On This Day – 8th May
Carlisle United goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored a dramatic last-gasp winner against Plymouth Argyle on this day in 1999. In doing so, he managed to keep United in the Football League, at the expense of Scarborough.
In the days leading up to the final match of the season, Carlisle boss Nigel Pearson had a real nightmare on his hands. None of his goalkeepers would be available for selection for the big game. He had no alternative but to try and secure an emergency loan deal and he was able to bring in Jimmy Glass from Swindon Town.
Going into the final match of the season, Carlisle were bottom of the table with 46 points. Scarborough were a point ahead of them and only one of the two teams would get relegated to the Conference.
Carlisle were at home to Plymouth, who were in a comfortable midtable position. Scarborough were hosting Peterborough United, who were just outside the Play Off spots.
Scarborough’s match finished 1-1 and some of their fans ran onto the pitch. They thought that they had survived relegation as only a few seconds remained at Brunton Park where Carlisle were drawing 1-1.
In the very last seconds of the match, Carlisle forced a corner. Jimmy Glass went running up to try and score, or at least try and cause a nuisance in the penalty area. Anything to try and get a winner!
The corner was whipped in from the right and a Carlisle player headed straight at the goalkeeper, who parried the ball away. It fell right in front of Jimmy Glass who powered in the rebound to cause scenes of jubilation around Brunton Park.
Fans ran onto the pitch from all four sides. Glass disappeared under a pile of his team mates and a whole load of United fans who joined in the celebrations. It took quite a while for the fans to be cleared off the pitch and by the time the game was ready to restart, word had got to Scarborough.
The television cameras that were at the McCain Stadium had already zoomed in on the Scarborough fans who were celebrating. They then caught the moment that the bubble burst as news of Jimmy Glass’s winner had relegated their club to the Conference.
Scarborough never returned to the Football League and went bankrupt un 2007. A new club called Scarborough Athletic were formed in the summer of 2007 and currently play in the Northern Premier League.
Carlisle United stayed in the Football League until they were relegated in 2004. They were promoted at the first attempt, before winning the Third Division title in 2006. They then spent eight seasons in the third tier of English football and have now spent the last five seasons back in the fourth tier.
The Plymouth Argyle match was Glass’s last game for Carlisle. He would play for three Football League clubs but never held down a first team spot before dropping into non league.
Glass quit the game at the age of 27 after playing for four non league teams in the south of England. His goal against Plymouth would be the highest point of his career and maybe the most famous goal in Carlisle United’s history.
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