Carlisle RLFC

Carlisle RLFC were a rugby league team based in Carlisle, Cumbria.

History

Carlisle City were admitted to the Northern Rugby Football League in 1928-29 but withdrew after only ten games. They won 1 and lost 9, scoring 59 and conceding 166.

In April 1981, Carlisle RLFC were admitted to the Rugby Football League, playing at Carlisle United's Brunton Park. They were coached by Allan Agar and Nigel Stephenson. The club finished second in the Second Division at gained promotion in their first season. Their average attendance was 2,950 in that season. Agar departed as coach.

They made their debut in the First Division with a 7-10 home defeat against Wigan at Brunton Park. Attendances plummeted in the First Division when they finished bottom and were relegated.

Thereafter the club was plagued by debts and poor attendances. They moved to Gillford Park for the 1988-89 season as they were not able to afford the rent on Brunton Park.

They became Carlisle Border Raiders for the 1990-91 season but continued to struggle. When a Rupert Murdoch funded Super League competition was proposed, part of the deal was that some traditional clubs would merge. Carlisle were to merge with Whitehaven RLFC, Workington Town and Barrow to form "Cumbria" who would compete in Super League. This was, however, resisted.

Home crowds struggled to get into four figures and at the end of the 1997 season they merged with Barrow Braves to form "Barrow Border Raiders". Their last league match on 20 July 1997 had produced a record score of 72-10 against another doomed side Prescot Panthers. Their final game was at home against Workington on 7 September 1997 which they lost 34-24 in front of a crowd of 453. The merged team played all its matches in Barrow and in 2002 dropped the 'Border' from its name.

Rugby league in Carlisle

Rugby league in Carlisle is now represented by Carlisle Centurions in the Rugby League Conference Premier Northern division.

Carlisle is also represented at under-16 level in the Cumberland under-16 rugby league by the Rickerby Saints ARLFC.

ources

* [http://members.tripod.com/peterflower/table.htm http://members.tripod.com/peterflower/table.htm]