Carlisle United can now provide an update on supporter engagement, with a number of new initiatives being introduced.
The connection between the club and its supporters is central to who we are and who we want to become. In recent months, we’ve listened closely to fans across Cumbria through our engagement survey, matchday feedback, supporter groups and ongoing conversations.
This feedback helps guide our vision: to inspire pride across Carlisle and Cumbria, remain sustainable, and compete at the highest level possible. Strong relationships with supporters are essential to achieving that ambition.
Engagement is not just about communication; it’s about building trust, strengthening our identity, and ensuring fans feel connected to the club both on and off the pitch. Thank you for the fantastic response and valuable insights you’ve shared.
New initiatives
As a result, we are introducing a number of initiatives to improve transparency, bring supporters closer to the club, and ensure your voices continue to help shape the future of Carlisle United.
We will build on behind-the-scenes video content and storytelling features that give supporters greater insight into the people, processes and stories that make up Carlisle United.
These will include interviews with players and staff, features exploring how the club operates and additional access to life inside the club.
A Fans’ Forum will take place in April, providing supporters with an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and hear directly from club representatives.
We will also continue working to improve our website, app and CUTV platforms, with the aim of making them more user-friendly, engaging and informative for supporters.
To increase transparency around off-the-pitch developments, the club’s ownership and leadership team will introduce a monthly bulletin providing updates on key club activity, alongside responses to supporter-submitted questions.
Alongside this, we will continue working closely with supporter groups to strengthen existing engagement structures, including Carlisle United Supporters Group meetings, and to ensure club updates and meeting minutes are communicated clearly.
Chairman Tom Piatak said: “One of the things that makes Carlisle United special is the bond between the club and its supporters. If we want to be a club that inspires pride and belongs to everyone, then that connection must be reflected in how we communicate and engage.
“The feedback we have received has been valuable. Supporters have been clear that they want greater insight, more transparency, and more opportunities to connect with the club off the pitch.
“That is important not just from a communications perspective, but because it helps us build a stronger, more united, and more sustainable club for the future.”
Tom Little, Head of Marketing and Media added: “The response from supporters has been incredibly helpful and shows just how passionate people are about Carlisle United and the role the club plays in the community.
“Supporters told us they want to feel closer to the club, with more insight into the people and stories behind-the-scenes, and more opportunities to understand what is happening away from the pitch.
“Our aim is to keep improving how we communicate, while creating more opportunities for supporters to connect with the club. That stronger connection helps build trust, strengthens the Carlisle United brand and supports the long-term growth of the club.”
Key Themes from the Supporter Survey
The survey highlighted several clear themes about what matters most to supporters:
- Fans value the Fan Zone and the improvements made to the matchday experience and hospitality.
- Supporters appreciate recent media content focusing more on players, staff and the people within the club.
- There is strong interest in greater communication about off-the-pitch activity and behind-the-scenes insight.
- Fans would like to see smaller Q&A events and “Behind the Boardroom” style content providing greater transparency from ownership and directors.
- The club website, Facebook and X remain the most important communication channels.
- Atmosphere inside the stadium, ticket pricing and ticket offers are key priorities for improving the matchday experience.
- Supporters want the club to prioritise transparency, communication and continued improvements to Brunton Park.
- Fans feel well connected to the club and proud to be part of the Carlisle United community.
- Supporters would welcome further outreach across Cumbria, reinforcing the club’s identity as the Cumbrians.
- Fans have shared a wide range of ideas for improving communication, atmosphere and engagement.
The feedback from the survey, alongside insights gathered through matchday feedback emails, supporter groups, community partners and wider industry best practice, will all help shape our ongoing supporter engagement approach.
Most importantly, we remain committed to listening to supporters as we continue building a club that inspires pride, belongs to its community and can grow sustainably for the future.
