Rallying cry

Gordon has been a supporter of Carlisle United Football Club since he was a boy and went with his dad. Later he went on his own on the train from Silloth to Carlisle. Since moving back up here he has been to every home game that he could and eventually he got a season ticket. So, of course he has been very disappointed in the months since March when no games have been played.

Small clubs like Carlisle have been badly hit from the lockdown, as virtually all its funds come from ticket sales. So, there is  now a fund-raising campaign, backed by the re-release of an anthem written and recorded by Tim Barker, who first released it in 1974 for the moment when the Blues entered the old First Division. (I’m on shaky ground here and Gordon will maybe come along and correct this account).

Tim Barker, pictured here in yesterday’s local paper, went to school with Gordon and they have kept in touch ever since. Tim went on to be an actor and we have seen him in many productions over the years. He would tell Gordon where he was and we would go and watch and meet up with him. In fact I think the last time we saw him was at Keswick Theatre when he was in a production there. Mainly a Shakespearean actor, he has also has been in films and on TV - I can remember when our girls were young they might be watching TV and shout - ‘Dad! your friend is on’ and there he would be in a children’s programme or an advert. Anyway enough about Tim, although there is much to tell. Here is the Rallying Cry, if you are at all interested.