The following sentiments were penned by Carl Whalley.
One of my best pal’s has left us. I recall the first day the pub opened. It just so happened that a dozen or so of us had left Carr’s Field and ventured on a pub crawl down into and round town. We saw lights on and went in to a pub previously given a wide birth! A young, friendly Geordie came and asked what we wanted to drink, and thanked us for coming into his booza. “We’ve just opened”. The pub soon became our watering hole after training and after matches on a Saturday and soon other sporting teams had cottoned on to ‘the good thing’. The general public responded as the best pint in Carlisle was born. Between that night and when I left Carlisle in 2000, we shared a strong friendship in and out of the pub. Gladly, this continued after I moved down south. Sponsoring of the club I played for (and others) was offered regularly, and attendance on some club tours etc... followed. Genuine friend with whom I would openly hug when I returned home a few times a year, after leaving Carlisle in 2000. We spoke occasionally on the phone in between times. I was stunned to get the call last night with the news of his death. A thoroughly decent, caring, honest bloke, has passed away. He leaves a legacy for many, many people from sporting and non-sporting circles, of being a decent bloke and a massive success along with his wife, at running the best pub in the city for 30 years or so. Always a warm welcome and time for a chat. A big loss. Thoughts with Pat and Craig. I will miss him greatly. My many, many, memories of the laughs we had in Dublin, Worksop, Edinburgh etc... I will cherish. Bye pal. X