Pictured: former Carlisle United stars back at Brunton Park

Steve Hoolickin and Brent Hetherington were the Blues' guests at their opening-day League One clash with Fleetwood Town.

Seventies full-back Hoolickin and late-eighties goalscorer Hetherington met fans in the club's bars and lounges before the game.

They took part in a Q&A session about their careers, and were then introduced to the 10,000+ crowd at half-time as they performed the Golden Gamble draw.

Hoolickin travelled from his Brighton home to attend the game at the ground where he played from 1976-80.

Steve Hoolickin chats to the News & Star's Jon Colman in Carlisle United's Kingmoor Park Legends Lounge (Image: Barbara Abbott)

For Hetherington it was a return to his old stamping ground for a local-born player whose efforts helped the Blues stay in the Football League in the late eighties.

He was a United player from 1987-90.

Hoolickin, 71, said he was delighted to be asked back to Brunton Park by the club.

"I was absolutely humbled and overwhelmed when I found out that I wasn't forgotten," he said.

"You think your time [at your old clubs] is done and dusted, and then you get a nice phonecall.

Brent Hetherington, left, and Steve Hoolickin, right, pictured during their playing days at Carlisle United (Image: News & Star)

"It's really good to be back."

Hoolickin says he was pleased to see United's recent success under Paul Simpson.

"I always follow my old clubs," he said.

"I started at Oldham, transferred to Bury, transferred to Carlisle and finished my career at Hull.

"Those are the four I always look for and it's absolutely fantastic to see Carlisle doing well."

Brent Hetherington chats about his time at Carlisle United with News & Star reporter Jon Colman (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Asked to recall his time at United, Hoolickin said: "It was strange at first - I remember getting in the car and saying, 'Where is this place?!'

"The journey seemed to go on forever. But there were a lot of good things, good memories.

"There was a great set of lads and I thought we had a cracking side in that time."

The News & Star also caught up with Brent Hetherington for an interview about his time with the Blues - that will appear soon.

The ex-players' visit, which included appearances in the Kingmoor Park Legends Lounge and the newly-refurbushed RAW Lounge, was co-ordinated by United's commercial team of Debbie Huddart, Kerry Evans and Martyn Vevers.