The two clubs agreed the deal last week and the 26-year-old full-back signed on the dotted line today. He has signed a contract that will last until the end of next season. Arnison initally signed on loan and made his debut against Lincoln City on November 1. He scored his first goal for the club against Torquay before Christmas and has become a regular at right back since displacing Brian Shelley from the position. A delighted Paul Simpson said: "It's a good move for the club and if he can continue how he has played in the last three months he will be a good addition to the squad. He is a bubbly character and is superb off the field and has done a great job on the pitch." Meanwhile the Cambridge away fixture, postponed from Saturday because of waterlogging has been re-arranged for Tuesday February 17 with a 7.45pm kick-off. Tributes flow in for United legend Stokoe
Stokoe had three separate spells in charge of the Cumbrians, the only manager to do so, and helped them to win promotion to the old Second Division in 1982. He will be best remembered by football fans for his exploits in charge of Sunderland, whom he inspired to a massive FA Cup Final upset victory over Leeds United in 1973. Later Stokoe took the North Easterners into the old First Division when they won promotion in 1976. He first came to Carlisle in 1968, replacing Tim Ward as manager and helping Carlisle off the bottom of the Second Division to mid-table safety. In his second season he guided the Cumbrians to within 45 minutes of Wembley when they reached the semi-finals of the Football League Cup. Alas a four-goal burst by West Bromwich Albion, then managed by another ex-Carlisle legend Alan Ashman put paid to United's chances. Stokoe quit Brunton Park early in the 1970-71 season and headed for Blackpool. His return to Cumbria came in September 1980 when the Board asked him to take over from departed Martin Harvey. Once again Stokoe guided Carlisle away from the relegation danger zone in the old Third Division and in his second year in charge he lifted them up to Division Two, with United finishing as runners-up on goal difference to Burnley. Stokoe came very close to lifting United back into the top flight in season 1983-84 but after reaching a plateau of 3rd spot in March, Carlisle failed to win any of their last 10 games and ended up in 7th spot. Crumbling attendances and a lack of money from the board put paid to any chances Stokoe had of repeating that promotion bid and by August 1985 he was close to retirement and stepped down to allow Bryan 'Pop' Robson to take over as player-manager. Robson's short tenure proved to be disastrous and the Cumbrians were well adrift at the bottom when Robson resigned just 12 games into the season. Stokoe's return heralded a dramatic change in fortunes once again but United's brave bid to escape the drop faltered in Stokoe's last home game in charge when Jim Tolmie put through his own goal against Charlton and United blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 and drop down to the Third. Stokoe retired at the end of that campaign although his love of the game tempted him back into the big-time briefly at the tail end of the following season when he took over as caretaker manager at Sunderland following the resignation of Lawrie McMenemy. Alas for Stokoe, the Roker Park outfit slid down to the Third after losing a play-off match to Gillingham. In recent years Stokoe had been living locally but suffered from an advanced form of dementia. He died just a day after being admitted to the University Hospital of Hartlepool. Ex-United striker Hughie McIlmoyle said of Stokoe today: "I got on very well with him as a football manager and as a person. I couldn't say who was the best manager between him and Alan Ashman. He was hard but very fair and always wanted to be a winner." Picture from News & Star |
