It has caught the imagination of Carlisle United fans like few kits in their history.

And the Blues’ away strip has the important added benefit of continuing to wind other people up.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett is the latest person to give the Blues’ “fruit salad” change kit some fresh publicity.

The Championship boss was covering United’s game at Stevenage on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday show when he laid into the pink, yellow and black shirts sported by Paul Simpson’s side.

Asked for his take on the opening stages of the game, Rowett said: “The only surprise is Carlisle’s kit.

“It’s probably the worst kit I think I’ve ever witnessed.

“It’s got about 15 different colours in it. I’m trying to work out who the actual names are, it’s difficult to read…”

It was the first time United had worn their Umbro away kit in a competitive game this season.

But it was not the first time the strip has come in for public comment by media observers.

When two Blues fans were spotted by BBC cameras wearing the multicoloured shirt at Wimbledon in the summer, the tennis commentator said: “Who on earth…is that Carlisle United? Let’s hope they don’t play in that shirt very often.”

The feeling is clearly the very opposite of mutual among United supporters themselves, who have snapped up the replica kit in huge numbers since it went on sale.

Carlisle reported unprecedented take-up for their 2023/24 strips, with the club recently putting a fresh batch of the kits on sale after incredible immediate demand in July – the latest stock also selling fast.

And the garish design could be said to have brought United luck on its first official outing, as Simpson’s side fought back twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw at Stevenage.

The fruit salad, then, remains unbeaten – something that cannot, sadly for Mr Rowett, be said of Millwall…