Popular Carlisle United community boss John Halpin set to retire

The former Blues winger will step down from his role at the end of this year.

Halpin, 60, has decided to bring a close to many years of service at Brunton Park.

It marks the end of an era at United, where Halpin has been a popular figurehead for their community activities since the 1990s.

The Scot described it as a “privilege” to have served on the community side of the club for so many years.

The charitable organisation connected to the club has grown dramatically during his time there.

It now caters for thousands of people as part of school, community and education groups each year.

Halpin has earned accolades for his central part in it – and says that, on December 31, he will bring an end to a hugely memorable journey.

“The Community Sports Trust is moving into a new three-year strategic plan, and I feel the time is right to step aside,” he said.

“I have been privileged to be a part of Carlisle United since my arrival in September 1984, as player, coach, joint manager and as a part of the Community Sports Trust team since 1991.

“As a former player whose career was cut short by injury, I consider myself fortunate to have had a path back into football through Carlisle United, being allowed the freedom to develop the Trust into what it is today – focusing not only on football but the many facets of the local and wider community.

“Without the club’s support of me as a player and later Community Manager this journey would not have been possible, and I fully appreciate the club’s commitment to the positive changes to the lives of so many people through the Community Trust.

Paul Simpson, pictured in 2005, has paid tribute to John Halpin, left

“I am extremely proud to have been a part of the club for so many years.”

Halpin was a star player for the Blues after joining from Celtic in 1984 and played for the Cumbrians in the second, third and fourth tiers.

His involvement on the community side then followed, while his spell as joint first-team manager came in 1997-8 when Halpin, David Wilkes and chairman Michael Knighton took the helm after the sacking of Mervyn Day.

Halpin held further coaching roles but his longest-standing position has been with the community sports trust, including under its previous guise of football in the community.

Halpin and his team have overseen a huge range of projects and activities, including football and education courses, traineeships and links with Cumbrian schools.

The community sports trust also runs walking football sessions for over-50s and a mental health football group, while they played an active role in helping the community during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Recent initiatives also include an Armed Forces and Veterans Club.

Carlisle manager Paul Simpson, who was instrumental in bringing Halpin back to the club after a brief absence during his first spell in charge, paid tribute to the Scot.

He also said he hopes he will remain involved at the club in some capacity.

“He’s a top bloke, absolutely top bloke,” Simpson said.

“I only found out late last week and I want to sit down with John Halpin.

“My big thing since I’ve come back here is wanting to get good people in the football club and trying to keep them.

“I would love to keep John Halpin because I think he’s a top Carlisle United bloke. I’m going to sit down with him and see if there’s any way we can keep him involved in whatever capacity. We can’t be losing people like him.”

Simpson said Halpin’s work in the community has been “absolutely outstanding”.

“He’s got a real good group of staff, he leads his staff well, I think he’s a top bloke to have around and he’s got Carlisle United history,” Simpson added.

“I hope we can find something for him to keep him involved with the club in whatever capacity we can, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

“He might be sick to death of the place, he might want a break…but I intend to sit down and have a coffee with him very soon and see what his thoughts are.”