While the League One season might be officially over for Carlisle United there is still the chance to get a glimpse of the boys in blue from days gone by as Workington Reds Veterans take on Carlisle United OAP's at Borough Park in a 1pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon, the charity match being played in aid of Maryport Inshore Rescue, established in 1978 in response to the loss of three local lives.
Entrance to the game is £5, with the bar also being open throughout, while there will also be a raffle of football memorabilia. Meanwhile, like plenty of games played on a Sunday lunchtime there have been a few late changes to the Carlisle squad through illness or injury, with the former United players on the Blues teamsheet now confirmed as follows:
Graham Anthony, Ian Arnold, Mark Birch, Tony Caig, Ian Dalziel, Darren Edmondson, Mick Galloway, Paul Gorman, John Halpin, Tony Hopper, George Oghani, Dean Walling, Derek Walsh and Andy Watson. Organiser of the Carlisle squad Walsh talking to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) and Darren Edmondson (DE) this evening about Sunday's game:
JP
Of course it is in aid of a very good cause isn't it?
DW
Yeah, it is in aid of the Maryport Inshore Rescue who are self-funding, and they asked us to hold the game for them. Darren (Edmondson) offered for Workington to hold it for them, so really that was great of Darren and Humphrey (Dobie) the chairman there for doing that for us. So, we have arranged for two teams, a team of ex-Workington players and a team of ex-Carlisle United players to play against each other on Sunday at one o'clock.
JP
Who are the stars then that we have got on show? Obviously, Derek Walsh and Darren Edmondson are names that are featuring highly already?
DW
Yes, well they are the first two names on the teamsheet. Tony Caig is going to play in goals and then we have got Tony Hopper, Mark Birch, Dean Walling, Ian Arnold, Graham Anthony, John Halpin, Ian Dalziel, Andy Watson, George Oghani, Paul Gorman, Mike Galloway and number 15 is Darren Edmondson.
DE
Nothing changes there mate.
DW
Well, I got my name down first.
JP
Edmo is a bit worried that you are going to pull something this evening at the Neil Centre?
DE
Don't do too much old fella.
DW
I don't run about anymore, well I couldn't run about anymore.
JP
It is going to be great for the fans to get along and see this isn't it, obviously we have said it is for a good cause, and I think £5 to get in is it?
DW
It is £5 to get in, we are going to have a raffle as well, we have got some football memorabilia to raffle off, so we want to try to get as many people down as possible, that is what we are trying to do. The lads are self-funding, I think they have to raise £17,000 a year, they are all volunteers which is a great thing for them, so the more people that can come down the merrier for them.
JP
And how good will it be for you to see some of these players from the yesteryear as it has been put to me of Workington and Carlisle? Some great old names of both clubs?
DW
Yeah, I mean it is great for the lads to do this, a lot of lads are travelling from away, there are a couple of lads coming from Leeds in Dean Walling and Andy Watson, and we have got Ian Dalziel coming from Sunderland. So, there are a lot of lads putting a lot of effort in to get there. It is good to see them all again and it is good to see the shape that some of them are in, it makes you feel good.
JP
Have you seen Dean Walling recently?
DW
I haven't seen him for a while.
JP
He looks like he could still play in the top game, a bit like Edmo actually, he looks like he could just still go back out there for United right now, he looks in such good nick.
DW
Well, he has probably looked after himself a bit better than some of us.
DE
Yeah, but all you have to do is put a football at Deano's feet, that is when he struggles.
JP
I often enjoy watching the Masters on television, so it will be interesting to see which of the players have taken care of themselves and which perhaps haven't quite so, it should be a very interesting watch on Sunday?
DW
Yeah, it will hopefully be a good game and it will be a good game, because Gary Messenger and Billy Gilmour have collected a team of Workington lads to play, and there are a lot of lads that are, I spent a season down at Workington, are going to split between the two teams, Darren as well with play for both sides.
DE
Five minutes for each?
DW
Well, it was more than I got in a season when I did play. I won't be a good five minutes though will it.