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| After the flood, a small miracle on the pitch: Carlisle’s community spirit is reborn | After the flood, a small miracle on the pitch: Carlisle’s community spirit is reborn |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| When the devastation wrought by Storm Desmond as it rampaged through Cumbria last month began at last to ease, a communion also stirred among the rubble. It was the process of a much-loved football club deepening its bonds within its own community as it reached out to its stricken neighbours. | When the devastation wrought by Storm Desmond as it rampaged through Cumbria last month began at last to ease, a communion also stirred among the rubble. It was the process of a much-loved football club deepening its bonds within its own community as it reached out to its stricken neighbours. |
| On Saturday, at Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United FC, people gathered to say thank you and to support their heroes in blue as they drew 1-1 with York City in their quest for promotion to the next level of the Football League. Some here had cheerfully billed this as “The Flood Derby”; York also having seen storm damage. It was Carlisle’s first game back at their home after it was almost wholly engulfed by the swollen waters of the river Eden early in December. | On Saturday, at Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United FC, people gathered to say thank you and to support their heroes in blue as they drew 1-1 with York City in their quest for promotion to the next level of the Football League. Some here had cheerfully billed this as “The Flood Derby”; York also having seen storm damage. It was Carlisle’s first game back at their home after it was almost wholly engulfed by the swollen waters of the river Eden early in December. |
| Senior steward Jim McBride, a big, gallus Glaswegian now rooted in Cumbria, points across the pitch towards the goalmouth at the far end. “The water was at the height of the crossbar and half the terracing was under water. I’m astonished that we’ve managed to get this place match-fit so soon after that.” | Senior steward Jim McBride, a big, gallus Glaswegian now rooted in Cumbria, points across the pitch towards the goalmouth at the far end. “The water was at the height of the crossbar and half the terracing was under water. I’m astonished that we’ve managed to get this place match-fit so soon after that.” |
| Andy Hall, Carlisle United’s media officer, remembers the moment when his club decided to stand up and be counted in their city’s hour of need. “We were arriving back from our game against Welling and the players were looking out the windows of the team bus in shock at the storm damage in Warwick Road and the streets surrounding. | Andy Hall, Carlisle United’s media officer, remembers the moment when his club decided to stand up and be counted in their city’s hour of need. “We were arriving back from our game against Welling and the players were looking out the windows of the team bus in shock at the storm damage in Warwick Road and the streets surrounding. |
| Related: 'The flood water was rising – I grabbed our Carlisle United season tickets' | |
| “Then I got a tap on my shoulder from Danny Grainger, our captain. ‘We need to be helping people; I don’t care how much or whatever it takes but we need to help these people to get their bottom floors emptied. The people of this town have been there for us through our ups and downs and we must be there for them now.’ Danny’s from Penrith, a local lad, so he’s embedded in this community and he could feel its pain. The following Tuesday, every member of the first-team squad along with our manager, Keith Curle, stepped up to the mark.” | “Then I got a tap on my shoulder from Danny Grainger, our captain. ‘We need to be helping people; I don’t care how much or whatever it takes but we need to help these people to get their bottom floors emptied. The people of this town have been there for us through our ups and downs and we must be there for them now.’ Danny’s from Penrith, a local lad, so he’s embedded in this community and he could feel its pain. The following Tuesday, every member of the first-team squad along with our manager, Keith Curle, stepped up to the mark.” |
| Initially, the club had identified four houses that looked to be the worst affected by flood damage, but as the day wore on they all simply went where they felt they were needed. In the end the manager, his captain and the players helped to empty 15 homes. | Initially, the club had identified four houses that looked to be the worst affected by flood damage, but as the day wore on they all simply went where they felt they were needed. In the end the manager, his captain and the players helped to empty 15 homes. |
| The following day those residents were queueing up outside battered Brunton Park, eager to assist in the clear-up of their football neighbour’s own home. “More than a few people at this club got quite emotional when they saw these poor people turning up to help us. At the end of the day, we are a business and we will recover but some of these people had no insurance and saw their lives being swept away by the floods. It was very humbling.” | The following day those residents were queueing up outside battered Brunton Park, eager to assist in the clear-up of their football neighbour’s own home. “More than a few people at this club got quite emotional when they saw these poor people turning up to help us. At the end of the day, we are a business and we will recover but some of these people had no insurance and saw their lives being swept away by the floods. It was very humbling.” |
| As club officials rooted among the debris of their offices and dressing-rooms outside, on the park itself, a small miracle was taking place. The Brunton Park turf has been a thing of beauty for those who play football on it. | As club officials rooted among the debris of their offices and dressing-rooms outside, on the park itself, a small miracle was taking place. The Brunton Park turf has been a thing of beauty for those who play football on it. |
| Now it lay mangled and bedraggled. Soon, though, 20 wagons bearing the unmistakable livery of the stalwart local haulier, Eddie Stobart, rolled up and delivered rolls of new turf. Then head groundsman David Mitchell “the best in the country”, I’m told later, began to work his magic: digging and laying; kneading and stitching. Today, an immaculate surface greets the players as they run out for the first time in almost two months. | Now it lay mangled and bedraggled. Soon, though, 20 wagons bearing the unmistakable livery of the stalwart local haulier, Eddie Stobart, rolled up and delivered rolls of new turf. Then head groundsman David Mitchell “the best in the country”, I’m told later, began to work his magic: digging and laying; kneading and stitching. Today, an immaculate surface greets the players as they run out for the first time in almost two months. |
| Curle was a fine defender who once captained Manchester City in the Premiership and played for England. He is all too aware of the sacred bond between Carlisle United and its community, a rebuke to the shallowness and instant self-gratification of the Premier League. “Sometimes what our players do isn’t always noticed but whenever we get asked there’s always a willingness by the players to help,” he said on Friday afternoon. “The work that the players did during the flood, I think, has been appreciated. They didn’t just do it for PR reasons; they did it because they wanted to. They care about these things and they wanted to help.” | Curle was a fine defender who once captained Manchester City in the Premiership and played for England. He is all too aware of the sacred bond between Carlisle United and its community, a rebuke to the shallowness and instant self-gratification of the Premier League. “Sometimes what our players do isn’t always noticed but whenever we get asked there’s always a willingness by the players to help,” he said on Friday afternoon. “The work that the players did during the flood, I think, has been appreciated. They didn’t just do it for PR reasons; they did it because they wanted to. They care about these things and they wanted to help.” |
| United’s goalkeeper, Mark Gillespie, whose penalty save against Yeovil Town earned them a money-spinning tilt at home to Everton next weekend in the FA Cup, also spoke of matters beyond mere football. “The fans will pack out Brunton Park for the Everton game,” he said, “and it will be emotional. There are a lot of people I know in the city who have been hit hard recently. It will be a nice day out for them and the rest of the city.” | United’s goalkeeper, Mark Gillespie, whose penalty save against Yeovil Town earned them a money-spinning tilt at home to Everton next weekend in the FA Cup, also spoke of matters beyond mere football. “The fans will pack out Brunton Park for the Everton game,” he said, “and it will be emotional. There are a lot of people I know in the city who have been hit hard recently. It will be a nice day out for them and the rest of the city.” |
| Kate Rowley and Keith Elliott have been watching Carlisle, their triumphs and vicissitudes, for more years than either cares to remember. They are two of the mainstays of the Carlisle United Away Supporters travel club and, as such, belong to an elite group among English football fans, being the furthest travelled each year in support of their team. “We probably clock up around 17,000 miles a season,” says Keith. Whenever the Blues face a midweek fixture on the south coast – Plymouth or Portsmouth perhaps – Kate, Keith and 25 other stalwarts will not arrive back in Carlisle until about six the following morning. | Kate Rowley and Keith Elliott have been watching Carlisle, their triumphs and vicissitudes, for more years than either cares to remember. They are two of the mainstays of the Carlisle United Away Supporters travel club and, as such, belong to an elite group among English football fans, being the furthest travelled each year in support of their team. “We probably clock up around 17,000 miles a season,” says Keith. Whenever the Blues face a midweek fixture on the south coast – Plymouth or Portsmouth perhaps – Kate, Keith and 25 other stalwarts will not arrive back in Carlisle until about six the following morning. |
| “But we really appreciate it when we see the players and management going the extra mile for us,” says Kate. “It’s not always been like that though, but this manager, Keith Curle is doing something special here and the fans can feel it. He seems to be encouraging the players to belong to this community, even those from the Midlands or London. | “But we really appreciate it when we see the players and management going the extra mile for us,” says Kate. “It’s not always been like that though, but this manager, Keith Curle is doing something special here and the fans can feel it. He seems to be encouraging the players to belong to this community, even those from the Midlands or London. |
| “He’s signed some good players and we’re playing a brand of football that hasn’t been seen here for years but the character of the players is important to him and that, I think was borne out by their actions during the floods.” | “He’s signed some good players and we’re playing a brand of football that hasn’t been seen here for years but the character of the players is important to him and that, I think was borne out by their actions during the floods.” |
| Carlisle expect a sellout crowd next Sunday for the visit of Everton. A £250,000 payday will be their bounty and further riches will accrue if they win. But none of this can compare to the treasure this club found when the storm came and the floodwaters rose. | Carlisle expect a sellout crowd next Sunday for the visit of Everton. A £250,000 payday will be their bounty and further riches will accrue if they win. But none of this can compare to the treasure this club found when the storm came and the floodwaters rose. |