Carlisle United's 2020/21 season: in pictures

Instead, we focus on some of the defining images of a season like no other at Brunton Park: a campaign of Covid, closed stadiums, a table-topping team and a mid-table finish.

Many of the below were captured by photographers Stuart Walker, Barbara Abbott and Richard Parkes across the season.

A ball is sanitised. Of course it is (photo: Stuart Walker)

EWM tycoon Philip Day, back right, watching United's first game of the season (photo: Stuart Walker)

Sanitising spray is applied to the crossbar before United's first game of the season (photo: Stuart Walker)

United's first behind-closed-doors game of many, against Fleetwood in the EFL Trophy (photo: Stuart Walker)

Paul Farman bellows at his team-mates as United slump to a3-0 opening day league defeat at Cambridge (photo: Richard Parkes)

A mask-wearing fan in the Pioneer Stand as 1,000 fans returned for a 'test' game, when Southend were the league Two visitors (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Callum Guy and Nick Anderton applaud fans before the Southend game - under a sprinkler shower (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Socially-distanced fans on the Paddock for the Southend game (photo: Barbara Abbott)

United and Scunthorpe's players reflected in a hospitality box window at Glanford Park (photo: Stuart Walker)

Jon Mellish turns ballboy at Scunthorpe's empty ground (photo: Stuart Walker)

Connor Brown and Gime Toure battle for the ball in the first Carlisle v Barrow Football League fixture since 1964 (photo: Stuart Walker)

Jon Mellish celebrates his winner at Port Vale in a free-scoring spell (photo: Richard Parkes)

Aaron Hayden, Lewis Alessandra and Nick Anderton celebrate at Crawley (photo: Simon Dack)

Josh Dixon makes his long-awaited United debut against Aston Villa U21 in the Papa John's Trophy (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Fans return to Brunton Park for the visit of Salford as Cumbria is placed in Tier 2 in December (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Joe Riley celebrates his brilliant volley against Stevenage (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Joshua Kayode rises against Mansfield (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Omari Patrick celebrates his stylish winner against Mansfield (photo: Barbara Abbott) (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Fans were also in the ground for the Boxing Day draw with Bolton (photo: Barbara Abbott)

The goal that wasn't: Connor Kirby's first-minute opener for Harrogate on December 29. The game was abandoned after eight minutes - while a second trip fell victim to a power cut (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Chris Beech, with Jacob Blain, warms his hands at Walsall (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Young Cumbrian Taylor Charters starred against Walsall as United went top of the league (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Beech reflects on United's table-topping win at Walsall as the snow falls (photo: PA)

United concede a penalty which saw them lose at Harrogate on their return to action (photo: Richard Parkes)

Chris Beech's press conferences were conducted on Zoom because of Covid-19 restrictions

Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes watch Carlisle at Salford (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Paul Farman shrouded in fog at Colchester (photo: Richard Parkes)

Face coverings were the norm inside grounds, as demonstrated by David Holdsworth (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Offrande Zanzala celebrates against Bradford (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Callum Guy, League Two's top assists man, stands over a corner at Mansfield (photo: Richard Parkes)

Two minutes' silence for the Duke of Edinburgh at Barrow (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Players take the knee at Southend (photo: Richard Parkes)

Players on the pitch before the game at Bolton (phot: Barbara Abbott)

BBc Radio Cumbria's Chris Lumsdon and James Phillips at Brunton Park. The commentary team had to broadcast from the office for some away games because of the Beeb's Covid guidelines (photo: Barbara Abbott)

The Warwick Road End adorned with flags after a fans' fundraising campaign (photo: Richard Parkes)

Joshua Kayode hits the bar at Cheltenham as United's play-off hopes finally die (photo: Gareth Williams / AHPix)

Lewis Alessandra scores the third penalty of the game at Orient after the previous two had been saved (photo: Richard Parkes)

People in apartments watch the 'behind closed doors' game at Leyton Orient (photo: Richard Parkes)

George Tanner celebrates after scoring what proved United's final goal of 2020/21 at Orient (photo: Richard Parkes)

Cut-out images of fans look on as Joshua Kayode takes on Walsall in the last game of the campaign (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Chris Beech prepares to face the media at the end of the 2020/21 season (photo: Barbara Abbott)

See you next season! (photo: PA)