years.
“To me John has been a great ambassador for the club and someone you love to meet and talk to. He throws himself into everything he does and the healthy position the Community Sports Trust is in is proof of that.
“We all know how good he was as a player, he was delightful to watch, and he has been extremely loyal through many different and sometimes difficult situations.
“We wish him a happy retirement, but we don’t want him to leave completely, and we hope he will stay with us in some capacity in the future.”
Manager Paul Simpson said: “He’s a top bloke, absolutely top bloke. I only found out late last week that he’d decided to retire and I don’t mind saying that I want to sit down with him.
“My big thing since I’ve come back here is wanting to get good people in the football club and trying to keep them. I would love to keep John because I think he’s a top Carlisle United bloke.
“I’m going to talk with him and see if there’s any way we can keep him involved in whatever capacity. We can’t be losing people like him.
“His work in the community has been absolutely outstanding. He’s got a really good group of staff, he leads his staff well, I think he’s a top bloke to have around, and he’s obviously got Carlisle United history.
“I hope we can find something for him to keep him involved with the club in whatever capacity we can, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
“He might be sick to death of the place, he might want a break, but I intend to have a coffee with him very soon and see what his thoughts are.”
As for the man himself, he told us: “I was actually going to retire when I was 60 [last November] but with so much going on post-Covid, I didn’t think that would be right.
“I wanted to make sure that all of our projects were back up and running and the staff at the Trust have been magnificent, they really have.
“They’ve not only picked things up again, but they’ve pushed it on to new levels, and that’s why I know that I’m leaving it in very good and capable hands.
“I will miss it, of course I will, but I’m also very relaxed about the decision I’ve made. It’s important to give my family some of my time, it’s been all about football for so much of my life, and I’m really looking forward to that.
“I love the club, I certainly won’t be cutting all ties, I’ll be keeping a very close eye on what everyone is doing and I know that the Community Sports Trust staff will be taking that side of the business forward at every opportunity.”
Thanks for the memories Halpy!
