But who has been the player who has contributed most to this much-improved campaign, which still has the chance of a grandstand finish with five games to go?
In 2013, 2014 and 2015 the ’s readers have been asked to reward the individual who has lifted spirits in generally bleak times.
Last season Kyle Dempsey was the obvious pick. Before him, David Amoo and Matty Robson were honoured.
Lee Miller, James Berrett, Richard Keogh, Cleveland Taylor and Keiren Westwood also got their hands on our trophy in previous, mostly better seasons.
For 2015/16, supporters have several options to sift through.
One popular choice may well be the captain, , who has earned praise for his off-field leadership whilst proving an influential figure on the pitch.
Grainger endured a difficult season in 2014/15 as Carlisle toiled to stay in the Football League. The improvement in his form and terrace standing has been a tribute to his determination and character.
The man from Eamont Bridge has contributed six goals, several assists and a strong competitive spirit which has defined the Blues’ better campaign.
It was no surprise that Carlisle’s drift in form, over the winter, coincided with the period when Grainger was sidelined with an ankle injury. His efforts in rallying the troops to help United’s flood-hit city in December was also admirable and ought to see the 29-year-old recognised more than once when the prizes are dished out in a month’s time.
Other contenders, meanwhile, line up. While the net has not been disturbed very often by in 2016, where would this Carlisle season be without the sensational burst of scoring the striker produced in late summer and autumn?
A debut goal at Mansfield was followed by umpteen others, not least a remarkable hat-trick against Cambridge.
Absurdly denied the League Two player of the month award in August despite hitting seven goals, the ‘Islington Assassin’ did more than any other player to ensure Carlisle got this season off to a promising start.
Ibehre kept them comfortably in the top half, and it would be timely indeed if the top scorer could add to his 15 goals over the final few weeks.
While Ibehre has dried up more recently, has managed to keep chipping in, and his 13 goals have been spread out fairly consistently across the campaign.
The former Middlesbrough man endured a false start to 2015/16, injured in the early weeks, but he has shown some impressive finishing at times since returning, claiming his first career hat-trick at Welling in the FA Cup, netting two against Crawley, and displaying good poaching instincts against Wycombe and Bristol Rovers.
Should Wyke overtake Ibehre in the approaching games, his case will be even stronger.
There may be those, meanwhile, who make a case for eight-goal , who has been restricted to a substitute’s role lately, but has still produced some of this season’s most memorable moments.
His equaliser in front of the Kop in September’s Capital One Cup tie against Liverpool may top all other memories of 2015/16.
Then there were his dramatic winners at Luton and Morecambe in the league, and his inspiring contribution at QPR, also in the cup.
Although 35 next month, the veteran Ghanaian has certainly left his mark on this season.
In other areas of the pitch, Carlisle’s team contains some players who have held their places for most of the season, and their consistency may be rewarded.
In goal, has thankfully had an injury-free term and been able to re-establish himself as United’s regular No1.
The home-grown keeper hasn’t avoided error entirely, as the recent defeat at Portsmouth showed, but Gillespie has also enjoyed some more successful and impressive occasions.
At Liverpool, for instance, he was inspired, saving from Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho in the penalty shoot-out, while his success from the spot at Yeovil also earned Carlisle their money-spinning FA Cup tie against Everton.
Other fine days include Gillespie’s clean sheet at Stevenage, where he saved another penalty, as he did at home against Wycombe.
Only a one-game suspension has denied the 24-year-old the chance of making this an ever-present league season, while his displays also earned Gillespie a contract extension.
’ long-term future may be unresolved, but the centre-half has been a regular pick by Keith Curle since arriving last summer, the former Stockport and Oxford man adding vocal leadership at the back, as well as a strong aerial presence.
Also in defence, and occasionally in midfield, has proved the most versatile of United’s players, and if the sign of a good player is a difficulty in remembering when he last had a poor game, Atkinson deserves to be a contender.
, with five goals and 32 appearances, has often impressed having made the step up from non-league Lincoln. helped shore up a leaky back line after his winter arrival.
In midfield, meanwhile, it is no secret that United have produced a more competitive string of performances from August to April as a result of and ’s presence, while has at times been a crucial contributor in this department. , before leaving for Kilmarnock in January, also managed to push his way back into Curle’s favour and the Irishman always had his share of support.
Others still on the books may also come into consideration, such as , the loan winger whose elusive display against Exeter last October was a joy to watch. He and his Newcastle chum have been important additions to Carlisle’s effort since they arrived last September, and are the longest-lasting of their loanees.
Others from the fringes may also gain support. But it’s more likely that one of Carlisle’s mainstays will carry off the prize next month.
Which one is now down to you.
Online using the panel on the
Write in to: United PoY, News and Star, Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA2 5UA.
Email with ‘United PoY’ in the subject line.
Players, who have made 10 or more starts this season, and are eligible for the competition, are:
- DEREK ASAMOAH
- DAVID ATKINSON
- BRANDON COMLEY
- GARY DICKER
- MARK ELLIS
- MACAULAY GILLESPHEY
- MARK GILLESPIE
- ALEX GILLIEAD
- DANNY GRAINGER
- BASTIEN HERY
- HALLAM HOPE
- JABO IBEHRE
- LUKE JOYCE
- JASON KENNEDY
- ALEX MCQUEEN
- TOM MILLER
- MICHAEL RAYNES
- ANTONY SWEENEY
- CHARLIE WYKE
The voting deadline is midnight on Saturday, April 23. The trophy, supplied by Longhorn, will be presented to the winning player at United’s final home game of the season against Oxford the following weekend.
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