The owner of a Bangladeshi restaurant said he will go forward with plans to host the successful Carlisle United FC squad for a celebratory feast after their promotion on Sunday.

Alamgir Ali, the owner of the Viceroy restaurant in the Shaddongate area of Carlisle, had made the offer during the lead-up to their playoff matches.

The promise would serve as a near re-enactment of the time when the Viceroy provided the Blues squad with a reward banquet for winning the EFL Cup in 1997.

The restaurant and the club share a good relationship and have done for a while, which has seen the players’ post-match meals provided by the Viceroy.

After tragedy struck and the restaurant was flooded in 2005, Simmo reopened the restaurant after it relocated, something commemorated by a plaque which is still in the restaurant to this day.

Mr Ali, an avid Carlisle United fan, spoke yesterday (May 29) of his reaction to the dramatic final on Sunday against Stockport: “I’m still slightly recovering from yesterday.

“We were watching it with the family, and then I rushed into work, but we caught the penalty shootout together with the lads at work and it brought back some old memories from other Carlisle United penalty shootouts, but it was such a good experience.

“It was pandemonium, we were celebrating every penalty goal, and of course the crucial save by the keeper, celebrating it like we were scoring it ourselves.”

He also spoke of its benefit for the city overall: “The city just keeps going through so many hard times, and when you go around the city centre, you just see empty units everywhere and you see small businesses struggling more and more.

“Something like this just gives the whole city a lift.

“It’s great for the area because being a Carlisle fan can be very very frustrating, but since Paul Simpson came back he’s brought the good times back with him, so it’s a really good atmosphere in the city.”

Mr Ali said the wheels are in motion to get the squad and manager down for a free feast at the restaurant, with details to be arranged in the meantime with the club.