Press Release Article

Monday 04th June 2001: CCUIST has support in high places

THE newly-formed Carlisle and Cumbria United Independent Supporters' Trust could soon be getting some new support in high places- Parliament and Europe. A small group of London-based fans recently attended an informal gathering in Westminster, just prior to the dissolving of Parliament for the General Election.
What has emerged is the strength of Parliamentary support for Carlisle United and the wish by MP's who have a sporting link to see the club get out of its present predicament.

Already former Carlisle MP Eric Martlew and Dr David Clark, who has retired as MP for South Shields to take up a place in the House of Lords, are Trust members. But the strength of support both among members of the Commons and Lords and also among Members of the European Parliament, is an enormous source of encouragement to the Trust.

Supporters include Neil Turner, who has been MP for Wigan, who comes from Carlisle and whose mother still lives in the city. He has supplied the names of around 15 MP s and two or three members of the House of Lords who he reckons, after the election, would be happy to form the basis of a Carlisle United group in Parliament.

"It is a highly promising angle," said CCUIST secretary Alan Steel. "We hope to organise a meeting in Westminster and get these people together and find out what they can do to support us. "We have the names of 15 MP s, Lords and MEP s and it would be useful to get them together after the election."

In addition to MP's, the Trust has also received dozens of messages of support from similar supporters' group right across the country and Mr Steel said there was an enormous volume of backing for the aims of the Carlisle and Cumbrian Trust.