# 1980–81 Carlisle United F.C. season

For the 1980–81 season, Carlisle United F.C. competed in Football League Division Three.

## Results & fixtures
### Football League Third Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 17 | Swindon Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 56 | −5 | 41 | |
| 18 | Chester | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 41 | |
| 19 | Carlisle United | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 56 | 70 | −14 | 41 | |
| 20 | Walsall | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 59 | 74 | −15 | 41 | |
| 21 | Sheffield United | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 65 | 63 | +2 | 40 | Relegated |

#### Matches

| Match Day | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score |
| 1 | 16 August | Sheffield United | H | 0–3 |
| 2 | 19 August | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 |
| 3 | 23 August | Chester | A | 0–1 |
| 4 | 30 August | Newport County | H | 1–4 |
| 5 | 6 September | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–4 |
| 6 | 13 September | Gillingham | H | 0–0 |
| 7 | 16 September | Millwall | H | 2–1 |
| 8 | 20 September | Oxford United | A | 2–1 |
| 9 | 27 September | Chesterfield | H | 2–6 |
| 10 | 30 September | Millwall | A | 0–3 |
| 11 | 4 October | Walsall | A | 3–4 |
| 12 | 7 October | Barnsley | H | 2–2 |
| 13 | 11 October | Brentford | H | 1–2 |
| 14 | 18 October | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 |
| 15 | 21 October | Hull City | A | 1–0 |
| 16 | 28 October | Blackpool | H | 2–0 |
| 17 | 1 November | Portsmouth | A | 1–2 |
| 18 | 4 November | Barnsley | A | 1–3 |
| 19 | 8 November | Fulham | H | 2–2 |
| 20 | 11 November | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–1 |
| 21 | 15 November | Sheffield United | A | 2–2 |
| 22 | 29 November | Exeter City | A | 0–2 |
| 23 | 6 December | Colchester United | H | 4–0 |
| 24 | 20 December | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–2 |
| 25 | 26 December | Burnley | H | 3–2 |
| 26 | 27 December | Rotherham United | A | 0–3 |
| 27 | 10 January | Reading | A | 1–3 |
| 28 | 31 January | Chester | H | 3–0 |
| 29 | 7 February | Gillingham | A | 1–0 |
| 30 | 10 February | Reading | H | 0–0 |
| 31 | 14 February | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–0 |
| 32 | 21 February | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 |
| 33 | 28 February | Oxford United | H | 0–0 |
| 34 | 7 March | Walsall | H | 1–1 |
| 35 | 14 March | Brentford | A | 1–1 |
| 36 | 17 March | Swindon Town | H | 2–1 |
| 37 | 21 March | Hull City | H | 2–0 |
| 38 | 28 March | Blackpool | A | 1–0 |
| 39 | 31 March | Exeter City | H | 1–1 |
| 40 | 4 April | Portsmouth | H | 0–0 |
| 41 | 11 April | Fulham | A | 3–2 |
| 42 | 18 April | Rotherham United | H | 0–1 |
| 43 | 21 April | Burnley | A | 3–0 |
| 44 | 25 April | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–2 |
| 45 | 2 May | Colchester United | A | 0–1 |
| 46 | 5 May | Newport County | A | 0–4 |

### Football League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score |
| R1 L1 | 9 August | Rochdale | H | 2–0 |
| R1 L2 | 12 August | Rochdale | A | 1–1 |
| R2 L1 | 26 August | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–2 |
| R2 L2 | 27 October | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–2 |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score |
| R1 | 22 November | Workington | A | 0–0 |
| R1 R | 1 December | Workington | H | 4–1 |
| R2 | 13 December | Walsall | H | 3–0 |
| R3 | 3 January | Mansfield Town | A | 2–2 |
| R3 R | 6 January | Mansfield Town | H | 2–1 |
| R4 | 24 January | Bristol City | H | 1–1 |
| R4 R | 28 January | Bristol City | A | 0–5 |

### Anglo-Scottish Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | H/A | Score |
| GS | 30 July | Preston North End | A | 0–0 |
| GS | 2 August | Blackpool | H | 1–2 |
| GS | 5 August | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–4 |