January United kick off the year with a 2-1 defeat at league leaders Hartlepool United. This result leaves them on 20 points and just above bottom club Swansea City. Adam Rundle makes his full debut in the next home game against Southend and sets up the only goal for Jon McCarthy, giving the Cumbrians their first league win in seven attempts. A vital 2-1 away win at relegation rivals Bristol Rovers means the month ends on a high as United climb out of the relegation zone. February A month that sees United battle through to the northern area final of the LDV Vans Trophy and defeat Shrewsbury 1-0 in the first leg at Brunton Park. They re-sign Cumbrian-born midfielder Stuart Green on loan and he scores the only goal at Rochdale as Carlisle collect another vital three league points. Experienced central defender Paul Raven also arrives from Grimsby Town. Home form is still very patchy as United crash 4-1 to Lincoln City on a frosty pitch. Manager Roddy Collins is so incensed with his team's display he drags them back out on to the pitch during the half-time interval. March Just four days after the first leg win over Shrewsbury in the LDV Trophy United are hammered 5-1 at Brunton Park by Hull City. This result plunges them back into relegation trouble. However United steady the ship and pull through at Gay Meadow in the second leg with a goalless draw seeing them reach the Millennium Stadium and the final against Bristol City. Two successive wins over Swansea and Macclesfield pull them above the bottom three again but they are soon in trouble once more when they lose at home to Cambridge. April United's first trip to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff brings a fine display but a 2-0 defeat to Second Division Bristol City. Ex-United man Lee Peacock grabs the first of two late goals to wreck Carlisle's hopes of lifting the trophy for the second time. However they react well with a deserved 1-1 draw at Bury in the next league match. It all goes sour at Wrexham on Easter Monday though. The rampant Welshmen crush the Cumbrians 6-1 to leave United needing two wins from their final three games to stay up. They pull off another Great Escape thanks to back-to-back 3-2 wins at Torquay and Shrewsbury respectively. Brian Wake is the hat-trick hero at Gay Meadow as he drags United back from one goal down to clinch the vital win that keeps Carlisle up and sends the home team down. Off the pitch, creditors agree to a three-month extension to the club's CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement) period. May The season ends with yet another home defeat, their 13th of the campaign to AFC Bournemouth who end up being promoted via the play-offs. Manager Roddy Collins announces he wants to sign at least three players during the summer. Chairman John Courtenay promises him the money to finance the deals. New board members are announced in Dick Young, John Nixon, Paul Bell and Steve Pattinson. The first man to agree to join the Blues is Bury midfielder Chris Billy. June United are linked with moves for Darlington forward Barry Conlon and Orient's Tony Thorpe. However no deals are completed during the month. July
August
September Lee Maddison joins Mark Birch at Gretna. CVA restrictions mean Simpson is unable to sign more than two new players. He brings in Kevin Henderson on loan from Hartlepool. Carlisle finally win at the seventh attempt, defeating Rochdale 3-2 as Simpson scores the first goal against his former employers. A 2-2 draw at Southend a week later is enough to convince John Courtenay that Simpson is the man for the job. However a series of hold-ups means Simpson has still not signed a permanent contract by the end of the month. October Simpson eventually agrees a deal that will make him manager until May 2005. Shaun Smith comes on loan from Hull City. Henderson agrees an 18-month contract and joins permanently. United continue a bad losing run that sees them lose seven on the trot by the end of the month. The CVA is finally ended as outstanding debts are settled. Some progress is at least achieved in the LDV Vans Trophy as United knock out Rochdale 2-0 in the first round. November The dismal run continues with two more league defeats and an FA Cup exit at the hands of Oldham Athletic. Simpson loses patience with his existing squad and puts nine players on the transfer list. Immediately Brian Wake quits and signs for Gretna. David Lynn joins Workington Reds on loan. Tom Cowan from Dundee and Kevin Gray from Tranmere Rovers both sign up until the end of next season. Simpson returns from a two-month injury lay-off and puts Carlisle in front at Cheltenham but a Bob Taylor brace means United lose for the 10th successive match - a new club record. Another defeat to Doncaster ends the month. December
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