Carlisle boss’ dismay at latest incidents to sully Cumbrians’ reputation as 600-plus fans make their way to Portsmouth’s Fratton Park
Paul Simpson has voiced his displeasure over the most recent incident that has damaged the reputation of Carlisle fans.
The head of United has commented on a fireworks incident that happened during the first half of last week’s 1-0 home loss to Leyton Orient, as around 600 Cumbrians travel to Fratton Park for today’s League One match against Pompey.
Simpson was even more incensed when a big fan-funded banner that said “Simmo’s Blue Army” was also harmed when the O’s played at Brunton Park.The club have appealed for information in regards to the firework incident that saw a large bang stun those supporters located in Carlisle’s Warwick Road End and other stands. The League One new boys have also forwarded CCTV footage to the police.
Following past crowd difficulties, both wrongdoings occurred on a day when a Football Association inspector attended the match against Leyton Orient.
Prior to Pompey’s match at PO4 today, where they will try to hold onto their perfect record and top spot in the division, Simpson described the state of affairs as “sad.”
He said, “I’m just disappointed.”
‘We’ve got a lot of people who spend hard earned money, but also their own hours in that Warwick Road End and the rest of the ground tidying things up.
‘One of the things I noticed when I was doing my media at the end of the (Leyton Orient) game, somebody had ripped the flag down. I don’t know whether that’s somebody who’s got something now against me, whether it was a personal thing against me. If that’s how fans feel it’s really disappointing.
‘I just think it’s really sad we’ve got people who are supposedly turning up as Carlisle United supporters with a firework, firecracker, whatever it was.
‘It’s not only costing the club money, it’s putting people at danger as well.
‘I’m disappointed for all those people who chipped in to buy the flag – yes it’s my name on it, maybe it’s somebody who’s got something against me now because of results – but I just think that’s really disappointing we’ve got that going on when we’ve got so many really positive things.’
Carlisle were being observed by the FA following a pitch invasion after their League Two play-off semi-final win against Bradford last season. Last term’s game against the O’s was also marred by allegations that coins had been thrown at opposition manager Richie Wellens.
Simpson, who guided Carlisle to promotion in 2022-23 added: ‘I’m quite sure we were being watched last weekend because of what happened in the Orient game the season before.
‘I was really conscious of that. There was banter between the fans and the dugout, but I thought our fans behaved really well, because although it was banter it didn’t go too far.
‘Then you get somebody in the Warwick Road End. I don’t know what it was. I’d heard it was a firework that went off in somebody’s pocket – that is so dangerous, it’s frightening if that’s the case.
‘Or even if it’s a firecracker, you’re endangering other people’s lives, and your own.
‘I don’t think anybody else deserves that. I certainly don’t think the football club deserve to have that going against them. That’s a real shame. But again there’s not a lot we can do if somebody wants to make those daft decisions.’
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