A Carlisle United fan who is receiving long term hospital treatment has been surprised with signed Blues merchandise thanks to a senior nurse at the West Cumberland Hospital (WCH).
Blues super fan Keith Norman is currently a patient at WCH and was thrilled to receive the signed memorabilia from his favourite team.
The club kindly sent Keith a signed baseball cap, a programme and a Jimmy Glass poster signed by all the players.
When he received the signed merchandise, Keith said: “It’s going to spur me on even more. I’m determined to get back on my feet. It’s boosted my morale to get me there for next season. Thank you very much to the club. It shows how much they care about their supporters.
“I’ve been a Carlisle United fan for 40 years now. I don’t follow the prima donnas (in the Premier League). They will get a shock when they drop down to League 1 and 2 where they play real football!”
Keith hasn’t been able to attend the Carlisle matches at Brunton Park, due to ill health, but has been listening to the games on the radio including the nail-biting match that sealed their trip to Wembley.
Fiona McLoughlin, a ward manager at the hospital - arranged for a shout out on the radio for Keith and for the club and players to sign and send him some merchandise. Fiona’s husband and son are also keen Carlisle United fans and they have been bringing programmes back from the recent games for Keith.
Fiona said: “I’d like to thank Nigel Davidson and everyone at Carlisle United who made this possible for Keith. When we presented Keith with the merchandise he was so happy.”
Nicole Cottingham, Patient Experience Facilitator at NCIC, collected the merchandise from the club and took it to Whitehaven for Keith.
Keith says his favourite current player is Owen Moxon and his favourite Carlisle player of all time is Jimmy Glass.
And his prediction for the big match at Wembley on Sunday?
Keith said: “We’ve got 90 minutes yet, but we are getting promoted. It’s going to be 3-2. We’ll come back in the second half and frighten them. We’ll do it the hard way.”
It’s all to play for at Wembley on Sunday. The Blues go against Stockport and the prize will be a promotion to League One. The club has called it the biggest game since they last won promotion back in 2005.
Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “Our EDI officer Nigel Davidson found about Keith and immediately asked if the players could help to give him a lift.
“With such a busy Wembley schedule it was felt that could best be achieved by sending him messages of encouragement, and some signed memorabilia, so that he could have it by his side as the lads took on the task of reaching the play-off final.
“As a club we have been delighted that the delivery of those items has put a smile on his face, and that he’ll be kicking and heading every ball with us on Sunday as he listens to the game on the radio.
“Hopefully Owen [Moxon] gets a goal or an assist to make it an even better day for us all!
“We’re all thinking of Keith and we know he would be there with us if he could be.”
