Originally Posted by IanFergus:
“Great to hear info about BBC Cumbria. Thanks, John H. When I lived in Scotland, I used to pick up BBC Radio Carlisle/Cumbria on AM. I am stretching my memory somewhat but was the Carlisle commentator David Lamb in the 1970s? I know Nick Barnes was there before going to BBC Radio Newcastle to cover Sunderland”
“Great to hear info about BBC Cumbria. Thanks, John H. When I lived in Scotland, I used to pick up BBC Radio Carlisle/Cumbria on AM. I am stretching my memory somewhat but was the Carlisle commentator David Lamb in the 1970s? I know Nick Barnes was there before going to BBC Radio Newcastle to cover Sunderland”
BBC Radio Carlisle began in 1973 and became BBC Radio Cumbria in 1982.
Believe it or not - but it's true - for a long time, they never did live commentaries on Carlisle United (mostly due to costs) and for almost 2 decades provided match reports from first Alan Douglas (later BBC Scotland), then the late David Lamb (who also hosted the station's breakfast show throughout the 1980s) and finally Len Brewer.
It wasn't until Nick Barnes took over as Sports Producer in 1992, that regular commentaries began. His partnership with Derek Lacey was the stuff of legend - especially during the 1997 Auto Windscreens Shield Final (which Carlisle won in a thrilling penalty shoot).
When Nick left in 1998 to join BBC Newcastle, Derek Lacey became the main commentator with new Sports Producer Graham Moss as summariser (subsequent years saw various ex-Carlisle players as summarisers).
To say that "Degsy" was a legend is the understatement of the millennium - indeed the phrase "Lacey is a Legend" can be seen on the Waterworks End at Brunton Park
His commentary of Jimmy Glass' goal that saved Carlisle from oblivion in 1999 sums the man up:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwhSM...eature=related
I and many others have suggested to BBC Radio Cumbria that they produce a CD of his classic moments of commentary - so far, response has come there none.
As I said in my previous post, James Phillips has done a brilliant job as commentator, though he's the first to say that there'll never be another Derek Lacey.





