3/1 To Win
The 24 teams that will take part in Sky Bet League One in the 2023/24 season were confirmed at the end of May.
Here, dcfc.co.uk will take a look at each one in focus ahead of the new campaign getting underway at the start of August.
In this instalment, newly-promoted Carlisle United are in the spotlight.
Fact File
Established: 1904
Nickname: The Cumbrians
Home: Brunton Park (17,949 capacity)
Manager: Paul Simpson
2022/23 finish: 5th (Sky Bet League Two)
Club History
Founded in 1896 as ‘Shaddongate United,’ the team were renamed and formed into the one we know today, Carlisle United, in 1904.
Whilst known as Shaddongate, the club’s primary colours were gold and navy stripes but changed to the blue they play in today following the rename in 1904.
The club has reached the final of the Football League Trophy six times which is more than any other club. They have lifted the trophy twice out of those six occasions, first in 1997 and then in their most recent appearance back in 2011.
In 2003/04, the Cumbrians were relegated out of the Football League for the first time in 76 years but secured an immediate return the following season under player-manager Paul Simpson - the man that now manages them once again.
Played For Both
Paul Simpson
Current Carlisle manager Paul Simpson had spells at both Carlisle and Derby during his player career with his time in Derbyshire one of the most successful periods of his career.
A winger during his playing days, he made over 170 appearances in the league alone for the Rams and scored an impressive 57 goals in all competitions. He also played a key role in Derby's promotion to the top flight under Jim Smith in the 1995/96 season.
Simpson was born in Carlisle and It wasn’t until the end of his playing career, starting in 2003, that he made the move to his home-town club as Player-Manager but the team were relegated out of the league iin his first year. He memorably helped the club earn promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt in 2004/05 and then they won the League One title in 2005/06 before he moved on to Preston North End.
Callum Guy
Current Carlisle midfielder Callum Guy started his career with the Rams way back in 2006 in the Academy and spent over a decade in Derbyshire as he worked his way through the ranks.
Whilst he was a key part of the youth teams, he only ever made one first-team appearance for the senior squad - coming on as a substitute in an EFL Cup clash with Barnsley in 2017.
After a short stint with Blackpool, Guy moved on to the Cumbrians in 2020 and has remained there since – clocking up over 140 appearances.
The now 26-year-old was made club captain ahead of the 2021/22 season and holds that title to this day.
Jack Stretton
Another fellow Rams youngster that played alongside Guy in both the youth team and then Carlisle was Jack Stretton.
Striker Stretton was part of Derby County from 2014 up until 2023, making 16 appearances for the senior squad before moving on to Stockport County on a permanent deal in January 2023.
He did however have a loan spell with the Cumbrians at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals and providing two assists in that time.
2022/23 Season
Last season was extra special for the Cumbrians as they earned promotion to Sky Bet League One, thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory over Stockport County at Wembley Stadium following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.
After surviving the previous season by the skin of their teeth, earning promotion just a mere 12 months later was an incredible achievement for Simpson and his side.
They will now play in the third tier for the first time in nine years.
Record Against The Rams
The Rams and the Cumbrians have only faced off 22 times over the years and the spoils have been shared directly down the middle across those.
Both have won eight games, with the other six ending in draws.
The first meeting between the two sides was back in 1955 with the Rams claiming a 3-0 win in Division Three.
The last four meetings have all come in the EFL Cup with the two not meeting in league competition since 1984.
Fans will remember the latest match back in August 2016 for a penalty shoot-out that equalled the record for the highest ever scoring shoot-out in English senior football, with Derby eventually running out 14-13 winners following a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Pride Park Stadium.
