This was a fixture all Darlo fans were looking forward to since the start of the season, being the closest team although not classed as a derby) Carlisle had just been promoted and were flying in 3rd place in league 2.

We set off on the supporters coach from Darlington at 10 am, the game was due to an early 1'oclock kick off. We headed across the Pennines then up north towards Carlisle, it took about 90 minutes for the whole journey and there was a tense atmosphere on the coach as we headed into Carlisle. Immediately blue shirts were beginning to prop as Carlisle were expected a bumper crowd of 12 000.  We eventually pulled up behind the ground in a muddy car park, there seemed to be a huge police presence in the area.

We got off the coach and the five of us set about to find some place to eat. After looking for about 15 minutes there didn't seem to be much around the area so we headed back to the ground to take our seats or in this case stand.

The away fans were housed in the open terrace behind the goal, which was by far the worse stand.  On the left was the impressive East Stand which was slowly filling up, on the opposite side there was a covered terrace and there was a old looking stand on the left with a paddock at the front.

The game kicked off and the atmosphere was great, with the Carlisle fans really backing up their team. Both sides of the ground were full and their only seemed to be a few empty spaces in the home terrace. My team had a large following and sung our team on which made for a great atmosphere.  One grumble though, the club had only prepared to cater for 300 fans and seen as though their was nearly a 1000 of us this led to huge queues, the toilets were also pretty grubby. Their hardly seemed to be any stewards in the away end and in the ground itself.

The game ending in a 1-1 result, most Darlington fans were going home happy, although the club didn't seem to think so, immediately after leaving the ground the police presence before the game seemed to have doubled, and I saw a number of fans being escorted away.  The traffic leaving the ground was terrible and it took at least half an hour to get back on the motorway.

Overall it was a great day out and the Carlisle fans seemed friendly and
passionate about their club, although their was a bit of a controversy about the standard of refereeing (which in my opinion was terrible) Brunton Park is a good ground and I will be definitely be visiting again.