It was, in the end, destined to be a solitary season at the pinnacle of English football – but at least, as they prepared to bow out as a First Division club, Carlisle United did so on a creditable note.
Relegation had long been confirmed before the closing games of 1974/75, meaning the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers in April ’75 was always going to be a valedictory affair.
That fixture remains a poignant moment in time, as Brunton Park’s last game of top-flight football to date. It was the penultimate clash of the campaign, and the ground attracted a 9,707 attendance as Carlisle prepared to check back into the Second Division.
They went up against a 12th-placed Wolves side under Bill McGarry whose side included stars such as Kenny Hibbitt and Peter Withe and substitute Steve Daley, the latter a few years away from becoming England’s most expensive footballer.
Carlisle, for this last Brunton dance at the top, were without two of their pedigree players in John Gorman and Frank Clarke, the former with a knee injury and the latter with a throat infection which had the extra effect of preventing him from receiving speedy treatment on an ankle problem.
Alan Ashman’s heroes had to be resourceful and into the side came Eddie Spearritt and Eddie Prudham. Things unfolded in drizzly April conditions with the Brunton surface rather heavy underfoot.
Wolves, backed by a good travelling support, made a lively start as Hibbitt and Withe combined for an early chance which Allan Ross held, before a more serious surge saw Hibbitt missing an open goal after a cross had eluded both United’s No1 Ross and captain Bill Green.
Ross then stepped up with an outstanding fingertip save to thwart Hibbitt again, leading to a corner from which Carlisle managed to break, ever-present midfielder Ray Train denied by visiting keeper Gary Pierce.
Things unfolded into an end-to-end contest which, while never at full and urgent tilt, still held the interest. And in those spells when it did not, other cameos intervened, such as a faceplant by referee John Williams when he tried to change direction.
At the United end, Green made a superb, last-ditch interception to deny the dangerous Steve Kindon, while for Carlisle, Prudham went close and then the ever-classy Chris Balderstone – about whom there were rumours of an imminent departure before the game – sent a dipping, curling effort just over the bar from 30 yards.
The game needed a goal to garnish these promising moments, and it came in the 38th minute. Carlisle went on the offensive again and, after Balderstone’s skill set up Les O’Neill for a piledriver, the blocked attempt fell to Dennis Martin, and he fired home from eight yards.
It was fated to go down in history as Carlisle’s last First Division goal, not that the Blues sought to settle for it in the remainder of things. Joe Laidlaw, their top-flight top scorer, sent a screamer just over the bar from 18 yards, Prudham was a continued menace to Wolves and, early in the second half, a Balderstone corner somehow stayed out despite Green and Laidlaw’s best efforts.
Wolves came back through a Withe header which Ross had to dive to save, future European Cup winner Withe missed with another aerial attempt, as things went on, McGarry’s side must have known it was not to be their day.
That sense solidified when Kindon saw a goal disallowed for offside, while Martin and Laidlaw came close to doubling Carlisle’s advantage.
In the event a second goal was not required. Brunton Park’s last game at the top brought a clean sheet as well as a Blues goal, and the 1-0 victory was a reputable way to consign their home fixtures to the past after such an historic era.
For goalkeeper Ross, who would go on to become United’s longest-serving player, it was a satisfying home finale to the campaign. The Scot had suffered a loss of confidence in previous games but marked the Wolves game with an assured return to form.
“By kick-off time I was virtually shaking like a leaf, probably more nervous than on my debut,” he said. “However, the rest of the lads put me at ease and the way our back four played, you couldn’t help but feel confident,
“I wanted so badly to have another good game before the season was out. I’m quite pleased with the way things went.”
It proved the end of things in other respects, since Balderstone indeed took his leave at the end of the season, joining Doncaster Rovers. The Wolves fixture proved the last time this great would grace Brunton Park as a Carlisle player after an illustrious decade.
Another icon, Hugh McIlmoyle, would also depart after his third spell, as the Blues – who closed their campaign with a 0-0 draw at champions Derby County – got ready to descend the mountain they had so remarkably climbed.
United: Ross, Carr, Spearritt, O’Neill, Green, Parker, Martin, Train, Balderstone, Laidlaw, Prudham.
Wolves: Pierce, Palmer, Parkin, Bailey, Jefferson, McAlle, Hibbitt, Carr, With (Daley), Kindon, Farley.
Crowd: 9,707.
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