Where there’s Carlisle there’s a chance

Congratulations to the Cumbrians. I watched both the L2 semi-finals and their win on penalties and they were deservedly promoted back to L1 after an 8 year absence.

Carlisle United away at the end of April please FL fixture computer!

After the Carlisle game finished I switched over to make sure I watched Jeff Stelling’s last show. What an absolute legend that man is, and it is difficult to imagine Soccer Saturday ever being the same again. At the close Sky did a fantastic tribute, and if you didn’t get to see it, it’s here.

I always remember fondly sitting next to him at a dinner I got invited to as an old friend of mine is bestie’s with Jeff’s wife Lizzie. He really is such a down to earth bloke and we talked Hartlepool and Charlton all night.

After today we will know the make-up of next season’s L1 which will see either Sheffield Wednesday or Barnsley depart. Even with one of them remaining it does look a little easier on paper. Bradford, and maybe even Salford would have brought a bigger playing budget than the three that went up, and coming down Reading have issues and Wigan have already been docked 8 points.

The three that were relegated the season previous – Peterborough, Derby and Barnsley each finished in the top 7, not so sure that Blackpool, Wigan and Reading offer that kind of threat.

Likewise although Forest Green went straight back down, Bristol Rovers, Port Vale and Exeter City all comfortably held their own.

We have many barriers to entry for our own push for promotion next season, but with Carlisle United on the fixture list, there must always be a chance.