Over the past few years, Carlisle United have marked Black History Month by celebrating the players, staff and supporters who contribute to the club’s diverse and inclusive culture.
However, these stories deserve to be told and shared throughout the year. Niall McNulty from Valued Voices, alongside Teresa Mulholland, EDI Lead for the club and Community Sports Trust, and the Carlisle United Heritage Group, have been working on a project to research, record and celebrate the contributions Black and Brown players, staff and supporters have made to Carlisle United over the years.
Working alongside the club’s EDI Team, the project has included CUTV interviews with past and present players, a round-table discussion with players at Tullie, and research into the club’s historic Black and Brown players and managers in collaboration with the Heritage Group.
The research has uncovered nationally significant moments in football history, including the first game in charge of Rochdale for the first-ever Black professional football manager, which took place at Brunton Park in the 1960s.
Over the next year, the project aims to grow further, with plans to reconnect with players, past and present, to hear their personal stories and experiences of representing the Blues.
From their favourite Brunton Park memories to what life was like living and playing in Carlisle, these conversations will help preserve the club’s history.
The project will also share previously unearthed footage from television archives, bringing these stories to life for a new generation of supporters.
But the story of United’s Black and Brown footballers is not just about the players; the experiences of the fans who have followed and supported the club over the years are equally important, and we want to hear from them too.
If you would like to contribute to the project and share your experiences, please get in touch via edi@carlisleunited.co.uk.
Together, we can go beyond Black History Month to celebrate, preserve and share the stories of the people who have played for, worked at and supported Carlisle United throughout its history.
