Phil Yelland dips into the archive to see what has happened during Carlisle United's previous visits to Barrow ahead of this weekend's encounter.
Whilst Carlisle United visited us many times for pre-season games during our non-league years, this is our first Football League meeting here since 16th March 1964. On that Monday evening, we trailed 2-2 at half time but Ernie Ackerley and Jack Maddison scored in the second half to secure us a point.
Our last win against them here was almost exactly 61 years ago on 9th April 1960 when, in Division Four, we completed a 5-1 win with two penalties from Ben Clark, plus goals from Jackie Roberston, Billy Murdoch and Ray Brennan.
You have to go back more than a century for the Clubs’ first meeting in Barrow. That was at Little Park, Roose in 1905 in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round when we won 4-2, thanks to goals from Watty, Worthington, Harvey and Boyle. United gained revenge just over twelve months later in the Third Qualifying Round at Roose winning 2-1.
Two seasons later, the clubs met for the first time in a league game – in the Lancashire Combination Division One when the teams drew 1-1 at Little Park.
The first meeting between the clubs at Holker Street in the Football League took place in Division Three North in November 1928 – the fixture finished 1-1, with Bill Crayston scoring our goal.
Two seasons later, we recorded our biggest home win over United – a 7-2 triumph, with doubles from Harry Briggs, Billy Millar and Albert Walker and the other goal from Frank Allen.
United’s biggest win here came two seasons after the 5-1 defeat when they won 3-0 in March 1962 – we had taken a point at Brunton Park forty eight hours earlier.
Back in August 1939, the clubs met here in a match for the Football League Jubilee Fund. The Bluebirds won 4-3, with all four goals coming from Tom Harris, who had scored 28 times the previous season. It was one of four games that season before the War intervened.
This will be the 41st meeting between the sides here in all competitions. Barrow have won 19 times, United have won 11 times and 10 games have finished level.
Let’s hope we can make it win number 20 on Saturday afternoon.