“I've got the shirt with my name on it, and I've got the National League North winners' medal next to my Carlisle play-off medal at home as well,” says Taylor Charters, thinking proudly of his mementos from the club he visits tonight.

Charters ended the 2021/22 season with Gateshead in a loan spell he clearly treasures. It offered the west Cumbrian promotion experience and a platform on which he is continuing to build with his parent club.

His time in the north east was an important building block for the first-team career he is endeavouring to sustain. “At that age [20], I was desperate to play games,” he says of his temporary move to Gateshead in January 2022.

“I was at Carlisle getting minutes here and there off the bench, but I just really wanted to go somewhere where I could cement a place in the first team and gain experience.

“It was all because I wanted to come back to Carlisle and do well, but it was perfect for me. I started 24 games out of maybe 27 or 28, so there were a lot of learning curves and I really enjoyed my football there at the same time. All round it was a very positive loan move.”

Charters helped Mike Williamson’s team secure their return to non-league’s top level. The International Stadium is a unique setting for fifth-tier football but the United player will view the ground with fondness when Carlisle arrive for their pre-season friendly.

“It was strange, because the pitch was a long way off the stand, but the fans there are great, to be fair,” he says.” They're always making a lot of noise, so it didn't really feel like it was far away at the time.

“But I was just really enjoying my football there at the time. There aren’t too many familiar faces there now, a lot of people have moved on, but it'll be nice to go back to the GIS and see the fans.

“But my main focus is on winning the game for Carlisle United and making sure we're right for the first game of the season.”

Charters is likely to start tonight in United’s penultimate game of the summer. So far he has been deployed at left wing-back, with Paul Simpson viewing the Maryport player as a competitor in that position for summer signing Cameron Harper.

Having played in a range of roles in his first-team career to date, opportunity could knock for Charters in 2024/25. The man who famously scored the penalty to send the Blues up in 2023, adding another promotion medal to his Gateshead prize, views this as a critical campaign both personally and for the collective.

Charters says 2024/25 is massive for him to secure his United future - and for the team to push on to better thingsCharters says 2024/25 is massive for him to secure his United future - and for the team to push on to better things (Image: Richard Parkes)

“Yes, it's a massive season for me,” Charters says. “Obviously, I've only got one year left on my contract. Ideally, I would like to stay at Carlisle as long as I possibly can, so I've got to try and play as many games as I can, stay fit, do well and hopefully get a new deal.

“At this stage, it's just a case of getting as fit as I can and making sure I can help the team. I've been playing left wing-back in all the pre-season games so far and I've been enjoying it there.

“I think wherever I play, I'm happy to play, as long as I'm helping the team. I think it's a positive, having the versatility. I want to play games from a personal point of view as well, so wherever I can get on and help the team would be good for me and hopefully for the team too.”

Carlisle’s previous pre-season outing at Rochdale on Saturday saw a poor United display. It goes without saying that better is required tonight and against Stockport County on Saturday to offer clear encouragement of better times ahead.

“Yeah, it wasn't a great performance,” Charters says of the 2-1 defeat at Spotland. “It's definitely nowhere near the standards we set ourselves and know that we're capable of. But maybe it's a good thing that something like this has happened so we can look back, reflect on it and make sure things are right on the first day of the actual season.”

What did United lack against Rochdale? “It’s hard to put your finger on what exactly it was, but I just think we didn't move the ball quick enough,” says Charters, who was a substitute on Saturday.

“I think that was the main reason and things kind of stemmed from there. We'll try our best to put it right in the next game.”

Carlisle, in their friendlies so far, have defeated Penrith and Kendal Town, before drawing with Workington Reds and St Mirren and then coming up short at Rochdale. Simpson has called for a “measured” view of pre-season results, good or bad, and Charters says this perspective must remain.

“It's always nice to get a run of wins in before the season starts, but it is all about minutes in the legs and getting ready to go.”

Charters in action during the defeat to RochdaleCharters in action during the defeat to Rochdale (Image: Richard Parkes)

Carlisle have to fine-tune things positively between now and August 10, when things get under way against Gillingham in League Two. Although the performance was short at Rochdale, Charters insists much of the work so far has been constructive.

“We feel good,” says the 22-year-old. “We've had very tough weeks, lots of fitness work, so we aren't coming into these games fresh like we would in the league and the cups, but that's what pre-season is about,.

“It's about getting as much out of you as possible, fitness-wise, and that's what we're doing.”

United, in 2024/25, must ensure the negative momentum of last season’s relegation does not remain. Seven signings so far have refreshed the squad and Charters says belief is evident that the months ahead can be positive and successful.

“I think, with the quality that we've brought in and the camaraderie around the group at the moment, everyone's buzzing to start the season,” he says.

“We're feeling very confident. Training's going very well. I think we've done well in the majority of pre-season games and I think we've definitely got it in our locker.”