Carlisle United players and owners reveal dream opening day fixture

A number of Carlisle United players and the Blues owners have revealed their dream opening day fixture.

Paul Simpson's squad are set to return for pre-season training on Monday, June 24, two days before the Blues will find out their schedule for the 2024/24 League Two season.

The English Football League (EFL) will release the fixture schedule for the upcoming Championship, League One, and League Two seasons at 9 am on Wednesday, June 26.

Ahead of the release of this schedule, a number of Blues players and the club's co-owners, including new signings Jude Smith, Cameron Harper, and Terell Thomas revealed who they would like to face on the opening day of the season.

When asked by the club's media team, Taylor Charters, Cameron Harper, Sam Lavelle, and Blues co-owner Nick DeMasi, all opted for an opening-day showdown with Cumbrian rivals Barrow AFC.

The Blues are set to face the Bluebirds for the first time in two years when they did the double over Pete Wild's side.

However, they will face a new look Barrow under the stewardship of Stephen Clemence after Wild left the club at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Jack Armer and Alfie McCalmont selected a clash with Bradford City, with Robsinson specifying that he wanted to face the Bantams at Valley Parade.

Carlisle fans will need no reminding of the last time that the Blues faced Bradford City.

Tom Piatak II, Jenna Piatak-DeMasi, and Jude Smith chose Tranmere or Crewe, Port Vale, and Doncaster respectively, whilst Ben Barclay and Jack Robinson went for the more optimistic choices of Manchester United or any Madrdi club.

Finally, Dylan McGeouch, Anton Dudik, and Dan Butterworth were also no specific with their answers, instead opting to say that the most important thing about the opening fixture is securing the first three points of the season.

The Blues' first game of the season will take place over the weekend of August 10/11 with the regular league campaign ending on May 2, 2025.