On the pitch, first back for pre-season were the Blues’ latest intake of first-year youth YTS players. Among them was a kid thought to have a promising future: Matthew Jansen from Wetheral.
At first-team level, meanwhile, the evolution of Mick Wadsworth’s team was never going to be wholesale after Carlisle’s impressive gallop into the Division Three play-offs in 1993/94. Yet the hope that the Blues could translate that into a solid promotion charge in 94/95 saw the need for certain additions all the same.
Those made by Wadsworth were, in the event, inspired. As the first-team players arrived back for training, there was a new face among the more familiar figures. The long-haired, moustachioed player working with the Blues squad was David Currie, the former Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic and Barnsley forward.
He had been coached by Wadsworth at the latter club, yet talk of a swift agreement was cooled by United’s director of coaching. “No deal has been sealed yet,” Wadsworth said.
Spool forward a few hours, and Currie was a signed-up Carlisle player. After talks with chairman Michael Knighton later that day, Currie signed a permanent deal, to the great delight of his new boss.
Former Forest, Oldham and Barnsley forward Currie joined the Blues (Image: News & Star)
“It’s brilliant news – the biggest signing for this club, apart from David Reeves, for many years,” Wadsworth said. “It’s great.”
The Teessider was expected to add some canny qualities to United’s attack, to supplement the pacy and relentless Reeves and the jinking skills of Rod Thomas. Currie was impressed by what he found at United, who were on an ambitious new path under Knighton.
“This is a club that could take off,” Currie said. “They are a big club by Division Three standards. People have been telling me that United get crowds of eight, nine and ten thousands. I like the big crowds because I am an entertainer. It’s the way I have always tried to play.”
Currie’s entertainment value had once convinced Brian Clough to sign him for Nottingham Forest, yet now the 31-year-old forward was content to step down levels to play first-team football again.
He was not the only one.
Soon afterwards, Carlisle were linked with another player of higher profile than Currie. The next star to try his hand with the Blues was Derek Mountfield, the title and cup-winning former Everton centre-back.
The former Everton star was Carlisle's latest pre-season capture in 1994 (Image: News & Star)
Mountfield, an England B international who also played for Aston Villa, was available after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was an ambitious move and once again Wadsworth offered a sober initial take.
“Derek will be spending a couple of days training with us so we can look at him and he can have a look at us,” said the United boss.
After those two days, the prospect of a deal appeared to be drifting. The issue, according to reports, was whether Mountfield would wish to make the move given the travelling involved from his Midlands home.
“We are just waiting to hear from Derek, but I’m not too hopeful,” said Wadsworth, who was said to be pursuing alternatives, such as Chester City’s Colin Greenall.
Yet, as with Currie, the resolution came quickly. Soon after that rather gloomy remark from Wadsworth, Mountfield was a Carlisle player. He signed a month-to-month contract and the 31-year-old would add an illustrious reputation to a Carlisle centre-back line which was already staffed solidly by Dean Walling and Peter Valentine.
Derek Mountfield was a star player in United's memorable 1994/95 season (Image: News & Star)
“He is a very fine player and will be a major asset,” enthused owner Knighton. “I hope he captures the imagination of supporters. He has been to other third division clubs but we looked the most professional outfit he has seen.”
Typical Knighton bluster? In this case, no – for Mountfield’s signing, as well as that of Currie, proved inspired business. Initially Mountfield felt his way into things via friendlies, the defender facing pre-season opponents such as Ponteland United along with trialists such as American goalkeeper Tod Hoffard, who was a friend of midfielder Paul Conway. Currie had by then made his own bow against Gala Fairydean and also joined the Blues squad at that summer’s Isle of Man tournament.
As the serious stuff approached, Carlisle’s prospects were being talked up by various sources – not least the bookmakers. Wadsworth’s side were made 6/1 favourites to win the Division Three title by Ladbrokes, having been 33/1 at the start of the previous campaign.
Mountfield, one of the new stars, was optimistic enough. “I’m impressed with the quality of the squad – it’s a very strong one – and the potential of the club,” the defender said.
“I must stress I have not come here to put myself in the shop window. I am looking forward to the start of the season and playing for Carlisle. I just love the game and enjoy playing. I think Carlisle can be challenging for honours.”
With Currie and Mountfield on board, indeed they could. When 1994/95 came around, with the two signings in Wadsworth’s opening-day XI, the Blues served notice of their intent straight away, defeating Wigan Athletic 2-1 and ending a wait since 1965 for a home win on the opening day of a new season.
Currie added craft to United's title-winning attack in 1994/95 (Image: News & Star)
Currie provided the first goal of the campaign, with a curling free-kick headed home by Reeves, and from there that combination and the rest of Wadsworth’s side clicked beautifully. It flourished into a season that exceeded high expectation, as United swept to the title and also reached Wembley for the first time in the Auto-Windscreens Shield.
They topped the table with 91 points from their 42 league games – a record ratio – and with a green, red and white ‘deckchair’ away kit that also captured the colourful mood: the Blues galloping to glory with a young and ambitious side, guided along the way by their wise older heads.