THE GROUND
Brunton Park
Warwick Road
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 1LL
The 18,202 capacity Brunton Park has been home to Carlisle United since 1909.
It is a traditional ground with standing areas behind both goals and only one all-seater stand.
The uncovered Waterworks End is seldom open and away fans are usually housed in the end blocks of The Story Homes Stand, the all-seater stand opposite the players’ changing rooms and dug outs.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
It is approximately 312 miles from Griffin Park to Brunton Park by road.
Brunton Park is easily accessible from junction 43 of the M6 – when you come off the junction take the Warwick Road towards the City Centre and the ground is on the right.
There is parking available at Brunton Park for a fee.
The nearest station is Carlisle Citadel, which is less than a mile away.
To get to Carlisle by train requires catching a Virgin Trains service from Euston.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will play at home to Carlisle on Saturday August 31.
The Bees will travel to the Scottish borders for the return clash on Saturday March 1.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Carlisle are now an established League One club after an up and down period in the 1990s.
This will be their eighth season in the third tier and while they have flirted with relegation on occasion, and finished closer to the bottom than the top last season, things are better than they were a few years ago.
The Cumbrians went on a roller-coaster ride through the late 1990s and early part of the new Millennium – they yo-yoed between the third and fourth tiers and only stayed in the Football League in 1999 thanks to a last second goal from goalkeeper Jimmy Glass.
They eventually went down in 2004 – when they lost 18 of their first 21 games – but won back-to-back promotions under Paul Simpson and have been at this level ever since.
They almost went one better in 2008 when they reached the play-offs under John Ward, only to lose to Leeds United after winning the first leg at Elland Road.
The Cumbrians almost went down a year later, avoiding relegation by a point in a season where Ward was replaced by Greg Abbott, but have finished no lower than mid-table since.
Last term they finished 17th in League One, seven points clear of the relegation zone and 19 off the Play-Off spots.
Their home record cost them dear as only two teams – Bury and Hartlepool United – won fewer at home and their only victory at Brunton Park in their last seven games was against Brentford.
Carlisle have also established a bit of a love affair with the Football League Trophy.
They have reached the final six times, more than any other club, and won it twice.
Their last win came in 2011 when they beat Brentford 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.
THE MANAGER
Greg Abbott has been in charge at Brunton Park since December 2008, when John Ward left.
The 49-year-old kept Carlisle up in his first season, albeit only just, and led them to improving mid-table finishes in his two full seasons at the helm and a Play-Off push in 2011/12 before a drop off last term.
He has also taken them to Wembley twice in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, losing to Southampton in 2010 and beating Brentford in April.
Abbott’s playing days saw him play most notably for Bradford City and Hull City.
THE TOP SCORER
Lee Miller scored 9 for Carlisle last season, all of which came in League One.
The 30-year-old striker signed for Carlisle in August 2011 from Middlesbrough and hit his goals in just 23 games.
The powerful forward started out at Falkirk and has also played for Bristol City, Dundee United and Aberdeen as well as having loan spells at Notts County and Scunthorpe United.
THE KEY MEN
Carlisle are set for a turnover of players this season with seven leaving and top scorer Lee Miller yet to sign up.
Wide men Jon-Paul McGovern and Andy Welsh, defenders Frank Simek and Peter Murphy and goalkeeper Adam Collin are leaving along with forwards Mathieu Manset and Rory Loy.
Striker Miller has been offered a new deal but has yet to sign.
However, Paul Thirlwell, Matty Robson, Danny Livesey and Josh Todd have agreed new deals with The Cumbrians have signed winger David Amoo.
Midfield players James Berrett, Brad Potts and Liam Noble were, along with Thirlwell, mainstays in the centre of the park last year while Mike Edwards and Sean O’Hanlon were partners for Livesey.
Carlisle will be looking to add goals to the side as no player scored more than nine in all competitions.
THE FIRST MEETING
January 11 1908, FA Cup First Round – Brentford 2 Carlisle United 2
Brentford line-up: Montgomery; Watson, Clark; Jay, Parsonage, Tomlinson; Brown, Hagan, Bowman, Corbett, Underwood
Brentford goal scorers: Bowman, Corbett
Brentford lost the replay 3-1 after extra time.
THE LAST MEETING
March 9 2013, npower League One – Carlisle United 2 Brentford 0
Brentford line-up: S. Moore, Logan, Dean, L. Moore, Craig; Douglas, Diagouraga; Donaldson (sub Wright-Phillips), Forshaw (sub Adams), Dallas; Trotta
Subs (not used): Lee, Hodson, Adeyemi, Reeves, Hayes
A goal in each half meant Brentford were beaten in Cumbria.
Click here for a full report.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
March 14 1998, Nationwide League Division Two – Carlisle United 1 Brentford 2
Brentford line-up: Dearden; Hutchings, Cullip, McGhee (sub Scott), Hogg, Watson; Cockerill (sub Canham), Aspinall, Oatway (sub Rapley); Taylor, Thompson
Brentford goal scorers: Hogg, Scott
Brentford had not won away from home in the league since April 1997 and trailed at half time before Graeme Hogg levelled it up and Andy Scott scored a late winner.