You wonder where the years have gone when you realise that the first games played in this version of the competition, then known as the Associate Members' Cup, were on the 20th of February 1984. The two matches played on that night to kick things off coming in either region with both producing home wins, Tranmere beating Halifax 2-0 and Southend hammering Reading 5-0, current Chelmsford City head coach Glenn Pennyfather the only real name I recognise from the scorers in those fixtures. Times were different for us then too as the Saturday after those first games we were drawing 0-0 at Chelsea in the old Division Two under the managerial reign of Bob Stokoe. Carlisle completing the top six in the table that evening, in a campaign where we would eventually finish a very creditable seventh, along with Chelsea themselves, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Grimsby Town. I think you could suggest that both Chelsea and Manchester City have travelled down slightly different roads to Carlisle and Grimsby since then. We weren't involved in those days obviously, our first season in what became the Freight Rover Trophy coming in 1986-87 as we cursed Jim Tolmie. Carlisle winning both games in the preliminary group stage with a 1-0 (Ian McKenzie own goal) win at Stockport and a hard-fought 3-2 (Alan Davies 2 and Scott McGarvey) home victory over Bury in front of only 1,103 spectators. Although just 937 fans turned up at Prenton Park for the Tranmere v Halifax match - the lowest attendance in the competition that debut 1983-84 season. Without Davies in the side United then lost 2-1 in the northern section first round at home to Preston North End. John Halpin scoring for the Blues that night while two well known strikers in Gary Brazil and Nigel Jemson netted for the Lilywhites, Jemson being a YTS player at Deepdale in those days. A footnote to the one-month spell of Davies at Brunton Park being that he was sadly found dead in his car in South Wales in February 1992, the former Newcastle-loanee having committed suicide at the age of just 30. The following season, in the Sherpa Van Trophy, we had the same set of results with two wins in the preliminary round then a first round defeat at home. United first winning 2-1 (Malcolm Poskett and Wes Saunders) at home to Chester - Stuart Rimmer getting the City goal, one of many he seemed to score against us for either Walsall or Chester over the years, the second victory being a 1-0 (John Cooke) success at Blackpool. It was out again at the next stage though when Carlisle lost 2-0 at Brunton Park against Hartlepool in early February 1988, former Blue Paul Baker and John Borthwick getting the goals for the Monkey Hangers. Not for United once more in those days, but it was a big year for the competition as a whole. The northern section two-legged final between Burnley and Preston attracting a total of 33,272 spectators, before the Clarets went on to lose 2-0 at the old Wembley against Wolves in front of a massive crowd of 80,841. Things went further downhill for the Blues in the Sherpa Van Trophy next time around in 1988-89 when we went straight out at the preliminary group stage. The competition then structured with, in each region, eight groups of three playing two games, the top two in the mini-table qualifying for a final sixteen that became knockout rounds from then on. In November 1988 Carlisle's opening game was a 1-1 (Derek Walsh) draw at home to Scarborough, Gary Brook getting the goal for the visitors. Our other group game that year came the next month as only 867 fans at Feethams witnessed Darlington beating United 3-2 (Paul Gorman penalty and Brent Hetherington). Neil Robinson, Paul Clayton and Gary Hyde finding themselves on the scoresheet for a home side that contained former Blue David McAughtrie. Our final games in the 80s saw us go back to the old plan of getting through the group stage before losing in the next round. The two mini-table games were a 1-0 (Ian Dalziel) victory at Scarborough, and then a 1-1 (Paul Proudlock) draw at home to Scunthorpe just three days before Christmas. United remarkably finishing top of the group above the Iron after a coin toss was made to decide first place. Stockport at home being the end for Carlisle that 1989-90 season when United lost 2-1 (Nigel Saddington penalty), Brent Angell and Keith Edwards being the County scorers. Twenty seasons on and it is Macclesfield at Brunton Park this evening in the second round, so let's hope for a win and another home draw so we can take a closer look at our campaigns in this competition in the 1990s. |