Legends of Carlisle United spanning eight decades, plus the club’s current promotion-chasing stars, will feature on two huge banners at Brunton Park.
Designs have been revealed for two of the massive flags which will be displayed at the ground after a brilliant £5,000 fundraising effort by fans.
One features a collection of some of the club’s greatest and most popular players, accompanied by the club’s logo and the words ‘We are Carlisle United’.
Another celebrates the current team, including a number of players and head coach Chris Beech.
The latter flag is in the style of the Beach Boys’ legendary album Pet Sounds – reimagined as ‘The Beech Boys’ and ‘CUFC Sounds’.
The designs are currently at the printers and are expected to be ready by the end of this month or the beginning of March, at which point they will be displayed in the ground as a big show of support to the team at a time fans cannot attend games in person because of Covid-19.
Dan MacLennan, who set up the GoFundMe page, said he was “amazed” by the response the crowdfunding appeal received from the Blue Army.
“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and we’re looking forward to the flags coming and getting them displayed.”
The legends flag features 20 former Blues heroes, with striker Hugh McIlmoyle – widely regarded as the Blues’ best-ever player – at the centre.
The great Ivor Broadis, who starred for United in the 1940s and 50s, features, as does early-50s goal machine Jimmy Whitehouse.
Sixties title-winning skipper Peter McConnell is included, along with great Cumbrian winger George McVitie.
Other favourites from United’s golden era include goalkeeper Allan Ross, the club’s record appearance holder, plus long-serving defender Bobby Parker and midfield maestro Chris Balderstone, all of whom, along with McIlmoyle, played for the Blues in the top-flight in 1974/5.
The manager who guided United to their greatest heights, Alan Ashman, features, while 1980s stars Mally Poskett and John Halpin also take pride of place.
Nineties favourites Dean Walling, David Reeves and Stephane Pounewatchy are included, likewise keeper Jimmy Glass whose famous goal kept the Blues in the Football League in 1999.
From more recent times, the banner also features Peter Murphy, United’s longest-serving outfield player, as well as skipper Kevin Gray, defender Danny Livesey and brilliant frontman Michael Bridges, who were all part of promotions in the 2000s.
Cumbrian ex-skipper Danny Grainger is the most recent player to be included.
The Beech Boys flag, meanwhile, has pictures of seven of the current team - plus the head coach in trademark arms-folded pose.
The players pictured are Jon Mellish, Aaron Hayden, Lewis Alessandra, Paul Farman, Nick Anderton, Callum Guy and Joshua Kayode.
A 29-man squad list is included where the track listing sits on the Beach Boys album cover.
Dan thanked Ross McFadzean for his work on the Beech Boys flag and Mike Rome for his efforts in designing the legends banner.
Six flags in total are being produced after £5,080 was raised - two 12m x 6m for the Warwick Road End, and four 6m x 6m for the Paddock. About £700 remains in the kitty, Dan said, with ideas for how to use that amount to be discussed.
The News & Star helped with some of the photos used.
The GoFundMe page is https://www.gofundme.com/f/warwick-road-end-big-flags-fund
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