May 3rd (Tue)

The club decide that Ryan Bowman (19) and Nahki Wells (20) won’t be offered new contracts for next season and are free to go.

May 4th (Wed)

Lila Grace Thirlwell becomes the latest addition to the growing Brunton Park nursery.

Former loanee Miguel Comminges is released by Southend together with injury-plagued winger Simon Hackney by Colchester. The axe man also cometh for Richard Offiong at Gateshead after a three-month spell together where he scored just once in 11 appearances. Also leaving the same club is former United striker Jonny Allan.


On the rumour mill, Carlisle United are reportedly tracking 22-year-old non-league goal machine Astley Mulholland, who plays at this time for Vodkat Premier Division side Flixton. He has supposedly been invited to train with the Cumbrians in pre-season. A number of teams are tracking the 40-goal hitman including Crewe, with whom he turned out for in a recent friendly against Blackburn Reserves.

May 6th (Fri)

Skipper Paul Thirlwell signs a new one-year deal with the club, an agreement which has the option of a further 12-month extension.

May 7th (Sat)

CARLISLE UTD 0 YEOVIL 2
Plenty of possession but just one shot on target. Jon Obika showed what could be achieved when finding the right on-loan forward as the Spurs loanee scored the first and was a thorn in the Carlisle side throughout. The cause wasn’t helped when Simek dislocated his elbow after falling heavily in the first half. There’s better news later when it’s confirmed that following talks, Matty Robson has signed a new two-year contract with the club.

**Player Ratings: Collin 7.00, Simek 6.00, Michalik 5.00, Murphy 6.00, Robson 5.00, Thirlwell 6.00, Berrett 6.00, Noble 7.50 (star man), Madden 6.00, Curran 6.00, Zoko 5.00 Subs: Taiwo 7.00, Livesey 6.00, Loy 6.00

May 10th (Tue)

It’s announced that Marco Gbarssin (26), Kevan Hurst (25) and Jason Price (53) will be leaving the club in June at the end of their current contracts. All three had been out on loan in recent months at Walsall, Morecambe and Hereford respectively.

May 11th (Wed)

The Man Utd old boys club aka ‘Hull City’ signs its 4th member in shape of former loanee full-back Joe ‘Dodgy Knee’ Dudgeon for a fee rumoured to be around £300,000 for the 20-year-old. Rather them than us.

May 12th (Thu)

The club confirm that Greg will be jetting off shortly to prepare and coach the St. Lucia team for two play-off games against Aruba on June 3rd and 6th with the winners entering the World Cup Preliminary Qualifiers.

May 13th (Fri)

Carlisle’s pre-season fixture is starting to take shape; and a familiar one at that.

Fri 8th July Kendal Town 7.30pm (A)
Sat 16th July Gateshead 3pm (A)
Tue 19th July Morecambe 7.45pm (A)
Sat 23th July Doncaster Rovers (game tbc) 3pm (H)
Tue 26th July Middlesbrough 7.30pm (H)
Wed 27th July Workington 7.30pm (A)
Sat 30th July Bradford City 3pm (A)

May 16th (Mon)

The Club go into the ‘Early Bird’ period for season tickets with 1600 already sold as part of existing renewals.

May 17th (Tue)

A new one deal is secured for local lad Paul Murray at the Monkey Hangers for 2011/2. Now 34, he made an impressive 41 appearances and scored one goal in the season gone and Murray was also runner-up in the club's fans player of the year and away player of the year awards in 2010-11.

* Taken as an average from the CUFC online messageboard / ** Match attendee (Mike Carruthers)

FINAL END OF SEASON RATINGS

Player Name – (Rated Games) – Average Rating

Harte (5) 7.53
Grella (10) 6.97
Thirlwell (20) 6.86
Chester (23) 6.84
Madine (28) 6.51
Marshall (39) 6.50
Taiwo (55) 6.49
Michalik (37) 6.48
Collin (56) 6.46
Murphy (40) 6.45
Noble (23) 6.41
Simek (56) 6.30
Berrett (56) 6.19
McDaid (14) 6.10
Curran (50) 6.05
Cooper (7) 6.00
Zoko (51) 6.00
Livesey (9) 5.92
Robson (42) 5.90
Norwood (6) 5.77
Madden (13) 5.57
Cruise (8) 5.50
Loy (13) 5.34

Also rated (less than 5 games):
Kane (1) 6.58
Evans (1) 6.50
Bowman (2) 6.21
Price (2) 5.94
Hurst (4) 5.88
Arter (4) 5.63
Borrowdale (2) 5.50
Dudgeon (2) 5.42
McKenna (2) 5.25
Bridge Wilkinson (1) 5.00
Comminges (1) 5.00
Eastham (1) 4.50

Man-of-the-Match 2010/1 (i.e. highest rated in the game)
Murphy 9
Marshall 7
Michalik 5
Simek 4
Robson, Curran, Thirlwell and Zoko 4
Collin, Grella and Noble 3
Chester and Loy 2
Madine 1

May 20th (Fri)

Newly promoted QPR have a bid of £2.5 rejected by Watford for….are you sitting down……have you removed all sharp objects from your person……Danny Graham.

Sky Sports link United with Rotherham midfield regular Jason Taylor.

May 23rd (Mon)

United centre half Lubomir Michalik has been placed on standby by Slovakia manager Vladimir Weiss for the European qualifier against Andorra to be played at the Štadión Pasienky on Saturday 4 June. Michalik, 27, is one of a group of players who have been placed on call should any of the first team suffer injury, and will be expected to join the squad at any point from 30 May until the day of the game, if required. The well-liked defender has made four appearances for his country, and scored his only international goal when he came on as a substitute to make his debut against United Arab Emirates

May 24th (Tue)

In a move certain to bring further spice to next season’s two fixtures, Glenn Murray jumps ship on a Bosman from Brighton to Crystal Palace.

May 25th (Wed)

The Danny Grainger new left-back rumour is put to bed by him signing a deal with Hearts.

May 31st (Tue)

Despite rejecting their offer of a permanent deal last summer in order to join St Johnstone, Cleveland Taylor re-signs for Burton Albion on a two-year deal having just been released by the Saints.

Those stalwarts of expert opinion, the Sun newspaper, link Carlisle United with Steve-Livingstone-in-waiting Shefki Kuqi. The 34 year-old was released by Newcastle at the end of the season after making 6 substitute appearances for the Barcodes.

Apr 1st (Fri)

WIGAN ATH YOUTH 4 CARLISLE UTD YOUTH 0
The big nasty bullies wouldn’t give the ball back to the nice little kids in the playground and it all ended up with a big thrashing behind the bike sheds. Or something along those lines.

Apr 3rd (Sun)

BRENTFORD 0 CARLISLE UTD 1
Now officially the most successful team in the history of the Football League Trophy, Peter Murphy completed a memorable few days during which he became a father for the first time but scoring a superbly taken volley into the opposing corner on 12 minutes. It was helped that Brentford failed to show up and spent the entire first half trying to kick lumps out of the likes of Marshall and Zoko. Mission accomplished, there was pressure but little quality to worry about in the 2nd and apart from Schlupp’s shot against the post, Collin had a largely trouble-free afternoon.

*Player Ratings: Collin 7.00, Simek 8.00, Michalik 7.64, Murphy 8.73 (star man), Robson 7.18, Taiwo 6.36, Thirlwell 7.27, Berrett 6.20, Zoko 6.73, Curran 5.91, Marshall 6.91. Subs: Noble 6.20, Madden 6.25

Apr 5th (Tue)

Cooper opts not to extend his loan at the club, speculatively suggested by some over his non-selection at Wembley.

Apr 6th (Wed)

CARLISLE UTD 4 GILFORD PARK 1 - CUMBERLAND CUP SEMI-FINALS
A second, slightly lower profile cup final now beckons as a strong United side featuring Kavanagh, Livesey, Wells, Loy and Madden was too strong for Gilford Park. Sean Bannon, son of former Carlisle player Paul, played for the visitors along with former CUFC youngster Steve Skinner. Bowman’s cross in from the right was met by Wells running in for a near-post header for 1-0 on 8 minutes and this was doubled on 33 through Loy’s fine right-footed half-volley on the turn. Bannon showed a touch rarely found with his old man when he executed a delightful 25-yard chip over the advancing Gillespie and into far corner for 2-1 on 41. The two goal lead was restored when Mckenna’s excellent shot at pace across goal from 22 yards found the far top corner. The scoring was complete through Madden’s left-footed volley from eight yards from a Wells cross.

Team: Mark Gillespie, Brad Potts (Lance McGlen 80), Steven Swinglehurst, Josh Todd, Danny Livesey, Graham Kavanagh, Paddy Madden (Mark Beck 77), Ben Mckenna, Rory Loy (Dave Symington 77), Nahki Wells, Ryan Bowman.

Apr 8th (Fri)

The team will be heading for a Civic Reception with the Mayor on April 14th accompanied by the newly won JPT trophy, which will be dangled over the first floor balcony to the admiring crowds below like a certain departed pop star’s baby.

Apr 9th (Sat)

CARLISLE UTD YOUTH 1 WARSAW YOUTH 1
A draw was salvaged thanks to Will James’ late equaliser.


MK DONS 3 CARLISLE UTD 2
Three pieces of poor defending saw the points slip away having worked hard to get back in the match. The United goals came from a stunning 25 yard drive into the bottom right-hand corner from Noble, his first goal in league football and a Berrett penalty after Zoko had taken his pass and had his legs taken away from him in the box.

*Player Ratings: Collin 5.50, Simek 6.00, Michalik 6.00, Murphy 7.00 (star man), Robson 4.75, Taiwo 6.5, Thirlwell 7.00, Berrett 6.00, Noble 6.50, Zoko 6.00, Curran 6.00. Subs: Madden 4.5

Swinglehurst makes his Workington debut coming on as a substitute with about eight minutes left in a 2-0 home win over Stafford.

Apr 11th (Mon)

McKenna plays 65 minutes in the 3-1 win over Slovakia.

On the 13th, comes on as sub to win penalty in a 1-3 reverse

Apr 12th (Tue)

LEYTON ORIENT 0 CARLISLE UTD 0
One of my short match reports just for a change……..

First Half
Subdued start to the game with a few uncharacteristic errors from Thirlwell and Murphy. Orient tried to pass it around to the credit. Every time I’ve seen them in the past they either hoof it route one to some gangly, 19-20 year old on loan from a Premiership team or just pump it down the channels in more hope than expectation. The start wasn’t helped by Collins trying to enter the ‘longest keeper’s punt’ competition on a regular basis but he pulled off a smart save in the early pressure and when he threw it out we looked a far better team. Didn’t take long to start exerting some control. Led by the cut-and-thrust of Robson’s running from the back and the measured promptings of Noble and Berrett, we started to create chances. Despite playing all night like he had the flu, Zoko won a header in the box where it fell between the centre halves to the waiting Curran. There was still a bit of work to do but he hooked a high ball towards the corner where their keeper Jones clawed it away well. Zoko then did well to meet a deep cross with a glancing header back across goal that Jones turned away and had another great chance after a scramble in their box but seemed to scuff his shot when it seemed easier to score. It was turning into Charlton Part II.

Second Half
Dominated from the off as the natives grew increasingly restless while the away end had finally found its voice. Robson stung the keeper’s palms with a terrific diagonal drive and a number of other attempts came and went including Taiwo’s horrible air shot from a very gettable chance and Madden hitting what looked like the corner of post and bar with a snap volley from Curran’s fine work. The advantage wasn’t pressed home and with the home crowd finally waking up as the clock ran down, we were close to throwing away the game as we did against the Dons 3 days earlier. Our right flank started to look ragged, not helped by Simek looking flogged and passing it straight back to a red shirt on at least three occasions. In the end, it almost felt like two points dropped even though it was just a blessed relief to come away with something from the game.

*Player Ratings: Collin 7.67, Simek 6.17, Michalik 7.67, Murphy 8.00, Robson 8.33 (star man), Taiwo 7.00, Thirlwell 7.00, Berrett 6.67, Noble 8.00, Zoko 3.33, Curran 6.83. Subs: Madden 7.0


It’s all going off down at Swindon as serial relegation expert Paul Hart states that they are "better off without" striker Mike Grella as the former Carlisle loanee walks out of the club and returns to Leeds United. The 24-year-old American had arrived on an emergency deal shortly before Hart took the helm at the County Ground. "His view was that he hadn't played enough football yet he started in five of the seven games that I've been in charge," Hart told BBC Wiltshire. "It's amazing. It's beyond me. We don't need people like that."

Apr 13th (Wed)

The News & Star go to print with one of the longest-running rumours at the moment, the imminent announcement of a verbal agreement between CUFC, Sunderland and Liam Noble that should see the player in a blue shirt at Brunton Park next season on a season-long loan deal. The door to a permanent move also remains supposedly very much open.

Apr 16th (Sat)

CARLISLE UTD YOUTH 1 PRESTON YOUTH 3
According to reports, the turning point was when the referee refused to give a certain penalty and send off the PNE player when it was 1-1. Don’t worry we’ll get them back and then some in all forms next season.


CARLISLE UTD 4 COLCHESTER UTD 1
The battle of minds between the former master and his pupil ended in a win for young Skywalk….err, Abbott. John Ward and his team left Cumbria with their outside promotion chances in tatters after a blistering long range shot from Berrett, two fine goals from Curran and a prod home from Noble secured three of the easiest points for the team this season.

*Player Ratings: Collin 6.75, Simek 7.00, Michalik 7.50, Murphy 7.00, Robson 7.00, Thirlwell 8.00, Berrett 8.00, Taiwo 7.00, Noble 8.50, Curran 8.75 (star man), Zoko 7.75.


St Johnstone’s 24 year-old out-of-contract left back Danny Grainger is linked with the club after making a statement to the local press confirming that "I’m a Carlisle fan so if they offered me a contract I would seriously think about it"....."My ambition is to play in League One or for a Championship club. Cumbria is my home so of course a move to Carlisle would appeal. They have done really well this season and I was delighted for them at Wembley. Adam Collin is a good friend of mine and I thought he was sensational at Wembley.” Grainger began his career at Gretna after being released by Carlisle’s school of excellence at the age of 14. He was later signed by Dundee United in 2008 and joined St Johnstone in the summer of 2009 in a £50,000 deal.

Apr 18th (Mon)

Ian Harte and Danny Graham make the PFA Championship team of the season together with Grant Holt. If only………

July 8th and Kendal away is confirmed as the first pre-season friendly.

April 21st (Thu)

CARLISLE UTD YOUTH 3 OLDHAM YOUTH 6
Eric Kinder is apparently still in a state of deep shock following the team’s second half capitulation against Oldham. A goal from James and two from Symington (2) had put the Blues 3-1 up at half-time and seemingly on their way to victory.

Apr 23rd (Sat)

ROCHDALE 2 CARLISLE UTD 3
907 lucky away fans enjoying some summer-like weather were privileged to see one of the games of the season in a see-saw encounter against promotion chasing Rochdale. United had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead when Curran’s headed attempt on goal struck the post and bounced off the defender into the net. As so often this season, the lead would only last five minutes as a free header was gifted at a dead ball situation. Despite a strong finish to the half, Dale were first out of the blocks in the second as Done advanced on goal and executed a fine finish around Collin’s dive as the defence backed off. The game turned on its head in the space of four delirious minutes as first Noble’s 35-yard cannon-shot came off the inside of a post to draw the sides level and with an only slightly lesser distance being lined up by Lubo at a free-kick, Robson surprised most of the ground including probably himself by driving the ball into the roof of the net. With heads dropping, there could have been more goals for Carlisle by the end and three deserved points headed back up to Cumbria.

*Player Ratings: Collin 7.25, Simek 6.25, Michalik 6.75, Murphy 5.50, Robson 7.50, Thirlwell 7.25, Berrett 5.75, Taiwo 7.00, Noble 8.50 (star man), Curran 6.75, Zoko 5.75.


The CUFC Online Player of the Season Results are announced. From a total of 146 votes cast, the results were as follows (based on five or more):

James Berrett 71
Ben Marshall 24
Peter Murphy 17
Frank Simek 13
Tom Taiwo 7
Adam Collin 5

Apr 25th (Mon)

CARLISLE UTD 0 LEYTON ORIENT 1
The curse of the London Branch sponsored match returns and despite a dominant first half-hour which also saw a gift of a penalty missed by Berrett, Orient always looked like holding onto the lead given to them about 10 minutes before half-time.

*Player Ratings: Collin 6.67, Simek 6.67, Michalik 7.00, Murphy 6.67, Robson 8.33 (star man), Thirlwell 6.67, Berrett 6.67, Taiwo 5.67, Noble 7.17, Curran 6.00, Zoko 5.67. Subs: Madden 6.00, Loy 5.67, Bowman 6.67

Apr 26th (Tue)

Brunton Park’s Stadium Manager David Mitchell deservedly wins the coveted award of League One Groundsman of the Year for 2010/11. The final judging was based on a visiting panel of experts inspecting the top three pitches in the league as calculated from the average marks awarded by both the referee and the visiting manager over the course of the season. Fans had also spoken of a ‘tripping’ sensation when viewing the intricate patterns on the pitch laid out by David’s fine work. And what do you do with an award winning pitch at the end of the season? That’s right you strip the entire top six inches off and start again.

The club announce a £10 ticket offer for the final game against Yeovil with just a fiver to get in for kids. The club also receive permission for the new kit to be worn and as part of this, it will be parachuted in just prior to kick-off. The JPT will also be paraded around the pitch after the game

Apr 27th (Wed)

CARLISLE UTD 2 NETHERALL 0 - CUMBERLAND CUP FINAL
Goals from Loy (penalty) and Madden were enough for Carlisle to secure a second piece of silverware for the season although they were forced to work hard.

Team: Mark Gillespie, Lance McGlen, Danny Livesey, Graham Kavanagh, Steven Swinglehurst (c), Ben Mckenna, Josh Todd (David Symington 59), Nahki Wells, Paddy Madden, Rory Loy, Ryan Bowman

Apr 29th (Fri)

United legend Michael Bridges, still only 32, has to announce his retirement after an injury-plagued season for the Newcastle Jets down under. The very popular Bridges has accepted a position with the Jets as International Football & Business Development Manager.

Apr 30th (Sat)

MACCLESFIELD YOUTH 2 CARLISLE YOUTH 3
A brace of goals from Jamie Clarey and a single strike from Beck help the young Blues to a tight victory in their last league game of the season.


DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3 CARLISLE UTD 0
It could easily been six and apart from Collin and a spirited second-half cameo from Paddy Madden, no player will be wanting to study the 18-rated DVD for too long. The writing was on the wall as soon as Lubo felled his opponent for a first-minute penalty and despite it being well saved by Collin, the first player to follow-up had a red shirt. It was soon to become the colour of the United players faces.

*Player Ratings: Collin 7.00 (star man), Simek 4.67, Michalik 1.33, Murphy 4.00, Robson 3.00, Thirlwell 4.33, Berrett 3.67, Taiwo 4.33, Noble 3.33, Curran 3.33, Zoko 4.00 Subs: Madden 5.67, Loy 3.00, Livesey 5.00.