Les O’Neill, Carlisle United’s midfield legend, earned just £50 a week during the 1973/74 season. The basic wage was confirmed by a contract letter dated 23 May 1973.
Basic Wage
The contract, issued by club secretary David Dent, set O’Neill’s basic salary at £50 per week. He had joined the Blues in 1972 and spent five years at Brunton Park, helping the team win promotion to the First Division in 1973/74.
Bonuses and Clauses
The document lists a detailed bonus scheme. For each league appearance O’Neill received £12.50, unless Carlisle were relegated, in which case the bonus would be withdrawn. Additional appearance bonuses varied with league position: £25 for a first-place finish down to £4 for an 18th-place finish.
A promotion bonus of £10 000 was earmarked for players on a pro-rata appearance basis; the pot was shared when Carlisle reached the top flight at season’s end. In the FA Cup, bonuses ranged from £12.50 in the third round to £100 for a final appearance, with a 50p per 1,000-ticket gate bonus and a further £10 000 shared if the club reached the final. Carlisle reached the fourth round in 1973/74 before losing to Liverpool.
The League Cup offered bonuses from £12.50 to £500; the club reached the third round, earning O’Neill and teammates an extra £15 each. Friendlies paid as little as £2.50 for crowds under 2,500, and the pre-season Watney Cup offered modest bonuses.
Longevity bonuses were also included: a £1 200 benefit after five continuous years and an additional £3 300 after ten years. Injury clauses ensured that appearance bonuses continued for two weeks after an injury, and for a further two weeks the player received his basic wage plus £12.50.
Legacy
O’Neill’s contract reflects how Carlisle United maximised a modest wage for a player who played a key role in the club’s only promotion to the First Division. He also starred in the 1974/75 top-flight season. After leaving Carlisle, he played for Queen of the South. Les O’Neill died on 26 November 2025 at the age of 81.
