THE MATCH
Carlisle United v Brentford, npower League One, Brunton Park, August 7 2010
THE KIT
Brentford will be in a black kit on Saturday, sponsored by Bathwise.
For details on all club partners click here
THE OPPOSITION
Brentford kick off the 2010/11 season in exactly the same way they kicked off 12 months ago - with a trip to Carlisle United.
Last year The Bees ran out 3-1 winners on their first game back in League One and completed the double with a 3-1 home victory in January.
In the end, Brentford finished five places and four points above the Cumbrian side, who have been in League One since 2006.
Promotion four years ago a roller-coaster few years which saw them avoid relegation out of the Football League with the last kick of the season in 1999 but eventually drop in 2004 after they lost 18 of their first 21 games.
Under Paul Simpson they bounced straight back and won League Two at the first attempt in 2005/06.
They looked in danger for a period last year, were 21st in early October and even in late February were within touching distance of the drop zone but they eventually survived with ease.
And their season even took in a trip to Wembley as they were beaten in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final by Southampton after knocking out Leeds United in the area final.
THE MANAGER
Greg Abbott took over as Carlisle manager in December 2008 after the experienced John Ward left the club by mutual consent.
The 46-year-old had been in caretaker charge after the departure of Ward, who had been at the helm for 13 months and led the club to the 2007 League One play-offs where they lost to Leeds United.
Abbott took over with Carlisle 20th in League One, a place and a point outside the relegation zone, and was handed the job full time after two wins in three league games.
He kept them up - albeit only just, after a poor late run - in 2009 and lead them to a mid-table finish last term.
THE DANGER MAN
Craig Curran - who joined Carlisle in the summer from Tranmere Rovers - has a fantastic scoring record against Brentford.
The 20-year-old scored 16 goals for Rovers in about 120 games, spread over four years - nearly half as a substitute.
But three of them came against The Bees on the last day of the 2006/07 season and he scored the winner for Rovers in a 1-0 win over Brentford at Prenton Park last December.
Curran rejected a new contract at Tranmere to sign for Carlisle and the Merseyside club should be due compensation given his age but no figure has yet been announced by either club.
Click here for a profile of Craig Curran
THE FORMER BEE
Jason Price signed for Carlisle in the summer, putting pen to paper on a one-year contract.
The 33-year-old had been released by Millwall in the close season and had spent the end of last term at Brunton Park as he moves round the country racking up clubs.
Swansea City, Tranmere Rovers, Hull City, Doncaster Rover and Oldham Athletic have all had the journeyman on their books and he spent three months at Griffin Park during the 2001/02 season.
He became a vital part of the promotion-chasing team built by Steve Coppell, playing 15 games and scoring once - the winner in a memorable 2-1 victory over Reading.
But he left Griffin Park to move to Tranmere at the end of his deal.
Click here for a profile of Jason Price
THE BRENTFORD VIEW
Brentford manager Andy Scott said Brentford's preparation for their opening day trip to Carlisle would mirror what they did last year.
The Bees picked up an opening day win after travelling up to Lilleshall National Sports Centre, in Shropshire, on the Thursday before to game and completing their trip on Friday.
Scott, speaking after The Bees' pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace, confirmed his men would be doing the same this year, leaving today, and was looking for the same outcome.
He said: "We will be preparing for the trip to Carlisle like we did last year.
"We will go up to Lilleshall, prepare properly and hopefully get the same result.
"In terms of fitness and attitude pre-season has gone how I would have liked.
"The lads have picked up what we are trying to do and I think you can see that as we have gone on.
"Defensively we have become a lot more solid and going forward we have created more chances.
"I would have liked to have had a few more bodies in [earlier in pre-season] and that would have been an ideal scenario, but sometimes you have to deal with what is in front of you.
"If we get the right players in we will have to adapt them through the first stage of the season, but as long as we get the right ones in I don't mind.
"It's exciting, we want to get the season started, it is a long build up."
Click here to see the full interview with Andy Scott
Click here for find odds on the game from the club's official betting partner, Coral
Click here for ticket information
The coach, which is now full, departs from the Layton Road car park at 7am.
Click here for an away day guide to Carlisle
For those unable to attend, Billy Reeves and Chris Wickham will be providing commentary on Bees Player - on the air from around 2.45pm.
Click here to listen on Saturday afternoon
Click here for more details on Bees Player
By Chris Wickham
