League One season preview: club-by-club rundown for 2023/24

(*note: (h) indicates a home game for the club mentioned, not Carlisle; likewise (a) for away games)

BARNSLEY

Ground: Oakwell

Manager: Neill Collins

Last season: 4th in League One (lost in play-off final)

Key summer signings: Max Watters, Andy Dallas, Liam Roberts, Corey O’Keeffe, Kacper Lopata, Ben Killip, Kyran Lofthouse

When do they face Carlisle? November 18 (h), March 24 (a)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 9/1

Barnsley lost in the play-off final last season (Image: PA)

BLACKPOOL

Ground: Bloomfield Road

Manager: Neil Critchley

Last season: 23rd in Championship (relegated)

Key summer signings: Matthew Pennington, Kyle Joseph, Albie Morgan, Richard O’Donnell, Ollie Norburn

When do they face Carlisle? December 9 (h), April 13 (a)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 14/1

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley is back for a second spell (Image: PA)

BOLTON WANDERERS

Ground: Toughsheet Community Stadium

Manager: Ian Evatt

Last season: 5th in League One (lost in play-off semi-finals)

Key summer signings: Carlos Mendes Gomes, Nathan Baxter, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Joel Coleman, Dan Nlundulu, Will Forrester, Zac Ashworth, Paris Maghoma

When do they face Carlisle? October 7 (h), January 27 (a)

Any Blues connections? Kyle Dempsey, Gethin Jones, Jack Iredale, Julian Darby (youth coach)

Title odds: 7/1

Bolton's ex-Carlisle United man Kyle Dempsey (Image: PA)

BRISTOL ROVERS

Ground: Memorial Stadium

Manager: Joey Barton

Last season: 17th in League One

Key summer signings: Jevani Brown, George Friend, James Wilson, Luke Thomas, Matt Hall, Tristan Crama, Matthew Cox

When do they face Carlisle? November 11 (a), February 24 (h)

Any Blues connections? Ryan Loft

Title odds: 33/1

Bristol Rovers' former Carlisle striker Ryan Loft (Image: PA)

BURTON ALBION

Ground: Pirelli Stadium

Manager: Dino Maamria

Last season: 15th in League One

Key summer signings: Cole Stockton, Ryan Sweeney, Jake Caprice, Mason Bennett, Rekeem Harper, Max Crocombe, Jamal Blackman, Josh Gordon, Jasper Moon

When do they face Carlisle? October 24 (a), February 13 (h)

Any Blues connections? Cole Stockton, Max Crocombe, Finn Delap (son of Rory)

Title odds: 40/1

Dino Maamria, the Burton boss (Image: PA)

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Ground: Abbey Stadium

Manager: Mark Bonner

Last season: 20th in League One

Key summer signings: Jordan Cousins, Sullay Kaikai, Jack Stevens, Danny Andrew, Gassan Ahadme

When do they face Carlisle? October 28 (h), February 17 (a)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 50/1

Cambridge boss Mark Bonner (Image: PA)

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Ground: The Valley

Manager: Dean Holden

Last season: 10th in League One

Key summer signings: Panutche Camara, Alfie May, Lloyd Jones, Harry Isted, Tayo Edun

When do they face Carlisle? November 25 (a), March 9 (h)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 16/1

The Valley (Image: PA)

CHELTENHAM TOWN

Ground: The Completely-Suzuki Stadium

Manager: Wade Elliott

Last season: 16th in League One

Key summer signings: Liam Smith, Curtis Davies, Luke Southwood, Jamie Pardington, Rob Street

When do they face Carlisle? December 23 (a), January 20 (h)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 80/1

Cheltenham Town's ground (Image: PA)

DERBY COUNTY

Ground: Pride Park

Manager: Paul Warne

Last season: 7th in League One

Key summer signings: Sonny Bradley, Curtis Nelson, Joe Ward, Callum Elder, Conor Washington, Kane Wilson, Josh Vickers

When do they face Carlisle? September 23 (a), April 27 (h)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 9/2 (favourites)

Derby manager Paul Warne (Image: PA)

EXETER CITY

Ground: St James Park

Manager: Gary Caldwell

Last season: 14th in League One

Key summer signings: Jack Aitchison, Tom Carroll, Reece Cole, Vincent Harper, Ryan Trevitt, Dion Rankine, Viljami Sinisalo.

When do they face Carlisle? August 19 (a), January 6 (h)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 40/1

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell (Image: PA)

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Ground: Highbury Stadium

Manager: Scott Brown

Last season: 13th in League One

Key summer signings: Ryan Broom, Danny Mayor, Ryan Graydon, Adam Montgomery

When do they face Carlisle? August 5 (a), December 26 (h)

Any Blues connections? Jack Marriott, Sam Fishburn, Maleace Asamoah (son of Derek)

Title odds: 50/1

Fleetwood's ex-Carlisle loanee Jack Marriott (Image: PA)

LEYTON ORIENT

Ground: Brisbane Road

Manager: Richie Wellens

Last season: 1st in League Two (promoted)

Key summer signings: Ethan Galbraith, Joe Pigott, Max Sanders, Dan Agyei, Sam Howes, Idris El Mizouni, Sol Brynn

When do they face Carlisle? October 14 (a), February 3 (h)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 50/1

Richie Wellens led Orient to the League Two title last season (Image: PA)

LINCOLN CITY

Ground: LNER Stadium

Manager: Mark Kennedy

Last season: 11th in League One

Key summer signings: Tyler Walker, Lukas Jensen, Alistair Smith, Jaden Brown, Reeco Hackett

When do they face Carlisle? September 16 (h), April 1 (a)

Any Blues connections? Lukas Jensen, Danny Butterfield (assistant head coach)

Title odds: 33/1

Mark Kennedy, the Lincoln manager (Image: PA)

NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Ground: Sixfields Stadium

Manager: Jon Brady

Last season: 3rd in League Two (promoted)

Key summer signings: Patrick Brough, Manny Monthe, Tyreece Simpson, Kieron Bowie, Marc Leonard

When do they face Carlisle? December 16 (a), April 6 (h)

Any Blues connections? Patrick Brough, Jack Sowerby

Title odds: 50/1

Sam Hoskins fired the Cobblers to promotion last season (Image: PA)

OXFORD UNITED

Ground: Kassam Stadium

Manager: Liam Manning

Last season: 19th in League One

Key summer signings: Mark Harris, Jordan Thorniley, Josh McEachran, Ruben Rodrigues, James Beadle, Fin Stevens, Stanley Mills

When do they face Carlisle? August 12 (h), January 13 (h)

Any Blues connections? James Krause (analyst)

Title odds: 16/1

Fans outside Oxford United's Kassam Stadium (Image: PA)

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

Ground: Weston Homes Stadium

Manager: Darren Ferguson

Last season: 6th in League One (lost in play-off semi-finals)

Key summer signings: Romoney Crichlow, Fynn Talley, Archie Collins, Nicholas Bilokapic, Kabongo Tshimanga, Ryan De Havilland, Peter Kioso

When do they face Carlisle? October 3 (a), March 29 (h)

Any Blues connections? Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Under-18s manager)

Title odds: 10/1

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson (Image: PA)

PORTSMOUTH

Ground: Fratton Park

Manager: John Mousinho

Last season: 8th in League One

Key summer signings: Gavin Whyte, Regan Poole, Will Norris, Jack Sparkes, Ryan Schofield, Ben Stevenson, Conor Shaughnessy, Christian Saydee, Kusini Yengi

When do they face Carlisle? October 21 (h), February 10 (a)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 10/1

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho (Image: PA)

PORT VALE

Ground: Vale Park

Manager: Andy Crosby

Last season: 18th in League One

Key summer signings: Alex Iacovitti, Ethan Chislett, Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Jason Lowe, Mitchell Clark, Conor Grant, Jayson Leutwiler, Kofi Balmer, Ollie Arblaster

When do they face Carlisle? August 26 (h), January 1 (a)

Any Blues connections? John Rudge (president)

Title odds: 50/1

Port Vale president and ex-Carlisle striker John Rudge (Image: PA)

READING

Ground: Select Car Leasing Stadium

Manager: Ruben Selles

Last season: 22nd in Championship (relegated)

Key summer signings: Sam Smith, Lewis Wing, Harvey Knibbs, Charlie Savage

When do they face Carlisle? November 28 (h), March 2 (a)

Any Blues connections? Dean Bouzanis

Title odds: 12/1

Dean Bouzanis (Image: PA)

SHREWSBURY TOWN

Ground: The Croud Meadow

Manager: Matt Taylor

Last season: 12th in League One

Key summer signings: Morgan Feeney, Carl Winchester, Taylor Perry, Jason Sraha, Michael Parker, Nohan Kenneh, Elliot Thorpe, Joe Anderson, Tunmise Sobowale

When do they face Carlisle? September 2 (a), March 16 (h)

Any Blues connections? Morgan Feeney, Ryan Bowman

Title odds: 50/1

Ryan Bowman, Shrewsbury's Carlisle-born striker (Image: PA)

STEVENAGE

Ground: Lamex Stadium

Manager: Steve Evans

Last season: 2nd in League Two (promoted)

Key summer signings: Harry Anderson, Louis Thompson, Nick Freeman, Nathan Thompson, Alex MacDonald, Dan Butler, Ben Thompson, Taye Ashby-Hammond, Krisztian Hegyi

When do they face Carlisle? September 9 (h), March 23 (a)

Any Blues connections? No

Title odds: 66/1

Steve Evans took Stevenage up from League Two in second place last season (Image: PA)

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Ground: DW Stadium

Manager: Shaun Maloney

Last season: 24th in Championship (relegated)

Key summer signings: Sean Clare, Matt Smith, Jonny Smith, Liam Shaw, Kell Watts, Liam Morrison, James Balagizi, Callum McManaman

When do they face Carlisle? August 15 (a), December 29 (h),

Any Blues connections? Charlie Wyke, Ben Amos

Title odds: 50/1

Charlie Wyke, the former Carlisle striker now with Wigan (Image: PA)

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

Ground: Adams Park

Manager: Matt Bloomfield

Last season: 9th in League One

Key summer signings: Richard Keogh, Kane Vincent-Young, Laurence Shala, Luke Leahy, Joe Low, Dale Taylor, Harry Boyes, Kian Breckin, Freddie Potts

When do they face Carlisle? September 30 (h), April 20 (a)

Any Blues connections? Richard Keogh

Title odds: 20/1

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield (Image: PA)