One of the sporting success stories this year has been Carlisle City, whose incredible late run saw them snatch the Northern League Division Two title on the final day of the season.

Jim Nichols, 36, a teacher, has done a great job for the Sky Blues so I thought it was time to catch-up with him and hear more about City’s achievements.

Can you tell us about your younger days and how you got into football?

I’ve always played football as a child however probably went a different route from most, stopping playing between 14 and 19. I returned to football when I was at University at Preston, initially training with Kendal and eventually staying there for a number of successful years in the Evostik Premier before moving to Northwich Victoria when the manager changed. 

When you reached senior football where did you play, position and when did you decide you wanted to get into coaching?

I was a goalkeeper, and I think coaching always appealed to me.  After I stopped playing at  a young age, I stayed involved in football working alongside Tony Elliott for a number of years in his goalkeeping schools around Cumbria

Can you tell us the teams you’ve managed/coached and what it was like at these clubs during your time there?

I initially joined Penrith as assistant manager to Matt Henney after leaving Northwich and we had a really successful spell.  When Matt left, another manager was appointed but never took charge of a game and I became manager after winning a few games as a caretaker.  It was not really a position I’d ever wanted and looking back it probably came too early for me

Who was the biggest influence on you as a player and on you as a coach – and why?

I think the biggest influence on my own career and the level of football we are at is Lee Ashcroft who was my manager at Kendal.  We were always in a similar position to we are here, one of the lowest budgets in the league, geographically isolated, but ensuring that you get the players required to be effective.

What do you think was the catalyst for your late surge last season and the thrilling last day championship win?

I don’t think it was too out of the ordinary from our time in Northern League 2 since we joined the league.  If you look back at results over the three years, we have always won games in good numbers, but also managed to string results together.  As in all football, once you get on a run of results and confidence is high, you can’t see who will stop you. 

That is the point we were at in the final month, we were turning up to games, believing we were going to win.  Defensively we didn’t concede many goals last season, and with the fire-power we have, that always gives you a good chance to win games

You have made a great start to the season. Obviously you want to finish as high up the League as possible but did you have an aim before a ball was kicked?

There’s no target as such, we want to finish as high as we can and that will be the highest position the club has ever finished. We know there will be some tough days but also with the squad we have, we know there will be more good days than bad

Over the years how do you think the standard has altered among local teams and also in the leagues you play in?

It’s great to see more clubs in the national pyramid, with Carlisle City and Cleator Moor being the most recent to join.  I think the amount of money entering these leagues is huge with clubs reforming such as Macclesfield, Bury recently and in the last few years Darlington, Chester and Halifax etc. 

They are tough leagues and really ask a lot for teams in Cumbria to compete due to the geography and the player pool because of this.  When I was at Northwich, if you weren’t performing, someone else was in to do your job. It’s not the same here as the amount of players capable of playing the standard is smaller and spread out across the county.

At Carlisle City, what’s the infrastructure like for other teams below the first team and for the facilities you have at your disposal?

The facilities at the ground are great and the club take pride in them.  There are teams from under-7s up including veterans teams, a development side, a deaf team and we have a partnership with Stanwix ladies who play at our ground.

Northern League clubs seemed for years reluctant to embrace the pyramid system but now there’s been a rush. Has this been good or bad for the Northern League?

I think it has encouraged teams to move up eventually as the league above is now awash with North Eastern teams as well.  The standard of the Northern League has definitely declined slightly as players are now opting to stay with teams at Evo Stik level. 

There are still some big hitters and some players that could play higher but opt not to, but I don’t feel this is just a Northern League Issue.

Realistically where can you see Carlisle City being in five, and then 10 years’ time?

Good question, I really don’t know. It’s our first year at this level and only the club’s fifth in the national pyramid.  We have developed as a club and as a team greatly since I’ve been at the club and if we keep progressing at the rate we have, we will continue to be successful.