You Can't Take Carlisle From the Boy

The Post Office has had something of a mixed press over the last couple of years, coverage of the ructions in relations between management and the rank and file has had a knock-on effect on the image of an institution once admired by everyone. I'll come clean from the start and say I think we should support our postmen, through thick and thin.

Perhaps one thing you didn't realise, if you live in or near Carlisle, is that you may well have supported them already; back in the days when they were wearing a CUFC shirt. One particular reason to cherish the postal workers of Carlisle is that several of them, and a few more in other local offices, once tore up the Brunton Park turf.

In fact, so many postmen in Carlisle have a background as professional footballers that for a time the football team based on local postal workers was a conspicuously high performing outfit; winning a national final in the eighties. Graham Anthony told me: 'That team was definitely rated as one of the best. It all ended about eight years ago, so I was only in the line-up for the last games, but for years they did well against other teams.'

In those years a few other former professionals signed on for shifts amongst Carlisle's postal workers. Tony Fyfe, John Halpin, Brian Heslop and Craig Potts, to name four. Richard Prokas also worked for the Post Office in Penrith. The presence of former United players delivering letters has certainly come to the notice of some people receiving their post.

Graham Anthony says: 'A lot of people have reminded me that I took the corner that ended up on Jimmy Glass's boot. I've certainly had the odd pint on the strength of that, though maybe I went out a bit too often and kept reminding people because it's dried up a little recently.' The reminders in local pubs may have come more slowly for Graham, but his daily reminders from his fellow postmen are still there.

As he explains, one reason so many former footballers wnjoy working in the post is the way the two jobs have some common ground. 'It's very laddish, really down to earth people who enjoy a laugh and get their work done. Then again, some things are different, I didn't see six o' clock in the morning too often as a footballer.'

Someone else who had to get familiar with early mornings after leaving Carlisle was George McVitie. The phenomenally talented winger clocked up 360 games for Carlisle, spread over two spells, and moved on to Queen of the South, and a milk round, before joining the Post Office in Carlisle 18 years ago.

George played in some of the most successful CUFC seasons and ranked 13^th in the recent poll to find United's best 100 players. It's no surprise that he is still recognised to this day. He told me: 'It's good that people still recognise me and that makes the job better.

'For people like me and Brian Heslop the Post Office was a great opportunity. We did alright by the standard of wages in the sixties and seventies but the money was nothing like it is now, and when we finished it was like having to start work all over again.

'There weren't that many options for ex-footballers. The Post Office was a good employer, giving a good service, and I liked that. It's still good when I'm out delivering and someone says they saw me play. I never get tired of that.'

With so many former players in one line of local employment there have been times when they've gone in groups to watch United play. George McVitie in particular says; 'I never miss' a home game. He has been a regular for years, only waning during the darkest days of Michael Knighton's ownership, and soon returning once John Courtenay had taken over.

It's not quite the same for Graham Anthony, his current commitments to Penrith FC obliging him to be in action on most Saturdays, but he still makes it to evening kick offs and other games.

If you've taken your postal deliveries for granted in recent years, and you live in or around Carlisle, it might be worth taking a closer look the next time your postman approaches the door. You may have seen him a few years ago, at Brunton Park.

Neil Nixon has written four books about Carlisle United, the most recent being Blueseason 2008/2009, his other published works include a grimly funny novel; Workington Dynamo about local football. His website www.neilnixon.com gives more details.