The former Blues midfielder recently confirmed that his 13-year spell as the station’s main United co-commentator had come to an end.
Speaking about the move for the first time, Lumsdon told the News & Star that a “political” social media post had brought things to a head, with the 45-year-old saying he was told by the BBC that it was inappropriate to have shared the post by another Instagram account. It is understood to have referred to the recent killing of a man in London.
Yet the ex-United favourite says he was planning to step down soon anyway, respects the corporation’s decision – and wants to put on record his appreciation for all his time working with Radio Cumbria.
“There are no hard feelings at all,” he said.
“I’ve always been freelance, I’ve never had a contract with the BBC and I’ve always been on the front foot with my views, whether that be football, politics or whatever.
“Everyone’s different and everyone’s affected differently by things going on in the world. If I feel I want to post something, or share something that I agree with, I’m going to do it.
“I respect the BBC’s stance, and I get their point of view. It hasn’t aligned with their policies, and that’s fair enough. When they came to me with it, my view was that I back myself and I’m going to stand by my morals seven days a week – and I’d do the same thing tomorrow.”
Lumsdon has been the station’s summariser at United games alongside commentator James Phillips, and has also regularly contributed in other ways, such as on the popular ‘Carlisle Social’ podcast hosted by Paul Newton.
Yet the former player, who was part of two promotion-winning teams during his spell with the club between 2004 and 2009, said he was finding the commitments of the co-commentary job an increasing challenge.
“Before all this, I was starting to think a certain way,” he said.
“I’ve got a six-year-old daughter and people sometimes don’t understand with the job that you’re away on Friday at 4.30pm and not back in the house until 1.30am on Sunday.
The former Blues midfielder had spent 13 years as Radio Cumbria’s co-commentator on United games (Image: Barbara Abbott)
“It might be different if it’s your main job but for me it’s basically been a hobby. To dedicate yourself for like 13 years to that means I’ve missed a lot of family stuff, and I’ve always dug deep because you’re always thinking the next season is going to be the good one.
“As much as it’s been great to be part of it, and being able to go to different grounds and feel the adrenaline of the game, it’s that period after the game when people have turned their radio off and you’re still there, and you’ve got the journey home to face, the adrenaline’s running out of you and before you know it it’s another weekend gone where you’ve not really lived.
“As much as I’ve loved it, I just want a break from it now.”
Lumsdon says he has a great appreciation for his time working with the BBC and the opportunity they gave him after he retired as a player.
“I might not have realised it at the time, but I needed it,” he said.
“Coming out of football and then jumping straight back into it on the radio was important for me.
“If it hadn’t come about, I might not be living in Carlisle now, bringing up my daughter here, having a business in the area and working for a successful business too.
“I’ve got a lot to thank it for – and I want to thank Paul and James. I’ll never have a fall-out with them. We’ve been through a hell of a lot in 13 years. You can probably write a book about the away trips, the journeys we’ve had, the meals we’ve had – you could write the opposite to a Michelin Guide about what we’ve eaten…
“Paul stuck with me when I was horrendous at the start – and with James, we’ve had 13 years of driving together, tantrums and tears.
“Really, in the beginning before we had families, we were 30-odd-year-old kids, going around the country, commentating on football without a care in the world.
“But you have to have a care in the world now. The world is changing in many ways – how you describe a player, how you describe people, even their attributes.
“There were times I’d feel after a game that if I played safe, I’d get home and there wouldn’t be any pull-ups. But that’s not how I want to do commentary. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder, waking up to an email.
“I want to do it off the cuff and say it how I say it. I don’t think I’ve really fallen out with a player over those 13 years. They’ve always said, ‘You’re honest’.
“As a pundit I’ve tried to go at it and go to town as much as I could. I know what Carlisle United can be like when it’s rocking and when it’s run in the best way, and when that hasn’t been happening in the 13 years, or the players haven’t been putting in the effort, I’m going to say it.
Lumsdon played for United from 2004 to 2009, and was a key part of the 2004/05 and 2005/06 promotion-winning teams (Image: LOUISE PORTER)
“There have been many times when I’ve been called in by the club and had tickings off, and times when I’ve stood my ground against board members who have felt I’ve been out of order.
“But life’s short – you shake hands, I’ve spoken to those board members since and we’ve always been honest. I think pundits who are honest, whether or not it’s going to cause them any grief, are the best ones.”
The BBC have made no public comment on Lumsdon’s departure despite being approached by the News & Star. But his own announcement has, he says, brought a huge amount of messages.
“They’ve been overwhelming messages,” he adds. “Not just people saying they’ll miss me on the radio, but you don’t actually realise what you’re doing on a Saturday.
“I’m getting messages from people saying I was their comfort, that I got them to sleep – I don’t know whether that was a good thing – and people have said they’ve grown up with me, that they were kids themselves when I started on the radio, and they have kids of their own now.
“I’ve always said I’ve made so many friends along the way, but someone said, ‘You’ve made so many friends you’ve never even met’.
“There have been times when a listener has said their son or daughter is in hospital, and I’ve popped in, and they’ve looked at me like I’ve made their day. But they made my day. Things like that made the travelling, the getting home at 1am, all of it, worthwhile.”
Asked if he will miss the radio experience, Lumsdon says: “I’ve been racking my brain about that, but I don’t know.
“The only thing I missed about playing was the adrenaline in the tunnel. When I’m at the match, I get the adrenaline in certain games. But that’s not necessarily about the radio.
“If I’m honest, during a few management eras and in a certain regime and a certain director of football, etc, I don’t understand how I stuck it out.
“I’ve done my stint, and I’d like to think that, judging by the messages, even if people didn’t agree with me they respected me and I respected them.
“My family who’ve listened over the last 13 years are probably due a break. They’re going to see me a bit more which is a nightmare for them. But honestly speaking, I’ve got a great life – a great partner, a lovely daughter, supportive parents and, hand on heart, I’m just ready.”
BBC Radio Cumbria last night announced that former Carlisle captain Paul Huntington is joining their team as a new United summariser. Speaking before that announcement, Lumsdon said: “Whoever comes on next, give them a bit of time, because I was terrible at the start.
“After 13 years, people probably knew what I was going to say and it’s probably time for a fresh voice.
“I can go to the games now and sit with people. That Forest Green game, the reunion [with 2004-06 team-mates] underlined that I want to sit in the stands with my mates now.
“It might have come six months earlier than I’d planned but I’m comfortable with it. I’m sure the coverage will go from strength to strength and I’m sure the podcast will be fine as well.
“It’s been an honour. Before the messages and the cuddles I’ve had in the last week or so, you don’t realise how many people you’re talking to. I knew I had a connection with supporters but didn’t realise how deep that was. It was amazing to feel.”