 Carlisle spent just one season with Leeds United before signing for Championship side Watford in August 2005 . In the 2005 – 06 season , his first with Watford , the team finished third in the division and achieved promotion to the Premier League via the play @-@ offs . However , a thigh injury caused Carlisle to miss the majority of the team 's inaugural top @-@ flight season . In March 2007 he had a one @-@ month loan spell at Luton Town . In August 2007 , Burnley manager Steve Cotterill bought Carlisle from Watford for a transfer fee of £ 200 @,@ 000 . In the 2008 – 09 season he played over 40 matches as Burnley reached the semi @-@ finals of the League Cup and finished fifth in the league , earning a place in the play @-@ offs . Carlisle was named man of the match for his performance in the play @-@ off final as Burnley beat Sheffield United 1 – 0 to return to the top tier of English football for the first time in 33 years . 
