⚽ Pre-season match day 4

Darlington 🆚 Carlisle United 

📅 Tuesday, July 21st, 7.45 pm 

🏟️Blackwell Meadows

Match Sponsor: NXTGEN Coaching

🎟 Tickets are priced at £12 for adults, £10 for concessions and £5 for under-18s, with under-12s admitted free. Tickets can be purchased here.

🔥 Match Preview 

Darlo look to excite with our first home pre-season game as The Quakers welcome National League opposition Carlisle United to Blackwell Meadows on Tuesday night. 

The Quakers have played three pre-season friendlies so far, with wins over Redcar Athletic and Stockton Town, and over the weekend gained valuable experience in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Premier League side Newcastle United, who fielded many first-team players as well as a good mix of academy talent.

Darlington’s opponents, Carlisle United, finished in 3rd place in the National League last season with 95 points, but would ultimately fall short in the playoff semi-finals against Boreham Wood. They announced former Gateshead and Crawley Town boss Rob Elliot as the new manager and will want to push for automatic promotion next season.

The Blues have played two pre-season matches so far, with a 3-2 win against Scottish Premiership side Motherwell and played a youthful side in a 5-0 loss to Workington AFC.

👤 Player Spotlight 

Carlisle have added two former Gateshead players in Brad Nicholson and Kenton Richardson, who have linked back up with their former boss Rob Elliot. 

The Blues have the likes of Regan Linney, who got 31 goal contributions in 45 games last season, who will be one to watch for the Darlington defence.

Last season's loanee Jonah Lowes may feature for Carlisle United as he looks to break into their first team this season.

📈 Recent results 

🏁 Darlington 

• 18th July 2026 Pre-Season: Newcastle United 3-0 Darlington
• 14th July 2026 Pre-Season: Stockton Town 1-3 Darlington (Beck x2, Stephenson)
• 11th July 2026 Pre-Season: Redcar Athletic 0-4 Darlington (O.G., Stephenson, Stanton, Trailist) 

🔵Carlisle United

• 17th July 2026 Pre-Season: Workington 5-0 Carlisle United

• 11th July 2026 Pre-Season: Motherwell 2-3 Carlisle United (Linney, Ajiboye, Mason)

📊 League Records  

🏁 Darlington (Last Season NLN)

• Position: 9th  

• Played: 46

• Wins: 20 

• Draws: 9 

• Losses: 17

• Goals For: 78 

• Goals Against: 68

• Goal Difference: 10

• Top Scorer: Main (20) 

• Points: 69 

🔵Carlisle United

• Position: 3rd

• Played: 46

• Wins: 29

• Draws: 8

• Losses: 9

• Goals For: 87 

• Goals Against: 51

• Goal Difference: 36
• Top Scorer: Linney (19)

• Points: 95

🤝 Recent Games between the clubs  

• 18th March 2006: Darlington 0-5 Carlisle United
• 26th December 2005: Carlisle United 1-1 Darlington (Johnson)

• 28th December 2003: Carlisle United 1-1 Darlington (Matthews)

• 6th September 2003: Darlington 2 (Conlon) Carlisle United 0

• 26th December 2002: Carlisle United 2-2 Darlington (Offiong)

📻 Follow the Game 

You can follow the game on Darlo Fans Radio, X, and the official website.