United media officer and first team kitman Andy Hall (AH) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) this afternoon ahead of Carlisle's League One game at home to Exeter, Hall first talking about the release this morning of United's new shirt :
JP
It is one of those days for you, it is a big day for you of course because it is the unveiling of the new kit, and it is a brave new kit for Carlisle United?
AH
Yeah, we have gone for two notable changes, the first one being the colour, the traditionalists, we always worried about whether they would go for a French Blue, which is the official colour name and title of it from JD Sports, or whether they would react to the fact that it is no longer the Carlisle blue. Really, really pleased to say that the response out there by people who have seen it in the flesh is 100% positive, there are still some people online, twitter, facebook, the messageboards, that are coming back and saying absolutely rubbish, what have you done there.
But, I think when they see it, Chris Lumsdon is one of them, he is not happy with the blue at all. But, we knew that would happen you know, we knew that some people would say it is not Carlisle United blue, but by and large they have gone for it. The other change is the stripe, diagonal stripe top right to bottom left, you will either like it or you won't.
JP
Well, Paul Newton has been describing that as a bit South American, I know River Plate have that sort of thing, one of the distinctive things about their kit is the red sort of sash I think a few people have compared it to across the front?
AH
Indeed, and when John Halpin saw it yesterday he nearly hit the floor because he went 'oh, no, Peru, World Cup'. I think they beat them (Scotland) 1-0 or something in the opening game or whatever it was. So, yeah, it is not so much radical but it is a definite change, you are going to see it is Carlisle United, that is what we wanted. We didn't want it just to be blue, red and white, do something different, we haven't done something that looks garish or horrible or gaudy, we have done something we think is eyecatching and quite classy.
JP
Well, I like it, my brother and Dad both listen online to Carlisle United and that is their Christmas sorted out, I am really chuffed with it.
AH
And hopefully quite a few others, I mean it is flying off the shelves and that is all you want you know, that is the acid test. Whatever people say about it, wherever they say it, if they buy it then it is a hit.
JP
Interesting day on the pitch for Carlisle United today, we have just seen West Ham do what they can, win but still not make it. Today Carlisle United have got to win and hope that the results go their way today?
AH
Well, the last few chats we have had we have talked about the fact that it was in our hands, it was out of our hands, these next two games it is quite simple, we have got to win them. Then you have got to look elsewhere and see what happens, so I should imagine that the question of do you look at the television back in the dressing room is a very easy one to answer today. Oh yes you do, because you want to see whether you are still in it, that is all we want, come what is it, five oc'lock tonight, I lost my bearings there, five o'clock tonight, are we still in it, if we are then I think we will give it a really good go.
JP
Well, unfortunately, Sheffield United and Stevenage kicks off just after five doesn't it, so it is rubbish for us on the radio, it is rubbish for you, the players, the fans and everyone because you don't quite know. Carlisle could win here today and we could all go home happy, but come late tea-time/early evening we might just find out that things have gone against us, but we just have to cross our fingers on that one?
AH
Well, in this situation, we have already said it, all you can do is do your part of the job. But, Exeter, you know what, they are here and they know what they have to do. You are not going to see a team with two banks of four or all ten outfield players behind the ball today. They have got one option only and that is to win as well, so they have got some good players as well. They are probably one of the teams that you would have expected to be bottom eight, I am not so sure bottom four. So, they will be stung by that, Paul Tisdale, excellent manager at this level, he will be stung by that, so they will come out of here fired up and ready to go, so this isn't going to be easy at all.
JP
Just one of the nicest men in football isn't he, he has just been wandering around, I have just been down in the bowels of Brunton Park and he was just wandering around looking for one of the directors, chatting to everyone who talked to him. I don't think many people, as is often the case, even knew he was the manager?
AH
Yeah, exactly that, and they are a lovely club actually, lots of lovely people. Steve Perryman, heart and soul of Exeter, I don't know if you spotted it at the last away game, he started the chanting at one point. A man like him who has played at every level in the country and he is stood up at Exeter leading the chanting because he knew how important it was even that early in the season that their team got as many points as possible. So, they will be fired up and they will be ready, but so are we.
JP
And just hoping now for everything to stay alive I think was the message from Greg Abbott finally in that press conference, keep it alive, give the fans something to go home and cheer about, and look forward hopefully to the final day of the season with Carlisle United still involved?
AH
Well, the results have been disappointing, but the important thing from the last three games is that the performances haven't matched that. There is all this grit, determination, energy that Greg keeps using, they are his buzzwords and we can all almost guarantee they will be used in the press conference. But, they matter and he has seen that from his lads in every single game I believe this season, even when we have been humped quite badly we have seen that desire from the lads, and to be honest with you that is all you can ask for and I think we are going to get that again today.
JP
Very best of luck to everyone today, let's hope that we are still involved come the end of play.
AH
Fingers crossed.