For April 5th I'm once gain going back 38 years to 1983, this time to Carlisle United's League Division Two game against Bolton Wanderers. Yes, 24 hours after seeing Spurs trounce their North London rivals 5-0, I had travelled over 300 miles to a game at the other end of the country and my first ever visit to Brunton Park, Carlisle.
Amazingly, it was another 5-0 home victory, this time played before 5,615 fans, with the Carlisle goal scorers being Alan Shoulder, Paul Bannon, Tommy Craig and two from Bryan Robson. Given that four of the five Carlisle goals that day came from former Newcastle United players it's not a surprise to learn that their manager was none other than former 1950's Toon legend Bob Stokoe, a man who transcended Tyne-Wear rivalry by becoming an FA Cup winning manager at Sunderland in 1973. Bolton were under the management of former Derby and Nottingham Forest legend John McGovern who managed two-and-a-half years in charge of the Trotters (yet another wonderful nickname with uncertain origins) despite this result at Carlisle and Bolton's subsequent relegation.
Bryan "Pop" Robson was an interesting player. He joined Newcastle as a 17 year-old and scored on his debut before his 18th birthday. His nickname was apparently a reference to his early-onset baldness. As a striker in the 70s and 80s, Robson was remarkably short standing only 5'8" but he was a prolific scorer nonetheless throughout his career. He was one of those people who obviously disregarded advice to "never go back" playing in three separate spells for both Sunderland and Carlisle and in two spells for West Ham United. He finished with a highly respectable career tally of 265 goals in 674 league games. Not bad for a short bald man!
Bolton finished the season rock bottom going down to Division Three with Burnley and Rotherham United. Carlisle, whilst finishing mid-table in 14th place, were actually only three points clear of the relegation places but, perhaps somewhat surprisingly to modern eyes, finished higher in the table than current Premier League sides Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Burnley. For little Carlisle, this was a good season.
CRB Match No. 241
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