Carlisle United 2025/2026 Review Part One « Vital Football
Well, the dust has settled on a fascinating season of national league football for Carlisle United, and I thought I’d take a look at the Blues’ highs and their lows in a year so unpredictable in a two-part piece. In part one I pick my favourite match, favourite signing and favourite touchline shenanigans.
The Best Match of the 25/26 Season
For this one, I decided to go for the rather obvious game, and that is, of course, the away fixture in the first round proper of the FA Cup away from home to League One opposition, Reading.
Lewis Wing, the thirty-year-old number 10 wearing the captain’s armband, would put the Royals ahead after 32 minutes into the tie, followed by the 21-year-old substitute Mark O’Mahony in the 68th minute to make it two-nil.
But when all seemed over, with folks planning the journey back home, the on-fire super sub Reagn Linney would find the net twice in eight minutes to put the game into added time; he would then of course, grab his trick three minutes into added time to send the blues into the second round of the FA Cup
The Best Signing of the Season
Now this is tricky to say. I put it to you, the fans, to decide who your player of the season was, and after hundreds of votes the decision was the captain, Morgan Feeney, whom we signed for free after his contract at Shrewsbury Town had expired.
When he departed the club after securing promotion for the Blues in 2023, it always felt as if we hadn’t replaced him, and there was a lack of leadership and motivation amongst the back in almost every game. Re-signing him has truly been one of the smartest moves the club has made in recent years, with him delivering on the pitch every week, and the club is extremely lucky to have, in my opinion, a top League Two level, perhaps even lower League One style, player in the ranks, and his pure devotion to providing success for the club should not be underestimated.
Now though, my other thought on this is the star man up top, Regan Linney, the club’s top goalscorer and probably the best winger we’ve had for some time (we’ve had good but not great like Regan). He signed from Altrincham this summer; he’s been a breath of fresh air in the Carlisle attack force that has been virtually non-existent for the previous two seasons.
Some people point out that at times his lack of effort when things go sour is a call for concern, and perhaps they have a point, but the overwhelming standout success of his is too much to simply ignore and focus on the negatives. The reality is this: without him, we would not have finished where we did. Just cast your memory to all those times he saved us within the last few kicks of the game.
Therefore, looking at both options, I’ve decided they can both share the honour.
Favourite Touchline Shenanigans
Well, it’s an obvious one to say the least; I’ve gone for the temper tantrum by a man with long hair, and that is, of course, Robbie Savage. For those who can’t remember, the Forest Green Rovers boss turned up at BP with a rule the world attitude (perhaps he listened to Tears for Fears on the coach up) and stood in front of the Paddock, licking his lips and posing in front of a well-known, no-nonsense section of supporters.
During the match he would consistently wind up the paddock behind the dugouts, but he soon forgot about his behaviour once his side was beaten, and after the game he offered his views to DAZN.
The man from Wrexham would then say he was subject to “horrendous abuse” and would go on for a good few minutes about how the FA and the league (National League) need to take action to protect management and players; he would also criticise stewarding and the club (Carlisle) for their lack of protection.
However, when asked by the interviewer on TV if there should be punishment, he said “no”, and for a follow-up question of whether he or the club will make a complaint, he said “no”. The following day a complaint was made to the FA. The jokes write themselves.
But the crisis wouldn’t end there with him going on national radio (TalkSport) to discuss the abuse he received, and it was briefly discussed on his Radio 5Live show.
The incident would then become bigger with FGR owner Dale Vince going on X and comparing Carlisle supporters to Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from Israel, which only added more anger towards a furious Blues fanbase. Still no evidence of any form of abuse was made public.
This is what he had to say below
The Blues would then receive support from multiple ex-players/managers, with ex-Aston Villa player Gabby Agbonlahor being the most notable as he launched a scathing attack on Robbie on TalkSport
The incident was dropped by the FA with no findings of abuse. You can read the results of the FA investigation by clicking here.
James Denwood
