Although Carlisle, by the 1976/7 season, still retained a number of players who had enjoyed First Division football just two campaigns earlier, clinging onto past glories proved difficult for the Brunton Park club.

It was a second term in Division Two after that solitary season in the sun. Manager Alan Ashman had by now gone, with legendary trainer Dick Young stepping into the hot seat, while familiar faces still featured in the regular Blues’ line-up.

Men like Allan Ross, Peter Carr, John Gorman, Les O’Neill, Bobby Parker and Dennis Martin remained, while in a bid to improve on the previous season’s fourth-bottom finish, the Blues had made a few notable additions.

Big centre-half Ian MacDonald was one, while United had got their hands on a new goalscorer in the form of Plymouth’s Billy Rafferty, the Scottish centre-forward scoring four times in his first three games as he made an immediate impact.

By the time Blackpool made the short trip up to Cumbria in mid-October, Young’s team had made a moderate start: three wins, two draws and three defeats from their opening eight fixtures.

United, then, having disposed of Charlton the previous week, were looking for a win that would give their season further impetus and put them joint fourth in a tight table, Blackpool themselves eyeing second spot.

With the visitors boasting a strong away record, and the Blues at their best at home, an intriguing contest was anticipated. It also pitted a former United star in Bob Hatton against the new favourite Rafferty, a Seasiders player before his spell at Plymouth.

The Tuesday night encounter attracted an 8,472 crowd with United’s hopes boosted by the availability of Carr and Phil Bonnyman despite injury concerns. It also got off to the perfect start, with Young’s team moving into a fourth-minute lead.

It came from an unexpected source, as when Mike Barry’s pinpoint corner was knocked down by Rafferty, defender MacDonald popped up to drill home from eight yards for his first goal since moving to the Blues from St Johnstone.

Such were United’s frustrating fortunes, though, that the lead lasted little more than 90 seconds. Blackpool’s response was swift, the ball fed back across the home box to Bill Bentley, who left Ross grasping at thin air as his 20-yard shot found the net.

These quickfire goals set up further attacking from both sides. Gorman, with a trademark run from left-back, was denied by a fine George Wood save, while the visitors missed decent chances fashioned by some quick and tidy football.

It was Carlisle, though, who proved the more frustrated as things went on, and it turned out to be one of those days when the normally deadly Rafferty couldn’t quite make an opportunity count.

Midway through the first half, the striker superbly took out two men in the Blackpool box and set up winger George McVitie, whose side-footed finish was saved by the keeper. Before the break, Rafferty lashed a chance into the side-netting.

It was much the same in the second half. Barry picked out Rafferty with another fine cross but Wood proved equal to the header. A fierce shot from the Scot then whistled wide.

At the other end Ross made some solid saves when called upon and though Carlisle finished in the ascendancy, McVitie missing two late chances, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw that came at further cost, since right-back Carr had limped off in the 28th minute after suffering an ankle injury. This had seen Bonnyman drop back into defence and John Lathan move into midfield from the forward line.

Young praised those who had adapted well, but also rued the fact that the scruffy goal United needed to edge the game had been out of their reach.

“This might sound daft,” the manager said, “but if Billy Rafferty hadn’t been hitting the ball so well we might have got both points instead of one.

“Every shot he had was sweet and true. If one had been slightly mis-hit, or had come off the outside of his foot, he would probably have found a way past their goalkeeper.”

The Blackpool draw, alas, heralded a run of eight games without a win, and less than a month after it the manager decided things were no longer working as planned and handed in his resignation.

United’s board, led by new chairman Jim Bendall, accepted, and the decision was announced by secretary David Dent, but the Cumbrians did persuade Young to remain at Brunton Park as assistant manager.

This saw the coach back where he had made his name, a position in which he was always more comfortable, while a sub-committee that included current chairman Andrew Jenkins was formed to appoint a new boss.

Strong speculation linked the former United boss Bob Stokoe with a return but in the end United went for another leading North East figure - Bobby Moncur, the former Newcastle captain, latterly with Sunderland.

He was unveiled ahead of a trip to Fulham, which came two weeks after the talented Gorman had been sold to Tottenham. Moncur’s reign started with defeat and though the rest of the season saw certain highlights - a quickfire Rafferty hat-trick to secure a stunning 4-3 comeback win against Cardiff among them - United were unable to get themselves out of the mire.

Moncur fielded himself 11 times but survival proved beyond the Cumbrians, and they finished third bottom, relegated behind Cardiff and Leyton Orient on goal difference.

It meant a first season below the top two tiers since 1965, and it took another five campaigns before they could fight their way back up - Stokoe, eventually back for a second spell, the man to deliver the club’s next promotion in 1982.

United: Ross, Carr (Clarke), Gorman, Bonnyman, MacDonald, Parker, McVitie, Barry, Lathan, Rafferty, Martin.

Blackpool: Wood, Garner, Harrison, Hart, Suddaby, Ronson, Ainscow, Suddick, Walsh, Hatton, Bentley. Sub: Farley.

Crowd: 8,472.