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The off season between 19/20 and 20/21 may be the shortest on record, but never let it be said that Prost International neglected its obligation to the kind of off season journalistic pap, loved only by our fellow football obsessives.
In this recurring feature, we look at some of the world’s best known and, in future articles most obscure, players who share their surname with a football club.
We started with and wrote in honour of the great Jack Charlton who died earlier this month, and we continue with another man who id a hero to many, Clarke Carlisle.
Clarke Carlisle – a complex man but also one of the bravest
It’s strange to think that Clarke James Carlisle is only 40 given the number of things he has done in his life in professional sport.
On the field, he played in the centre of defence for Blackpool, Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United, Watford, Luton Town, Burnley, Preston, York City and Northampton Town. He’s already a brave man who plays for both Preston and Blackpool, never mind both Watford and Luton.
His career was dogged by injuries. A posterior cruciate ligament injury derailed his time at QPR, but the damage caused by alcohol ended his time in Shepherds Bush.
Having helped Watford to promotion to the top flight in 2006, a thigh injury prevented him playing there for the Hornets.
Watford were not the only club he led to the Promised Land. He was on the Burnley side that beat Sheffield United 1–0 in the 2009 Championship play-off, also being named man of the match on the day. He also won promotion with QPR to the second tier in 2004.
Clarke Carlisle on Countdown
Photo: The Countdown Wiki
But it is perhaps his achievements off the field that make the man stand out.
He won the title of “Britain’s Brainiest Footballer” in 2002, and is a former Chairman of the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers’ Association. He is also an anti-racism campaigner and an Ambassador for Kick It Out.
Winning on Countdown, bans for drink driving and a bad car accident were among the myriad of reasons Carlisle stayed in the tabloid headlines. Carlisle was the first footballer to appear on Question Time. During his trial though, the awful truth emerged.
Carlisle admitted he had been trying to kill himself when he was hit by the lorry. Depression in adult males was not looked upon as sympathetically even that recently as it is now. It cost him his marriage.
He has used his experience to help others, presenting a documentary in July 2013 for BBC Three, Football’s Suicide Secret, on the issue of mental health in football.
The twin menaces of racism and depression still afflict football. Clarke is in the vanguard of the war against both of them.
We wish him well.
Carlisle United and Carlisle City
Carlisle is one of England’s older towns and has long been a bulwark against invading Scots. It is said to have its origins in a 1st-century Roman outpost associated with either the building or manning of Hadrian’s Wall.
It has a population of 107,524 and is home to the McVities Biscuit company.
It is also home to a league club, Carlisle United who play at Brunton Park.
United have seen better days, none more so than the 1974/75 season where they were making their debut in the top flight.
They beat Chelsea 2-0 in that first game at Stamford Bridge with Bill Green and Les O’Neil scoring, before repeating the result at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park against a side containing a young Graeme Souness.
In their first home game, a man for famous for his cricketing prowess for Leicestershire, Chris Balderstone, saw off Spurs with a penalty.
Three wins from their opening three matches saw Carlisle top the First Division.
Liverpool FC’s iconic manager Bill Shankly, called Carlisle’s climb to the top as “the greatest feat in the history of the game.”
It went pear shaped after that however, the Cumbrian side won just one of their next nine.
In that season, they beat Arsenal, Tottenham and champions Derby County that season, as well as doing the double over Everton. But sadly for Carlisle, they were relegated from Division One that year – a place where they haven’t returned to since.
Colchester and Fulham knocked them out the cups, both on Cumbrian soil.
But nothing should be taken away from the squad who albeit briefly put Carlisle United at the top of the tree:
Alan Ross, Bill Green, Bobby Parker, John Gorman, Chris Balderstone, Joe Laidlaw,Les O’Neill, Ray Train, Frank Clarke, Bobby Owen, Hughie McIlmoyle and Dennis Martin.
John Gorman went on to become Glenn Hoddle’s assistant as England manager. The Frank Clarke is not the one who went on to win the league and European Cup with Nottingham Forest, but does hold the unique distinction of being the only one of five brothers who did not play for Walsall.
Nowadays United languish in League Two and have been their since 2014.
They finished the 2019/20 season in 18th place with ten wins and twelve draws from their 37 matches.
They took Cardiff City to a replay in the FA Cup and had a great away win at Barnsley in the EFL Cup.
The previous two years they had finished 11th and 10th. In the 2016/17 season, they made the play-offs only to lose 6-5 to Exeter on aggregate.
| Full Disclosure – Why City too? | |
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Alfie Nicholls, the 3-year-old son of the manager of Carlisle City, James Nicholls, named his pet horse after the author of this article.He therefore felt obliged to mention City as well as Carlisle United for the sake of the horse’s health.Additionally , James Nicholls is also the manager of the Cascadia national team who are sponsored by this website. So we really had no choice. |
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 This horse is named after the author of this article |
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 The President of the Cascadia Football Association (CAFF) Aaron Johnsen models the Prost sponsored kit |
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Manager Chris Beech will be hoping for better in 20/21 and today was a positive day as he brought in full back George Tanner from Manchester United on a free transfer.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the upcoming season is the arrival of their local rivals Barrow from the National League. United don’t have many local rivals, especially since Workington left the league in 1977.
But this year, their loyal fans have more short trips that usual, with Cumbrian rivals Barrow (86 miles away) reappearing following promotion.
Barrow are a traditional rival. But geographically, United are a bit less isolated than last year.
Morecambe (68 miles) not terribly far away and as a bonus, Harrogate who were promoted yesterday having beaten Notts Couty at Wembley, just 105 miles away.
The average attendance last year was 4,140 but with a few northern additions to the league including Tranmere and Bolton, that may improve.
A big hello to all those at Carlisle City
I wouldn’t get away with this article without mentioning a club whom I have got to know well over the last two years.
This series will have non-league clubs along the way too as well as some very obscure ones we found in the deepest and sunniest places. James Nicholls is the head coach of Carlisle City and a very proud Cumbrian.
He is also the head coach of the Cascadia National Team who play in the ConIFA Structure.
prostsoccer.com which encompasses this site and www.prostamerika.com are the shirt sponsors of Cascadia.
City play in the National League North Second Division now, having been switched over from the North West Counties League.
Geographically, that was a hardship as their away games are mostly in the north east, a more difficult journey that heading south down the motorway.
Despite a difficult start last season in Nicholl’s first season, they moved up the table and were in contention for promotion when the lockdown arrived.
By their own admission, the NL Division 2 was a far better division than they had anticipated.
There are no videos to watch at this level.
Carlisle City FC – club history
Outrage as non-league club fine player for being a dickhead
Their Gillford Park home has undergone some serious renovation and unusually, they finished quite a bit of love on the away dressing room, realising that they will be the longest road trip for almost all their visiting clubs from the Northumberland and Durham. The Flying Scotsman, when it flies, also passes by their ground.
Rob McCartney and Sam Atkinson provide many of the goals but the club is most excited to see what new addition Brandon Longcake might bring to their second season in the NL.
No-one was promoted out of the division last year so Redcar, West Allotment Celtic, Billingham Synthonia and Heaton Stannington look to be among their main rivals for promotion but it’s a close league and that could change.
The player’s name is also a team
If you are someone, or know of someone who struggles with their mental health, contact the Samartians or Mind Charity for support.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
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