Young Blues enjoy a trip to see the big boys
The Carlisle United academy under 8 and under 9 mixed squad were invited to play Manchester City on Thursday evening - so off they went for a very enjoyable fixture.
"It was a fantastic opportunity for us and the facilities down there were out of this world," academy coach Ben Benson told us. "They showed us around the complex, which was brilliant, and the lads really enjoyed it.
"We held our own in the small sided games we played and we were delighted with the way the players represented themselves. The Manchester City coaching staff were very complimentary about the way we tried to play, which is a big pat on the back for the lads."
"As coaching staff we've definitely learned from the experience," he continued. "They obviously have a bigger set up than us but it was interesting to see the different way they do certain things.
"It was a good experience for everybody and we hope to build a successful partnership with Manchester City going forward."
"I would also like to thank our players and parents for their cooperation on the day," he concluded. "Everybody was fantastic and it's a trip we will all remember for a while to come."