When Carlisle United dropped into the National League after back‑to‑back relegations, few expected a swift revival. Mark Hughes took over in February 2025, inheriting a side in disarray, yet he chose to remain for the 2025‑26 campaign. Under his guidance the Blues amassed a club‑record 95 points, winning 29 matches and keeping 17 clean sheets, and doubled the win total from the previous two campaigns.

The tally eclipsed the 73 points Carlisle collected in their 2002 Conference promotion, raising the points‑per‑game average to 2.07. Despite the haul, the team never threatened the automatic promotion spot, suffering heavy defeats to York City (5‑0) and Rochdale (2‑0) and losing both league meetings with play‑off rivals Boreham Wood, and highlighted defensive frailties throughout the season.

Finishing fourth, Carlisle entered the play‑offs but fell to Boreham Wood, underscoring a pattern where the league’s elite dominate the promotion race. Hughes’ tenure has rescued the club from a downward spiral, yet missing out on promotion leaves fans divided between praise for the record season and frustration at falling short of the ultimate goal, and will shape the club’s future plans.