As Newport County prepare to travel to Carlisle United, we take a closer look at Saturday's opposition.
What’s their story?
Founded in 1904, Carlisle United entered competitive football through the Lancashire Combination in 1905, quickly finding success by winning the Division Two title in 1906–07. Progressing to the North Eastern League in 1910, the club continued to impress, securing the league title in 1921–22, which eventually led to their election into the Football League in 1928.
The club spent three decades in the Third Division North before transitioning to the newly established Fourth Division. Promotion was achieved in 1961–62, but they were relegated the following year. Carlisle bounced back emphatically, earning consecutive promotions and finishing as champions of the Third Division in 1964–65 under Alan Ashman. This marked the start of an ambitious climb, culminating in promotion to the Second Division in 1973–74.
Carlisle's historic rise to the First Division followed soon after, though their stay lasted just one season. Relegations followed in subsequent years, with the club returning to the Third Division in 1977. A resurgence under Bob Stokoe in 1981–82 brought promotion back to the Second Division, but successive relegations by 1987 placed Carlisle in the fourth tier.
The 1990s saw the club oscillate between the third and fourth divisions, but a major blow came in 2003–04 when they dropped out of the Football League after 76 years. Under player-manager Paul Simpson, Carlisle achieved an immediate return, winning the 2005 Conference National play-off final and building on this with the League Two title in 2005–06.
A nine-year stay in League One ended in relegation in 2013–14, but Carlisle returned to the third tier in 2023 after a dramatic play-off final victory against Stockport County. However, they faced relegation back to League Two the following season
Who’s the boss?
Mark Hughes is the current boss of Carlisle United, having taken over from Mike Williamson.
Hughes, 61, has a wealth of experience having been on the touchline for close to 700 games during his managerial career, with over 500 in the Premier League.
He has managed the Welsh national team, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton in the Premier League, as well as most recently managing Bradford City in Sky Bet League Two. As a player, he started his career with Manchester United before also featuring for the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers.
He won numerous trophies during his playing career, including the FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, League Cup and the Premier League. He also picked up 72 international caps for Wales, scoring 16 goals which included the winning goal against England 17 minutes into his international debut.
Who’s the captain?
Sam Lavelle, an experienced and commanding defender, proudly serves as the captain of Carlisle United. Known for his leadership qualities and solid defensive abilities, Lavelle has become a key figure for the Blues.
Lavelle began his footballing journey in the youth system at Blackburn Rovers but was unable to break into the first team. Seeking opportunities elsewhere, he signed for Bolton Wanderers, though first-team chances remained elusive. In 2017, Lavelle made a pivotal career move to Morecambe, a decision that would shape his career trajectory.
During his time with Morecambe, Lavelle etched his name into the club's history. On 31 May 2021, he captained the Shrimps to a League Two play-off final victory, securing promotion to League One for the first time in the club's history. This achievement solidified Lavelle’s legacy as one of Morecambe's all-time greats in the eyes of the supporters.
At the start of the 2021-22 season, Lavelle joined Charlton Athletic, where he made 41 appearances over two seasons. In January 2023, he moved on loan to Burton Albion, but his spell was cut short by a shoulder injury.
Lavelle’s next chapter began with Carlisle United, where he has since become a cornerstone of the squad. To date, he has made 82 appearances for the Blues, demonstrating his commitment and influence both on and off the pitch.
