Part three of our weekly 50th anniversary series charting the events of Carlisle United’s 1974/75 top-flight season.
Could Carlisle United pull a rabbit out of the hat on their First Division debut? Well, they already had, thanks to the great Hughie McIlmoyle.
The legendary striker, back for a third spell at the club, was pictured in the Evening News & Star removing a New Zealand white bunny from a hat at his Scotby home.
The symbolism – and optimism – was evident. Well, it was in Carlisle. Nationally, Carlisle’s prospects as a First Division club were being written off by bookmakers and pundits, who were tipping the Blues for a season of struggle.
This received short shrift from manager Alan Ashman. “How can anyone predict what will happen in football?” he said. “It’s a game in which anything can happen, and because of this it is foolish for someone to come out and say what will happen over the 42 games.”
Ashman’s hopes were inevitably higher for the campaign which would start on the coming weekend with a trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. United’s manager reported a fully-fit squad for the landmark game, striker Frank Clarke recovered from a foot problem, with Ashman particularly encouraged by the new central defensive combination of Bill Green and Bobby Parker witnessed in pre-season.
Also setting the scene was musical backing for the Blues. Hints were dropped about a new United-themed song in the workings, which was said to be to the tune of John Peel. “We have played the demonstration disc a couple of times,” said commercial manager David Wood. “It should be on release in the shops by September 1.”
New experiences on all fronts for the Blues, then. Writing in his regular column, long-serving goalkeeper Allan Ross reckoned everything he’d done in his career to date would be “dwarfed by the feeling I’ll experience at Stamford Bridge.”
The legendary Scot added: “You often hear about the lad who starts out as a tea boy with the firm and works his way up to a position on the board of directors. I’ve often wondered how he would feel when he took his seat for the first time at a board meeting.
“I think I’ll find the answer on Saturday.”
Ross declared himself confident in United’s prospects while Ashman, on the eve of the game, set the scene in a measured way. “This is a very important game for the club – the most historic we have ever played – but I don’t think that Chelsea is the most difficult match we have to face in the First Division.”
That view came despite the Londoners’ close-season spending: £275,000 on midfielder David Hay and winger John Sissons, dwarfing United’s £52,000 outlay on Parker and the free transfer arrivals of McIlmoyle and Eddie Spearritt. Chelsea, though, could no longer call on players such as the departed Alan Hudson and Peter Osgood, and the task facing manager Dave Sexton appeared a challenging one.
Blues supporters headed south buoyantly. Some 400 fans caught the ‘soccer special’ train from Carlisle, while 1,000 more were making the trip by coach.
And then…history and drama collided on the most iconic day United have known in league football.
Chelsea, first, formed two lines to applaud newly-promoted United out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. Then, after 106 seconds of the game, the home club’s seas parted in their own penalty area as Carlisle scored: Chris Balderstone’s floated free-kick, and an eventual stabbed finish by captain Green amid Chelsea defensive chaos.
United’s first goal as a top-flight club was not a stylish one. But its imprint on Carlisle’s history would be everlasting. After Green’s finish, Ashman’s side in their yellow away jerseys offered further threat to Chelsea before being set some challenges by the home side.
Micky Droy had to clear from close range as Clarke tried to poach a McIlmoyle header, while home keeper Peter Bonetti had to scramble to push over a Balderstone chip. At the other end, Ross showed some reassuring handling while Parker did well to block a Hay attempt.
John Hollins went close with a low Chelsea attempt while Green inadvertently rattled a clearance against his own post and Chris Garland prodded a shot inches wide. Carlisle, as the first half went on, were living on their nerves and survived to the interval after some heroic Peter Carr clearances.
After the break, Chelsea’s desperation for a comeback saw Garland score, but it was disallowed for a foul on Ross. John Gorman then had to produce a goalline clearance, while Ross superbly saved from Bill Garner. Yet then United struck again, as Les O’Neill made a bustling run from the centre to the right, accepted Martin’s pass, crossed for McIlmoyle…and saw his delivery deceive Bonetti and dip straight into the net.
O’Neill could barely believe it, and nor could the 31,268 crowd. As United proceeded to victory, a slow handclap was heard around Chelsea’s new £2m grandstand. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 win: a day to resonate for all time, and also one that brought credit to the terraces from a Carlisle point of view.
While some 79 fans were ejected from Stamford Bridge, just three were from Carlisle, we reported. “Carlisle United can be proud of their fans,” a police spokesman said. “They are an asset in the First Division.”
One game down from 42, their team looked capable of being described that way, too. Next up in the promised land: a trip to fellow promoted side, Middlesbrough.
Click HERE to read last week's 1974/75 feature
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