The Cumberland and Carlisle United have celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Community Ticket Scheme partnership, which has given tens of thousands of youngsters free tickets to watch the National League club.

In the scheme’s twenty years of existence, it has seen more than 30,000 tickets given to children so that they can support the Cumbrians at Brunton Park.

On the scheme’s importance to the region, The Cumberland’s CEO Stuart Miller said: “The Cumberland is all about its local communities and being an integral part of those communities, so a scheme like this is huge.”

“The football club is such a big part, not just of the city, but of Cumbria itself, so it just feels right. Our values are so aligned. 20 years is absolutely amazing, but I'm really excited about what we could do in the next 20 years if we continue to build on this partnership."

For every home game the scheme provides up to 200 free tickets to local primary schools, community groups and junior football teams.

Last Saturday’s anniversary celebrations kept with the scheme’s community feel as Stoneraise School, St Cuthberts School, Great Corby School, Petteril Bank School, plus Cockermouth Junior Panthers Under 11s were all in attendance at the event.

The children from these groups were ‘provided with a host of activities and challenges from The Cumberland, including a mock press conference, penalty shootout and table football, as well as handing out goodie bags, foam fingers and activity booklets.'

On the Community Ticket Scheme, the deputy head at Stoneraise, James Webb, who first brought pupils to Brunton Park at the start of the scheme, said: "We've come every few years. Probably a couple of hundred children have come down over the last 20 years and experienced something that they wouldn't have otherwise.

"Lots of the kids are very local but don't get to come down. So, for them to come pitchside and see what's going on and meet the players, it's a great opportunity. I think it's fantastic to have schools around Carlisle able to come to their local club. Long may it continue.”

The past twenty years have been eventful for United, but the good times are now returning to the club, as last weekend saw the club comfortably beat Brackley Town 3-0 as the club finished 3rd in the National League.

Mark Hughes, Carlisle United’s manager, will now prepare his side for their National League semi-final this weekend at Brunton Park as the club looks to end their 2025/26 season on a high.

On what the scheme has brought to the children who have watched United’s home matches this season, Marshall, 10, from Stoneraise School said: "It has been an amazing day. The best thing was meeting the players. It's fun to be here with everyone from school to cheer for Carlisle."

Lily, 11, from Great Corby School, added: "It's good to come here with everyone from school. It was fun to go round the pitch."

Carlisle United will return to Brunton Park to take on Boreham Wood in the National League semi-finals on Sunday (3rd May) with a 12:30 kick off.