Carlisle United went through to the FA Cup third round last night after a 1-0 victory over League Two rivals Forest Green Rovers.
Although the result gave new head coach Chris Beech his first win in charge in his first home game, the evening marked the third-lowest FA Cup crowd in the club’s history at Brunton Park.
Admittedly the weather was awful, and Forest Green are not noted for a healthy away following, but the figure of 1736 is worryingly low and saw the match played out in an eerie atmosphere at a ground that can hold nearly 18,000.
A first-half header from defender Aaron White was enough to see the Cumbrians book a trip to Championship outfit Cardiff City in the next round. Nonetheless, much of the talk after the game on social media amongst supporters was the lack of home support at the match.
Many see the dreadful turn out as a message to the corridors of power that fans are not happy with how the club is being run. Carlisle are twenty-second in League Two just five points off the bottom and parted company with manager Steven Pressley last month. Beech was hardly an appointment that set the pulses racing, and despite not yet tasting defeat under his brief stewardship, many fans still fear for their EFL survival.
Although the win was welcome and earned the club £56,000 in prize money, the Cumbrians host Grimsby at the weekend in a massive league fixture and it will be interesting to see how many fans make an effort to attend the game.
From the outside looking in, it undoubtedly appears the club is disengaged from its historically loyal fanbase.
Here is a selection of responses on Twitter to last night’s announcement of the attendance.
Maybe now they'll take notice
— Simon Tunstall (@tunny2311) December 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/leecufc0/status/1204501083768459266?s=20
For reference – Carlisle played a replay against Gillingham in 2017 at the same stage in the #EmiratesFACup and the attendance was still 2,357 (88) even despite a frozen pitch pushing the tie back 24 hours to Wednesday on the previous morning. From bad to worse. #CUFC https://t.co/MDCbNLnkni
— Nathan Ridley (@nathan_ridley_) December 10, 2019
I've been a JPT trophy match in after a blizzard , with -4 weather with more than that , Even with the weather is a sign of how disengaged fans have become
— Gary wylie (@Grwylie) December 10, 2019
Custodians out
— Calum Murray (@cjmurray007) December 10, 2019
Less than the last 5 or 6 Barrow attendances
— PW (@waltonyeah) December 10, 2019
They’ll not bat an eyelid Jon, blame it on the weather and Champions League night!
— David Sowden (@Halpinforpope) December 10, 2019
Wow!!! This is dreadful!!! Wake up #carlisleunited #cufc @officialcufc sell the club now. https://t.co/hqwfjrqPOc
— Andy Munnings (@AMunnings) December 10, 2019
