The black shirt with red trim has proved so popular with supporters that the initial batch ran out in several sizes at both the Blues Store and BS2 within a fortnight of going on sale.

 

Sonia Anderson, shop manager at the Blues Store at Brunton Park, said: "I have worked here several years going back to the days of the old shop and I'd say this shirt is right up there with the most popular away ones we have had in that time. It has gone a lot better than the red one it replaced and although the deckchair one was very popular when it came out second time around a few years back, this black one is probably at about the same level. Everyone is coming in with good vibes about it. They all say that they like the look of the black shirt. We haven't had anyone coming in saying they don't like it. That goes right across all the ages, from kids to grandads."#

 

"I know it has been the same at BS2. The new black shirts have gone very, very well at both our shops and through website orders. We were sold out in large and extra large size shirts and a lot of the others were also nearly all gone before this new stock arrived on Wednesday. The shorts were selling well too and the mini-kits for fans from new-born to five-years-old, all in the new black strip."

 

The new black shirts, which have the Stobart sponsor's name across the front in white, cost £35. They are currently available in all sizes once more.The new black shorts are £13.95. The club is still awaiting the arrival of the men's new black socks.

 

Further deliveries of the kit, which is manufactured by Le Coq Sportif, are expected. Unlike Carlisle United, several other Football League clubs have unfortunately already experienced lengthy delays because of the high demand on manufacturers at this time of year from the large number of kit launches.