Soccer
Meet the National League hot-shot aiming to fire Carlisle United to promotion
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Regan Linney grew up supporting Liverpool but, when Manchester United legend Mark Hughes came calling at Carlisle United this summer, the decision was fairly simple.
The Cumbrians had just been relegated to the National League, ending their 20-year stay in the EFL, while Linney had enjoyed arguably the best campaign of his career.
The striker scored 25 goals for Altrincham and earned inclusion in the 2024-25 National League team of the season, prompting interest from Football League clubs.
But the allure of working under Hughes and trying to get Carlisle back to the EFL was too great to turn down.
Richard Parkes
“I’ve loved working under the gaffer so far,” Linney tells DAZN News, the home of the National league, streaming live matches from every round of the competition and highlights of every game in the league.
“He’s different to the other managers I’ve had and is a massive name so anything he says, I take on board.
“He gets involved in a bit of training, not too much, but the advice he gives me and the other lads is massive.
“I’ll always listen to that because the gaffer obviously just wants me to do well. I’m here at a new club and I’ve got to get the fans behind me.”
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Linney, who has been banging in the goals during pre-season, is determined to realise his dream of playing in the EFL.
The Lancastrian, whose family hail from Liverpool, was on the books of his hometown club Preston North End before being released at 15.
A move to local side Bamber Bridge followed. He debuted there at 17 and the goals flowed, leading to a move to FC United of Manchester.
Then came a switch to Altrincham, where Linney scored 44 goals in 93 appearances, earning a reputation as one of the finest finishers in English football’s fifth tier.
His signing is a benchmark of Carlisle’s ambition to go straight back up.
Richard Parkes
The Cumbrians are the bookies’ favourites to win the division and Linney adds: “When Carlisle came knocking, I knew about the size of the club and it was a no-brainer for me to come here.
“There was interest from them back in January and I did have a few options in the Football League this summer.
“But I chose Carlisle because of the project of getting the club back where it belongs and yes, the gaffer helped me to make my decision.
“All the lads are on board, we’re all hungry and ready to go, and to take this club up would mean everything.
“A lot of the lads have played in the Football League but I haven’t so it’s been a huge ambition and a dream of mine since I was a kid.
“Every player has a different path and if I get there when I’m 29 or 30, as long as I get there I’ll have reached my goal.
“I’ll certainly never give up. Why would I when my mum and dad have always supported me?
“I’ll always give 110% and you’ll see that on the pitch at Carlisle this season.”
That kind of desire was a huge part of Hughes’ make-up as a player and the onus is on the Welshman to take Carlisle up after their relegation last term.
The 61-year-old arrived at Brunton Park in February when the Blues were five points from safety with 18 games remaining.
Despite relegation, Hughes earned admirers among the fanbase as United lost just once at home under his tenure and won three consecutive games for the first time in more than two years.
That prompted Carlisle to keep Hughes in charge and he has been given significant financial backing from the club’s American owners, the Piatak family.
Linney adds: “Last season at Altrincham, even though we didn’t get in the play-offs, we had a really good group on and off the pitch.
“We were all in it together and it’s the same here at Carlisle.
“You’ve got to have a few big personalities and maybe some quieter ones too, but I think we’ve got a great balance.
“Since I’ve come here, training-wise, playing-wise and ability-wise, I’d say this is the best group of players I’ve been involved in.”
Carlisle is the most northerly outpost in English football but ambition pulses loudly in the border city.
Desire is visible and audible amongst Hughes and his playing squad, the ownership, and a fanbase who turn out in big numbers.
Carlisle could be backed by up to 1,180 supporters at Saturday’s National League opener at Woking, having sold out their initial allocation of 826.
“I can feel the passion for the club all the time,” says Linney, who cites Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry as inspirations during his formative years.
“Whether that’s on social media or walking to the shop in Carlisle when I stay up there, fans are asking for pictures.
“It’s just football-crazy up here and all the lads have told me that from last season.
“Even when things weren’t going too well, a lot of fans supported the team home and away.
“Going to Woking on Saturday, we’ve sold out our away following and that just makes me and the lads even more determined to get this club back to the EFL.
“I might have scored a few goals in pre-season but that doesn’t matter.
“It’s all about the season-opener at Woking now and proving it in the games that really matter.”
Richard Parkes
The likes of Forest Green Rovers and York City are also expected to be in the promotion shake-up and Linney adds: “The division’s getting stronger all the time.
“Obviously only one team goes up automatically so it’s not easy, but we’ve just got to focus on ourselves and hopefully we can get the job done.”
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