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Readers name their childhood Carlisle United heroes
Who was your Carlisle United hero growing up?
It's a question we asked our readers - and they came forward with a host of Blues favourites.
Hundreds of supporters in our Facebook group, Carlisle United from the News & Star, took the opportunity to mention the United players they idolised in their early days watching the Cumbrians.
Top of the list in terms of the number of fans to mention him was Carlisle-born wing wizard George McVitie, who starred in two spells at Brunton Park.
Close behind was Peter Beardsley, who shone in the late 1970s and early 1980s before going on to bigger things.
Peter Beardsley was another popular player among fans (Image: News & Star)
And the classy Chris Balderstone, who graced United with his cultured play in the 1960s and 1970s, was another popular pick.
He was followed by the great Hughie McIlmoyle, a goalscoring legend across three spells.
1990s striker and captain David Reeves was another common choice by fans.
Others to get plenty of picks included 1970s forward Joe Laidlaw and top-flight team-mates such as Ray Train, John Gorman and the club's record appearance holder, goalkeeper Allan Ross.
Joe Laidlaw was a popular player from United's 1970s heroes (Image: News & Star)
The maverick skills of Stan Bowles made him a hero to many, with 1980s midfield star Ian Bishop and wing ace John Halpin others who many fans nominated.
From the 1990s, Dean Walling was another favourite who got numerous mentions, as did Rod Thomas, David Currie and Derek Mountfield.
Home-grown star Matt Jansen was a hero to several, likewise French defender Stephane Pounewatchy, 1970s hitman Billy Rafferty, 1980s goal ace Malcolm Poskett and fellow striker Bob Hatton, a prolific scorer in the late-60s and early-70s.
From more recent decades, Michael Bridges was a popular pick.
In total some 91 Blues players were named by our readers.
Others hailed as a childhood hero by fans included Ivor Broadis, Warren Aspinall, Nigel Saddington, Ian Dalziel, Dave McKellar, Ginger Thompson, Gordon Staniforth, Pop Robson, Tommy Passmoor, Steve Hayward, Simon Davey, Paul Conway, Tony Hopper, Terry Caldwell, Paul Proudlock, Russ Coughlin, Jack Ashurst, Don O'Riordan, Trevor Swinburne, David Kemp, Paul Haigh, Frank Clarke, Frank Sharp, Jeff Thorpe, Glenn Murray, Dick Young, Alf Ackerman, Alan Shoulder, Bob Moncur, Paul Bannon, Danny Grainger, Charlie Wyke, Joe Livingstone, Ian Harte, Ian MacDonald, Lee Peacock, Rory Delap, Scott Dobie, Magno Vieira, Karl Hawley, Paul Simpson, Paul Thirlwell, Peter Murphy, Simon Hackney, Danny Livesey, Kevin Gray, Zigor Aranalde, Joe Garner, Danny Graham, John Cooke, Brent Hetherington, Les O'Neill, Stan Ternent, Bobby Owen, Mick Tait, Kevin Gray, Vincent Pericard, Francois Zoko, Darren Edmondson, Billy Hogan, Jack Lindsay, David Wilson, Eric Welsh, Bill Graham and one from the current team - Jon Mellish.
