Club Overview
Full Name: Carlisle United Football Club
Nickname: The Blues, The Cumbrians
Founded: 1904
League: National League
Ground: Brunton Park
Location: Carlisle, Cumbria
Colours: Blue, White & Red
Carlisle United are one of the most historic clubs currently outside the Football League. Based just nine miles from the Scottish border, they are England’s northernmost professional football club and have played at Brunton Park since 1909. The club famously reached the top flight in 1974 and spent 76 consecutive years in the Football League before briefly dropping into non-league football in 2004.
Quick Facts
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1904 |
| Nickname | The Blues |
| Ground | Brunton Park |
| Capacity | 17,949 |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Postcode | CA1 1LL |
| League | National League |
| Club Colours | Blue, White & Red |
| Record Attendance | 27,603 |
Carlisle remain one of the biggest clubs in the National League and regularly attract some of the division’s highest attendances.
Stadium Guide
Brunton Park
Ground Information
- Capacity: 17,949
- Opened: 1909
- Surface: Grass
- Address: Warwick Road, Carlisle, CA1 1LL
- Home of Carlisle United since 1909
Brunton Park is one of the most iconic stadiums outside the Premier League. It is the largest football ground in England that still contains substantial traditional terracing and remains one of the most distinctive away days in the country.
Record Attendance
27,603 vs Middlesbrough
FA Cup Fifth Round
7 February 1970.
Famous Features
- Warwick Road End
- East Stand
- Main (West) Stand
- Petteril End
- Traditional terracing
- One of England’s largest lower-league stadiums
Brunton Park has survived major flooding and even a devastating stand fire in 1953, becoming a symbol of the club’s resilience.
Club History
Carlisle United was formed in 1904 following the renaming of Shaddongate United. After joining the Football League in 1928, the club spent decades establishing itself within the professional game.
The club’s greatest achievement came during the 1974/75 season when Carlisle reached the First Division (now the Premier League). Remarkably, after winning their opening three matches, Carlisle briefly sat top of the entire English football pyramid. Although they were relegated at the end of the season, it remains one of football’s most famous underdog stories.
Carlisle have also enjoyed memorable cup runs, reaching the League Cup semi-finals in 1969 and winning the Football League Trophy twice. Their dramatic 2005 Conference National Play-Off Final victory secured an immediate return to the Football League after relegation the previous season.
Following relegation from the EFL in 2025, the club now competes in the National League while aiming for a swift return to League Two.
Honours
National Honours
- Football League Trophy Winners (1996/97)
- Football League Trophy Winners (2010/11)
- Conference National Play-Off Winners (2004/05)
- League Two Champions (2005/06)
League Honours
- Third Division Champions (1964/65)
- Fourth Division Champions (1994/95)
- North Eastern League Champions (1921/22)
Club Records
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Record Attendance | 27,603 |
| Highest League Position | 1st Division (1974/75) |
| Ground Capacity | 17,949 |
| Football League Seasons | 76 Consecutive Years |
| Stadium Opened | 1909 |
Famous Players
- Peter Beardsley
- Rory Delap
- Jimmy Glass
- Stan Bowles
- Chris Balderstone
Perhaps the most famous moment in club history came when goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored a last-minute goal against Plymouth Argyle in 1999 to keep Carlisle in the Football League, one of the most dramatic goals ever scored in English football.
Rivalries
Main Rivals
- Barrow AFC
- Workington AFC
- Hartlepool United
- Darlington FC
Fixtures against Barrow have become particularly significant since both clubs have competed across the EFL and National League in recent years.
Matchday Guide
Getting There
By Train
- Carlisle Railway Station is approximately one mile from Brunton Park.
By Car
- Leave the M6 at Junction 43.
- Follow the A69 towards Carlisle.
- Brunton Park is clearly signposted.
Food & Drink
- Fan Zone
- Matchday kiosks
- Club bars
- Numerous city-centre pubs within walking distance
Nearby Attractions
- Carlisle Castle
- Tullie House Museum
- Hadrian’s Wall
- Cumbria Museum of Military Life
Carlisle is one of the best destinations for a football weekend due to its rich history and proximity to some of Britain’s most famous landmarks.
What Makes Carlisle United Special?
England’s Northernmost Professional Club
Located just south of the Scottish border, Carlisle face some of the longest away trips in English football.
Brunton Park
One of the last great traditional football grounds, combining huge terraces with a unique atmosphere.
The Jimmy Glass Goal
The dramatic goal that saved the club’s Football League status in 1999 remains one of the most iconic moments in football history.