Brunton Park
 v Leyton Orient, League One
 Saturday, August 19th 2006, 3pm
By Clive Allard

Arriving Carlisle Station with Virgin Trains on the long haul up the West Coast on time was a suprise in itself. The arrival time of 13.34 hours meant quite sometime in Carlisle, however with best foot forward I exited the Station and crossed over the main intersection noting the 'Fish and Chippy' for the return journey back to the station after the game itself. I walked down Warwick Road and due to the very little sign of supporters (it was just after 1.30 p.m.) I was a little worried as I could not see any C.U.F.C. signposts anywhere, anyway I came across two locals who informed in their 'Cumbrian Brogue' yes, I was heading in the right direction and to keep going.

This I did and duly found more supporters (none Orient so far - worrying), mind you Carlisle is the furthest north-western far flung outpost in England. Eight miles later you fall into Sweaty Sock Country, no passports required - well just !!! Back to Brunton Park itself as you pass the Rugby Ground (most of our players could of had better luck with the Oval ball with the they normally play than the one normally associated with Association Football). The first thing you notice along the Warwick Road, a busying main road is the well appointed Club Shop. The Blue of Carlisle United punctuated by the Green and Red Stripes (and I'm not joking) of their gaudy away strip, which looks more like a set of curtains that your'e long lost Auntie Elsie used to have circa 1920, or perhaps a more fashionable (I am joking) a Bright Beach Deckchair !!!

After affording myself a giggle or two, programmes were purchased (there was enough of the salespersons around), and down a driveway the ground itself set back slightly fom the main road was first viewed in its entireity - well almost. The Ground itself is worthy of a division higher quite easily, the Old Main Stand has possibly seen better days but looked quite acceptable, even historical in a sort of nostalgic way. The new stand opposite is smart modern but not open to any of the Visiting supporters on our 'away' day.

However this is where Carlisle United could improve things for your typical supporter. The Petteril End (Away fans only) has admittedly a good view, however its a Open Terrace, (no cover whatsoever), yes that means bloody wet when it rains, it does a lot of that in Cumbria, after all you are in the Lake District renowned for its balmy sunny and dry weather. Surely with such a big ground can Carlisle United Football Club not allow the option of away supporters (there was only 187 of us out of a gate of just over 7,000) to purchase a ticket in the covered stand close to the Petteril End, its not funny being treated like third class supporters in this day and age when modern stadia abound.

 

Also with no cover, cheering and chanting etc.. cannot be heard anyway, even though we tried. The Carlisle crowd mind after being previously warned of possible trouble seemed quite a friendly lot, and not all aggressive, this might of having to do with the fact that even though ' we ' (I mean supporters) turned up, our players didn't as such, and we found ourselves one - nil down after twenty-five minutes when our defence did one of their disappearing acts and left our right flank exposed like a page 3 babe.

Now the half time Brunton Pastie (a sort of mixture meat, veg, potatoes recommended to me by a travelling o's fan) was well worth the pocket change I had, and so were the chips. To be fair both were of good quality.

Half Time came and went and the tannoy announcer who sounded like he should of been at Waterloo Station - because you couldn't understand a bloody thing. However the pre-historic, well almost electronic scoreboard because of its speed kept us up to date with the other scores down South.

Second Half started just as the first had ended for us, the home team poured forward and inside three minutes they were two nil up, Why did we make our way up here anyway I though to myself, I was not alone. Just as things could not get any worse, it started raining from a cloud which surely just sit over the top of us and produce so much rain, but it did, and as if by magic both our centre half and right back played a game of losing the ball again, and that was three-nil. A minute later it should of been four, but our keeper pulled off a brilliant save from the penaly spot. Deepest joy this delightful day out was becoming more and more depressing.

Suddenly it stopped raining, Lee Steele Orients smallest player on the pitch rose like a salmon (obviously caught in the local waters) and majestically headed the ball past Westwood in the home goal. Chants of ' We're going to win four-three' resounded around our end of the terracing, and for a moment we rejoiced in our goal as the Carlisle supporters booed.

At least we had a goal to celebrate, not much else was celebrated though as the game petered out to a 3-1 home win. Well at least the programme was a good read on the long train ride home, talking of Train, the old midfielder Ray Train made a guest appearance at half-time, its a shame we did'nt get on one at half time and went home then.

Finally the fish and chippy just up from the station was sampled and for just £3.70 cod and chips was devoured eagerly before the long ride home to London-Euston and beyond. A good day out though despite one of the longest journeys in any football calendar. Plus points go to Virgin Trains who only charged us £44.00 for a return train ticket and actually arriving back at London-Euston 25 minutes earlier. Minus points go Carlisle United who must think a little more of away supporters getting rained on in an open terrace with little creature comforts.

Match Result: Carlisle United 3 Leyton Orient 1

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