They went into the studio to cut the special recording, which it is hoped will bring them and the sorry plight of Carlisle United to national attention. Already demo CDs have caused a stir and predictions are being made that it could be the most successful Cumbrian foray into the charts for more than 15 years. There are three tracks on the CD, with Upfield and Glass Ball complementing the main track which features the rabid commentaries of Derek Lacey as United defeated Plymouth with a dramatic Jimmy Glass goal and the unlikely victory at Chester a year later with just nine men on the field. The single will go on sale on June 17 with all profits to be shared equally between supporters' trust CCUIST and the Eden Valley Hospice. It will cost £5 from the Pink Panther Record Store in Chapel Street. Until then it can be ordered by sending a cheque for £6 (inc. post and packing) made payable to SB Dunn to: The Shopkeeper, PO Box 235, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 2YB The aim is to build up enough advance orders to give the single a head start. With 1,000 CDs being made, the musical pair are hoping to break through into the national Top 40 and get a spot on Radio 1's Sunday afternoon chart run-down. Extra copies will be made if demand exceeds supply. The previous attempt at getting a Carlisle United-themed single into the national charts marginally failed when So What's Blue Army got to No.78 in April 1995. It featured the voice of then chairman Michael Knighton but was released on a Friday which badly dented its chances of getting enough sales in the vital first week. The last pure Cumbrian act to make a chart impact were West Cumbrian group It Bites, whose Calling All The Heroes was a No.6 hit in July 1986. Their follow up, Whole New World did less well, getting to No.54 in October of the same year. The Guinness Book of Hit Singles recognises all releases that got to No.75 or higher in the charts. Pre-season fixtures released United have released details of their pre-season fixtures and despite rumours of match-ups against big clubs like Celtic, the only game against higher-grade opposition is the home clash with First Division Preston North End on July 21. When the two sides met in a pre-season warm-up last season only 700 attended at Brunton Park. The under-fire club will be bracing themselves for an even lower turnout this time. Carlisle fans have vowed to boycott home games next season and already season ticket sales are suffering badly. The club face a winding-up petition in the High Court on June 26. The next step could be receivership but the Football League have said clubs in receivership will be allowed to commence their fixtures, unlike previous seasons. The full list of pre-season fixtures is as follows: Tue July 16 - Tow Law Town (away) ko 7pm Thu July 18 - Gretna (away) ko 7pm Sun July 21 - Preston (home) ko 1pm Wed July 31 - Hull C (at Blyth FC) ko 7pm Fri Aug 2 - Blyth Spartans (away) ko 7pm Mon Aug 5 - Workington (away) ko 7pm The fixtures for the new Nationwide League season are being published on Thursday June 13. Picture from News & Star www.newsandstar.co.uk |
