Carlisle RLFC
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Club information | |
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Full name | Carlisle Rugby League Club |
Nickname(s) | Carlisle |
Colours | Blue White Red |
Founded | 1981 |
Exited | 1997 |
Former details | |
Ground(s) |
Carlisle RLFCwere arugby leagueteam based inCarlisle,Cumbria.The club was calledCarlisle Border Raidersfor the1997 season,after which it merged withBarrow Braves.
History
[edit]Early rugby league in Carlisle
[edit]Carlisle City,based at Harraby Greyhound Stadium close to Gillford Park, were admitted to theNorthern Rugby Football Unionfor the 1928–29 season. They withdrew on 8 November 1928, after only ten games of which they won 1 and lost 9, scoring 59 and conceding 166. Their final game was a 36 – 13 defeat by Warrington at Wilderspool on 27 October 1928. Earlier in the season St Helens had visited Harraby Park on Sat 8 September and struggled to record a victory by 8 points to 5.
Rugby league as an organised sport died with it until the early 1950s when a Carlisle amateur side played two seasons in theCumberland League.
Carlisle RLFC
[edit]Carlisle RLFCwas set up and owned by local Association football teamCarlisle United.The club colours were blue, red and white; the same as the football club. In April 1981, they were admitted to theRugby Football League,playing at United'sBrunton Park.They were coached byAllan AgarandNigel Stephenson.The board of Carlisle United used the money from the sale ofPeter Beardsleyto finance the team. The club finished second in the Second Division and gained promotion in their first season. Their average attendance was 2,950 in that season. Agar departed as coach to join Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982 having had his request for more funds turned down.
Mick Morganreplaced Agar and Carlisle made their debut in the First Division with a 7–10 home defeat against Wigan at Brunton Park.Dean Bellspent the 1982–83 season at Carlisle but couldn't stop the club from being relegated. Attendances plummeted in the First Division when they finished bottom. Thereafter the club was plagued by debts and poor attendances.
John Atkinsonarrived from Leeds as player / coach in February 1983. The first season back in Division 2 was one of struggle - they finished third from bottom of the league. The next year they were on the fringes of the promotion race.
Allen Kellettook over as coach in February 1986 after the sudden resignation of John Atkinson. Carlisle opened the 1986 season with three defeats from four games; drawing the other against strugglersRuncorn.New coach,Roy Lester,got rid of players based in West Yorkshire and recruited a team of Cumbrian amateurs. They were then thrashed 112-0 by St Helens in a Lancashire Cup tie but recovered their season well, won more than they lost and finished in eighth place.[1]
The club moved toGillford Park,the former home of the defunct Carlisle City, for the 1988–89 season as they were not able to afford the rent on Brunton Park. In a few short weeks they had, with the help of their hard-working fans, built a ground that met the RFL's minimum criteria. The first match was a seventeen all draw with Batley on 3 September in front of 624 spectators.
Cameron Bellwas coach from February 1990 to April 1994, he was succeeded byHugh Waddell.
When a Rupert Murdoch fundedSuper Leaguecompetition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Carlisle were to merge withWhitehaven,Workington Townand Barrow to form aCumbriaside to be based in Workington who would compete in Super League. This was, however, resisted.
A new name,Carlisle Border Raiders,was adopted for the 1997 season.[2][permanent dead link]Home crowds struggled to get into four figures and at the end of the season they merged withBarrow Bravesto formBarrow Border Raiders.Their last league match on 20 July 1997, had produced a record score of 72–10 against another doomed sidePrescot Panthers.Their final game was at home againstWorkingtonon 7 September 1997 which they lost 34–24 in front of a crowd of 453. The merged team played all its matches in Barrow and in 2002 dropped the 'Border' from its name.
Playing record
[edit]Season | Division | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981–82 | 1 -2 | 32 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 649 | 296 | 56 | 2nd |
1982–83 | 1- 2 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 252 | 751 | 4 | 16th |
1983–84 | 1 -2 | 34 | 12 | 0 | 22 | 539 | 780 | 24 | 15th |
1984–85 | 1 -2 | 28 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 547 | 437 | 38 | 5th |
1985–86 | 1 -2 | 11th | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 585 | 682 | 32 |
1986–87 | 1 -2 | 28 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 463 | 446 | 31 | 8th |
1987–88 | 1 -2 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 388 | 444 | 29 | 11th |
1988–89 | 1 -2 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 512 | 441 | 29 | 11th |
1989–90 | 1 -2 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 511 | 625 | 18 | 17th |
1990–91 | 1 -2 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 613 | 425 | 34 | 8th |
1991–92 | 1 -2- 3 | 28 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 490 | 466 | 25 | 6th |
1992–93 | 1 -2- 3 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 454 | 721 | 15 | 7th |
1993–94 | 1 -2 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 540 | 878 | 18 | 13th |
1994–95 | 1 -2 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 546 | 877 | 16 | 14th |
1995–96 | 1 -2 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 600 | 309 | 24 | 5th |
1996 | 1 - 2 -3 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 654 | 486 | 26 | 4th |
1997 | 1 - 2 -3 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 564 | 384 | 26 | 5th |
Past coaches
[edit]Also seeCategory:Carlisle RLFC coaches.
- Allan Agar&Nigel Stephenson1981-2
- Mick Morgan1982-3
- John Atkinson1983-6
- Alan Kellett1986
- Roy Lester1986-88
- Tommy Dawes1989
- Cameron Bell1990-1994
- Hugh Waddell1994-?
- Paul Charlton1995-6
Notable former players
[edit]These players have either; received aTestimonial match,were international representatives before, or after, their time at Carlisle, or are notable outside of rugby league.
- Robert Ackermanwon caps forWaleswhile at Carlisle
- Allan Agar
- Stewart Rhodes
- Colin Armstrong
- John Atkinson
- Dean Bell
- Steve Brierley
- Sean Cusackwon caps forScotlandwhile at Carlisle
- Steve Ferres
- Clayton Friend
- Steve Georgallis
- George Graham
- Richard Henare
- Simon Knox
- Michael "Mick" Morgan
- Matt Nable
- Hitro Okesene
- Kevin Pape(Testimonial match1994)
- William "Willie" Richardson[3]
- John Risman
- Graeme Robinson(fromFeatherstone Rovers)
- Danny Russellwon caps forScotlandwhile at Carlisle
- Nigel Stephenson
- Stewart Rhodes
- Mal Thomason(Testimonial match1990)
- James "Jimmy" Thompson
- Hugh Waddell
- Barry Williamswon caps forWaleswhile at Carlisle