The Brunton Bugle - A Carlisle United Podcast

Our summer break is over and the Brunton Bugle is back to bring you an update on what's been happening down Warwick Road so far during pre-seaon. From departures and arrivals to the new home kit launch and fixture list reveal, we've got it all covered! Lots discussed in this episode, including: 📰 General News Round-Up 👕 New Home Kit Launch 🤝 New Signings Update 🗓️ Fixtures Released 🔵 Ex-Blues...

It's a bit of a departure from the normal Brunton Bugle fare this week, as we go international to look ahead to this summer's World Cup in USA, Mexico and Canada! The lads cover a variety of topics - from CUFC connections to past World Cups, to the former Blues representing the Three Lions at this year's tournament! We also look at England's hopes, the rest of the teams travelling to North America...

It only took 25 days, but United have finally given an update on the Head Coach situation at Brunton Park and it's all change for the 26/27 season - Mark Hughes departs by mutual consent, with former Gateshead and Crawley boss Rob Elliot stepping into the hotseat. While it took a while, the clarity is clearly much appreicated from the Blues support. We take the time to look back on Sparky's time i...

So we're twelve days on from the play-off semi-final defeat to Boreham Wood and we're still none-the-wiser on who will be the manager next season. As it stands, Mark Hughes' rolling contract remains in place but the club nor the manager himself have yet to confirm this - is it time for an update?! While the manager's future is still unclear, the retained list is now out and it's pretty much as exp...

There'll be no trip to Wembley this year for United as their promotion dream came crashing down at Brunton Park on Sunday, with Boreham Wood securing their place in the final with a 2-1 extra-time win. With another season in the National League now confirmed, we ask the question - what next? Should Mark Hughes stay as manager? If not, who replaces him? Which players should be kept in the retained...

A glorious day in the sun and a perfect end to the regular season for United - a 3-0 win over already relegated Brackley, game time for squad players and no new injuries. Perfect preperation for the drama of the play-offs! With United set to face Boreham Wood this weekend infront of an almost sell-out crowd at Brunton Park, can they get their first win over the Wood this season and progress to Wem...

United's longest ever domestic away trip ended in a win - but it certainly wasn't a a classic as they beat Truro City 1-0 at the weekend and picked up three points that secure third place and a home-tie in the play-off semi-finals. Almost 900 Blues enjoyed the long trip south and a great weekend in the Cornish sunshine - maybe the less said about the actual football the better?! We look back on th...

Dan is back on the pod for the first time in a while and what better time to do it than ahead of one of the most anticipated away league fixtures United have played in a long time. First, we take a look back on the routine 3-0 win over Sutton United at Brunton Park which leaves United needing just one more win to secure third place and go straight into the play-off semi-finals. Can they get those...

A pair of entertaining draws against Gateshead and Morecambe over Easter could have put a huge dent in United's hopes to finish in third place and go straight into the play-off semi-finals, but two contrasting results for Boreham Wood mean the gap only shortened by one point, and with three games left to go, that five-point gap means United remain in the best position to gain home advantage in ear...

Something a little bit different this Easter Weekend - a bonus episode! Instead of packaging our usual "Behind Enemy Lines" chat with an opposition fan into the main episode, we've done it as an extended stand alone, and it's a really good one (if I do say so myself!). This week, we're chatting with Dave Salmon , Morecambe FC commentator for Beyond Radio and a fan of the Shrimps for more years tha...

While it certainly wasn't a classic, United's 2-1 win at Braintree Town does mean that they will now officially extend their season into the play-offs - and with Boreham Wood only drawing at Truro, third place is looking more secure than ever. With a top 7 finish now guaranteed, it's all steam ahead for that route straight into the play-off semi-finals, starting this weekend with a double-header a...

A miserable evening in West Yorkshire saw United dig in and come away with another valuable three points, completing the double over Halifax and keeping a tight grip on third place, despite the best intentions of Boreham Wood. Next up for the Blues is a trip south to face Braintree - can United secure another double this season and contine to hold on to that home advantage for the play-offs? We lo...

A perfect response from United after the disappointment of defeat at tamworth as they come from behind to hammer in-form Boston 6-2 at Brunton Park - can this be the start of a successful run-in to build up form for the play-offs? The next test for the Blues is a midweek trip to play-off hopefuls Halifax Town, as Sparky's lads look to cement their grip on third place in the table. We look back on...

It seems this season that when United lose a game, it's on the back of a turgid performance - and this one was no different, as part-timers Tamworth ran-out deserved winners at The Lamb Ground last weekend. The Blues barely turned up against the Lambs and while it wasn't quite a slaughter, it needs to act as a wake-up call as they look to try and secure third place and enter the play-offs in good...

A couple of contrasting performances for United in the space of a few days - the win at Aldershot in midweek a great example of how to defend a half-time 2-0 lead, the draw with Southend at the weekend... less so. All-in all, the Blues remain secure in third place for now and will be looking to continue that this weekend at Tamworth. Will the artificial surface play a part? Has the ground improved...

As we've said many times this season, it wasn't a game for the purists at the weekend but most importantly, it was back to winning ways for United as they had a relatively comfortable afternoon on the south coast, with a 2-1 victory at Eastleigh. Up next is United's last game this season against a side in the (current) top 7, as Southend make the long journey north for what is promising to be a bu...

A bump back down to earth? More like a crash-landing for the Blues on the North Sea coast as they are well beaten by play-off chasing Hartlepool, nipping in the bud any of those little glimmers of hope people were building for a potential late top-spot push. Can United bounce back straight away and keep a tight grip on third place? We look back on the 3-1 loss to the Monkey Hangers, before preview...

A comfortable afternoon's work for United sees them easily beat Yeovil and open up a decent gap to fourth place - but can they keep in touch with the top two and hope for some major slip-ups? We look back on the 3-0 win over the Glovers before we preview the midweek trip over the north east to take on Hartlepool United and their collapsing away end seats. Lots discussed in this episode, including:...

Dan makes his first appearance on the pod of 2026 and what at time to do it - an excellent week for United as they pick up two wins, complete two doubles, six points added and six goals scored! (let's ignore the three conceded for now!). The win over FGR puts United firmly in pole position to secure that vital third place in the league... but could they go one or two better?! We look back on the 3...

After the cautious approach at Rochdale at the weekend, it was a bit more front-foot for United in midweek and it paid dividends as they ran out 3-2 winners over Scunthorpe, three points that could be vital in the battle for third place come the end of the season. With that game out of the way, all focus now is on the trip south to face Forest Green Rovers - another fixture that could be pivotal i...

A tight-encounter at Spotland sees high-flying Rochdale come out the winners and keep their grip on top spot - for United, it looks like play-offs or bust this season with 16 games left to play. We look back on the 1-0 defeat to Dale at the weekend, before previewing the huge midweek clash with Scunthorpe at Brunton Park, where third will face fourth in a battle that could go some way to earning a...

A routine win for United at Brunton Park ahead of a tricky run of fixtures - and an even bigger positive, Charlie Wyke back on the pitch after almost 16 months out! It was pretty straight forward for the Blues against Alty last weekend, but with Rochdale, Scunthorpe and Forest Green all coming up in the space of 8 days, are they ready to face a potentially season-defining week of fixtures? We look...

United's title hopes were given a stark reality check last time out as a ruthless York City side continued their march towards a 100 goal season by winning 3-0 at Brunton Park - is it time to accept top spot is out of reach, or can the Blues turn things around for the run-in? We take a look back at the sobering defeat to the Minstermen last time out, before looking ahead to Altrincham's first ever...

Big Georgie Kelly gets his first hat-trick for the Blues, but it's still not enough to secure all three points as a very rare Gabe Breeze clanger gifts Solihull a late equaliser and denies United the chance to move into top spot in the division. But they get another chance to go into first place in midweek and what a game to do it in, as last season's runners up and this season's free-scorers York...

It's three wins and three clean sheets in a row for Untied as they comfortably see off Wealdstone to go top of the table on an ice-affected day in the National League - is consistent and steady performances going to be the key to United gaining promotion this season? We look back on the 2-0 win over the Stones before previewing this weekend's long trip south to Kent to take on Isthmian League side...