Carlisle United players were treated to a celebratory feast thanks to a generous restaurant and its supportive owner.
Alamgir Ali, the owner of the Viceroy, a Bangladeshi restaurant in Carlisle, hosted Carlisle United players on the evening of May 29 for a free meal as a reward for them getting promoted to League One after a playoff battle against Stockport on Sunday, May 28.
This promise was made well before it was confirmed they were going to Wembley, but it may very well have been the push they needed to secure a win after a dramatic penalty shootout.
It was thought that it 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, Carlisle manager Paul Simpson 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 of his reaction to the dramatic final on Sunday against Stockport: “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.”
The players decided to turn up on Monday evening, and were up for a photo with the owner.
However, the invite is still pending for Simmo.
On top of this, the restaurant also said they will be giving away free £10 gift vouchers to all Carlisle United fans this week, till Friday, if they spend £20.
Mr Ali said of the evening: “For anyone that wasn’t at the Viceroy, they missed an epic night.
“The Carlisle United boys were on form as they have been all season and it was a pleasure to have them.
“I hope Simmo and his team do take up the invite and bring the trophy hopefully.
“We’ve still got that plaque from 2005 when we reopened so I think it would be nice for him to see that and bring him to the restaurant to say thank you for making the club great again.”
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