Carlisle United’s return to England’s second tier in 1982 gave the Blues the welcome opportunity to battle against some big names once again. As they adjusted to the higher level, they gradually produced some memorable results.
Early in the 1982/3 campaign there was a magnificent 4-0 win over Crystal Palace when Malcolm Poskett supplied all the goals. Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Chelsea all succumbed to Bob Stokoe’s men.
As, on a welcome November day at Brunton Park, did Newcastle United.
The Magpies’ visit attracted Brunton Park’s largest crowd of the season, 16,276 turning out for a well-anticipated contest between Stokoe’s Carlisle and Arthur Cox’s Magpies.
It was a Newcastle that included a clutch of familiar names. Terry McDermott offered pedigree in midfield, David McCreery was a Northern Ireland international (and future Carlisle manager), Imre Varadi featured in attack while on the wing there was a precocious 21-year-old named Chris Waddle.
Newcastle were in their fifth season in the Second Division, having come down from the top flight in 1978, and were hoping to reignite something after a run of mid-table finishes. Carlisle went into the game without the reliable finishing of summer signing Poskett, who was ruled out with an ankle injury.
That brought Brian Hornsby into the side for only a fourth start of the season, as Keith Houghton also came back in. It was a rejigged Carlisle side while Newcastle’s new loan signing Howard Gayle was not fit enough to feature.
Carlisle’s side lacked second-tier experience in some places, but that did not deter them from an effective performance which left Newcastle frustrated figures in front of that big Brunton crowd.
The visitors lined up with three central defenders, pushing Peter Haddock into midfield, and the move reflected in a more defensive mindset than may have been anticipated.
Waddle showed flashes of his style but Carlisle gave the visitors a scare when Jack Ashurst headed a Paul Haigh cross against the crossbar.
At the other end, Blues keeper Trevor Swinburne excelled to turn away a Waddle cross-shot in the 20th minute, but the Magpies seldom came as close again – and swiftly found themselves behind.
The opening goal came on the half hour and was well orchestrated and executed by the Cumbrians. A sharp passing move involving Gordon Staniforth and Alan Shoulder left Hornsby 25 yards out – from where he promptly steered the ball over a stranded keeper Kevin Carr (another future Carlisle player) and watched it sail under the bar.
Carr’s scramble was in vain and Carlisle were roared on as they looked to consolidate their lead. At the back, Bobby Parker and Ashurst were in consummate form to cover any potential danger, while Swinburne saved a diving header from Varadi before half-time.
Cox’s side improved after the break and gave Carlisle a more persistent examination. Yet Swinburne was as reliable as ever in dealing with their best attempts…and then the Blues struck again.
It came amid one of Newcastle’s brighter spells, so the second goal served to deflate that particular balloon. Lee had replaced the injured Hornsby early in the second half and the big striker was alive to a careless back-pass from Newcastle’s John Anderson.
The pass had little hope of reaching Carr, and Lee seized upon it, taking the ball wide as he rounded the visiting keeper but showing maximum accuracy as he squeezed in his shot from a very tight angle.
Lee’s fine finish in the 68th minute ended the argument, and Newcastle did little to threaten the 2-0 outcome from there. Cox, afterwards, blasted the “two gift goals” he felt his side had conceded, and added: “We had 70 per cent of the ball and controlled the game, and gave the points away.”
That interpretation mattered little to Carlisle, for whom manager Stokoe said: “Possession doesn’t always guarantee something. I’m satisfied with the way my lads performed on the day.”
It was United’s first win in three, and consolidated their competitive start to life in the Second Division. A spell of two wins in 16 followed, meaning they were never completely out of the woods, but the return of promotion hero Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson on loan from Chelsea late in the campaign helped them over the safety line.
From there, they were able to build towards a tilt for promotion to the top flight the following season, which fell agonisingly short in the closing stages. As for Newcastle, a fifth-place finish in 1982/3 meant a further season in the second tier, before they finally went back up the following campaign.
Carlisle: Swinburne, Parker, Ashurst, Larkin, Haigh, Houghton, Coughlin, Hornsby (Lee), Staniforth, Bannon, Shoulder.
Newcastle: Carr, Anderson, Clarke, Carney, Wharton, Haddock, McCreery, McDermott, Waddle, Todd (Craggs), Varadi.
Crowd: 16,276.
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