Carlisle United hit 15-year high for home attendances

Carlisle have achieved their best average home crowd for 15 seasons during their 2022/23 push for promotion.

They are odds-on to be involved in the play-offs with one away game to go in the league campaign.

And after some recent five-figure attendances at their ground, manager Simpson says there have been clear signs of United’s potential in terms of numbers through the gates.

Whatever happens in the coming weeks, that is something on which they must capitalise, he said.

“I think these fans have always been out there because I remember my days as a kid coming here and watching the team with big crowds here,” said Simpson.

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“I remember my days in the Conference [2004/5], my days in League Two [2005/6] when we were champions, and the supporters came out.

“For whatever reason, and I can't affect whatever happened before, they’d lost the interest in it.

“Now we’ve stirred them up again and we have to keep them.”

Carlisle’s last home game, against Salford City, saw more than 10,000 home fans in the ground.

A previous home game against Tranmere Rovers attracted a 13,410 attendance, helped by a £10 ticket offer.

Fans have returned to Brunton Park in their numbers during the Simmo-led promotion push this season (Image: Ben Holmes)

Carlisle averaged 6,659 for their 23 home games in the 2022/23 campaign – up significantly from 4,966 last season.

The current average is the best such figure since an average of 7,835 watched Carlisle almost reach the Championship in the 2007/8 season under John Ward.

It beats every campaign since then for numbers, including six seasons in League One.

Simpson says tapping into the present levels of support will be vital to his ambition to keep building the Blues.

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“I want to keep them with us,” he said. “Whatever happens, I want to keep them for next season.

“Whether that will be League Two or League One, I want to keep them with us and let's see if we can try and make this football club better.”

Simpson has also underlined the business backing Carlisle are receiving during his second spell in charge of the club.

“I think it is brilliant, when I look around this ground now and they've got all these sponsorship boards and we've got we've got stands being sponsored by local businesses…

“Everything's in a positive state. Now we need to make sure we finish the season positively.”