NEWS & STAR COLUMN 14.10.21
It was a miserable weekend for Blues fans as the team slipped into the bottom three with head coach Chris Beech departing the scene.
Yet there was a welcome distraction for some on Saturday night as they took a trip down memory lane.
Harraby Catholic Club was packed for the reunion of the 1994/95 Blues squad – the team that made history by taking the club to Wembley for the first time and then capped the season by winning the Division Three title.
The event proved a big success and was enjoyed by everybody with thousands of pounds raised for Eden Valley Hospice in memory of United favourite Tony Hopper, who died three years ago after a brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Old heroes like boss Mick Wadsworth, David Reeves, Dean Walling and Derek Mountfield waxed lyrical about how much they loved their time with the Blues.
It’s crazy to think that someone like Mountfield, who had so much success in the top flight with Everton and Aston Villa, should remember his spell at Brunton Park so fondly.
All the players insisted it was the tremendous spirit within the squad which was the secret of their success. They may have lost the Football League Trophy final to Birmingham on a ‘goal-den goal’ but around 27,000 Carlisle fans had a fantastic, never-to-be forgotten day out.
We need to see some of that spirit in the present day team if we are to save our season. It was sad to see Beech, who was fully committed to the Blues and the community, lose his job but there seemed little alternative after the recent depressing run of form.
Watching the defeat at Bristol Rovers on Saturday it was hard to see where the next goal was coming from never mind points.
The club now has to find his successor. There will be no shortage of applicants but it is an appointment we cannot afford to get wrong.
There is still time to fill in the CUOSC questionnaire on the future of the game and the future direction of the club. It also gives you a chance to tell us what you expect from the owners of the club.
You can access the questionnaire by visiting https://www.cuosc.org.uk/news/the-future-of-football/ The responses will be published when they have been fully processed.
Don’t forget our regular supporters’ surgery before Saturday’s home match with Tranmere in the study centre, next to the club shop between 1.30 and 2.30pm. It’s a chance to sign up or renew your membership. It costs £10 for adults for a year and £5 for seniors and under 18s.
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