“Not every footballer goes through life plain sailing,” says Paul Murray, explaining the serious side of a Carlisle United reunion game which promises to be great fun and richly memorable.
The April game, involving heroes from the Blues’ last two championship-winning seasons – 1994/5 and 2005/6 – will allow supporters to wallow in nostalgia at Brunton Park.
It will also, former midfielder Murray says, offer help to some further heroes who wore the blue shirt but may have found themselves in need of help later in life.
Money raised from the game will go into a former players’ fund: something which has largely gone under the radar in recent years, but which, Murray says, has been accessed by certain ex-United players in very recent times.
“It’s been utilised in the pandemic,” says Murray, who had the idea for the game. “An ex-player was struggling and was able to get some help through it.
“When I heard about that, I thought there could be many more who don’t know about it.
“Lots of people fall on hard times, including ex-footballers. Loads of people struggle. If we’re in a position to help these people, because we can play a game and raise some money, then it is well worth doing.”
It stands to reason that the legions of people who have represented Carlisle United Association Football Club (1921) Limited will include some who have found themselves in need of a little assistance, here and there.
There is more than enough anecdotal evidence of those who find the transition to becoming an ex-player hard. Mental health is a greater consideration in society than before, and the fund, Murray says, is therefore a valuable resource, provided it is replenished where possible.
It came into being a few years ago at the initiative of Colin Carter, whose dedication to such causes led to a wonderful 1994/5 reunion last year which raised more than £10,000 for Eden Valley Hospice, and former Blues midfielder Derek Walsh.
“Some time ago a lot of former players had a game to help raise a few quid for this lad, and donated it to his family,” Carter says. “The idea came from there, to have a few games and raise some money – not fortunes, but enough to put in a pot so that, if somebody has got an issue and we can help financially, or towards relieving a situation, we can do that.”
Carter says that this has indeed proved a godsend for a small handful of ex-Blues lately. “We’ve had one or two instances of people who’ve had mental health issues that have needed a bit of a break,” he says. “We’ve had some who’ve been struggling financially.
“We might have paid a couple of bills for them, or pointed them in the right direction for other help and advice. It can be for a range of things.
“Footballers do make money in their careers, but some go out of the game and lose their way a little bit. Yes, some go out find prosperity and do well for themselves, but a lot don’t. Then there is the stigma that still surrounds mental health for many, and some are still frightened to ask for help.
“Ultimately it’s for the players’ benefit if and when it’s needed. There’s no application, no barrier. It’s always discussed in confidence. The money won’t help them build a house – it might just give them a little bit of help.”
There may be such help available through other organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association, but the idea of being able directly to assist some of our own is at the core of this ex-players’ initiative.
“Players know about it, because we keep in touch with probably between 300 and 400 players,” Carter adds. “The likes of Walshie and Lummy [Chris Lumsdon, who is spearheading the 2005/6 contribution to April’s game] always put themselves forward to help out with games. “They are aware, and tell whoever needs to be aware.
“Sometimes charity begins at home. We should be looking out for people.”
The game, on Sunday, April 24, will be a who’s who of some of United’s greatest times from recent decades.
“From the 1990s, you’ll have people like Darren Edmondson, Dean Walling, Richie Prokas, I’m gonna play, Rod Thomas…loads more are up for it. Derek Mountfield and Dave Currie are coming but they’ve said they’ll ‘coach’,” Murray says.
Mick Wadsworth will return to the dugout to oversee the stars he led to 1995 promotion and Wembley. Paul Simpson will be in the other, the 2005/6 League Two title-winning boss once more guiding men like Lumsdon, Kevin Gray, Karl Hawley, Chris Billy and Keiren Westwood.
Further players from adjoining eras will join in to help make up numbers, give some of the ageing stars a spell off, level up the obvious age difference between the teams, and simply to join in the fun. Further initiatives are in the pipeline which could involve fans in the action.
“Lummy’s got loads of people from that era wanting to come back,” Murray adds. “For the cause, it’s brilliant.”
It will be the latest occasion that stirs the blood of fans who, in recent years, attended a hugely emotional charity game for Tony Hopper in 2017, and last October gathered with the 94/5 icons in the former midfielder’s memory.
That evening at Harraby Catholic Club was a highlight of the recent United-related calendar. April’s return to Brunton Park promises to be another.
“Some players are legends at Carlisle, then they go away from Carlisle and are not even thought of,” Carter says. “That’s why so many of them come back. We’ve got to embrace them.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here