Eden-based Carlisle United coach Gavin Skelton said the players were “not carried away at all” after a dramatic win which secured them a coveted showpiece game at Wembley Stadium this weekend as they target promotion to a higher division.
Lifelong Blues fan Gavin, who grew up at Kirkby Thore and lives at Appleby, is first team coach with the Brunton Park club and together with boss Paul Simpson has masterminded a dramatic turnaround in the side’s fortunes in recent months.
United play in the fourth tier of the English Football League, League 2, and are just one win from gaining promotion to League 1 — two levels below the Premier League.
United beat Bradford City 2-1 in a play-off on Saturday in front of more than 15,000 spectators at a raucous Brunton Park to claim an aggregate victory after the two teams played each other home and away.
Thousands of United fans will now travel to Wembley knowing that a win over Stockport County this Sunday (1-30pm, live on Sky Sports) will secure promotion.
“It was a great day, I really enjoyed it, Gavin said of last weekend’s excellent victory. “We can’t wait for Wembley. We want to win it. We’re not there for the day out.”
Gavin, 42, made eight appearances for Carlisle during a senior career which also saw him play a major role in Gretna’s meteoric rise to Scotland’s top flight. This weekend will be the first trip to Wembley of his playing and coaching career.
And he spoke to the Herald after joining a Carlisle United legends squad who took on past Penrith AFC players in a motor neurone disease research fundraiser in the town on Sunday.
“It was brilliant but I felt drained, jiggered to be fair. Emotion took over at the end, it was a really good day,” he said of the Bradford triumph.
“I’ve never heard the ground bouncing like it did for years. It was a proper good day. You want a bit more of it and we want to win at Wembley.
“It’s nice to enjoy the good times and when you get good times you want more of them. We’re not carried away at all. Straight away, once we’d finished, I was thinking about Sunday and that’s what it’s all about.”
His parents along with sister and 2022 Strictly Come Dancing finalist Helen, were also at Frenchfield on Sunday.
“I’m sure the lads enjoyed themselves on Saturday night but it’s back to training Monday. There’s no point going to Wembley to get beat,” added Gavin.
“There’s a good feeling at the club and you want more of it. It’s miles better than it was 14 or 15 months ago. We had some dark moments in football terms but it’s really good at the moment.”
