Carlisle boss Paul Simpson gives an emotional post-match chat after the League Two playoff semi final second leg win against Bradford.
Simpson called it a “great shame” that Ben Barclay could not play in the League Two playoff final between Stockport and his parent club.
The Cumbrians defeated Bradford 3-2 on aggregate, and the defender’s extra-time goal was the winning score.
The loanee will have to sit out of the final against the club with which he has a contract with, and you could see just how much of a blow it is that he is unable to play any part in the game after getting them there.
Simpson said: “You’ve got to believe it.And by God, you believed it. Because that’s not just about football. That’s about character. That’s about belief. That’s about being prepared to work hard. And you’ve done every single bit of that. Because I do not want to go to Wembley to make the numbers up. We’re going to Wembley to try and win and to get the achievement that you’ve worked your f****** off all season to get. Ok?
“So don’t think it’s job done. Enjoy it. We enjoy tonight, but then we recover tomorrow. Then we train ************. And it is total focus now because I’m sick of f****** losing at Wembley and I want to win there. Ok?
“So let’s get it right. Why do anything different? We’re going to win the game, so we do the normal things. Let’s get our minds on it. We’ve got Stockport, so unfortunately, you can’t play Ben, but you’ve just got us there.”
đź’™ This should work. Bits causing issues removed.
What do you say to your team after they’ve just won in such an impressive and dramatic way?
Typical of Simmo, he’s let us share it.
Anyone who doesn’t get affected by the dust that gets in the eyes at the Ben bit isn’t human! pic.twitter.com/yl0nPoquBo
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) May 21, 2023
🔵⚽💙 And here is that @BenBarclay5 finish from our Pitchside camera angle #cufc pic.twitter.com/30qGIuVtNv
— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) May 21, 2023
“It’s a massive shame that he can’t play,” the gaffer said via the club website. “It’s probably one of those nightmare scenarios, but I think when he’s been fit this year he’s been excellent. He’s been brilliant for us.
“I haven’t spoken to him but I’m quite sure he’ll be coming along for the trip, even though he can’t be involved in the game. He’ll be a big part of our training programme as we get ready for it. Let’s see what comes.
“We always knew it was a risk that this would happen to him. Ben understood it as well. I know he was quite emotional in the changing room there.
“But I made special mention because he’s been outstanding when he’s been fit, he’s had a tough season. And it’s a great little flick that that he got. I thought maybe there were a couple of occasions at Valley Parade that he could have got a goal, so I’m really pleased for him.
“It’s a strange twist of fate that happens in football, that he’s the one who gets us there, but unfortunately he can’t enjoy the day.
“Like I say, we haven’t talked about it, but he’s in our camp at the moment and I don’t think I will be allowing him to go back into Stockport. He’s ours until the end of the month, so he won’t be going back there.
“There’ll be no phone calls. I won’t allow that, so no, he’s with us. He’s been with us all season. He’s shown a real gritty attitude to everything. And let’s see what the week brings.”
As one door closes, another tends to open, with Jon Mellish free of his suspension in time for the promotion final.
“He’s available, and we may even have Morgan Feeney available,” he explained. “He wants to try and train this week, so we’ll assess that. We’ll see how it goes.
“But I think whoever’s selected will roll their sleeves up and give us everything we’ve got. We’ve seen it time and again that whoever has been called upon has gone in and done the job this season, and that’s all we’ve got to hope for again.
“We’ve earned the right to go there, and selection wise some tough decisions will have to be made. But that’s what being a manager is about, and it’s about the players just going and performing.
“Jon as continued to train in case we did get through, because he wants that opportunity. He now has that. We’ve got a really good group here, and we all want to get ourselves over the line. There’s one big effort to go as we look to do that.”
Ben Barclay said: “It’s a bit of a weird feeling. Do you know what, I didn’t know until the break at extra time. Denno came up to me and told me that Stockport had won on penalties, so that was a bit of a kick in the stomach.
“I kind of had a feeling – no, not a feeling, I’d prepared myself a few weeks ago for it in case it happened. Sort of after the game here when it was a draw, I thought both teams looked like they might make the play-offs, so I was ready for whatever scenario.
“The feeling was great, sending the club to Wembley, but it is a kick in the teeth that I can’t play. But it is what it is.
“To be honest at the moment I still feel like I’m on a bit of a high. This feeling is brilliant, probably one of the best I’ve experienced. I reckon on the day, or a couple of days before with the build-up, the travelling down, staying there, being in Wembley and not being involved – I think that’s when it’ll sink in.
“Right now I’m honestly still buzzing, even though my face probably doesn’t say that. I’m knackered!”
“We spoke about it after the Barrow game, didn’t we,” he commented. “It’s been a difficult year, so stop-start, with me thinking I was getting back fit only to get injured again.
“I eventually got in the team and for the first few games I had to dig in to get through to the end of them. I’ve enjoyed this run of games, but, you know what, I felt a bit of pressure.
“The team had got us into this position, I’ve come in and Morgs, Corey, Mells, all of the centre backs had been doing a great job, so I had to come in and really step up.
“We wanted to keep the team in the play-offs, automatics, whatever, and I wanted to do what I could to help. I feel like I’ve done ok and I’m happy that we’ve made this day special.”
“The minute the final whistle went last week, honestly, I can’t describe it,” he explained. “We finished that game on Sunday and we knew we would come here and score at least two.
“We’ve had to score three, but we did it. We made it hard by having to go to extra time, but after full time at Valley Parade we got in the dressing room and there was barely a negative moan or mood.
“Everyone was just like, right, let’s go home and do it. I think if we’d played them back at their place we might even have done it there. I think it was just that we knew we were better than them and that we were going to score goals.“Them scoring right at the start of the second part of extra time, first minute, something like that, you do have thoughts going through your head. We’ve seen other play-off games this week and you think, oh no, is it written in the stars.
“Look at Notts County coming back, Sheff Wednesday the other night, so you wonder if it’s going to happen to us. That’s where you have to show character, put that to the back of your mind, stick to the original task and, like I say, we knew we were good enough to score goals and create chances.”
“Credit to all of the lads in there, every single one of the squad, not just the 18 that get put out, or the 11 that play. It’s all of the staff, all of the squad, even the injured lads.
“Everyone has been called upon at different times, chucked in for a couple of games then injured, or next thing not been put on the bench when someone has come back, and it’s tough when that happens. I think everyone has come in and always done well.”
“Oh, do you know what, it’s [the goal] just crazy,” he said. “The ball came in and I’ve changed my run. I was looking to go round the back, but I was getting no joy.
“I feel like they overloaded the back area so they were blocking the runs and you couldn’t get in. So I thought, yeah, I’m just going to nip through the middle. Then the ball was there and I thought, oh no, I’m not getting that, because my legs were cramping.
“I stretched as far as I could, got the slightest touch and instantly I thought, well that’s not going in. I hadn’t put enough on it, I hadn’t put it in the corner. I had a rough idea of where the goal was, the ball was pretty central, wasn’t it, but I looked and I thought, what’s the keeper doing there.
“He was up against the post and it just trickled past him. Then, yeah, I was buzzing. I ran off and I knew I was going that way towards the crowd, and I turned round, and I thought, what, no one is really with me.
“I was wondering if I was offside, so I looked back at the linesman to see if the flag was up, and it wasn’t. That’s when I see a few of the lads coming over, and that was that.”
“Celebrating in front of the fans was amazing,” he continued. “The Warwick Road End, everywhere was packed out, and the noise was excellent.
“There were a couple of moments where you look at the clock and you think, we’ve only got three minutes here until he’s going to add the extra time and when you hear the cheering it gives you a bit of a lift, if you like. Maybe it’s even just a 5% little spring to push out, or whatever it is. Honestly them cheering us on is massive, it helps.”
With that part of the job topped and tailed, there’s now the small matter of a Wembley final and Stockport County to contend with.
“It’s not going to be easy at all,” he told us. “We played them at their place and I think we were a bit light on numbers that day, and we weren’t at it.
“We got off to a bit of a slow start when we came here but I think we really took the game to them, after they’d taken a lead, and it was tight across the 90 minutes. It’ll be similar next week.
“I heard a couple of interviews when we were coming into the play-offs with everybody saying that all four teams were evenly matched and that they were all going to be tight games. It’s looked that way, so it’s all to play for.
“And getting to Wembley is really special. As a player you know that you might never get the chance to go, and this is my first opportunity, so with it falling the way it has it’s a bit annoying.
“But yeah, fans, young kids, they might never have been to Wembley before, or they might not get the chance to go again for the next 20 years, or whatever, so it’ll be an amazing day. I hope everyone travelling down enjoys it because it will be exciting.”
Twitter users reacted as Carlisle boss Paul Simpson gives an emotional post-match chat after the playoff win against Bradford…
@keeperstuart: I might get a lot of slack for this but for the love of god give Ben Barcley a permanent deal. Clearly adores the club and has all the right signs for a quality player
@exiledhatter: Gutted for Ben that he can’t play. As a Stockport fan it’s the right thing unfortunately he can’t. I Wish him nothing but the best for his onward career wherever that may be. Hoping for a cracking game next weekend Que sera, sera.Let’s get Wembley rocking.
@fish_blues: You’d run through a brick wall for this man 💙 what a legend!!!
@paulproudfoot4: Love it everything it means to wear that shirt and badge that’s all the fans want a connection and bloody hell finally the club is moving up
@CuddySplatter85: Love the way the lads go over to Ben afterwards. really hope he stays. Massive part of this team and deserves to be on the winners podium next weekend with the rest of the lads
@BrendanRogers69: All the players going over to Barclay at the end 💙⚽️🦊
@ilikefrogs: Nothing but magic moments here.
@KendallJohnc: Gotta feel for Ben Barclay
@musicalBantam: Congratulations to all at Carlisle. You showed great character yesterday and fully deserved to beat us. Good luck at Wembley next week and enjoy your day.
@topsandollie: I feel all emotional watching that. 15 months ago I was convinced we were headed for the National League and now we’re actually going to Wembley chasing promotion #WeveGotSuperPaulSimpson #cufc #UTB
@SteMoore10: Class simo 🤩
@lewis06797925: that’s fucking unreal utfb
@Charlie34681926: Do feel bad on ben, unfortunate for the lad, hopefully he gets a chance to play there in the future.
@nmk_sebjames: One of the best managers ever. Simmo
@KieThornborrow: Proper gaffer man
@Judithdunpentin: Well said and Ben you are part of the team so think on xx
@Alex_Lipniski: Barclay obviously very emotional, seems only right that he departs EP come end of the season or that he’s a constant starter alongside Horse, unfortunately think it’ll be the former rather than latter.
@cupcakelinda05: Aww @BenBarclay5 🥹
@BenHCUFC: Absolute class this man right here ⚪️🔵
@gary_k86: What a man Simmo is 👌🏼👏🏼💙 Feel for Barclay at the end though
@spiderwebb2019: Ladies and gentlemen @BenBarclay5 I love you man!!!! đź’™ Once a blue allways a blue!!!
@canoeblue: This is ace. I can’t stop watching all the stuff from yesterday. What a day.
@DavidJMitch: Proper football league manager! đź’™
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