Magic moments: Carlisle United opening-day wins!

Ahead of the curtain-raiser, we look back at some of the memorable occasions the Blues have started a campaign in style over the years, with YouTube's help.

1928

Where better to start than one of the most significant days in United’s history?

The squad that won United's first-ever Football League game

Their first-ever game as a Football League club took place at Accrington’s Peel Park on August 25, 1928.

And it proved a successful debut for the Division Three North new boys, as they claimed an impressive 3-2 victory.

Jimmy McConnell, the club’s all-time record scorer, fittingly got the Blues’ first goal with a forceful fifth-minute shot in front of 6,714 fans in Lancashire.

Carlisle lad Billy Ward headed a quick second and Alf Agar later ended Accrington’s hopes of a comeback.

It proved a fearless start to league life by the aspiring club.

1965

This was firm evidence that the Blues were very much entering a golden age.

The classy Chris Balderstone helped United dispose of Norwich in 1965

Two consecutive promotions, and then this: an emphatic start to their first-ever season in England's Second Division.

Alan Ashman's third-tier champions laid waste to a useful-looking Norwich City side at Brunton Park in front of an 11,954 Brunton Park crowd.

Ronnie Simpson got two, including one from the spot, while Chris Balderstone and Frank Large completed a 4-1 win.

It remains one of United's best opening-day triumphs.

1974

The gold standard of United opening days. How could this one possibly be bettered?

The Blues were not dreaming. It was really happening – Carlisle were playing in the top-flight, and not only that, but winning.

The goals at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge are among the Cumbrians’ most celebrated.

Bill Green, the captain, stabbed in their historic early opener after a Chris Balderstone free-kick.

Later, Les O’Neill bustled onto a Dennis Martin pass and swirled a cross over the wrongfooted keeper Peter Bonetti.

Chelsea 0 Carlisle United 2, at the very height of English football. Glorious.

1982

United, in 1982, had returned to the second tier after a five-year absence. And this was quite some way to mark their return.

Poskett, pictured, and Shoulder got United off to a flier in 1982

A trip to Derby County’s Baseball Ground was a tricky-looking opener for Bob Stokoe’s promoted Blues.

Yet it proved a day to remember thanks to two of their outstanding summer signings.

Teessider Malcolm Poskett grabbed one on his debut, while former Newcastle man Alan Shoulder helped himself to two.

Both men would go on to give the Cumbrians fine service – and it all started with that emphatic 3-0 victory against the Rams.

1991

This one can go down as something of a false dawn given what unfolded in one of United’s worst seasons of all time.

Things, though, certainly looked sunny at Doncaster’s Belle Vue when the Blues began the 1991/2 season at a canter.

The Fourth Division campaign was launched superbly as Carlisle, in an unusual blue shirt-yellow shorts combo, took the lead through Richard Sendall’s sliding finish.

Tony Fyfe nodded a second-half second before Paul Proudlock wrapped up a 3-0 win.

Yet it proved a rare success in a season that saw Carlisle sink to the bottom of the Football League – one place below Donny.

1994

It took one of United’s most memorable and popular sides to put a curious statistic to bed at a sun-kissed Brunton Park in August 1994.

Not since 1965 had the Blues won the first game of their season at home.

That, at last, was consigned to history as Mick Wadsworth’s side put Wigan to the sword.

David Reeves headed the opener before Dean Walling steamed onto a corner to net a second after the break.

Walling’s later own-goal did not thwart Wadsworth’s men – who would go on to win the Division Three title and play at Wembley for the first time in the Auto-Windscreens Shield.

2006

An opening-day cracker with a Cumbrian hero.

United’s promotion to League One under Paul Simpson was followed by a third-tier campaign under Neil McDonald.

His midfield included Paul Murray, who had returned to Brunton Park for a second spell after a stint in Portugal.

Murray, against Doncaster, wasted no time in marking his comeback, ghosting onto Karl Hawley’s cross and volleying an early goal on an immaculate new pitch.

It was enough for a 1-0 win, and proved Murray’s only Brunton Park strike in front of a boisterous home crowd of 9,433.

2019

United’s last opening-day league win was also their first for nine years, though it also served to prove that a good start does not necessarily mean a good season.

The Blues, though, in August 2019 had just too much for Crawley at Brunton Park.

Harry McKirdy marked his debut with an early headed goal, and after Bez Lubala shot the Sussex side level, Stefan Scougall smashed in the winner.

Lewis Young was later sent off for the Red Devils, but Steven Pressley’s United soon slid towards the wrong end of the table, leading to the manager’s autumn departure – and the arrival of Chris Beech.