Holker Street Newsletter 11 - 6th November 1997

No mid-week game for us this week, but still quite a bit to report, if you have anything to add, please let me know.


RESULT FROM TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 1997
Lancaster City 1 Winsford United 1

This is excellent news for Barrow as Winsford dropped two points, and now the table looks like this:

P W D L F:A Pts
BARROW......................17 11 4 2 30:11 37
Boston United...............17 7 8 2 23:15 29
Winsford United.............11 8 2 1 18:6 26
Runcorn.....................15 7 3 5 28:22 24
Bishop Auckland.............15 6 6 3 27:22 24
Spennymoor United...........14 7 3 4 19:18 24
Colwyn Bay..................16 7 3 6 23:25 24
Altrincham..................16 7 2 7 28:17 23
Gainsborough Trinity........13 7 2 4 21:14 23
Guiseley....................16 5 7 4 24:22 22
Lancaster City..............17 6 3 8 27:32 21
Frickley Athletic...........14 5 5 4 16:16 20
Hyde United.................12 5 3 4 18:15 18
Emley.......................14 5 3 6 25:24 18
Accrington Stanley..........17 4 5 8 20:27 17
Leigh RMI...................11 4 4 3 12:9 16
Radcliffe Borough...........16 4 4 8 21:31 16
Marine......................12 3 5 4 14:15 14
Bamber Bridge...............15 3 4 8 20:30 13
Blyth Spartans..............15 2 6 7 14:22 12
Chorley.....................15 3 3 9 16:31 12
Alfreton Town...............14 2 1 11 9:29 7

This is really excellent reading for Barrow AFC supporters, apart from Barrow being top, we have scored the most goals in the League, how many times in previous years has a lack of goals cost us dear? And with the notable exception of Winsford and Leigh RMI who have both played considerably less games than we have, we have also conceded the least number of goals.

I honestly believe this year is the one we will go up. Since moving to NZ in October 1991, each season I've had mixed feelings about our prospects, but this year everything feels just right. I also believe Stephen Vaughan will be cleared by the Customs and Excise of any wrongdoing, and nothing can stop us. Oh yes, we have to keep winning of course. Does anyone know what the odds are for the UniBond Championship this year?


TIME TO GIVE THE CLUB SOME MONEY

There are a number of new names on this mailing list since the last time I made this plug (there are now 35 people on the list) so here goes. In this season's programme the Club are running a pitch sponsorship scheme, whereby for £10 you can have your name in the programme for the rest of the season. The Kiwi Blues, a number of Barrovians out here in NZ, have taken six squares, so how about you doing the same?

Easiest way is if you send the cash or cheque to the Club at Holker Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14, including details of what you want in the square (there's only room for a couple of words in each square, so why not take more than one?


FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER
Bamber Bridge v Frickley Athletic, Blyth Spartans v Colwyn Bay, Boston United v Barrow, Chorley v Bishop Auckland, Guiseley v Altrincham, Hyde United v Accrington Stanley, Lancaster City v Emley, Marine v Runcorn.


NEW PAINT SCHEME FOR THE SPORTS AND LEISURE
The Sports And Leisure Club at Holker Street has been painted in blue and white horizontal stripes, supposedly about four or five stripes. (I suppose this means the outside, not the inside. Next time you go to Holker Street, can you let me know what you think?)

Thanks to Russell Dodd and the web page for this.


MATCH REPORT
Barrow (0) 2 - 0 (0) Alfreton Town, November 11 1997
O'Keeffe 53, Prior 79
Att 958

Barrow : Farrelly, McCauley (Hennigan 82), Robertson, Higgins, Jones, Johnston, Bauress, Prior, O'Keeffe (Grugel 86), Morton (Wright 81), Humphreys.

Barrow gained their fifth straight League win to extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a fine attacking second half display against the bottom club, who rarely troubled Steve Farrelly. The first half was poor but Barrow still should have gone in at least one up with Lee O'Keeffe hitting the bar from six yards from a Paul Robertson cross.

The second half saw relentless pressure from Barrow as their midfield finally pushed far enough forward to gain control and feed Morton and O'Keeffe up front. The first goal was a peach with Gary Bauress putting a delightful chip over the defence down the flank for Carl McCauley to cross LEE O'KEEFFE who headed home. Barrow missed several chances and had a Morton goal ruled offside before a through ball 11 minuted from time saw LEE PRIOR run and shot into the bottom corner to seal the victory.

5-0 would have been a better reflection of Barrow's superiority but at least they gained the three points and put Tuesday's nightmare behind them. They now travel to second placed Boston next Saturday and then face a re-arranged game at Runcorn on Tuesday November 11th since the Winsford away game has been postponed due to the Cheshire club's League Cup Replay with Congleton.

Thanks to Russell Dodd and the web site again. How come the attendance was so low for this game? Was the weather bad?

BARROW 0 LANCASTER CITY 3
UniBond Challenge Cup Second Round, Tuesday October 28
Scorers: Dobie 15, Martin 24 and 73
Att: 658

Barrow, who rested key men Neil Morton and Gary Bauress, turned in a lethargic performance to crash out of the League Cup. Barrow's normally mean defence was responsible for all three goals with sloppy play. Barrow's only spell of dominance was 15 minute spell at the end of the first half when Ged Hennigan had a goal ruled out for a foul and Lee O'Keeffe failed to round the keeper with the goal at his mercy.

Thanks to Russell Dodd and the web site.


MORE ON ZIGGER
Graham Murphy has donned his anorak and has dug out his old copies of The Zigger, the Barrow AFC National Supporters' Club Newsletter, and has the following to offer to the origins to Zigger.

He found an explanation of the origin of Zigger in issue number 128 of April 1993. John Woods, who was editor at the time, changed the name of the then imaginatively titled "Newsletter" to "The National Zigger" as a link with the most successful period in the club's history.

John went on to explain that the Zigger was indeed a stuffed kitbag that was paraded around Holker Street before games started, to the chant from the Holker Street end of "Zigger, zagger, zigger, zagger, oi, oi, oi!" The Zigger was featured on the front cover of the magazine "Football League Review" in September 1968 along with the club's mascot, Jimmy Caldwell. Where is he now? Does anyone know him?

There was a campaign to have The Ziggers adopted as the club nickname, but it never took off and was finally replaced by the Bluebirds. Jimmy is quoted as saying, "The older fans don't seem to go for our Zigger, but we keep trying."

Graham's own memory is that the kitbag and the chant started in the 1966-67 promotion season a couple of months before Christmas. By the end of that season, lots of clubs' supporters were using the chant, but Graham adds, it started at Barrow first.

BTW, did you get any more information on the records held by Bobby Knox as the first substitute to be used in the Football League and the first sub to replace an injured goalkeeper and save a penalty? I remember seeing these games in the late '60s, though I wasn't aware that I was witnessing the creation of a football world record, but I can't remember when the games were, who they were against and the score. Can anyone else fill in the details?

We did receive some comments from Geoff Payne in California which I featured in Newsletter Number 8 and are repeated here.

During the 1965/66 season Bobby (Opportunity) Knox made two spectacular pieces of history. On the opening day of the season Knox came on as a substitute against Wrexham. This was the first time substitutes had been allowed in Football League games and Bobby scored to help Barrow to their first victory over the Welshmen in eight years. Not content in being the first substitute to come on and score, he came on as substitute again in a home game against Doncaster Rovers. This time he replaced goalkeeper Lionel Duffin and added another page to the history books by saving a penalty!


SPONSORSHIP NEWS (WILL BE RELEVANT TO US NEXT SEASON)

Apparently Vauxhall have announced that this will be the last season they will be sponsoring the Conference, ending probably the longest sponsorship deal in football. Has anyone heard of any more news on this one?


FA VASE: SECOND-ROUND DRAW:
I know this isn't relevant to Barrow AFC, and hopefully it will never ever be, but I thought you might be interested. If you look through it there are some blasts from the past: Wealdstone being one, and a number of clubs who have beaten us over the last few years.

Dunston Fed Brewery v Atherton LR; Seaham Red Star v Chadderton; Rossendale United v Tow Law Town; West Auckland Town v Curzon Ashton; Armthorpe W or West Allotment Celtic v Denaby United; North Ferriby United v Murton; Peterlee Newtown v Brigg Town; Warrington Town v Poulton Victoria; Kidsgrove Athletic or RTM Newcastle v Brodsworth; Nantwich Town v Burscough; Stockton v Sheffield; Mossley AFC v Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA; Thackley v Borrowash Victoria; Hebburn or Chester-le-Street-Town v Billingham Town; Clitheroe v Guisborough Town; Bedlington Terriers v Billingham Synthonia; Durham City v Marske United; Newcastle Town v Birstall United; Friar Lane OB v Kings Heath or Wednesfield; Boldmere St Michaels v Arnold Town; Spalding United v Mirrlees Blackstone; Barwell v Boston Town; Knypersley Victoria v Stamford AFC; Ely City v Worcester Athletico; Oadby Town v Norwich United; Staveley MW v Wroxham; Bloxwich Town v Diss Town; Rocester v Histon; Hucknall Town v Stourport Swifts; Ashford Town (Middx) v Littlehampton Town; Deal Town v Great Wakering Rovers; Shoreham v Sudbury Town; Basildon United v Edgware Town; Potters Bar Town v Whitstable Town; Faversham Town v Banstead Athletic; Braintree Town v Concord Rangers; Peacehaven and Telscombe v Chatham Town; Harwich and Parkeston v Folkestone Invicta; Chipstead v Barking; Metropolitan Police v Tooting and Mitcham United; Hillingdon Borough or Ware v Brook House; Hemel Hempstead v Wick; Camberley Town v Corinthian; Brache Sparta v Halstead Town; Sawbridgeworth Town v Stotfold; Burgess Hill Town v Canvey Island; Sudbury Wanderers v Flackwell Heath; Bowers United v Buckingham Town; Northwood v Woodbridge Town; Arlesey Town v Waltham Abbey; Herne Bay v Langney Sports; Aveley v Burnham; Ramsgate v Wealdstone; Wimborne Town v Gosport Borough; Elmore v Chard Town; Paulton Rovers v Swindon Supermarine or Porthleven; Chippenham Town or Devizes Town v Andover; Tiverton Town v Mangotsfield United; Bridport v Bridgwater Town; Taunton Town v Mangotsfield United; Thatcham Town v Marlow; BAT Sports v Bodmin Town; Lymington AFC v Bemerton Heath Harlequins; Endsleigh or Newbury AFC v Cowes Sports.

Ties to be played on November 22