Holker Street Newsletter 1067 - 24th February 2003

Despite the fact that Barrow AFC first team weren't playing at the weekend, there is still much to report, the thing is, most of the news isn't good. Accrington recorded another victory on Saturday and soon we'll need binoculars to see them, such is the gap at the top of the table. Barrow are hoping to play their first game in over a fortnight, away at Blyth Spartans tomorrow night and we must win this game to keep up the pressure. If anyone is going to the Spartans' game and would like to send a report, please do so.

There is now an even easier way to get in touch with the Newsletter, where now you don't even need to type in an email address. If you simply hit reply or reply to sender on the Holker Street Newsletter itself, all the details will appear in the various boxes so when you're ready, just press send and it will be sent to the Newsletter's very own email account. You can also simply send an email with your contributions to or .


MAIL WATCH - FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY
Barrow AFC manager Kenny Lowe has spoken to three Premier League clubs (Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland) as well as Carlisle United, in an attempt to obtain cover for goalkeeper Simon Bishop who's suspended for three matches from March 3. He's awaiting feedback from the clubs about availability but his plans also include reserve team keeper Ross Liddicott, who's suspended for tomorrow's trip to Farsley Celtic reserves. Bishop along with first team players Simon Shaw, Mark Salmon, Anthony Hall, Neil Tarrant and Lee Warren are selected to play for the reserve side in their match at Farsley while Mark Hume will also be getting match practice playing for Goole, as will Steve Housham who will play for Brigg (both in the North East Counties League). Barrow's last first team game was over a fortnight ago and manager Kenny Lowe is becoming frustrated by the lack of games. Tomorrow he will travel to watch the UniBond League clash of the day between Worksop and Accrington.

Barrow AFC Official Supporters' Club are running a coach to Blyth on Tuesday departing the Cross Bar at 3.30pm and anyone interested in travelling should contact Bill Ablitt on 01229-471617.


GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS
As mentioned previously, Barrow AFC reserves were playing away at Farsley Celtic reserves on Saturday and the match went ahead with Barrow reserves winning 6-1. The Barrow side comprised several first team players and one of them was goalkeeper Simon Bishop as reserve team goalkeeper Ross Liddicott was suspended. Barrow's scorers were Neil Tarrant (4), Darren Connell and Lee Warren.

A little bird tells me that during the course of the game Bishop was sent off and now faces an extension to his suspension which commences after Saturday's home game with Burscough. The same little bird tells me that Lee Warren was booked and Mark Salmon picked up an injury that may keep him out of Tuesday's match at Blyth Spartans. I have the feeling we'll be hearing more about the reserves match at Farsley which I hope to include in the coming edition(s) of the Newsletter.

I hear that a few Barrow supporters were at Farsley Celtic for this game on Saturday. If anyone can expand on the details I'm sure we'd all love to know what went on in light of the circumstances.

Results of interest from the Northern Counties Eastern League on Saturday were Brigg Town 0 Eccleshill United 2 and Ossett Albion 1 Goole 4 (Mark Hume scoring one of the goals for Goole). I haven't seen any reports as to whether Steve Housham was involved in the Brigg Town game. Perhaps someone could inform us if he played?


UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 22 FEBRUARY
Ashton United 2 Hucknall Town 3 (213), Blyth Spartans 1 Colwyn Bay 1 (337), Bradford Park Avenue 1 Vauxhall Motors 0 (253), Frickley Athletic 2 Runcorn 2 (182), Gateshead 0 Stalybridge Celtic 1 (224), Hyde United 1 Gainsborough Trinity 5 (251), Lancaster City 1 Harrogate Town 2 (294), Whitby Town 0 Altrincham 1 (402), Worksop Town 1 Accrington Stanley 4 (1063).

P W D L F-A Pts
Accrington Stanley........32 22 6 4 71-34 72
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Stalybridge Celtic........32 17 10 5 62-38 61
Vauxhall Motors...........29 17 5 7 59-31 56
BARROW....................30 16 8 6 57-39 56
Whitby Town...............31 14 8 9 67-53 50
Worksop Town..............27 14 7 6 54-36 49
Bradford Park Avenue......31 14 7 10 52-50 49
Ashton United.............33 13 9 11 52-61 48
Wakefield & Emley.........32 11 13 8 32-32 46
Altrincham................31 13 6 12 41-41 45
Gainsborough Trinity......33 12 9 12 52-54 45
Droylsden.................30 13 5 12 47-40 44
Harrogate Town............30 12 5 13 48-47 41
Hucknall Town.............30 9 12 9 48-47 39
Lancaster City............30 10 6 14 43-49 36
Marine....................30 10 6 14 41-47 36
Gateshead.................33 9 9 15 46-57 36
Runcorn...................28 9 8 11 41-46 35
Burscough.................28 9 7 12 26-26 34
Blyth Spartans............27 9 5 13 48-58 32
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Frickley Athletic.........29 7 5 17 31-53 26
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Colwyn Bay................31 4 6 21 38-66 18
Hyde United...............33 3 4 26 34-85 13

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION, SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY
Bamber Bridge 2 Ossett Town 1 (140), Belper Town 2 Eastwood Town 1 (229), Bishop Auckland 0 Alfreton Town 0 (185), Chorley 2 Spennymoor United 0 (276), Guiseley 3 Rossendale United 1 (232). Kendal Town 1 Kidsgrove Athletic 1 (172), Leek Town 2 North Ferriby United 2 (252), Lincoln United 4 Farsley Celtic 1 (123), Matlock Town 3 Trafford 1 (241), Radcliffe Borough 4 Witton Albion 2 (284), Stocksbridge PS P Workington P (match postponed - frozen pitch).

P W D L F/A Pts
Alfreton Town 28 19 6 3 76/34 63
Radcliffe Borough 28 16 8 4 55/34 56
Nth Ferriby United 28 15 9 4 57/28 54
Belper Town 30 15 9 6 40/34 54
Matlock Town 32 15 8 9 56/39 53
Chorley 30 14 7 9 58/39 49
Witton Albion 29 13 10 6 51/37 49
Kendal Town 30 14 6 10 54/41 48
Workington 30 13 9 8 51/44 48
Spennymoor United 23 13 3 7 44/32 42
Lincoln United 29 12 5 12 56/50 41
Farsley Celtic 29 10 9 10 44/49 39
Leek Town 27 11 5 11 35/32 38
Guiseley 28 10 8 10 50/48 38
Bamber Bridge 31 10 7 14 43/47 37
Ossett Town 32 8 9 15 35/52 33
Kidsgrove Athletic 31 7 8 16 39//56 29
Stocksbridge PS 23 7 6 10 31/38 27
Rossendale United 30 8 3 19 36/59 27
Bishop Auckland 28 5 6 17 31/65 21
Eastwood Town 31 4 6 21 27/60 18
Trafford 29 4 3 22 23/74 15


URGENT APPEAL FOR YORK CITY
Although this is a Barrow AFC Newsletter, I would like to give some space to help any fellow football clubs in jeopardy and one of them is York City. Through our problems we have established many friends with other football clubs in similar predicaments and they have given us valuable assistance. For this reason I think we should do what we can to help others. Added to the fact some York City fans gave contributions to the Barrow AFC cause I think perhaps we might like to help out and return the favour.

David Ingham has been in touch about York City and their current plight which is very similar to the position Barrow AFC were in when we first went into liquidation.

You may have seen in the media that York City Football Club face closure after their home game with Bury. The fact is that unless the fans raise UKP60,000 by Wednesday then their club will die. Their supporters' trust has put in a viable bid to takeover the club and have already put in UKP92,000 to cover costs, however, due to the procrastination by their administrator, another funding gap has emerged. If this gap is plugged then their survival is assured. If it isn't, then they die.

York aren't the usual case of a badly run club having their debts catch up with them. Their ground was taken from them by their ex-chairman in a manner not too dissimilar to what happened to us with a certain former chairman. So far they have raised around UKP12,000 in the few days since this target figure was first known.

If you could see your way clear to making a donation via: then the York fans would be extremely grateful. The York City fans I know all bought survival fund tickets etc when we were in trouble, hence this posting.


RESTRUCTURING
By John Cotton (Newcastle Town) and the NWCFL Newsletter

One important positive factor for restructuring is that many clubs in the pyramid system will realise an ambition to play in a higher League. It is very likely that the restructuring for season 2004-2005 will have a dramatic effect upon the North West Counties Football League (NWCFL). It is a certainty that at least eight (probably more) UniBond Premier League clubs, including Altrincham, Stalybridge Celtic and Barrow will join The Conference Division Two North. This will leave a void in the UniBond League. The vast majority of this void will be filled by clubs from the NWCFL, including Mossley FC, Prescot Cables and Salford City, this season alone has seen eight clubs from this League apply to join the UniBond. This will in turn cause a void in the NWCFL - which is already decreasing in numbers, in 1986 it had three Divisions, it currently has forty clubs. In 2004-2005 it could be left with fewer than thirty clubs. Again this void will need to be filled by its feeder Leagues. It is pleasing to see that the NWCFL are committed to support, assist, encourage and promote ambitious clubs to join them. New Mills, Wilmslow Albion and Wythenshawe Amateurs currently in the Air Miles Manchester League are ambitious and would be more than capable of competing in the higher League of the NWCFL; such ambitions would enhance the League and safeguard its future in the difficult times that lie ahead. I believe very strongly that the pyramid system needs modernising, which in turn will rejuvenate and stimulate interest in non-League football.


UNIBOND PRESS RELEASE (PART ONE)
From the Official UniBond League site at

Accrington Stanley continue to lead the rest of the field a merry dance at the top of the Premier Division and on Saturday cantered to a 4-1 victory at Worksop Town that virtually put paid to their host’s outside chances. The “Tigers” were left with the scant consolation of their first four figure League attendance of the season. Stalybridge Celtic, however, haven’t given up hope and they managed a solitary goal success at Gateshead who were previously unbeaten in five. Vauxhall Motors moved up to third in mid-week with success over Burscough but couldn’t capitalise on Saturday when losing at Bradford Park Avenue. The “Motormen” stay ahead of Barrow who were without a match on goal difference. At the opposite end of the table bottom side Hyde United crashed 5-1 at home to Gainsborough Trinity for whom former Lincoln City striker Gareth Grant bagged a hat-trick. Hyde lost further ground as the three teams immediately above them all gained a point. Next to bottom Colwyn Bay drew 1-1 at fourth bottom Blyth Spartans whilst third from bottom Frickley Athletic came from two down to grab their point at home to Runcorn FC Halton. Two out of form teams met at Lancaster City where Harrogate Town came from behind to win 2-1. It ended a run of five straight League defeats for the Yorkshire side whilst extending Lancaster’s losing run to six. In the two remaining top flight games, Altrincham and Hucknall Town enjoyed away wins at Whitby Town and Ashton United respectively.

The First Division title race which at one stage seemed a formality is beginning to look like it could become interesting. Leaders Alfreton Town failed to score in a League game for the first time this season when held at struggling Bishop Auckland and that made it six League and Cup games on the trot without a win for the Derbyshire outfit. Radcliffe Borough moved in to second after inflicting Witton Albion’s first League reverse in ten games thanks to a Jody Banim hat-trick and although Boro’ are seven points adrift they still have to meet Alfreton twice. Last week’s second place team North Ferriby United were held at Leek Town and drop to third ahead of Belper Town, who beat next to bottom Eastwood Town 2-1, on goal difference. Completing a trio of Derbyshire clubs in the top three are Matlock Town who went behind at home to bottom club Trafford before emerging 3-1 winners. Four points behind Matlock in sixth place are Chorley who scored in stoppage time of both halves to edge past Spennymoor United who had Steve Preen dismissed. At the bottom Rossendale United are in a poor run and could yet get drawn in to the relegation battle after going down again 3-1 at Guiseley. Elsewhere Lincoln United beat Farsley Celtic 4-1 and Bamber Bridge ended a run of seven games without a win by beating Ossett Town 2-1 whilst Kendal Town and Kidsgrove Athletic shared the spoils. In the FA Trophy, Burscough, will be the League’s only representatives in the last eight after a comprehensive 5-0 win over Wakefield & Emley.

Two Internationals Sign UniBond Forms: Two under 21 Internationals this week signed UniBond League registration forms. Spennymoor United manager Jamie Pollock the former Middlesbrough star who won Youth caps in addition to his three England under 21 appearances has now also registered as a player. Despite seemingly being around for many years, Pollock is only 29 and signed the forms on his 29th birthday. The other under 21 international is twenty year old Michael Price who North Ferriby United have snapped up on his release from Hull City. Price, who spent time with North Ferriby last season on loan, began his career with Everton and he was with the Goodison Park outfit when he won his first three Welsh under 21 caps. He doubled his number of Welsh appearances last season when with Hull City.

Trinity Clear Out: Gainsborough Town boss Phil Stant has had a clear out of players this week releasing no fewer than a dozen of his squad including several with a large number of Football League appearances under their belts. Colin Alcide, Adie Mike, Max Nicholson, Barry Richardson and Dean Walling have all enjoyed considerable full time careers in the game and they are joined by Mark Anderson, Alex Callery, Frazer McHugh, Jermaine Richards, Craig Stones, Neil Thompson and Chris Pettit in Stant’s purge.

Smith’s Season Ends in Car Crash: Altrincham player Sean Smith could be in plaster for six months after he broke a leg in a car crash last Sunday night. The 22 year old midfielder was involved in a head on collision and firemen had to demolish a wall to rescue Smith from his car. Manager Graham Heathcote, who visited the player in hospital on Wednesday, said “We are going to do everything we can for him whilst he is unable to work or play football. It is a massive blow for him personally and football becomes irrelevant at times like these. We have a close knit group of players at Moss Lane and the accident has upset the camp. Sean has done a good job for us and he has been a big contributor to us turning things round”.

Leek Put ‘Keeper on Contract: After just four games between the sticks new Leek Town ‘keeper Steve Hodgson has landed a contract. The 21 year old was signed by manager John Ramshaw earlier this month from Nuneaton Borough to replace Phil Morgan who was going on holiday. Hodgson, however, has conceded just one goal in four matches and has obviously done enough to enable Ramshaw to persuade his board to award the Macclesfield based youngster a contract. Hodgson is an England youth international who began his career at Manchester City before switching to his home town team and then Nuneaton whose manager Steve Burr was reluctant to release him but was forced to do so in a cost cutting exercise. Ramshaw, however, is delighted the board have backed his judgement and says the award of a contract to Hodgson is another piece of the jigsaw in place for next season. He said “I’ve already started building for the next campaign and the backbone is now in place. Hodgson is a good signing and he follows Anthony Danylyk, Dave MacPherson and Adam Martin as contracted players at the club”.

Harrogate Take Beesley on Loan: Harrogate Town have relied heavily on loan players this season and this week signed their fifth and final loan player for the season when taking Worksop Town’s Darren Beesley on a month’s loan. Beesley has played in the Scottish Premier League with Kilmarnock and in the First Division with the ill fated Airdrieonians. After the financial collapse of Airdrieonians he moved south to play for Boston United and made half a dozen appearances in the “Pilgrims” Conference title winning side. Under UniBond League rules Harrogate Town cannot now make any further loan signings.


WHITBY FORCED TO LOOK FOR NEW KEEPER DUE TO DISNEY TRIP!
From the Non-League Paper site at

Whitby Town were looking for the go-ahead to play a new goalkeeper in Saturday's home UniBond League Premier Division game with Altrincham. Regular 'keeper David Campbell is unavailable as he will be in Paris after winning a family holiday at Disney World. The Blues were awaiting FA approval to include Craig Turns, a 21-year-old Sunderland reserve tem player, for the one game. Secretary Charlie Woodward said: "If Campbell does not take it he will lose the holiday. He will be back to play on Tuesday night at Scarborough in the NR Senior Cup Semi-Final."

TARRANT BACK AT HOLKER STREET
Barrow's Neil Tarrant is back with the UniBond League Premier Division club after a trial in South Korea for a side managed by ex-Sunderland star Ian Porterfield. Striker Tarrant said of his Korean side: "By all accounts they haven't got anyone better than I was. So I'd like to think it's looking positive. If it comes off then brilliant, if not then at least Barrow have been brilliant about it. They said if things don't work out I'm still welcome back. I want to get playing full-time football again but if I can't then there's not many better non-League teams to play for than Barrow".


FA TROPHY FIFTH ROUND
Aylesbury United 0 Windsor & Eton 2 (847), Burscough 5 Wakefield & Emley 0 (437), Dover Athletic 0 Forest Green Rovers 3 (932), Farnborough Town 2 Halifax Town 0 (863), Gloucester City 1 Southport 1 (1237), Havant & Waterlooville 3 Hayes 0 (456), Margate 0 Tamworth 2 (1100), Yeovil Town 2 Northwich Victoria 1 (4469).


NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 22 FEBRUARY
Barnet 3 Scarborough 0, Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Chester City 0, Doncaster Rovers 1 Burton Albion 0, Hereford United 2 Stevenage Borough 2, Telford United 2 Gravesend & Northfleet 1, Woking 0 Morecambe 6.

P W D L F-A Pts
Yeovil Town...............31 19 9 3 68-30 66
Doncaster Rovers..........30 16 9 5 50-31 57
Chester City..............31 15 10 6 46-22 55
Hereford United...........32 16 7 9 50-33 55
Halifax Town..............31 16 7 8 40-35 55
Morecambe.................31 15 7 9 57-30 52
Dagenham & Redbridge......30 15 7 8 51-40 52
Scarborough...............31 12 10 9 45-39 46
Barnet....................32 11 9 12 53-54 42
Forest Green Rovers.......31 12 5 14 40-48 41
Telford United............31 12 4 15 42-48 40
Northwich Victoria........31 10 9 12 54-56 39
Margate...................30 10 9 11 46-49 39
Southport.................29 9 11 9 40-39 38
Farnborough Town..........28 10 6 12 37-36 36
Burton Albion.............32 9 9 14 41-57 36
Woking....................31 10 5 16 39-70 35
Gravesend & Northfleet....32 9 7 16 49-59 34
Nuneaton Borough..........31 8 7 16 37-55 31
Leigh RMI.................30 9 3 18 31-56 30
Stevenage Borough.........29 6 8 15 37-42 26
Kettering Town............30 6 6 18 28-52 24

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 22 FEBRUARY
Basingstoke Town 2 Purfleet 1, Billericay Town 3 Kingstonian 1, Braintree Town 2 Canvey Island 4, Enfield 1 Chesham United 0, Ford United 2 Harrow Borough 0, Grays Athletic 1 Maidenhead United 4, Hampton & Richmond 0 Boreham Wood 4, Hendon 0 Heybridge Swifts 0, Hitchin Town 0 Bishop's Stortford 1, St Albans City 1 Bedford Town 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Aldershot Town............31 21 4 6 49-28 67
Canvey Island.............32 19 6 7 74-45 63
St Albans City............32 17 6 9 47-33 57
Hendon....................28 14 11 3 47-26 53
Sutton United.............30 16 5 9 55-37 53
Purfleet..................32 15 8 9 51-33 53
Basingstoke Town..........32 16 4 12 55-45 52
Billericay Town...........28 14 8 6 37-21 50
Kingstonian...............31 11 14 6 54-41 47
Hayes.....................32 12 11 9 40-38 47
Bedford Town..............33 12 7 14 35-48 43
Maidenhead United.........29 11 9 9 49-39 42
Boreham Wood..............32 10 10 12 40-39 40
Harrow Borough............33 10 9 14 38-50 39
Chesham United............31 10 8 13 44-54 38
Grays Athletic............32 9 8 15 38-43 35
Aylesbury United..........29 8 11 10 44-54 35
Ford United...............28 9 7 12 52-55 34
Braintree Town............32 8 9 15 37-50 33
Enfield...................33 8 8 17 39-63 32
Hitchin Town..............30 7 8 15 39-47 29
Bishop's Stortford........30 6 10 14 43-52 28
Heybridge Swifts..........29 7 6 16 27-57 27
Hampton & Richmond........33 2 11 20 26-62 17

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 22 FEBRUARY
Crawley Town 4 Cambridge City 2, Folkestone Invicta 4 Weymouth 1, Grantham Town 2 Worcester City 3, Halesowen Town 0 Chelmsford City 2, Hastings United 1 Bath City 1, Hinckley United 1 Chippenham Town 2, Moor Green 5 Ilkeston Town 0, Welling United 2 Hednesford Town 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Tamworth..................30 19 7 4 57-24 64
Worcester City............31 15 11 5 48-24 56
Chippenham Town...........30 14 13 3 43-23 55
Stafford Rangers..........30 15 9 6 52-29 54
Tiverton Town.............29 13 8 8 43-33 47
Dover Athletic............25 13 6 6 28-22 45
Crawley Town..............28 12 7 9 44-36 43
Newport County............28 11 7 10 38-33 40
Bath City.................28 10 9 9 40-39 39
Hednesford Town...........28 9 10 9 43-41 37
Moor Green................29 8 12 9 34-36 36
Chelmsford City...........27 10 6 11 40-43 36
Welling United............29 8 10 11 38-39 34
Havant & Waterlooville....26 8 10 8 35-37 34
Grantham Town.............28 9 6 13 39-46 33
Hinckley United...........30 6 14 10 44-48 32
Cambridge City............27 8 7 12 33-35 31
Hastings United...........27 8 7 12 31-36 31
Weymouth..................27 7 10 10 28-39 31
Halesowen Town............27 6 8 13 28-42 26
Folkestone Invicta........30 4 6 20 39-78 18
Ilkeston Town.............28 4 5 19 30-72 17