TOPIC: boycotting efl trophy

As one of the few clubs to stand up to this ridiculous idea and voted no. I think its very important fans of clubs like pools and Carlisle stand together on this and boycott the whole thing. Yes it wasn't the greatest competition in the world but it was our chance to get to Wembley. Hartlepool fans have no desire to watch Newcastle reserves or man u reserves Rip us to bits now or anytime in the near future. In fact their is a lot of hatred towards people in our town following these clubs on tv. Not so many moons ago Hartlepool reds fans gathering to watch them at a pub in the town had to be cancelled due to potential violence. Hartlepool v darlo or Hartlepool v Carlisle is what we want to see not some prima donnas on 20,000 a week who bottle it when a bit of pressure is on.

Carlisle are all for it have you not heard?

Most true CUFC fans are against this and most say they will boycott these games. I'm boycotting the whole competition (not just the B games) until they scrap this idea.

Yes isn't your chairman sat on the board now or something? I'm sorry but if he is one of the main players id want him out of my club as soon as possible. Some of these people are so out of touch with football. I'm sick of watching England fail miserably in tournaments. This has nothing to do with lower league football. Its managers picking players by club size and reputations.

Our director of external affairs no less.

poolsfan if you have come on here looking for a bite telling us to boycott some games and criticising our directors who make these decisions I suggest you have a rethink.....
because the vast majority on here completely agree with you.

No not looking for a bite at all. This is just the start of what their plans are next it be the carling cup, then one day they be wanting teams in the 3rd division.

The Monkey Hangers wont need to organise a boycott, you will be knocked out in the first round like you are every other year.

poolsfan wrote:
If you have any suggestions as to getting rid of him theyd be much appreciated.

Hang on how if we got him to dress up as a monkey at our fun day this weekend maybe one of the Hartlepool Militia could pop over and do the business and do everyone a favour into the bargain

moose wrote: haha almost true that 2nd round normally.

Be good for all clubs to have 1 simple chant, that can be sung last few minutes, or after full time of the league game before an EFL trophy game, that says something along the lines of boycotting it.

bejustandfearprokas wrote:
"This competition's dire.... our fans are horrified."

To the tune of Will Grigg song.


I'll get my coat....

I thoroughly disapprove of premier league youth teams playing in the tournament and I'm ashamed of that mealy-mouthed yes-man Nixon voting for it. However, if Carlisle have a home game, I'll be there. That's just me. I would totally respect any fan who boycotted it.

Tottally agree this competition is now pure bollocks! However i'm sure that if we played man u or Liverpood reserves, then the local media would go wild and loads of sad [censored], [censored], [censored] and [censored] would turn out in their dosey droves dressed in red and white scarves, that would be the magic of the EFL trophy, this is just a chance for that [censored] Nixon to blow smoke up the arses of those he wants to show off to and impress. The whole thing makes me utterly sick and has devalued the lower leagues, pure bollocks!

Even worse they would be dressed in Half/Half scarves.

Mr Quint wrote: Well it doesn't look like they will get the chance to shout about us playing Man U juniors, Liverpool juniors or spurs juniors ... I find it quite funny that the top teams are saying no.... at this rate they will be inviting Wigan Juniors as part of the 16 invited clubs.

SeepBladder wrote:
Fair enough if you want to go, even though I strongly disagree with you. Actually you're the first person I've heard say they will go to these games. Question is, how far do they have to devalue this competition before you class it as not an actual Carlisle game? I'm guessing you don't go to the Cunberland Cup games for example?

Seekaye wrote:
Yes, I've always gone to Cumberland Cup games, as well as as many youth games, reserve games, friendlies as I can. It's what I do. Last season I went to 68 football matches. If going to an EFL Trophy game makes me a bad person in some folk's eyes, I'll just have to live with that.

Oreet john ...

Sent from my GT-I8200N using Tapatalk

Seekaye wrote:
I said id prob go as well if circumstances allow.

It doesn't make you a 'bad person' but you do have to accept that if you are going to the games then you are endorsing the competition. A partial boycott doesn't do anything: the media and supporters of the big clubs don't care enough about us to notice low attendances.
1000 people attend a game and nobody cares but if the entire farcical competition is played out to empty stadiums then that becomes a news story, leading to the idea getting knocked on the head and probably/hopefully taking the B-league idea with it!

Exactly. If the crowd was nearer 100 than 1000 that would be brilliant.
What's the lowest we have had at home in this competition?

bruntonpete wrote:
Dec 92, 859 v Hartlepool. Year before in Nov 91 we had 894 v Stockport. Both in the Trophy.

Our only 2 gates at BP under the 1000 mark in a proper competition I think?

I think they used to have group games then so we could have already been through or out for those games

Champions95 wrote:
I'm sorry but I don't agree. By that logic going to home league games could be seen as endorsing our board. I think it's a matter of individual choice.

Dancingbear wrote:
True, and a lot of people have made the choice not to go to home league games. Fair play to them.

I'm not sure it is the same thing at all. Whilst Carlisle are playing at home, in meaningful competition, there will be many people who put their hatred of the board aside and go along to support their football team in their endeavours in climbing the league or progressing in a (real) cup.

But in this case the competition - in my opinion - has lost all legitimacy by the decision to allow the b-teams into it. It's not a real competition and the games have no value whatsoever. If you disagree with that then that is fine, we each have our own opinions etc, but if you are going to the games then you are saying that it is a real competition and therefore you are endorsing it.

No it'll be people going to watch Carlisle United.

Anyone connected with the Away Travel lot know if they'd run a bus Away to a 'B' Team?

I'm guessing they would on the basis some folk just want to watch Carlisle United regardless?

TEN LOWEST ATTENDANCES
15 December 2025 Hartlepool W 2-0 Autoglass 859
19 November 2025 Stockport County W4-0 Autoglass 894
13 December 2025 Bury W 3-2 Freight Trophy 1,098
14 February 2025 Stockport County L1-3 Autoglass 1,243
06 May 2025 Chester City L 0-2 League 1,287
17 October 2025 Cardiff City D 2-2 League 1,309
25 January 2026 Wigan Athletic W 2-1 AWS 1,321
04 November 2025 Huddersfield Town W 2-0 LDV 1,346
21 January 2026 Preston North End L1-2 Freight Trophy 1,400
13 October 2025 Chester City W 2-1 F R Cup 1,418

i could be wrong but I think I was at all those games!

I might go to a 'B' team fixture just to say I was there and just to piss off people that say I shouldn't go!

www.carlisleprogrammes.co.uk/highest-and...st-attendances-3000/

walwynlegend wrote:
I dont think the Stockport game was a dead one

I think no one turned up as it had been in the paper/on radio it might be off as we didnt have enough fit players.

At the time i used to drive Mike Graham to some games. He.d picked up a knock the previous Saturday and wasnt playing as he was injured He rang me and said it was definitely on and did i fancy going as he had two others players boots in his car and he had to get them to them.

So off we went , parked up Mike got us some comp tickets and then took the kit to the dressing rooms and we went upstairs to get a beer Mike was gonna come up and join us. We thought it a bit strange when he hadnt ten mins before kick off so we went to our seats.

You could of knocked us over with a Eric Gates free kick when who do you think led the bloody team out yes the "injured" Mike Graham

I stand to be corrected and i.m not the best at Remembering matches and stats but i seem to think we won 3-2 and went thru to the next round.

Ha ha it sounds like Sunday league stuff.
Probably a good job it wasn't his round and you took the boots to the dressing room they'd have told you to give his name if you get booked!

In all seriousness, I can't blame anyone who does attend. If there is a game on at cufc,fans should decide for themselves.
My point is, if we don't protest, we deserve the consequences. Those that do attend can't complain when they then move onto their next stage of b teams in the league.
I think if that happens, I'm done with football even though cufc has been a massive part of my life for 36 years.
The passion comes from a desire to see my team compete in a competition that honest and right. Sometimes the cards are stacked against us due to the circumstances of other clubs but when this is actively distorted by the folk making the rules then we have no chance.
In my opinion, we have a chance to stand our ground on this through a boycott. If we accept it, we accept whatever they put on us.

I actually think Carlisle will beat Premiership reserve sides

I view fans and the reason they go to games differently to some.
I was there for those games where we had below 1000 in attendance, because I was mad keen at the time, being of a certain age.
I don't think I have been to a game in this comp for a few years because it doesn't interest me these days, but i do go to all the other home games.
Some folk are obviously a lot more loyal than me in this regard, but people have different reasons for going.
For some I think watching a game of football is a bit of escapism and they don't really care about the politics of the game.
As for Boycotting games, well, lose a couple of games and the crowds go down, get drawn against Everton in the cup and we sell out. Nothing sophisticated is going on there.