yesterday

It was an effort to go, if I hadn’t agreed to give someone a lift I wouldn’t have gone. It’s just such hard work supporting the club at the moment.
As bad as at the end of the Knighton era, but then I had anger, I knew the enemy and I knew the saviour .

Yes Courtenay ended up losing the clubs money, which saw him personally lose money, but he was the ideal man for the job at that time, someone with passion and the gift of the gab, who could excite the fans and bring them back when gates had dropped lower than they are now. We had hope back then, and despite dropping into the Conference there was always the feeling of brighter days to come and “all in it together”.

Now Carlisle United is so splintered and broken, it seems every one of us is a faction.

Those who support the owners, those who support some of the owners, those who support none of the owners, those who support CUOSC, those who want to disband CUOSC, those who supports the involvement from EWM, those who don’t. Those who see the need for David Holdsworth, those who don’t. It goes on and on and on.

Somehow that thing, that compelling bond of pride and identity, that sees us support our team through thin and thinner, seems smothered. A gold band lost in a rubbish bag of cheap fixes, empty promises and no communication.

To see Michael Bridges on the pitch at half time and for a few seconds be transported back to the time when to support Carlisle United was fun, was a joy, was something to look forward to. . .

We desperately need a leader, off the pitch, who can give us fans something to believe in.

Believe the way we did in 03/04 season, not the believing that we would stay up, although plenty did, but believing Carlisle United was worth fighting for and getting behind. Now, wherever I look I seem to see rubbish bags filled with empty words.

A half decent team on the pitch goes a long way though. It may not solve all the clubs deeper problems but it does make going to the games worth while and keeps fans reasonably happy and gives people hope. You don’t forget the other problems but it at least takes them away from the forefront of your mind. Last December / January leading up to the 8k mk thing things looked promising on the pitch, people were looking forward to games... then Steven Pressley got to grips with the team and 10 months later everyone is depressed, the football is shit, the team is getting worse, he’s making players worse and our league status is at risk. Nothing to be positive about.

Yes there are big problems within the club, but getting a competent manager to get things right on the pitch would be a start.

Yeah agree 100% Bumble and eloquently put. In all honesty I have given up going, the way the Lapping deal was rejected was the final straw for me. I just can't "blind faith" support the current regime and what they have done/are doing. We need a complete re-boot.

I thought Jon Colman had joined the message board for a moment! Ha
Well said Bumble. Agree with every word.

The club is absolutely dead on its feet. The last two home games you get the impression the fans have given up which is something I haven't seen for a long long time.

Apathy rules.

These are bleak times. We have seen them before.
The club is being run into the ground by lack of investment and poor decision making.
There is nothing to play for, other than avoiding getting relegated.
90% of the players will not be with us next season.
It is hard to muster much enthusiasm for what is on display.
If ever you are going to get shit, miserable crowds it is in circumstances like we are in.
In that 03/04 season the ground was virtually empty when we had 5 points, then we won a game, signed Preece and co and had something to cheer at last.
There isnt anything to hope for at present.

However, going to games still means a lot to me. I am not ready to give up and still enjoy going to games, believe it or not. Maybe I am clinging on to the past and I really do fear for the future of lower league football.
It is still about the people, the supporters and getting behind my local team, for me.
Following the team through good and bad has been very much my experience over many years.

Yes Bumble you are correct but while the CLUBKILLERS are in residence it won’t improve. In fact it’s only going to keep deteriorating. And that is hard to believe! I only hope the hole they are digging for the club can be got out of.

I agree, going to the game is still important to me. I had a few years where I had to miss quite a few home games cos of work and that told me that Carlisle United was a very difficult habit to break. I know a lot of folk who have stopped and say they don't miss it, I did.

At the moment though Saturday morning isn't, "yipee it's Match Day", it's more of a "deep sigh and grit my teeth match day".

There were some good things about yesterday. I was reminded it's Cumberland Cup on Tuesday. I always have had a rather wierd love of the Cumberland Cup, don't understand that myself but somehow it's football with all the marketing and glamour stripped off and it's about local teams. I'll go if I can.

I popped into the Study Centre before the game to see Barry (DSG) and see if he had got some paperwork he had been waiting for. While we chatted some folk came in to see CUOSC. They asked some interesting questions, were polite but frank. Good on them.

I would have liked to have stayed to listen but I had places to go and one answer made me so annoyed I had to go or I would have joined in and spoiled their discussion.

The game itself was hard work. I found myself talking. That's always a bad sign. It's partly a reaction to working on the touchline by myself at away matches and seeing things happen that I don't understand or they just stand out and then I forget about til next match. So random observations come tumbling out.

If the match is gripping, I just follow it, soak it in, words are superflous, yesterday I chatted.

" Do you see that? Its 3 mins since McKirdy and Thomas swapped sides and x hasn't even realised!"

"What the hell was that????" When a preplanned free kick routine ended with most of Macclesfields players in their box and none of ours.

"The referee is Andy Haines, he used to give out an awful lot of cards but seems to be mellowing, still prone to the odd random penalty though", I said 30 seconds before he gave the penalty. Feeling the guilt of tempting fate "it's ok, Collin is good at saving random penalties" phew, thanks gods of fete. Going for my hat trick,"we'll score before half time" yay, thank goodness for that, gods obviously appeased and back to their Carlisle United supporting ways.

In all seriousness though the match was hard work. No lack of effort, but a lot of wrong choices and individualness, very little sign of a team.

I want Carroll to succeed. A really difficult time for him, having been dropped after being red carded, trying to tip toe back in the team, when his game is so full on. He's wrackle and needs to curb it, but I like the way he's always talking.

I like the way when they walk upfield from a goal kick Carroll looks left and right all the time. So many of our players have their heads down, they don't look. He knows where his team mates are before he recieves the ball. In the second half their was 30 seconds of joy when he and Loft and ? pinged the ball at speed, drawing a perceptable intake of breath from the Paddock. oh for more of that.

I caught up with Bridges at the end to ask him to pose for pics with a couple of fans who were still waiting to see him long after most had gone home. Ever the gentleman, he posed and smiled and made some folks day.

First drive home in the dark now the clocks have gone back. It's going to be a long winter.

I worry about the future of the club now more than ever. We’ve had no success for 10 years, no promotions or excitement apart from a couple of games against premiership opposition. I feel we’re losing a whole generation.

It’s 2019 now, people want luxury and want everything “success” now. It’s also far easier to be heard/find out what’s going on with social media. It’s not the 70s, which is how the clubs being ran now. Not watching shite football and pissing against a wall.

The easy solution is for new ownership, a complete overhaul with new people and a new central person. Easy in theory near impossible in practice.

We won yesterday, but looks like there was little excitement. Staying in tier 4 is no excitement beating Macclesfield is no excitement.

Things have been done/tried to no avail - I see no future for the club/no knight in shining armour. As you say too many factions. They should be far more than 3800 on a Saturday but we are where we are.

Unfortunately Bp is old and dated with poor facilities it should be where fans head to on a Saturday lunchtime not to the rugby club or town or wherever however you can't blame them there's not a great deal to attract folk down to BP
My hat is doffed to those hardy souls that stand in paddock huddled together for protection on a cold pishin down Cumbrian winter's night getting soaked mind you they could stand in Warwick and piss in a drain at half time

Usually on a Saturday morning I'm waiting for the bus to go to matches but recently I'm having to drag myself out of the house dreading what's in store. The only thing I look forward to now is meeting up with friends in the Beehive. The atmosphere has all but died in the Paddock especially with that cordened off bit, our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times. Change is long overdue but the leeches are to firmly fixed on. As I've said before I look forward more to away games. This could be my last season of going to home matches unless there's a drastic change at the top.

Bumble wrote: I agree, going to the game is still important to me. I had a few years where I had to miss quite a few home games cos of work and that told me that Carlisle United was a very difficult habit to break. I know a lot of folk who have stopped and say they don't miss it, I did.

At the moment though Saturday morning isn't, "yipee it's Match Day", it's more of a "deep sigh and grit my teeth match day".

There were some good things about yesterday. I was reminded it's Cumberland Cup on Tuesday. I always have had a rather wierd love of the Cumberland Cup, don't understand that myself but somehow it's football with all the marketing and glamour stripped off and it's about local teams. I'll go if I can.

I popped into the Study Centre before the game to see Barry (DSG) and see if he had got some paperwork he had been waiting for. While we chatted some folk came in to see CUOSC. They asked some interesting questions, were polite but frank. Good on them.

I would have liked to have stayed to listen but I had places to go and one answer made me so annoyed I had to go or I would have joined in and spoiled their discussion.

The game itself was hard work. I found myself talking. That's always a bad sign. It's partly a reaction to working on the touchline by myself at away matches and seeing things happen that I don't understand or they just stand out and then I forget about til next match. So random observations come tumbling out.

If the match is gripping, I just follow it, soak it in, words are superflous, yesterday I chatted.

" Do you see that? Its 3 mins since McKirdy and Thomas swapped sides and x hasn't even realised!"

"What the hell was that????" When a preplanned free kick routine ended with most of Macclesfields players in their box and none of ours.

"The referee is Andy Haines, he used to give out an awful lot of cards but seems to be mellowing, still prone to the odd random penalty though", I said 30 seconds before he gave the penalty. Feeling the guilt of tempting fate "it's ok, Collin is good at saving random penalties" phew, thanks gods of fete. Going for my hat trick,"we'll score before half time" yay, thank goodness for that, gods obviously appeased and back to their Carlisle United supporting ways.

In all seriousness though the match was hard work. No lack of effort, but a lot of wrong choices and individualness, very little sign of a team.

I want Carroll to succeed. A really difficult time for him, having been dropped after being red carded, trying to tip toe back in the team, when his game is so full on. He's wrackle and needs to curb it, but I like the way he's always talking.

I like the way when they walk upfield from a goal kick Carroll looks left and right all the time. So many of our players have their heads down, they don't look. He knows where his team mates are before he recieves the ball. In the second half their was 30 seconds of joy when he and Loft and ? pinged the ball at speed, drawing a perceptable intake of breath from the Paddock. oh for more of that.

I caught up with Bridges at the end to ask him to pose for pics with a couple of fans who were still waiting to see him long after most had gone home. Ever the gentleman, he posed and smiled and made some folks day.

First drive home in the dark now the clocks have gone back. It's going to be a long winter.

Now I know why they call you bumble

Is it because she looks like David Lloyd ?

I think the worst thing about yesterday was the little fella having problems with his bugle.

He was gutted when he walked off.

Now I know why they call you bumble

No work yesterday so no photos to process today and it was raining, so it was wrambling on here or ironing, a tough choice

nobbyblue wrote: I think the worst thing about yesterday was the little fella having problems with his bugle.

He was gutted when he walked off.

Bit of an unusual incident that. Wouldn’t have thought there was much that could go wrong. You’d have thought he’d have given it a practice toot beforehand.

He was in the Beehive before the game. Not that I'm inferring owt

I hope nobody tampered with his bugle in there.

Sad times. Even CufcDeano (Mike D) has packed it in according to his Twitter.

I've been going about 45 years plus and about 40 of those have been pretty mediocre so its nothing new really!

I still go. I still look forward to it. I missed the game on saturday so i jumped out of bed at 6am to watch the full 90 minutes. Bit of a downer as they didnt put them up until 5pm so watched the extended high lights then watched them again with the boring bits added. Wouldnt miss it for anything

Waltero wrote: Usually on a Saturday morning I'm waiting for the bus to go to matches but recently I'm having to drag myself out of the house dreading what's in store. The only thing I look forward to now is meeting up with friends in the Beehive. The atmosphere has all but died in the Paddock especially with that cordened off bit, our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times. Change is long overdue but the leeches are to firmly fixed on. As I've said before I look forward more to away games. This could be my last season of going to home matches unless there's a drastic change at the top.

This was me a few years ago. I used to get up on a Saturday, like a kid on Christmas Day. Breakfast, walk into town, meet ‘the gang’, few pints, dinner. That slight edge in my stomach as l walked up Warwick Road. Few pints afterwards, Chinese and home. It’s all l lived for through the weeks
The past few seasons, it’s been something l did out of habit, more than anything else, occasionally thinking it was becoming a bit of a chore.
The first home game l didn’t attend by choice, was the Luton game towards the end of the season a few years ago. I just couldn’t stomach the thought of Hylton running riot. I don’t attend any games at all last season, home or away. I went to Salford and Mansfield games this season, nothing had changed at all.
I’m now at the point where l don’t even know when or where the next game is, from someone that went to every game home and away for two seasons, and missed 1 game in another, that’s quite a dramatic fall in interest.

Waltero wrote: our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times.

I've heard similar from quite a few fans now. A group of them all going to the matches as their Saturday lads day out. Even when results were bad, they would still come because they enjoyed the experience. Something has changed though. It isn't just bad results, it's a toxic culture at the club that is pushing people away. We've all heard the accusations about how some directors react when a fan criticizes them. If that's the reputation they have, how can they expect fans to keep coming back and spending their time and money at the club?

Was thinking about going to the FA Cup match but now they are sold out I'm not the slightest bit disappointed. Winning or more likely losing doesn't seem to affect me so much which Im glad of!

High Street wrote:

Waltero wrote: Usually on a Saturday morning I'm waiting for the bus to go to matches but recently I'm having to drag myself out of the house dreading what's in store. The only thing I look forward to now is meeting up with friends in the Beehive. The atmosphere has all but died in the Paddock especially with that cordened off bit, our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times. Change is long overdue but the leeches are to firmly fixed on. As I've said before I look forward more to away games. This could be my last season of going to home matches unless there's a drastic change at the top.

This was me a few years ago. I used to get up on a Saturday, like a kid on Christmas Day. Breakfast, walk into town, meet ‘the gang’, few pints, dinner. That slight edge in my stomach as l walked up Warwick Road. Few pints afterwards, Chinese and home. It’s all l lived for through the weeks
The past few seasons, it’s been something l did out of habit, more than anything else, occasionally thinking it was becoming a bit of a chore.
The first home game l didn’t attend by choice, was the Luton game towards the end of the season a few years ago. I just couldn’t stomach the thought of Hylton running riot. I don’t attend any games at all last season, home or away. I went to Salford and Mansfield games this season, nothing had changed at all.
I’m now at the point where l don’t even know when or where the next game is, from someone that went to every game home and away for two seasons, and missed 1 game in another, that’s quite a dramatic fall in interest.

Observation.....but you're still interested enough to keep connected and post how you're now an ex supporter ...so not a clean break

Its poor fayre and has been for seasons, bar possibly 1 recently, people aren't happy but get real WE ARE NOT and never will be PL....always a matter of choice ofcourse, but hard to give up on your home town club if you've been supporting them for eons

I've been going pretty consistently again with my dad for a few seasons. We try to go to most home games and we've deffo noticed a few less familiar faces over time

seesaw50 wrote:

High Street wrote:

Waltero wrote: Usually on a Saturday morning I'm waiting for the bus to go to matches but recently I'm having to drag myself out of the house dreading what's in store. The only thing I look forward to now is meeting up with friends in the Beehive. The atmosphere has all but died in the Paddock especially with that cordened off bit, our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times. Change is long overdue but the leeches are to firmly fixed on. As I've said before I look forward more to away games. This could be my last season of going to home matches unless there's a drastic change at the top.

This was me a few years ago. I used to get up on a Saturday, like a kid on Christmas Day. Breakfast, walk into town, meet ‘the gang’, few pints, dinner. That slight edge in my stomach as l walked up Warwick Road. Few pints afterwards, Chinese and home. It’s all l lived for through the weeks
The past few seasons, it’s been something l did out of habit, more than anything else, occasionally thinking it was becoming a bit of a chore.
The first home game l didn’t attend by choice, was the Luton game towards the end of the season a few years ago. I just couldn’t stomach the thought of Hylton running riot. I don’t attend any games at all last season, home or away. I went to Salford and Mansfield games this season, nothing had changed at all.
I’m now at the point where l don’t even know when or where the next game is, from someone that went to every game home and away for two seasons, and missed 1 game in another, that’s quite a dramatic fall in interest.

Observation.....but you're still interested enough to keep connected and post how you're now an ex supporter ...so not a clean break

Its poor fayre and has been for seasons, bar possibly 1 recently, people aren't happy but get real WE ARE NOT and never will be PL....always a matter of choice ofcourse, but hard to give up on your home town club if you've been supporting them for eons

Don't think anyone expects to be PL. But the custodians did say the aim when they took over was to reach the championship. Is that still the plan and if so, how do they feel its going.

seesaw50 wrote:

High Street wrote:

Waltero wrote: Usually on a Saturday morning I'm waiting for the bus to go to matches but recently I'm having to drag myself out of the house dreading what's in store. The only thing I look forward to now is meeting up with friends in the Beehive. The atmosphere has all but died in the Paddock especially with that cordened off bit, our group of ten is down to three maybe four. It's just depressing at times. Change is long overdue but the leeches are to firmly fixed on. As I've said before I look forward more to away games. This could be my last season of going to home matches unless there's a drastic change at the top.

This was me a few years ago. I used to get up on a Saturday, like a kid on Christmas Day. Breakfast, walk into town, meet ‘the gang’, few pints, dinner. That slight edge in my stomach as l walked up Warwick Road. Few pints afterwards, Chinese and home. It’s all l lived for through the weeks
The past few seasons, it’s been something l did out of habit, more than anything else, occasionally thinking it was becoming a bit of a chore.
The first home game l didn’t attend by choice, was the Luton game towards the end of the season a few years ago. I just couldn’t stomach the thought of Hylton running riot. I don’t attend any games at all last season, home or away. I went to Salford and Mansfield games this season, nothing had changed at all.
I’m now at the point where l don’t even know when or where the next game is, from someone that went to every game home and away for two seasons, and missed 1 game in another, that’s quite a dramatic fall in interest.

Observation.....but you're still interested enough to keep connected and post how you're now an ex supporter ...so not a clean break

Its poor fayre and has been for seasons, bar possibly 1 recently, people aren't happy but get real WE ARE NOT and never will be PL....always a matter of choice ofcourse, but hard to give up on your home town club if you've been supporting them for eons

I went to those two games as a last hurrah before my daughter was born. I could never ever completely lose interest, even if just by looking at the scores on a Saturday night.

Urban Designer wrote: Was thinking about going to the FA Cup match but now they are sold out I'm not the slightest bit disappointed. Winning or more likely losing doesn't seem to affect me so much which Im glad of!

I've been the same thought about it a couple of times as its closer to me than most games but just couldn't get enthused enough to buy a ticket to get the train for an hour and a half to get there and watch Pressley try to win the battle of the stats

It's a really sad time, the club needs put up for sale officially. The 3 owners and the other 2 need gone for the sake of Carlisle United, the City and Cumbria

West Cumbria United fan wrote: I've been going pretty consistently again with my dad for a few seasons. We try to go to most home games and we've deffo noticed a few less familiar faces over time

Several thousand less since the reluctant custodians took root.