Sunday, December 27, 2015

Carlisle United, December 2015

STORM Desmond early in December flooded Brunton Park and the surrounding area of Carlisle. Unprecedented rainfall brought flooding throughout Cumbria from Thursday 3rd December (West Cumbria), through Friday 4th and Saturday 5th (Eden Valley) to Sunday 6th (Carlisle & North Cumbria). This has impacted on Carlisle United, as only three fixtures have been played in December. The results of which are as follows:

Sky Bet League Two - Season 2015-2016.

The FA Cup, Round Two : Sunday 6th : Welling United 0 - United 5 (Attendance: 2028)

League : Saturday 12th : Oxford United 1 - United 1 (Attendance: 5936)

League : Saturday 19th : United 3 - Notts County 0 [Match played at Deepdale, Preston] (Attendance: 3336)

Getty Images captured an image of Brunton Park from the air, when the flood waters were at their highest:


In the aftermath of the flooding, the Club and fans came together to support the community. In the days following the Welling United game, the players volunteered their time to help residents of Warwick Road and surrounding areas remove flood damaged goods from their homes:


United players Michael Raynes, Joe Thompson and Jason Kennedy (Pictured left to right, above) removing flood damaged goods. United also appealed to fans who could safely get to Brunton Park to help them with the clear out of flood damaged areas of the Club. The following video from Carlisle newspaper News & Star shows the fans helping to clear out Brunton Park.


As the results at the head of post show, United fulfilled their fixtures away at Oxford United on Saturday 12th and the home fixture against Notts County on Saturday 19th was played at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End. United playing their 'home' fixtures at other grounds was to the chagrin of John Coleman, the Accrington Stanley manager, whose own team have had matches postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. United were due to play Stanley at The Wham Stadium on Boxing Day (Saturday 26th), but this was postponed, due to... A waterlogged pitch.

United were due to play Hartlepool United at home on Bank Holiday Monday (28th) - It would have been United's final fixture of the year - But this match has been postponed. It has been rescheduled for the evening of Tuesday 23rd February. It was rumoured Newcastle United's St James' Park could have staged the game.

Following the visit to Deepdale for the Notts County match, United will be on a tour of Lancashire for their next two home fixtures: United will play a League Two fixture against Plymouth Argyle at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers, on Saturday 2nd January; United will play Yeovil Town in Round Three of the FA Cup at Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool, on Sunday 10th.
United's other scheduled fixtures for January: Barnet (away), York City (home) and Dagenham & Redbridge (away).

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