Carlisle United's opening-day record as League One new boys

How have they fared in their opening games in that time?

It's been a mixed bag indeed. Let's take a look...

1962

Carlisle's first-ever promotion, achieved in 1961/2 by Ivor Powell's team, took them into Division Three for the first time since the regionalisation of the lower divisions came to an end in 1958.

A healthy crowd of 12,221 packed into Brunton Park for the opening day of the new season...but it proved a stark welcome to the third tier in more than one way.

Billy Stark got Carlisle's first goal in third tier football, but four went in at the other end as Peterborough United claimed a 4-1 victory, United embarking on a campaign which would send them immediately back down to the Fourth Division.

A Carlisle side featuring legend Ginger Thompson, left, earned their first ever promotion under Ivor Powell, right - but life at the higher level did not bring an easy start (Image: News & Star / Phil Searle-Digitalscape)

1964

United were back in the Third Division after being led back up by Alan Ashman via a record-breaking season for goalscoring in 1963/64.

And it's fair to say they acclimatised pretty well as they made the step up this time.

They started 64/65 at Colchester United's Layer Road, where the legendary figure of Hugh McIlmoyle struck the only goal in a 1-0 win - the first victory in a campaign which would end with the Blues as champions.

Hugh McIlmoyle got 1964/65 off to a flier for the Blues (Image: News & Star)

1995

One of the great anti-climax seasons in Carlisle's history followed the brilliant fourth-tier title win under Mick Wadsworth.

They started life at the third level (then known as Division Two) in brief style, as Warren Aspinall shot them in front against Bristol Rovers.

But the Pirates sailed back at them, and won 2-1 thanks to a Marcus Stewart stunner - the first defeat of an underwhelming season which sent the Blues straight back down.

1997

After bouncing back under Mervyn Day, the Cumbrians were off to Essex to kick off the 1997/8 season.

And they made a creditable start, picking up a 1-1 draw with Southend United thanks to Allan Smart's goal.

It preceded a season of typical Carlisle melodrama, featuring the sacking of Day, Knighton assuming control (along with John Halpin and David Wilkes), the emergence and sale of Matt Jansen and Rory Delap and...yep, another relegation.

2006

The last time Carlisle were new boys at this level after coming up, a certain Paul Simpson was the man responsible, but no longer the manager.

After 2005/6's title win, he had left for Preston, as Neil McDonald took the reins.

An excellent start at Brunton Park duly followed, a 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers earned by an early Paul Murray strike - the only goal the Cumbrian midfielder ever scored at United's ground.

*Carlisle have also been third-tier new boys twice after relegation from the second tier.

In those campaigns, they started as follows:

1977: Tranmere Rovers 3 Carlisle United 2

1986: Chester City 2 Carlisle United 2