Early in the 1966/67 season, George McVitie was a mere 18 years old, having made his debut at 17 the previous season and subsequently been developing around Alan Ashman’s senior squad.

The Blues, in 1965/66, had achieved a creditable mid-table finish in their first ever season in the Second Division. This was at the outset of Chris Balderstone’s time in a blue shirt, while other greats such as Allan Ross were checking in.

McVitie pictured in 1965 at the outset of his career at Brunton Park (Image: News & Star)

In McVitie’s case it was the emergence of a Carlisle lad rich in promise as a right winger. After eight games of the 66/67 season, Ashman gave him his chance in the side, handing him the number seven shirt for a home clash with Bristol City.

United, still adapting happily to their highest ever level, were accustomed to pulling in home crowds around the 10,000 mark, and had done so for previous Brunton Park encounters against Derby County, Huddersfield Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A similar audience was anticipated for Bristol City’s visit, at a time Ashman was fending off rumours that inside-forward Willie Carlin was a transfer target for Norwich City and Blackpool. Claims of a player-plus-cash deal were rejected by the manager. “No approaches have been made by any club for any of our players,” said Ashman, who retained Carlin at the core of his side.

Other issues on the manager’s table included transfer requests submitted by left-back Terry Caldwell and centre-forward David Wilson, which came in response to their omissions from the side. Directors, though, turned down both requests as Carlisle looked to build some positive form on the pitch during September.

A young George McVitie is pictured front left in United's 1966 team photo (Image: News & Star)

Wilson’s demotion to the bench against Bristol City had opened the door for McVitie – and the young winger walked through it with eyecatching and, in the end, historic confidence.

Carlisle began the game brightly with Northern Ireland international Eric Welsh immediately on the attack. He saw an early shot blocked while Balderstone was also an early threat for the Blues.

Ross, who had recently claimed the No1 jersey previously held by Joe Dean, made a fine save from Gerry Sharpe – and Carlisle then made good on their defiance at one end by pouncing the lead at the other.

McVitie, left, fires home against Bristol City (Image: George McVitie)

Carlin was the finisher, receiving a pass from Welsh and firing home, the goal standing despite City appeals for offside.

United looked to enhance their position with further bright attacking – in which McVitie, on the wing, was beginning to stand out, with some positive runs and well-aimed crosses which earned the crowd’s approval.

One such delivery saw Welsh head just wide, though there were also spells when Carlisle’s play failed to click and the visitors remained very much in the contest.

Come the hour mark and Ashman’s side were in need of further inspiration – and it came in clinical style thanks to their youngest gun. Moments after a City goal was disallowed for a foul, Carlisle went up the other end and went 2-0 ahead.

Carlin was provider this time, with a ball through to the unmarked McVitie – and the teenager showed composure as he found space in a hesitant away defence and slammed the ball home.

The 18-year-old made the headlines in Carlisle's win against the Robins (Image: News & Star)

It was the first professional goal of his emerging career, and it proved decisive in the game, since Sharpe pulled one back for Bristol City with 14 minutes left. Carlisle held on for a 2-1 win and McVitie, with his winner, had become United’s youngest ever goalscorer.

Reporting on his landmark day, the Cumberland Evening News’s Bob Wood said McVitie had shone. “On Saturday his more direct style of play was in striking contrast to the often monotonous short passing, pattern weaving play of some of his more experienced colleagues,” wrote Wood.

“No frills about McVitie’s play, but a definite urge to get on with the game, beating his man and clipping over some delightful crosses. Pity one or two more United players had not taken a page from the youngster’s book.”

With a second home win in the bag, Carlisle moved on, although McVitie missed their next game – a 1-0 home win over Norwich – because he was attending an FA youth course at Lilleshall. Wilson returned to the side with the winner but McVitie was eventually a fixture again.

Eight more goals followed in league and cup as United made intrepid progress in 1966/67. In the League Cup, they reached the third round, McVitie supplying goals against Tranmere Rovers and Blackburn Rovers along the way – while in the league it was an outstanding campaign as Carlisle finished third in Division Two.

This was the highest placing in their Football League history to date, and would in later seasons have meant promotion to the top flight. Alas, only the top two went up that campaign, and Carlisle had to wait a further seven years to reach the promised land.

As for McVitie, a fine career was now very much under way. The young winger remained on United’s books until 1970, when Ashman took him to West Bromwich Albion. A stint at Oldham Athletic followed before he made a popular return to Brunton Park in 1976.

The wing legend McVitie rolled back the years with a cameo appearance in a charity game for Tony Hopper in 2017 (Image: News & Star)

To many minds he is the best winger ever to pull on the blue shirt. As for that youngest-scorer landmark – it lasted 24 years until 17-year-old Rob Edwards took the mantle in 1990 – and then, in 2019, Jarrad Branthwaite claimed the honour, continuing a proud Cumbrian chain going all the way back to George McVitie’s thrilling teenage emergence for the Blues.