Every so often a contest with an international flavour has come along. So it was in the summer of 1983, when a more traditional warm-up list including the likes of Netherfield, Lytham, Workington Reds, Queen of the South, Berwick Rangers and Clydebank also made room for the Zimbabwe national team.
Carlisle had played and hosted foreign opposition before, but this was the first time an African XI had visited Brunton Park. Zimbabwe were in the country as part of a tour of England that originated from their connections with Coventry City.
The latter had toured Zimbabwe the previous summer; a year on and the African side returned the favour. They were due to play Coventry at Highfield Road on August 19, 1983, as well as Port Vale at Vale Park during their trip – but before that, they also factored in a journey north to take on Bob Stokoe’s Blues.
United’s Malcolm Poskett and Zimbabwe captain Sandy Marimo battle for the ball (Image: News & Star)
It was only three years since Zimbabwe had achieved independence from the UK, the country having previously been known as Southern Rhodesia. It was the team’s first trip outside the African continent, with Zimbabwe’s team – ‘The Warriors’ – hoping to evolve into a side that could one day qualify for the World Cup, and more immediately progress in Olympic Games qualifying, with a key game against Ethiopia on the horizon.
United had never before faced a national team and this one was prepared by John Rugg, the acting national team coach whose playing days had included spells with Queen of the South and Berwick Rangers, before he moved to South Africa.
“The players I have chosen are those best suited for a tour of this kind,” Rugg said ahead of the Carlisle mission. “Each member of the party will get a chance to prove himself during the trip, and no player is guaranteed a place.”
The Zimbabwe squad included experienced players such as full-back Oliver Kateya and midfielder Joseph Zulu, who both boasted 35 caps. Stanford ‘Stix’ Mtizwa was another talented midfield operator while forward Charles Sibanda, reported Ivor Broadis in the Evening News & Star, was a tough cookie known as the ‘Norman Hunter’ of Zimbabwe. Another formidable customer was striker Friday ‘Breakdown’ Phiri, “who uses his weight and power in goalmouth scrambles.”
Up against them on Friday, August 12 was a Carlisle side in the advanced stages of preparation for a new Division Two season, United having adjusted steadily to life back in the second tier the previous campaign. Ahead of the Zimbabwe clash there were contract talks with the influential defender Jack Ashurst, while trialists Micky Horswill and Kevin Dixon were among those hoping to impress.
Zimbabwe keeper Japhet Mapurutsa tips the ball behind as Carlisle attack (Image: News & Star)
New signings were also on the books in the shape of Don O’Riordan, Graham Bell, Dave McKellar and David Moore. “I’m impressed with their professional attitude in training, but the judgment comes when they get out on the park to play,” said the ever uncompromising Stokoe.
A division with clubs such as Newcastle United, Chelsea, Leeds United and Crystal Palace faced the Blues. First, though: Zimbabwe. The friendly attracted a 1,838 pre-season crowd, who saw the visiting national side make a bright start before United settled into proceedings.
New keeper McKellar had to be alert to deny Stanley Ndunduma in the 18th minute, but Carlisle then began to take some control. Bell, on the right, tested the Africans with some strong running from full-back and, for all the Zimbabweans’ evident skills on the ball, with Mtizwa displaying some composed passing, their defending was not so tight.
Malcolm Poskett and Alan Shoulder were unable to finish off early United attacks but, early in the second half, Carlisle did open the scoring. Poskett’s cross was met by a weak Zimbabwe clearance, and Shoulder had space to drive past keeper Japhet Mapurutsa from ten yards.
Bob Stokoe was at the Carlisle helm when Zimbabwe visited (Image: News & Star)
United tried to build on their lead and Shoulder went close to another goal, striking the crossbar from outside the box. In response, Zimbabwe offered a late threat, when Ephert Lungu intercepted a Poskett run and broke to fire over a dangerous cross that stretched McKellar again.
In the end, a 1-0 win for United was the outcome even though the visiting team, whilst naïve in places, had offered some brightness. Broadis picked out some who he rated on first viewing: “The silky Mtizwa, David Mwanza the hard working number seven, and defender [John] Phiri wouldn’t be lost in English football,” the legendary writer felt.
The great Ivor Broadis offered his opinion on the Zimbabwean side following their 1-0 defeat at Brunton Park (Image: News & Star)
For Carlisle, it was another occasion to reflect on their pre-season progress. “On a normal night we might have had three or four goals,” reckoned Stokoe. “However, it’s early days and I don’t want to be too critical, because I admired a lot of our moves.”
The manager was right to hold off with too much criticism, since a good campaign was about to unfold: Carlisle very much in the running for promotion to the top flight in 1983/84 before their push hit the wall in the very closing stages.
As for Zimbabwe, they went on to their showpiece game against Coventry a week later and lost 2-0, yet their visit to England proved beneficial in the long run. Back in Africa, they got the better of Ethiopia and qualified for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: a landmark achievement for the newly independent nation, who could tick off a rare and unexpected day in Cumbria along their voyage of discovery.
(More than four decades later, Carlisle eventually had a player of their own with Zimbabwean credentials: Sean Fusire, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday last season, and who has been with the Zimbabwe squad at the current Africa Cup of Nations).