Former team-mates have paid warm tributes to Carlisle United stalwart Mike McCartney - described as a "hundred percenter".

The defender, who has died aged 63, was 10th on the Blues' all-time appearance list with 316 United games.

And McCartney's old Carlisle colleagues said the left-back will be fondly remembered as a dependable and no-nonsense player with a great left foot.

Winger George McVitie, who first encountered McCartney as an apprentice at West Brom, said: "As a player, he was a hundred percenter.

"You got nothing less than that from him.

"He was one you were glad to have on your side rather than against you.

"He was a good, loyal servant to Carlisle United. He was consistent, and a dedicated lad.

"He might not have looked it, but he was a hard lad, and he had a lovely left peg on him.

"He was also a good distributor of the ball, and his record was good on penalties with that sweet left peg.

"On my first home game after coming back to Carlisle [in 1975], I remember him scoring twice against Chelsea.

"He had a good innings in the game and quite a career, when you add it all together.

"He obviously loved Carlisle, and settled here."

McCartney had two spells for United between 1973 and 1987.

McCartney, a Scottish schoolboy international from Newcraighall, Edinburgh, joined United from West Brom, making his debut in 1973 and also two appearances in the club's only campaign in the First Division in 1974/5, before establishing himself as a regular in the side.

He joined Southampton in 1980, where he played in the same team as Kevin Keegan, and moved to Plymouth a year later before returning to Carlisle in 1983.

After a further four-year spell at Brunton Park, McCartney retired from the professional game before joining Gretna, who were then playing in the English non-league set-up.

He duly became player-manager and led the Raydale Park club on two memorable runs to the FA Cup first round, when they were narrowly beaten by Rochdale and Bolton in 1991 and 1993 respectively, remaining in charge until 2000.

Fellow ex-Blues full-back Steve Hoolickin added: "He was a quiet sort of lad, but he had his fun side as well once you got to know him - and he was a very, very good player.

"I was number two and he was number three. We were the full-backs for quite a while.

"He was a very good player. A very hard player. Very physical, took no prisoners.

"I saw him quite a lot when I've visited Carlisle. I always bumped into him up the town and had a good chat. He was a smashing guy. It's very sad news."

McCartney lived in the city and remained involved with the local football scene, refereeing in six-a-side leagues run by former team-mate Billy Rafferty.

He also played in a United Legends game in August 2016, aged 61, and was playing regular five-a-side football until recently.

Former Blues player Derek Walsh, who helps organise the United Legends team, also played under McCartney at Gretna, and said: "He was the ultimate professional. He liked to win.

"I can remember we played out at Workington in a testimonial game, and we got gubbed. Mike wasn't happy with a few players. And that was a testimonial game for a bit of fun!

"But that was Mick. All his life he was very organised, very neat and tidy and prepared.

"As a manager he stuck to the way he wanted to play, and that way you knew where you stood. He set his stall out and if you veered from it, he'd let you know. He was a good man and he had a good heart."