It looks like a busy one in the Paddock: one of those crammed afternoons on the old terrace when Carlisle United's Brunton Park feels like the only place in the world.
A few more fans beetle around outside: dads with lads, men with scarves and hats. Someone settles pre-match nerves by puffing on a cigarette by the entrance gates.
It could be a scene from one of the Blues’ best days – a crucial fixture from the 1994/5 season, perhaps.
The man responsible for those days would certainly know about that. The artist in question is none other than Mick Wadsworth, manager of that 94/5 glory side.
He has produced this classic image of pre-match United anticipation ahead of a reunion of Carlisle’s mid-nineties heroes next weekend.
Twelve copies of Wadsworth's work have been framed and, accompanied by some of photographer Stuart Roy Clarke's iconic books, will be auctioned at the sell-out event, raising money for Eden Valley Hospice in memory of the much-missed former Blues player, Tony Hopper.
The drawing is the latest way for Wadsworth, now 70, both to consolidate his love for that club and that team, and to revive a childhood passion.
“I used to draw a lot as a kid, and since lockdown I’ve started drawing again,” says the former United director of coaching. “It took off from there.
“I’ve done so much in the last 18 months; a few commissions for friends, various supporters of various clubs.
“I find old photographs and interpret them in my own way. The structure of the grounds I take from photos, but all the figures…that’s just my strange imagination.”
Wadsworth has produced other drawings of grounds like Scarborough's now-defunct McCain Stadium, and Burnley's Turf Moor. Darlington's Feethams is a current project.
There are shades of Lowry in how Mick’s sketched people venture to Carlisle United’s ground. The scene encapsulates the magic of matchday.
“It’s my memory of going in on game days. I always found it evocative going down that sort of ginnel there, round the corner and parking," Wadsworth says.
"It's the exciting part of football, I think – getting ready and looking forward to it. I used to like everything about my job apart from the bloody games! No, that’s not true…”
It certainly isn’t true when it comes to 1994/5 at Carlisle: a campaign of Division Three title triumph and a first-ever Wembley appearance in the famous green, red and white ‘deckchair’ stripes.
It was United at their most vibrant, hence the reunion at Harraby Catholic Club on Saturday, October 9. Wadsworth and a great many of his players will be in attendance. There in spirit, and celebrated to the full, will be Tony Hopper, who died from motor neurone disease exactly three years ago that date.
A dozen of Wadsworth’s pictures will be paired with books by photographer Clarke in the auction. His images of United in 1994/5 were also an indelible part of that campaign.
One treasured shot of Wadsworth’s squad, in the Neil Sports Centre and clad in the deckchair kit, pre-Wembley, features in Clarke’s book The Homes of Football, The Game.
Clarke and Wadsworth hope their combination of photography and art will raise about £90-100 apiece in Tony Hopper’s memory.
Clarke is also attending the reunion and looking forward to a colourful skip down memory lane. “The players probably just remember me as a photographer who hung around Brunton Park for a while,” he says. “We’ll have to get one or two of them merry and see if they can part with some cash…
“There are a few Carlisle and Cumbrian images in that particular book. The county has played such a big part in my life. One of the great things about it is that it has the deckchair line-up in there, which everyone seems to love – even people who have no idea what it’s about and have no affection for Carlisle.
“As for Mick's art...I was gobsmacked when I saw what he had done. We can all be guilty of typecasting football managers and players, thinking they’re only going to be playing golf in retirement and so on. For him to be turning into an artist is fantastic.”
Clarke says his own affection for United survived the “rocky times” when the reign of Michael Knighton, the owner who bestrode 1994/5, later turned sour. The photographer also fondly remembers being whisked away to Spain with Wadsworth’s team: David Reeves, Dean Walling, Rod Thomas and the rest.
“I absolutely adore these players,” he says. “On holiday, I saw them up close and personal in a relaxed way. They are an amazing bunch of lads. To be meeting them again all these years later is very exciting.”
Wadsworth has observed the excitement being shared in a WhatsApp group which includes most of his boys of 94/5. Next Saturday will be a night of warm and jaunty nostalgia, with an important, solemn theme.
“The main thing is it’s to remember two fantastic people,” he says. “Tony Hopper and Peter Hampton [Wadsworth’s United physio, who died last year] will be sadly missed on the night.
“It’s in their memory in a sense, but also to raise money for the hospice which desperately needs money. That’s the reality. It must have been a tough time for the hospice over the last 18 months, as for most charities, not being able to run events to raise money. We just want to see if we can help.”
To this end, there will be lots more memorabilia up for grabs, both from the Blues’ past and from other illustrious circles. Wadsworth’s son Greg, a football agent, has acquired a match-worn Mo Salah Liverpool shirt. Defender Mountfield is bringing an Aston Villa shirt.
Wadsworth also has one of United’s precious 1995 Wembley shirts up for grabs, which all the players will sign before the auction. It is 26 years since Carlisle first walked out under the Twin Towers and the need to celebrate that time feels more urgent than ever.
“The sad reality,” Wadsworth says, “is it might be the last time I see some of these lads. We live all over the country, and unless we organise another get together in 10 years' time, and I hope I’m still around…you’ve got to grab these moments.
“I’m not a nostalgic person in the sense of always looking backwards, but it was a pretty special time to be at Carlisle, and it was a very special bunch of players.”
Wadsworth is keen that Colin Carter, who has organised the reunion, is mentioned. “He’s done an immense amount. He’s been absolutely fantastic. As have the players. The WhatsApp group’s been hilarious. I don’t join in a lot, but particularly if it gets to 11pm on a Saturday night, it gets very entertaining.”
The sell-out audience will be treated to reminiscences of various crowd favourites, like Reeves, Walling, Thomas, Mountfield, Tony Gallimore, the young Cumbrians like Darren Edmondson, Tony Caig, Jeff Thorpe and Richard Prokas, and others, like the enigmatic attacking creator who has not been seen in Carlisle, or been in touch with his old team-mates, since the 90s.
“Dave Currie – we’ve found him!” Wadsworth says. “It wasn’t easy but we found him. Derek Mountfield tracked him down and it will be lovely to see him.
“He was a wonderful talent. I don’t know how today’s high-pressing game would have suited him, but back then he was magnificent on the ball, made a lot of goals and scored some too.
“There’s a fantastic spirit among that group. When you see someone like Derek Mountfield joining in with the gusto and enthusiasm he does, considering he’d won a First Division Championship, FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup before he came to Carlisle...I feel that says a lot.”
Currie, Mountfield and the others were responsible for that fizzing sense of anticipation, 26 seasons ago. They put speed in the step of fans as they approached the turnstiles and the gates.
Now the man who organised that team has turned that timeless feeling into art. All things considered, it feels entirely, sweetly appropriate.
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