Club information | |
---|---|
Full name | Carlisle Rugby League Club |
Nickname(s) | Carlisle |
Colours |
Blue White Red |
Founded | 1981 |
Exited | 1997 |
Former details | |
Ground(s) |
Carlisle RLFC were a rugby league team based in Carlisle, Cumbria. The club was called Carlisle Border Raiders for the 1997 season, after which it merged with Barrow Braves.
Carlisle City, based at Harraby Greyhound Stadium close to Gillford Park, were admitted to the Northern Rugby Football Union for the 1928–29 season. They withdrew on 8 November 1928 after only ten games of which they won 1 and lost 9, scoring 59 and conceding 166. Their final game was a 36 – 13 defeat by Warrington at Wilderspool on 27 October 1928. Earlier in the season St Helens had visited Harraby Park on Sat 8 September and struggled to record a victory by 8 points to 5.
Rugby league as an organised sport died with it until the early 1950s when a Carlisle amateur side played two seasons in the Cumberland League.
Carlisle RLFC was set up and owned by local Association football team Carlisle United. The club colours were blue, red and white; the same as the football club. In April 1981, they were admitted to the Rugby Football League, playing at United's Brunton Park. They were coached by Allan Agar and Nigel Stephenson. The board of Carlisle United used the money from the sale of Peter Beardsley to finance the team. The club finished second in the Second Division and gained promotion in their first season. Their average attendance was 2,950 in that season. Agar departed as coach to join Featherstone as captain-coach in December 1982 having had his request for more funds turned down.
Mick Morgan replaced Agar and Carlisle made their debut in the First Division with a 7-10 home defeat against Wigan at Brunton Park. Dean Bell spent the 1982–83 season at Carlisle but couldn't stop the club from being relegated. Attendances plummeted in the First Division when they finished bottom. Thereafter the club was plagued by debts and poor attendances.