 In a pre-season match in the summer of 2008 against Partick Thistle, Lumsdon suffered a serious back injury; in his absence, Carlisle struggled in League One, but he managed to make six appearances towards the end of the 2008–09 season upon his return.Lumsdon left Carlisle United in May 2009, when he was one of six players released by the club due to budget constraints.Upon his release by Carlisle, Lumsdon joined Darlington in League Two; however, after only three games, he had a recurrence of his previous back injury.