Carlisle RLFC
Encyclopedia
Carlisle RLFC were a rugby league
team based in Carlisle, Cumbria
.
for the 1928-29 season. They withdrew on November 8, 1928 after only ten games of which they won 1 and lost 9, scoring 59 and conceding 166. Their final game was a 36 – 13 defeat by Warrington at Wilderspool on 27th October 1928. Earlier in the season St Helens had visited Harraby Park on Sat 8th September and struggled to record a victory by 8 points to 5.
Rugby league as an organised sport died with it until the early 1950s when a Carlisle amateur side played two seasons in the Cumberland League
.
, playing at United's Brunton Park
. They were coached by Allan Agar
and Nigel Stephenson
. The board of Carlisle United used the money from the sale of Peter Beardsley
to finance the team. The club finished second in the Second Division and gained promotion in their first season. Their average attendance was 2,950 in that season. Agar departed as coach to join Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982 having had his request for more funds turned down.
Mick Morgan replaced Agar and Carlisle made their debut in the First Division with a 7-10 home defeat against Wigan at Brunton Park. Dean Bell
spent the 1982/3 season at Carlisle but couldn’t stop the club from being relegated. Attendances plummeted in the First Division when they finished bottom. Thereafter the club was plagued by debts and poor attendances.
John Atkinson arrived from Leeds as player / coach in February 1983. The first season back in Division 2 was one of struggle - they finished third from bottom of the league. The next year they were on the fringes of the promotion race.
Allen Kellet took over as coach in February 1986 after the sudden resignation of John Atkinson. Carlisle opened the 1986 season with three defeats from four games; drawing the other against strugglers Runcorn
. New coach, Roy Lester, got rid of players based in West Yorkshire and recruited a team of Cumbrian amateurs. They were then thrashed 112-0 by St Helens in a Lancashire Cup tie but recovered their season well, won more than they lost and finished in eighth place.http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/thumping_can_yet_inspire_centurions_1_569008?referrerPath=sport
The club moved to Gillford Park, the former home of the defunct Carlisle City, for the 1988-89 season as they were not able to afford the rent on Brunton Park. In a few short weeks they had, with the help of their hard-working fans, built a ground that met the RFL's minimum criteria. The first match was a seventeen all draw with Batley on 3 September in front of 624 spectators.
Cameron Bell
was coach from February 1990 to April 1994, he was succeeded by Hugh Waddell
.
When a Rupert Murdoch funded Super League
competition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Carlisle were to merge with Whitehaven
, Workington Town
and Barrow to form a Cumbria side to be based in Workington who would compete in Super League. This was, however, resisted.
A new name, Carlisle Border Raiders, was adopted for the 1997 season.http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/1996/12/5/839274.html Home crowds struggled to get into four figures and at the end of the season they merged with Barrow Braves
to form Barrow Border Raiders. Their last league match on 20 July 1997 had produced a record score of 72-10 against another doomed side Prescot Panthers. Their final game was at home against Workington
on 7 September 1997 which they lost 34-24 in front of a crowd of 453. The merged team played all its matches in Barrow and in 2002 dropped the 'Border' from its name.
in the Rugby League Conference National Division
.
, were international representatives before, or after, their time at Carlisle, or are notable outside of rugby league.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team based in Carlisle, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.
Early rugby league in Carlisle
Carlisle City, based at Harraby Greyhound Stadium close to Gillford Park, were admitted to the Northern Rugby Football UnionRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
for the 1928-29 season. They withdrew on November 8, 1928 after only ten games of which they won 1 and lost 9, scoring 59 and conceding 166. Their final game was a 36 – 13 defeat by Warrington at Wilderspool on 27th October 1928. Earlier in the season St Helens had visited Harraby Park on Sat 8th September and struggled to record a victory by 8 points to 5.
Rugby league as an organised sport died with it until the early 1950s when a Carlisle amateur side played two seasons in the Cumberland League
Cumberland League
The Cumberland League is a series of rugby league divisions in the traditional county of Cumberland.The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association . Teams from the Cumberland league can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum...
.
Carlisle RLFC
Carlisle RLFC was set up and owned by local Association football team Carlisle United. The club colours were blue, red and white; the same as the soccer club. In April 1981, they were admitted to the Rugby Football LeagueRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
, playing at United's Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
. They were coached by Allan Agar
Allan Agar
Allan Agar is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. Allan Agar is also the father of Richard Agar.A /, i.e. number 7, he played in the 1972–73 Northern Rugby Football League season's championship final for Dewsbury, helping them to victory....
and Nigel Stephenson
Nigel Stephenson
Nigel Stephenson is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s who at representative level has played for England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for , Dewsbury , Bradford Northern, Carlisle, Wakefield Trinity, and York,...
. The board of Carlisle United used the money from the sale of Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley
Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...
to finance the team. The club finished second in the Second Division and gained promotion in their first season. Their average attendance was 2,950 in that season. Agar departed as coach to join Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982 having had his request for more funds turned down.
Mick Morgan replaced Agar and Carlisle made their debut in the First Division with a 7-10 home defeat against Wigan at Brunton Park. Dean Bell
Dean Bell
Dean Bell is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup finals, a Lance Todd Trophy and a...
spent the 1982/3 season at Carlisle but couldn’t stop the club from being relegated. Attendances plummeted in the First Division when they finished bottom. Thereafter the club was plagued by debts and poor attendances.
John Atkinson arrived from Leeds as player / coach in February 1983. The first season back in Division 2 was one of struggle - they finished third from bottom of the league. The next year they were on the fringes of the promotion race.
Allen Kellet took over as coach in February 1986 after the sudden resignation of John Atkinson. Carlisle opened the 1986 season with three defeats from four games; drawing the other against strugglers Runcorn
Liverpool City (rugby league)
Liverpool City was a semi-professional rugby league club from the city of Liverpool in England.-The first Liverpool City - 1906-1907:A professional club first emerged in Liverpool, called Liverpool City in 1906, playing at the Stanley Athletics Ground. They hold an unwanted record in the...
. New coach, Roy Lester, got rid of players based in West Yorkshire and recruited a team of Cumbrian amateurs. They were then thrashed 112-0 by St Helens in a Lancashire Cup tie but recovered their season well, won more than they lost and finished in eighth place.http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/thumping_can_yet_inspire_centurions_1_569008?referrerPath=sport
The club moved to Gillford Park, the former home of the defunct Carlisle City, for the 1988-89 season as they were not able to afford the rent on Brunton Park. In a few short weeks they had, with the help of their hard-working fans, built a ground that met the RFL's minimum criteria. The first match was a seventeen all draw with Batley on 3 September in front of 624 spectators.
Cameron Bell
Cameron Bell (rugby league)
Cameron Bell is a New Zealand rugby league coach. He is a member of the famous Bell rugby league family that includes George, Ian, Dean and Cathy and Clayton Friend.-Coaching career:...
was coach from February 1990 to April 1994, he was succeeded by Hugh Waddell
Hugh Waddell
Hugh Waddell is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at representative has played level for Great Britain, England, and Scotland, and at club level for Blackpool Borough, Oldham, Leeds, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Sheffield Eagles,...
.
When a Rupert Murdoch funded Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Carlisle were to merge with Whitehaven
Whitehaven RLFC
Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
, Workington Town
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
and Barrow to form a Cumbria side to be based in Workington who would compete in Super League. This was, however, resisted.
A new name, Carlisle Border Raiders, was adopted for the 1997 season.http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/1996/12/5/839274.html Home crowds struggled to get into four figures and at the end of the season they merged with Barrow Braves
Barrow Raiders
Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....
to form Barrow Border Raiders. Their last league match on 20 July 1997 had produced a record score of 72-10 against another doomed side Prescot Panthers. Their final game was at home against Workington
Workington Town
Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....
on 7 September 1997 which they lost 34-24 in front of a crowd of 453. The merged team played all its matches in Barrow and in 2002 dropped the 'Border' from its name.
Playing Record
| Season | Division | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981/82 | 1 - 2 | 2nd | 32 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 649 | 296 | 56 |
| 1982/83 | 1 - 2 | 16th | 30 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 252 | 751 | 4 |
| 1983/84 | 1 - 2 | 15th | 34 | 12 | 0 | 22 | 539 | 780 | 24 |
| 1984/85 | 1 - 2 | 5th | 28 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 547 | 437 | 38 |
| 1985/86 | 1 - 2 | 11th | 34 | 15 | 2 | 17 | 585 | 682 | 32 |
| 1986/87 | 1 - 2 | 8th | 28 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 463 | 446 | 31 |
| 1987/88 | 1 - 2 | 11th | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 388 | 444 | 29 |
| 1988/89 | 1 - 2 | 11th | 28 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 512 | 441 | 29 |
| 1989/90 | 1 - 2 | 17th | 28 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 511 | 625 | 18 |
| 1990/91 | 1 - 2 | 8th | 28 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 613 | 425 | 34 |
| 1991/92 | 1 - 2 - 3 | 6th | 28 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 490 | 466 | 25 |
| 1992/93 | 1 - 2 - 3 | 7th | 28 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 454 | 721 | 15 |
| 1993/94 | 1 - 2 | 13th | 30 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 540 | 878 | 18 |
| 1994/95 | 1 - 2 | 14th | 30 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 546 | 877 | 16 |
| 1995/96 | 1 - 2 | 5th | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 600 | 309 | 24 |
| 1996 | 1 - 2 - 3 | 4th | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 654 | 486 | 26 |
| 1997 | 1 - 2 - 3 | 5th | 20 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 564 | 384 | 26 |
Rugby league in Carlisle
Rugby league in Carlisle is now represented by Carlisle CenturionsCarlisle Centurions
East Cumbria Crusaders is a rugby league club based in Carlisle, Cumbria. They play in the North East Division of the Rugby League Conference. Their home ground is Creighton RUFC....
in the Rugby League Conference National Division
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
.
Notable players
These players have either; received a Testimonial matchTestimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
, were international representatives before, or after, their time at Carlisle, or are notable outside of rugby league.
- Robert AckermanRobert AckermanRobert Angus Ackerman is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer. In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions whilst playing for London Welsh RFC. A centre, he also played club rugby for Newport RFC...
won caps for Wales while at Carlisle - Allan AgarAllan AgarAllan Agar is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. Allan Agar is also the father of Richard Agar.A /, i.e. number 7, he played in the 1972–73 Northern Rugby Football League season's championship final for Dewsbury, helping them to victory....
- Colin Armstrong
- John Atkinson
- Dean BellDean BellDean Bell is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup finals, a Lance Todd Trophy and a...
- Steve Brierley
- Sean CusackSean Cusack (rugby league)Sean Cusack is a professional rugby league footballer who at representative level has played for Scotland, and at club level for Broughton Red Rose, and Carlisle.-International honours:...
won caps for Scotland while at Carlisle - Steve Ferres
- Clayton FriendClayton FriendClayton Ivan Friend is a New Zealander former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who at representative level has played for New Zealand, and at club level for Carlisle , North Sydney Bears, and Whitehaven, playing at /, i.e...
- Steve GeorgallisSteve GeorgallisSteve Georgallis is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Appointed as the Penrith Panthers head coach part-way through the 2011 NRL season, he played during the 1990s in Sydney for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, Western Suburbs Magpies and Wests Tigers, as well...
- George Graham
- Michael "Mick" Morgan
- Matthew NableMatthew NableMatthew Nable is an Australian television and film writer, actor, author and former professional rugby league footballer. After playing in the Winfield Cup Premiership for the Manly-Warringah and South Sydney clubs during the 1990s, he wrote and starred in the rugby league-centred drama The Final...
- Hitro OkeseneHitro OkeseneHitro Okesene is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented three countries; Western Samoa, American Samoa and New Zealand...
- Kevin Pape (Testimonial matchTestimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1994) - William "Willie" Richardson http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/home/1.265278
- John RismanJohn RismanJohn Risman is President of Scotland Rugby League. He is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for Workington Town, Fulham RLFC, Blackpool Borough, and Carlisle, playing at , or , i.e. number 1, 3, 4...
- Danny RussellDanny RussellDanny Russell is a former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who at representative level has played for Scotland, playing at the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and at club level has played for Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Carlisle, and Huddersfield, playing at , i.e...
won caps for Scotland while at Carlisle - Nigel StephensonNigel StephensonNigel Stephenson is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and coach of the 1980s and '90s who at representative level has played for England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for , Dewsbury , Bradford Northern, Carlisle, Wakefield Trinity, and York,...
- Mal Thomason (Testimonial matchTestimonial matchA testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
1990) - James "Jimmy" ThompsonJimmy Thompson (rugby league)James "Jimmy" Thompson is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, Bradford Northern and Carlisle, playing at , or , i.e...
- Hugh WaddellHugh WaddellHugh Waddell is a Scottish former rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s who at representative has played level for Great Britain, England, and Scotland, and at club level for Blackpool Borough, Oldham, Leeds, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Sheffield Eagles,...
- Barry WilliamsBarry Williams (rugby league)Barry Williams is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for Carlisle, and Workington Town, playing at , i.e. number 9.-International honours:...
won caps for Wales while at Carlisle