Carlisle United: 50th anniversary of 1974/75 season part 9

There was intrigue on and off the pitch as Carlisle United’s top-flight season moved further into early autumn. Transfer moves were very much on the boil at a time Brunton Park was preparing for its latest First Division cracker.

The visit of Manchester City for a midweek clash was another mouthwatering prospect and it found United in good heart having defeated Birmingham City on home soil three days earlier.

Off the field, meanwhile, manager Alan Ashman was stepping up his efforts to make a key new signing. Leeds United midfielder John McGovern was the man in Carlisle’s sights, and after an early stalemate, encouragement was eventually offered to the Blues.

The Elland Road board gave United permission to speak to McGovern after the Blues upped their initial £50,000 offer by a further £2,500.

John McGovern (Image: PA)

“I’m trying to come to some arrangement whereby I can meet the player and discuss terms with him,” said Ashman, finally content to air the situation publicly. The 24-year-old McGovern had only joined Leeds from Derby County five weeks ago for £180,000, yet had not settled amid the fall-out of the short and fiery Brian Clough reign at Elland Road.

The prospect of signing McGovern left Ashman willing to listen to offers for certain members of his squad, with Bobby Owen, Dennis Martin, Mike Barry and Tot Winstanley the players mentioned.

Another Bobby, meanwhile, was stepping up at United – record signing Parker, with the defender promoted to penalty-taking duties after some mixed recent offerings from the spot by the great Chris Balderstone.

It was then a matter of shaping up for Man City’s visit. The visiting boss, Tony Book, set the stage for an attractive contest when he said: “Carlisle have always been a good footballing side…if we can touch our best form, and with the ability Carlisle have, the fans at Brunton Park could have a great match in store.”

Book had also been advised on United’s quality by his assistant Ian MacFarlane, who had managed the Blues earlier in the decade, while his squad included someone else with future Carlisle links – Willie Donachie, whose son Danny would later be on the Cumbrians’ books.

Donachie senior was included in the City side despite a sending-off for striking Middlesbrough’s Alan Foggon last time out. It was a visiting XI with some serious talent in other departments, England international Colin Bell a prominent threat, and he featured in what turned out to be an engrossing contest.

Joe Laidlaw goes close for Carlisle United against Manchester City (Image: News & Star)

After a dour first 20 minutes, things started to sparkle. It took a determined run by Ray Train to deny Rodney Marsh an attacking chance, while Joe Laidlaw was denied what looked a certain Carlisle opener by a brilliant Keith MacRae save.

United’s football from here was the best they had produced on home soil so far in 1974/75, with Laidlaw to the fore and both Bill Green and Dennis Martin close with chances. Carlisle, alas, couldn’t convert their vibrant pressure and at the other end Allan Ross had to make a fine save from a Bell header.

After the break Train was denied a goal by the offside flag, with Martin and Hugh McIlmoyle also in the thick of opportunities, while City came again through Marsh and then Bell, who headed an Asa Hartford cross against the post.

It somehow ended 0-0, a result which did not bear out the entertainment before the 17,495 crowd but which certainly suggested United had the necessary aptitude for the level. Parker was outstanding in defence and Carlisle were solidly in mid-table after nine top-flight games.

The rest of the week, alas, was not so positive. United next went to Luton Town, where Eric Morecambe greeted Blues directors. The Hatters were not so cheery, struggling at the bottom reaches of the division, yet the Blues wasted their chance to make progress.

Carlisle dominated the first half at Kenilworth Road, pressing and probing dangerously and, even though Luton struck first through Peter Anderson, there was little surprise when United levelled before the break, Laidlaw’s overhead attempt from a McIlmoyle nod-down making things 1-1.

Yet United went under in the second half as Harry Haslam’s hosts upped their game. A scrappy goal from Adrian Alston amid indecisive defending put the Hatters back in front, and then Parker was controversially penalised for handball, allowing Jimmy Ryan to make it 3-1 from the spot.

That’s how it finished and it was another case of Carlisle’s profligacy, when on top, costing them. Another blow was then dealt to their transfer efforts, as McGovern turned down the opportunity to move to Brunton Park.

United were dashed with their transfer efforts in September 1974 (Image: News & Star)

“The terms we offer did not quite match up to what he is receiving at Leeds,” said Ashman, while the player himself said that moving to Carlisle would have meant “complete upheaval” and that he would prefer a move closer to his Derby home.

The following year, he got his wish, heading to Nottingham Forest where great glories and European Cups awaited. As for the Blues, the hard realities of First Division football would not abate. Next up, it was Liverpool.

Read last week's 1974/75 feature HERE