Carlisle’s first lacrosse club, Border City Lacrosse, has affiliated itself with England Lacrosse and will play its first league game on 5 October.

Border City has been working hard since they formed earlier this year to become an affiliated lacrosse club and play competitive fixtures and this has now become a reality.

They have also affiliated themselves with Lacrosse Scotland and, as they’re positioned so close to the border, will play their league games in the Scottish Lacrosse Leagues.

The new club was set up by a group of ex-players after becoming frustrated by the lack of opportunities to play lacrosse in Carlisle and across Cumbria more generally.

Led by ex-Heaton Mersey player and former England international Mike Orme with fellow coach, Dan Clements, the club train on Sundays at Harraby 3G, Carlisle.

Orme has been trying to build lacrosse around the very north of England for the past five years, working with Lancaster University and the University of Cumbria as well as running lacrosse sessions in schools.

In the past, he has also welcomed junior teams, including Heaton Mersey, to play against his fledgling Cumbrian junior teams.

This news is particularly exciting for anybody heading to the University of Cumbria in September as this new team offers another sporting option in a city that had previously been lacking in lacrosse.

Most recently, Border City played in the Edinburgh Invitational 6s tournament where they beat Scotland Grizzlies, Qatar, and Glasgow Lions to finish 6th.

Border City Lacrosse’s fixtures will be played over seven single day tournaments taking place between October and March.

The league will follow a touring format similar to that of the new professional Premier Lacrosse League, with each weekend featuring all teams being hosted in one or two venues.

The league tournament dates and venues are:

5 Oct - Stirling
2 Nov - Edinburgh
9 Nov - Dumfries
1 Feb - Carlisle
22 Feb - Glasgow
29 Feb - Dundee
7 Mar - Edinburgh

For more information about the club and how to get involved email [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/2z9VQOg.