To celebrate United's remarkable rise into the First Division in 1974, Lakescene published this 80-page book which charted the history of the club from its humble beginnings back in 1904 as the original Shaddongate United, hence the title.

The early years are charted in concise form, with chapters dedicated to goalscoring legends like Billy Ward and Ivor Broadis, who was the first and so far, only player to sell himself to another club. The story moves on to Paddy Waters and the 1950s when players like Allan Ashman and Alf Ackerman helped United to a series of FA Cup runs and Bill Shankly, who had been at the club as a player in the 1930s returned as manager.

Success in the league eluded the Cumbrians until 1962 when they finally won promotion. By this time Dick Young was at the club as trainer and there is a section devoted to him, a man who epitomised Carlisle's "push and run" style that was to elevate them up the league to the pinnacle of 1974. Throughout the 60s the club achieved a great deal of success, finishing the decade as a solid if unfashionable Second Division outfit. The return of Ashman as manager, aided and abetted by the genial Young, was the main reason for this fine achievement.

Into the Seventies, the story reached its conclusion. Veteran keeper Allan Ross, who by the time this book was published was already well on his way to the club record for appearances, is given a good deal of space with his early career detailed as he came to Carlisle from Luton and helped spearhead the drive into the First Division behind a solid, well-drilled defence which featured players such as Peter Carr, Graham 'Tot' Winstanley, John Gorman and Bill Green.

The book then moves on to list the club's fixtures for the coming First Division campaign and prints the four league tables for United's then four promotion seasons together with the first ever league table for United in 1928-29. However, the real thrill of opening this book is the nostalgia it evokes for that heady period when United were ready to step into the limelight for the first time and mix it with English football's big guns. The chapter headed "Just A Point" sums it all up:

Champagne corks popped and they danced in the streets on the wonderful night in May when Carlisle United made history by stepping into the First Division.

The news was confirmed shortly after ten-past-nine on the evening of May 3, 1974.

United's main rivals, Orient, had been held to a 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa in their last game of the season - they had needed a win to edge United out of third place in Division Two on goal average.

Was it just ten years ago that Brunton Park had played host to Fourth Division football?

Carlisle United's amazing rise from obscurity to the dizzy heights must surely provide a ray of light in the darkness for less-successful clubs.

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