After a mediocre first half of the season, Carlisle United’s 1988/9 campaign perked up considerably around the FA Cup arrival of Liverpool – whose visit in January would not be the last time they would loom on the Blues’ agenda.

The 3-0 defeat to Kenny Dalglish’s giants in the third round brought 18,556 to Brunton Park. Crowds inevitably returned to the 3,000 mark afterwards, considering United’s status in the bottom half of the Fourth Division, their second season at that level after a steep fall.

There were, though, some signs of recovery. On the pitch they strung together three quick wins after the Liverpool game and, although the cup tie was a fraction too soon for him, a genuinely talented prospect was emerging through the Blues ranks and given a debut a month later.

Carlisle-born Steve Harkness, who had attended Belle Vue and then Morton School, had been offered an apprenticeship by United’s former manager Harry Gregg after impressing during a work experience stint. A couple of years later he was under the wing of Clive Middlemass and, against mid-table Hereford, was handed his senior bow aged 17.

The youngster was picked up front, as a 2,548 crowd got their first serious glimpse of Harkness. In the event he made a creditable debut, even though it was another local-born striker who did most of the damage against the Bulls.

United had not exactly been formidable on home soil that campaign but here they produced a convincing display, a more direct style of play countering Hereford’s more attractive attempts.

Harkness, promoted at the expense of Brent Hetherington, started alongside Tony Fyfe and the pair worked well together in the early stages, the teenager holding the ball up well and helping Carlisle develop attacks.

Their initial pressure told in the 14th minute. Midfielder Derek Walsh was the man to break through, sprinting clear onto a Paul Fitzpatrick pass and doing enough with his lobbed finish to beat the onrushing Hereford keeper Tony Elliott, the future United No1.

A scrappy spell followed in which keeper Dave McKellar denied visiting dangerman Phil Stant, Walsh also clearing well as the striker bore down on goal.

Otherwise, United’s sweeper system, marshalled by skipper Nigel Saddington, contained Ian Bowyer’s side well, and then the Blues broke free again early in the second half.

Just a minute of it had passed, in fact, when they made it two. John Halpin’s free-kick opened the door as it found Saddington in space, and when his far-post header came across goal, Fyfe was there to hook it home.

That sharp strike was only a second goal of the season for a frontman who had recently joined the full professional ranks in a bid to prove himself in league football, having previously been on part-time terms.

Harkness then tried to get in on the act with a 25-yard dipper that had Elliott scrambling to save. There would be no debut goal for the teenager but, on the hour, United’s cushion still increased.

It was Fyfe, again, who got the vital touch to convert Walsh’s cross and from there it was a case of Middlemass’ men consolidating what would turn out to be their biggest home win of term.

That they did, Mike Graham and McKellar repelling Hereford attempts in the latter stages, and Fyfe only denied his treble by a last-ditch tackle. The comfortable 3-0 victory helped the Blues up to 18th, another significant step away from the fourth tier’s danger zone.

It had certainly proved a day to remember for the debut boy, and afterwards Harkness admitted he had not learned of his selection until 90 minutes before kick-off. “The manager rang my mum and dad on Friday night, but they were asked not to say anything,” Harkness said. “I was a bit edgy when I was told, but the nerves went when I got out there.

“I am now hoping to get a few more games under my belt and to be signed as a professional.”

That modest aim was swiftly replaced by bigger horizons. Harkness played 13 times in that season’s closing months as United improved to a 12th-placed finish. It then emerged that Dalglish had been scouting the youngster ever since he had impressed in an FA Youth Cup tie between the Blues and Liverpool, and that summer he snapped Harkness up for the Anfield giants.

That fairytale move saw him make a Liverpool debut two years later, and 138 appearances overall, those early striker days turning into a more versatile top-flight career where he was more often found at left-back.

United: McKellar, Graham, Dalziel, Saddington, Fitzpatrick, Jeffels (Marshall), Gorman, Walsh, Harkness, Fyfe, Halpin. Not used: Hetherington.

Hereford: Elliott, Jones, Devine, Stevens, Pejic, Maddy, Benbow (Mardenborough), Narbett, Stant, Tester, McLoughlin. Not used: Crane.

Crowd: 2,548.