Mark Hudson, currently on loan from Boro
Mark Birch
|
Mark Hudson, currently on loan from Boro |
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 8lbs
Born: Stoke
Career (86 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Stoke City (0/0), Northwich Victoria (76/1 – non-League figures), Carlisle United (86/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 12[3]/0
Details: A steady, reliable right-back, Birch became Carlisle’s first monetary signing in August 2000 when he joined for £10,000 from non-League Northwich Victoria. He had been at the Conference side for two years prior to that, notching his only goal to date in his time there. Before that he was a trainee at home-town club Stoke City. Only a red card for a tackle on Scunthorpe’s Lee Hodges prevented him from being ever-present in the 2000/1 season, and he contributed to the clubs survival yet again in the last campaign. With a series of gritty and passionate displays, and a long and dangerous throw, Birch is battling it out with Brian Shelley for the right full-back position.
Lee Maddison
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st
Born: Bristol
Career (245 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Bristol Rovers (73/0), Northampton Town (55/0), Dundee (65/1), Carlisle United (41/0), Oxford United [loan] (11/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 13[2]/0
Details: Born in Bristol, Maddison joined his local club, Rovers, and proceeded through the youth ranks until he was snapped up by Northampton boss Ian Atkins in September 1995 for £25,000. After two decent years with the Cobblers, he moved north of the border to Dundee, but Atkins’ arrival at Brunton Park saw the short move back to the English League become possible. However, despite being a regular once again in the now Oxford boss’ side, he fell out of favour under new gaffer Roddy Collins, although he has fought hard for his place in the current campaign. Ironically, Maddison was loaned out to the Kassam Stadium last year, but this year he is battling with Des Byrne for a permanent place in the Cumbrians side.
Philip Gulliver (on loan from Middlesbrough)
Squad Number: 4
Position: Defender
Age: 20 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 5lbs
Born: Bishop Auckland
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Middlesbrough (0/0), Blackpool [loan] (3/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 4[1]/0 (1/0 for Carlisle United)
Details: 20-year-old central defender who has been at the Riverside since joining them as a youngster. Having continued as a scholar, the Bishop Auckland-born performer has been on the brink of the side for two seasons, but without making an appearance in any competition. He had a spell a short distance down the west coast with Blackpool, but having made his senior debut and first F.A. Cup appearance, his loan spell was cut short in December, and he made his Carlisle debut at Victoria Park in the 2-1 defeat on New Years Day.
Brian Shelley
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: n/a Weight: n/a
Born: Dublin
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Bohemians (no figures available)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27[1]/1
Details: Shelley is an attacking right full-back, who has played regularly for the Cumbrians since joining them on Roddy Collins return as manager in August of last year. Signed from Bohemians, he does have the ability to play down the middle if required, but his preferred position is wide. A Dubliner with Under-21 credentials for Ireland, he can make dangerous runs into the opposition half, leaving his own defence unattended but also posing huge problems for the visitors. Committed, he is a long-term buddy of the Carlisle manager, who has stood firmly behind him at Brunton Park.
Peter Murphy
Squad Number: 7
Position: Defender
Age: 22 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (61 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Blackburn Rovers (0/0), Halifax Town [loan] (21/1), Carlisle United (40/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 25[1]/2
Details: Another Under-21 International performer, this time with the Republic of Ireland, Murphy was brought to England by Brian Kidd during his time at Blackburn Rovers. Four years at Ewood Park brought about little cheer, and the highlight of his time there was a loan spell at struggling Halifax Town, including his only senior goal before this year, when he netted against Kidderminster in a 3-2 win. This year he has twice scored in defeats – against Bournemouth and Bury – and added a greater all round presence to his game. A quick mind combined with sharp movement and passing make him an ideal candidate for the left-back position, but during this season he has also played a centre-back, where reports suggest he has been a revelation.
Mark Hudson (on loan from Middlesbrough)
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 3lbs
Born: Bishop Auckland
Career (5 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Middlesbrough (5/0), Chesterfield (16/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 21[3]/2 (5/1 for Carlisle United)
Details: Another Bishop Auckland-born player from Middlesbrough, Hudson has had slightly more success at the Riverside than his team-mate Philip Gulliver, and also on his travels. In total he has made six substitute League and Cup appearances for Boro, including a cameo in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at the Riverside in December 2000. Once again only away from the north-east on loan, Hudson is a midfielder of some talent, as he has proved at Chesterfield and Carlisle. He scored his first senior goal in the Spireites 4-0 win over Northampton, and his first Carlisle goal in the 2-2 Boxing Day draw with Darlington.
Last season's hot shot Richie Foran
Richie Foran
|
Last season's hot shot Richie Foran |
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 10lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (65 League Appearances/ 25 Goals): Shelbourne (28/11), Carlisle United (37/14)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 16[4]/4
Details: Foran is a Dubliner, brought to these shores by Roddy Collins in the Irishman’s first spell at Brunton Park. He repaid the brother of boxer Steve by firing fifteen goals in all competitions last year, although this time round he has been less of the player he was in 2001/2 and more of the striker that many English managers were wary of signing. Transferred from Shelbourne for nearly £100,000, he was the Cumbrians dearest signing for nearly a decade. A huge crowd favourite, he set himself a target of twenty goals this campaign, but six yellow cards, and more importantly, two reds have undermined this season, where he only has four goals to date. Indeed, he has been suspended for the last couple of games, and may miss Saturday’s encounter.
Jamie Burt (on loan from Chesterfield)
Squad Number: 10
Position: Forward
Age: 23 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 12st
Born: Ashington
Career (24 League Appearances/ 7 Goals): Chesterfield (24/7)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 12[5]/2 (1/1 for Carlisle United)
Details: Born in the Blyth area of the country, Burt first attempted to ply his trade as a trainee with Premiership Newcastle United. He was not good enough to make the grade, and Carlisle themselves turned down his attempts to get into the Football League. Lengthy non-League spells with Edgehill Mere and Whitby Town led to the attraction of Second Division Chesterfield to his potential, and in his first season with the Spireites he scored seven goals in 24 games. However, just one strike in 21 matches this season convinced the Saltergate club to farm him out to Carlisle, and on his debut for the Cumbrians he scored the opening goal against high-flying Hartlepool. However, goals from Graeme Lee and Eifion Williams meant that it was a losing debut.
Will McDonagh
Squad Number: 13
Position: Defender
Age: 19 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 1lb
Born: Dublin
Career (12 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Carlisle United (12/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 10[12]/3
Details: Irishman who scored the late winner at Roots Hall in the middle of August. A tall centre-back, McDonagh has not found it easy to settle in at Brunton Park, but his experience as an Irish Youth International has stood him in good stead. Having impressed in the centre of midfield when required, the Dubliner, who joined from Bohemians in October 2001, has a lot of grit as well as guile, but it was his bad temper that was on show when he made his debut against Tranmere, when he was sent off. Often employed as a substitute, he is not yet a regular performer, but with faith being shown in him, his future appears pretty certain with Carlisle.
Paul Robinson (on loan from Wimbledon)
Squad Number: 17
Position: Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st
Born: Sunderland
Career (49 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Darlington (26/3), Newcastle United (11/0), Wimbledon (3/0), Burnley [loan] (4/0), Grimsby Town [loan] (5/0), Grimsby Town [loan] (12/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 9[11]/3 (3[4]/2 for Carlisle United)
Details: A former Newcastle United youngster who is still only 24 years of age. Robinson made eleven Premiership appearances in three years at St. James’s Park before being sold to Terry Burton and Wimbledon for £1million. A very quick player, Robinson has struggled to break through at Selhurst Park, and he was farmed out to Burnley and Grimsby twice (once at the end of last season then again at the start of this). However, the Blundell Park side did not extend his stay on the east coast, and he was forced to look for another club. Having started his career at Darlington, he instead chose the north-west coast, and in his time with the Cumbrians, he has scored against York and Wrexham, although his last goal was almost a month ago.
Ryan Baldacchino
Squad Number: 19
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Leicester
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Blackburn Rovers (0/0), Bolton Wanderers (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 10[9]/0
Details: Finally signed for Carlisle in August of this year, and has quickly made himself at home in the far north-west. For the previous four years he had been situated in the Lancashire area, with Premiership newcomers Blackburn and Bolton. He was a regular in the reserve teams of both sides, but it was not enough to give him a start at any form of the senior game. He moved to Brunton Park, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract, and he has been in and out of the side since.
Brendan McGill
Squad Number: 20
Position: Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 9st 2lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (28 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Sunderland (0/0), Carlisle United [loan] (28/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 24[5]/2
Details: Having plyed his trade for the Cumbrians on a three-moth loan deal last season, he joined Carlisle on the first day of August last year. A speedy winger who can operate on either flank, he will prove to be a handful for whoever he is up against on Saturday. A member of the Eire Under-21 squad, McGill was not getting a chance at the Stadium of Light, and the move to the north-west made sense. Tricky and skilful, he is in the mode of Tony Scully, although with a little more stamina.
Jon McCarthy
Squad Number: 24
Position: Midfielder
Age: 32 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (436 League Appearances/ 50 Goals): Hartlepool United (1/0), Shepshed Charter (no figures available), York City (199/31), Port Vale (94/11), Birmingham City (124/8), Sheffield Wednesday [loan] (4/0), Port Vale (8/0), Doncaster Rovers (1/0), York City (1/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 19[4]/1 (7[1]/1 for Carlisle United)
Details: On a month-to-month contract with the Brunton Park outfit since his release from a contract at York City. Indeed, the midfielder’s career has been a strange one. Talented on the ball, McCarthy started out at Hartlepool United, but was released having made just one League appearance. A three-year gap out of the professional game ensued, but York signed him after seeing him at Shepshed Charter. Having played in over 200 League and Cup games for the Bootham Crescent side, he then went to Port Vale, where he was a regular for two years under John Rudge. Trevor Francis saw his talents, and snapped him up for Birmingham. After the St. Andrews’ legends departure as manager, he was frozen out by Steve Bruce, and after a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday last season, he proceeded to try out his old clubs at the beginning of this having been released by City. Both Vale and the Minstermen took him on, but not permanently, and he now poses a real threat in the Third Division for Carlisle.
Mark Summerbell
Squad Number: 25
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 11st 1lb
Born: Durham
Career (61 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Middlesbrough (51/1), Bristol City [loan] (5/0), Portsmouth [loan] (5/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 26/0
Details: Summerbell is another rejected footballer, although with a little more experience than some of his team-mates. Having enjoyed six seasons at Middlesbrough, he was loaned to Bristol City and Portsmouth during the 2001/2 campaign as he looked to get a regular first-team spot. Neither chose to retain the 26-year-old, but he signed for Carlisle midway through August, and has been virtually ever-present since. Born in the north, he is no stranger to the tough conditions that prevail at Brunton Park.
Matt Glennon
Squad Number: 27
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 24 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 9lbs
Born: Stockport
Career (56 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Bolton Wanderers (0/0), Port Vale [loan] (0/0), Stockport County [loan] (0/0), Bristol Rovers [loan] (1/0), Carlisle United [loan] (29/0), Hull City (26/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 19/0
Details: Goalkeeper who has come through to establish himself as the only shotstopper in the Cumbrians squad. Had the strange credential that he had played most of career at Carlisle before he had signed for them! The reserve team ‘keeper at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium, Glennon was loaned to Brunton Park during the 2000/1 season, when he became a crowd favourite thanks to some outstanding displays. Bolton wanted £30,000 for his services, but Carlisle could not afford it and it was Hull that secured the custodians services. Glennon was not always the first choice at Boothferry Park, and he jumped at the chance to join Carlisle on a full-time basis. So far, he has kept five clean sheets in his 19 appearances.
Des Byrne
Squad Number: 29
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (18 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Stockport County (2/0), St. Patrick’s Athletic (11/0), Wimbledon (1/0), Cambridge United [loan] (4/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 7[2]/0
Details: Two appearances for Stockport were the only remnants of Byrne’s first spell in English football. He returned to his native Ireland, where he impressed many top Premiership clubs with some consistent displays for St. Patrick’s Athletic. Wimbledon splashed out £100,000 for the Dubliner, but he only played one game in Division One for the soon-to-be Milton Keynes-based team, and he was loaned out to Cambridge in August last season. However, without any prospect of first-team action with the Dons, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender was eager to join the Cumbrians in October of 2002.
Adam Rundle
Squad Number: 33
Position: Forward
Age: 18 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 2lbs
Born: Durham
Career (12 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Darlington (12/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 3[3]/0 (0[1]/0 for Carlisle United)
Details: Rundle joined Carlisle from Darlington on the penultimate day of 2002, and made his debut against Hartlepool two days later as a substitute for Brendan McGill. Durham-born, and with a decent amount of experience for an eighteen year-old behind him, Rundle is looking to impress with Richie Foran off the boil.
Craig Farrell
Squad Number: 34
Position: Forward
Age: 20 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 11lbs
Born: Middlesbrough
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Leeds United (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 17[1]/8
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com