Non-league football is full of characters and stories. Some of them are outlandish and negative. However, there are positive stories, which can be uplifting. One of those positive stories involves current Carlisle United hotshot Regan Linney.
Arrested on a drug dealing charge
In September 2021, while playing at semi-professional level with FC United of Manchester, Linney was convicted of being concerned in supplying a class B drug. According to the Lancashire Post, he was also charged with class A drug offences earlier this year.
The forward received nine months, suspended for a year, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
This sentence was largely down to Linney’s good character and references from those who knew the forward well, as stated by Judge Simon Medland QC, who told Linney in court: ” You will understand you have brought yourself right in the line of fire for a sentence of custody.
“You’ve a promising career as a sportsman.” Who added ” I say to you both, don’t muck it up – you’ve got your whole lives ahead of you. I don’t suppose you really want to go to prison, but it’s up to you.”
Linney has certainly followed the judge’s advice
It seems that Linney took the judge’s words on board and has turned his life around.
The forward started his career with Bamber Bridge before joining FC United of Manchester. However, it’s only since his brush with the law that his career has rocketed.
In the last few years, he has rebuilt his career, and it is stronger than ever, as he has gone from semi-professional to full-time professional, has now been professional for the last few seasons. Not only has he been playing football professionally, but he has also thrived, especially in front of goal.
A massive upturn in fortunes
It was a move to Altrincham in 2023 that really kick-started the forward’s career. In his first season with the north west outfit he scored a respectable six goals in 18 National League appearances.
The following season, he kicked on once more in front of goal, scoring 14 times in 32 appearances, while also producing four assists.
However, in the 2024/25 season, Linney produced the most prolific campaign of his career, scoring 23 goals and contributing seven assists in 43 appearances in the fifth tier of the English game.
A big summer move to Carlisle United
In the summer of 2025, Regan Linney left Altrincham and joined Carlisle United for an undisclosed fee. United were relegated from League Two last season, but are one of the favourites for promotion.
Carlisle United is a bigger club than Altrincham due to their long history in the EFL. The move was a big one, as it likely gave Linney a chance to make it to the Football League for the first time in his career.
However, obviously, that would only be possible if Carlisle won promotion. Kinney has the primary responsibility of scoring the goals that could take the Cumbrians back into the Football League.
Carlisle have made a decent start to their National League campaign, as they currently sit in third place in the table, but just a point adrift of Rochdale, who currently occupy the one automatic promotion spot.
As for Linney, he has made a stellar goalscoring start to his Carlisle United career, scoring eight goals in his first nine National League matches. He is currently the top goalscorer in the English fifth-tier.
At 28, Regan Kinney is in his prime as a striker, and he could go on to even bigger and brighter things than the National League. He has shown that he is a natural goalscorer, and he will hope to continue his prolific spell in the fifth tier.
The forward’s turning of his life around is a lesson to anybody who has ever thought that they can’t improve their situation, even if they are in a dark place.
Hopefully, Kinney can keep scoring goals in his career and make headlines for all the right reasons for years to come. Who knows, he may be the next Jamie Vardy, which would be a fairytale ending for the forward, who is now seemingly living his best life at Carlisle United.