Carlisle United: 50th anniversary of 1974/75 season part 15

Carlisle United’s struggle for goals in their First Division season had led manager Alan Ashman to a decisive conclusion come early November. The answer would have to come in the transfer market.

United’s often promising football in the top flight had too often fallen victim to a certain profligacy around the penalty area. Ashman duly set his sights on reinforcements.

A particular player was now in the club’s sights, but Ashman was keeping mum for now. “The player’s name has not once been mentioned in any of the reports about our search for players this season,” he insisted.

“He is young, in his early twenties, he is not an international and he is a forward. Obviously he is not wanted by his own club, and we are hopeful that he will prove to be a good goalscorer in time, and a player of character – and not costly.”

It sounded promising – and United certainly needed the help. Their defeat to Sheffield United last time out had checked hopes of a surge back up the table, and next up for the Blues was a visit of West Ham United.

United were in the market for goalscoring help in November 1974 (Image: News & Star)

There was good news in the pre-match bulletins, with the announcement that midfield dynamo Les O’Neill was finally back to fitness. O’Neill had recovered from a hamstring injury which had kept him out for six games, and his return to full training was a clear boost.

Both Allan Ross and Joe Laidlaw’s comebacks were less certain, the duo set to see specialists over their respective injuries. Carlisle’s preparation involved what Ashman described as “a very thorough written report on West Ham’s present tactics”…while there were other scouting duties at hand for the Blues.

Not least a four-man trip across the border, Ashman and his coaching staff heading to watch Partick Thistle v Celtic during the week. The particular nature of the scouting mission was not clear but it appeared significant that Ashman, trainer Dick Young, chief scout Hughie Neil and trainer Herbert Nicholson were all on the adventure.

Yet it almost ended disastrously with, Ashman recounted, relief at a near miss on the A74. “We were stunned to meet a car with his headlights on full, speeding north up the southbound carriageway straight at us,” said the manager.

“Only the quick thinking of Hughie Neil, who was driving, saved us from a collision at speed.”

Future manager Mervyn Day faced the Blues with West Ham in 1974 (Image: PA)

Duly unscathed, Carlisle then got on with the talk of preparing for the Hammers, whose side included the England international Trevor Brooking and, in goal, the future United manager Mervyn Day. Managed by John Lyall, West Ham had found good form after an indifferent start, and a 14,141 crowd filed into Brunton Park on a windy autumn day to see if the Blues could restore some hope.

Try as they might, that prospect eluded them. O’Neill returned at the expense of Bobby Owen yet the strong gusts took effect on the quality of football on a pitch that was soaking after recent rain.

Bobby Gould was a threat for the visitors before United countered through John Gorman’s run and cross which nearly set up Frank Clarke.

Peter Carr hit the wall from a free-kick and the full-back also whistled a 30-yard shot past Day’s dive but also the post. Carlisle grew into things, the conditions clearly testing the visiting No1 but, as ever, United were not ruthless with their pressure.

Frank Lampard was off target with a Hammers shot before the break, Blues keeper Tom Clarke also saving from Graham Paddon, but the need for extra quality in both sides’ endeavours was clear.

Carlisle threatened early in the second half, when Day denied Hugh McIlmoyle – but then the visitors suddenly struck. A cross from the West Ham right was partially cleared and Lampard was there to dip a shot past Clarke and into the net from 20 yards.

Things then continued at a rattling pace as Carlisle tried to find a way back from the 47th-minute blow. Keith Robson was a danger for Lyall’s side, while West Ham managed to clear the lines after Day had gone down hurt.

United's Frank Clarke goes flying over a Mervyn Day challenge (Image: News & Star)

A miss from Gould kept United interested but Carlisle’s efforts from there were a case of so near yet so far. Frank Clarke fired a McIlmoyle cross narrowly over while the same striker was denied at close range by Day. Clarke’s third attempt to get Carlisle on terms saw his shot hit the outside of the post and, by then, it was clearer than ever that United were to be denied.

It finished 1-0, a deflating afternoon again for the Blues, a third straight defeat keeping their arrow pointing down the First Division. Yet Ashman, as ever, tried to keep a measured look at things.

“I have been a manager for 12 years and have faced a run like this many times before,” he said. “We have got to be both pessimistic and realistic. We must not get despondent.

“My team is going like bloody hell. It is trying like hell. There is a feeling of disappointment amongst the players but no desperation.

“Football is a state of mind. And it is my intention to keep the players in the right state of mind.” That, though, was a task that was not about to get any easier for Carlisle.

Read last week’s 1974/75 feature HERE