Carlisle United fixtures for League One season revealed

The Blues will launch their 2023/24 season at Brunton Park against the Cod Army.

It will be a first-ever league encounter between the two clubs, who have only previously met in cup competitions.

And it will pit Paul Simpson's newly-promoted Cumbrians against a Fleetwood side managed by Celtic legend Scott Brown, who finished 13th in League One last season.

The opener, set for Saturday, August 5, is the third consecutive time Carlisle have started their league season at Brunton Park.

Fleetwood manager Scott Brown (Image: PA)

It will be followed by a Carabao Cup first round tie at Harrogate Town in the first week of the season after that draw was made this afternoon.

CHECK OUT THE FULL FIXTURE LIST BELOW

And Carlisle's first away game of the league campaign then takes them on August 12 to Oxford United, who finished 19th in the third tier last term.

The opening month of the season then sees home games against Wigan Athletic and Exeter City before a trip to Port Vale.

Carlisle's festive fixtures sees an away double-header, with the Blues making their shortest trip of the season to Fleetwood on Boxing Day before going to Wigan on December 29, followed by a New Year's Day home clash with Port Vale.

Easter weekend has the Blues away to Peterborough United on Good Friday and at home to Lincoln City on Easter Monday.

The final game, meanwhile, sees a mouthwatering trip to take on Derby County at Pride Park on April 27.

Carlisle host the Rams on Saturday, September 23 - a first league meeting since 1984 - while there are other games against clubs they have not faced for many years.

They go to Reading's Madejski Stadium for the first time for a Tuesday night game on November 28 - their first game against the Royals since 1982 - later hosting Reading on Saturday, March 2.

CHECK OUT THE FULL FIXTURE LIST BELOW

Much-anticipated away days, meanwhile, include the trip to Blackpool's Bloomfield Road - that game coming on Saturday, December 9.

United go to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, October 7 and to Barnsley on Saturday, November 18.

The longest trip of the campaign, to Portsmouth, comes on Saturday, October 21.

It is not the first time Carlisle have started the season with a home game against Fleetwood - they hosted the Fylde Coast club in the first match of the 2020/21 season, an EFL Trophy game which the visitors won 3-1.

The 2023/24 opener will see Blues frontman Joe Garner take on his former club, while former United loan man Jack Marriott is in the Fleetwood ranks.

CARLISLE UNITED'S LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE LIST 2023/24

Sat Aug 5 Fleetwood Town H

Sat Aug 12 Oxford United A

Tue Aug 15 Wigan Athletic H

Sat Aug 19 Exeter City H

Sat Aug 26 Port Vale A

Sat Sep 2 Shrewsbury Town H

Sat Sep 9 Stevenage A

Sat Sep 16 Lincoln City A

Sat Sep 23 Derby County H

Sat Sep 30 Wycombe Wanderers A

Tue Oct 3 Peterborough United H

Sat Oct 7 Bolton Wanderers A

Sat Oct 14 Leyton Orient H

Sat Oct 21 Portsmouth A

Tue Oct 24 Burton Albion H

Sat Oct 28 Cambridge United A

Sat Nov 11 Bristol Rovers H

Sat Nov 18 Barnsley A

Sat Nov 25 Charlton Athletic H

Tue Nov 28 Reading A

Sat Dec 9 Blackpool A

Sat Dec 16 Northampton Town H

Sat Dec 23 Cheltenham Town H

Tue Dec 26 Fleetwood Town A

Fri Dec 29 Wigan Athletic A

Mon Jan 1 Port Vale H

Sat Jan 6 Exeter City A

Sat Jan 13 Oxford United H

Sat Jan 20 Cheltenham Town A

Sat Jan 27 Bolton Wanderers H

Sat Feb 3 Leyton Orient A

Sat Feb 10 Portsmouth H

Tue Feb 13 Burton Albion A

Sat Feb 17 Cambridge United H

Sat Feb 24 Bristol Rovers A

Sat Mar 2 Reading H

Sat Mar 9 Charlton Athletic A

Tue Mar 12 Barnsley H

Sat Mar 16 Shrewsbury Town A

Sat Mar 23 Stevenage H

Fri Mar 29 Peterborough United A

Mon Apr 1 Lincoln City H

Sat Apr 6 Northampton Town A

Sat Apr 13 Blackpool H

Sat Apr 20 Wycombe Wanderers H

Sat Apr 27 Derby County A