Holker Street Newsletter 1251 - 9th February 2004

In Friday’s Newsletter I thought I was tempting fate when I said that Graham Anthony had scored three crackers in the previous three home games, but I was glad to see that he made it four out of four on Saturday with yet another clinical long range effort. In what looks like his last game at Holker Street Wayne Curtis ended with a bang, in the shape of a thunderbolt that flew in from over 30 yards away. Let’s also not forget Neil Campbell who scored two goals and almost got a hat-trick in the closing stages that saw Barrow overcome Bradford Park Avenue 4-0 in front of another four figure gate at Holker Street. One positive aspect of Saturday’s game was the reception that was given to Wayne Bullimore on his return to Holker Street. When he came onto the pitch as a second half substitute for Bradford he was given warm applause by the crowd which was very pleasing to hear.

As Ralph mentioned in yesterday’s Newsletter the gap between ourselves and Hucknall is now seven points but they do have games in hand that we'll be hoping don't result in too many points being accrued. For those who were wondering about Hucknall, they were playing the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup Third Round on Saturday and they won 2-1 at Gedling MW so that's another game they'll have to play in that competition in addition to the two League games they still have to play to catch up with ourselves.

If any supporters are at a loose end tomorrow night don't forget that Barrow Reserves are home to Lancaster Reserves in the League Cup with a 7.45pm kick-off. If the prospect of a cold night doesn't appeal then don't worry - you can watch the game from the bar providing you've paid your admission fee.


FUNDRAISING & THE WAY FORWARD MEETING
On Saturday after the match saw two of the Barrow AFC fund-raising groups, The Survival Fund and Raise the Roof, hold a meeting to discuss the presentation from the board made the week before. Members at the meeting asked questions to Tony Keen and a further meeting has been arranged for all supporters commencing at 8pm on Friday evening at the Cross Bar. Everyone is welcome and the club would like to hear if anyone has ideas regarding their proposed way forward or put forward suggestions about future additional income sources. I hope to attend the meeting on Friday evening so if anyone has any thoughts or questions they'd like me to suggest or try to answer please get in touch. Just send an email with your thoughts to hsn@barrowfc.com or just reply to the Newsletter itself.

FUNDRAISING CONTRIBUTIONS
In light of the previous meeting and the various fund-raising groups I was wondering what readers of the Newsletter thought about the fund-raising groups and in particular the way forward that the club are proposing? The recent presentation intimated that a future development area maybe set up on behalf of the club and if needed funds that were required by the club could be managed more efficiently. It is proposed that all the fund-raising groups will be included under this new area. Now that the liquidation threat has been lifted it is felt that the club need to move forward but a direction is needed and the fund-raising groups have seen the amount of funds they raise reduced. Don't forget that as well as the two groups mentioned above there is also the Official and the National Supporters’ Clubs who both make donations to the club. Does anyone think that all the fund raising groups should be under one new umbrella or should some of the groups stay separate. One idea that has been mentioned is that as the Raise the Roof was set-up to provide cover for spectators their funds should perhaps now be directed towards a roof for the Holker Street end. Would supporters who don't buy tickets be more likely to purchase them if this was the case? If anyone has any other suggestions regarding the fund raising groups now is probably the time to suggest them? I'd also be interested to hear thoughts from members or anyone involved in the running of these organisations who may be on the mailing list.


SPONSORSHIP FROM BARROW COUNCIL?
Thanks to Colin Beach for informing us of this article. From the Barrow Council site at http://www.barrowbc.gov.uk/main.asp?page=526

This is from the report about Barrow’s Council Tax Budget Proposals. A special meeting of Barrow Borough Council on the 24 February, 2004 will consider recommendations from the Council's Executive Committee to increase the annual Council Tax.

The summary budget for 2004-05 follows this commentary. To meet increased costs the Council is being asked to approve new expenditure of UKP219,870. The bulk of this is to achieve service standards set by central government. The Council proposes two additional important discretionary items of expenditure:

1) An increase in the Council's grants budget of UKP10,000 to provide sponsorship of UKP5,000 each for the Borough's professional sports clubs, Barrow AFC and Barrow RLFC.
2) An increase of UKP65,000 in the budget for concessionary travel for elderly and disabled to set a maximum single fare (within the Borough currently 40p) rather than the statutory half fare prescribed by central government.

The Council would welcome any views on these specific issues.


WAYNE CURTIS
There was a piece in yesterday’s Newsletter regarding Wayne Curtis and his last match for Barrow stating that it would be the Radcliffe game, however this isn't the case. The loan period for Wayne Curtis ends on Thursday February 19, meaning that at present he's played his last game at Holker Street this season, unless we sign him. Currently the last game Wayne Curtis will play for Barrow will be next Saturday’s match at Wakefield & Emley. However I spoke to Russell Dodd after the Bradford PA game on Saturday and he mentioned that he's trying to organise a game for the midweek after Wakefield & Emley so that Wayne can play in an extra game. The rules governing loan players state that a player cannot be on-loan at any club for more than three months in a season which means that Barrow cannot extend the loan period of Wayne Curtis.


MORE ON WAYNE CURTIS
Thoughts from Bill Wood

Having just read the Sunday edition of HSN I think it is now time that the Board comes clean with regard to our loan player. I think I can speak for all when I say that nobody wants Wayne to go back to Morecambe without us doing anything. Not only is he a proven goalscorer but he is influential on he field. His attitude is exemplary and players like Campbell and Arnold are benefiting from this. Wayne is one of those guys who just gets on with it and is unselfish. The Board must make a bid for the lad. Having looked at the possible line up for the Conference North, we need players of this quality. How else could we expect to beat the likes of Nuneaton, Worcester, Northwich and Stafford on a regular basis.

John’s Note: Ralph and myself have both sent an email seeking clarification on the situation with Wayne Curtis. It should be remembered that if Barrow want him then he'll have to be bought from Morecambe and invariably that would be likely to include paying a fee which Barrow may not be able to afford. The Barrow based forward is out of contract at Morecambe in the summer so we may be able to get him for nothing then, if he wants to play for Barrow of course?


BULLIMORE SIGNS FOR BRADFORD
From the Harrogate Town site at www.harrogatetown.com

Wayne Bullimore joined Bradford Park Avenue late last week, and not Harrogate Town as had been widely expected by the local media. The midfielder, who featured in Town's midweek friendly at Darlington, was a substitute for Bradford in their 4-0 defeat at Barrow on Saturday.


STEVE RIDLEY
In yesterday’s Non-League Paper, it was reported in the transfers list that Steve Ridley has moved from Barrow to Brigg Town of the North Eastern Counties League. Steve Ridley was suspended yesterday so didn't feature but there has been no word from the club on this transfer. An email has been sent to the club to clarify whether Steve Ridley has left or if it’s just a loan period. Perhaps in future the club can make supporters aware of this before they read the information in the national press.


BARROW v BRADFORD PA
Thanks to Scott Leslie for this report:

It was a comfortable win in the end and an entertaining game, some great goals and some good football considering the wind. Barrow started slowly and a Bradford corner was half cleared followed by another cross before a curling shot went wide. Barrow took the lead in the 13th minute with their first serious attack, Campbells' flicked header from 6 yards went in off the big Boswell in goals following an in-swinging Anthony corner. Campbell had won the corner but should perhaps have had a penalty after the defender and keeper combined to send him flying but he made sure it didn't matter seconds later with his goal. Barrow improved and Campbell and Curtis had chances before Arnold was unlucky not to reach a long ball forward. Bradford were regularly getting caught offside by the Barrow defence which appears to have been practising the offside trap and frustrated striker Jason Maxwell was only booked for an awful lunge at Maxfield after the wing back had beaten him with great skill. When the offside trap failed, Salmon never, he got back and timed his last ditch tackle on Andy Hayward to perfection. Hayward was through again and as Bishop hesitated so did Hayward and Bishop was able to superbly block the shot on the edge of the area before it was hacked away. It failed again when Wright ran into the area but hammered wide across goal from a right wing cross. Barrow went in deservedly 1-0 up although Bradford weren't out of it.

They started the second half brightly as they did in the first and won a couple of corners early on and Hayward was again denied by a superb Bishop one handed save from close range. Bishop is in great form at the moment and had that gone in or the first half chance it could have been a different game. Fortunately it never and Campbell got his and Barrow’s second on 55 minutes. Shaw played a long ball into the area and Campbell held off the defender, turned and fired low from 15 yards. That killed off Bradford and he had a chance for a hat-trick when he raced through but Boswell made a good save. He was causing the Bradford defence some problems and had a goal ruled offside shortly after that although it looked tight. Curtis beat the sliding keeper to a long ball forward and played it to Campbell but he lifted his shot wide. Lee Warren was having a poor game, often passing to the opposition and then fouling in his attempt to win it back, his best days are behind him and he's nowhere near the player he was last year. Against better opposition he might have been punished. Barrow added a third with another great attacking move. The ever improving Michael Oliver played Maxfield down the left who found Arnold who cut inside, and played it to Graham Anthony running in he smashed it into the top corner for his fourth goal in the last four home games from 25 yards, all have been crackers. Maxfield hit a screamer straight at the keeper from even further out before Curtis did score with another great strike. There seemed to be no danger as he took the ball on the left but he cut inside and hammered it from 35 yards off the underside of the bar. Both were great goals, Anthony’s a good team move and Curtis' a great solo effort. That capped off a good afternoons work. Michael Oliver passed the ball around well, got back to defend and continues to improve. Hill and Salmon were reliable at the back. Maxfield and Shaw had little defending to do but were dangerous going forward, Campbell was a handful and Anthony influential whilst Bishop made some great saves to keep Avenue out. Man of the match for me though was Anthony. Good news in that Harrogate lost as did Alfreton again. It now seems to be a four horse race and if we can do that every week then we wont be too far off come April/May.


FROM BEHIND THEIR FENCES
Barrow 4 Bradford (PA) 0, from Timothy Clapham and the Bradford PA mailing list

Barrow emerged as worthy winners, but the scoreline could have been much closer had Bradford been able to put away their chances at a wild and windy Holker Street.

Avenue gave debuts to new signings Dean Jones and Wayne Bullimore following their arrival from crisis club Belper Town. Central defender Jones was signed a week ago, but his debut had been put on hold after last weekend's derby with Wakefield & Emley was washed out. Midfielder Bullimore, who had already turned out for Barrow, Wakefield & Emley and Stalybridge besides Belper this season, went straight into the team as one of today's substitutes after joining late in the week.

With a strong wind blowing down the pitch Avenue looked to have gained an early advantage in winning the toss and forcing Barrow to play into the elements. Barrow soon found themselves pinned back, but two early Avenue corners came to nothing. Although play continued to flow towards Simon Bishop's goal the home keeper was rarely troubled.

Barrow slowly clawed their way into the game and grabbed the lead in the 13th minute following a corner. It was the Bluebirds' first flag kick, and when Matt Boswell failed to collect Neil Campbell pounced to head in from close range, the ball appearing to take a slight deflection off the Avenue keeper. The goal lifted the home side and Avenue came under pressure with Wayne Curtis firing a shot over from the edge of the area and Ian Arnold bringing a fine save out of Boswell.

Former Bluebird Andy Hayward raced clear after 20 minutes only to be halted by a splendid challenge from Mark Salmon. Minutes later Jones picked up a yellow card for a blatant foul as Barrow attempted to break down the left. But Hayward should have levelled the scores in the 28th minute when he sprinted into the box with only Bishop to beat, however the keeper got down to block. Four minutes later Avenue were guilty of wasting another chance after Andy Wright got away down the left. The lively winger cut inside with the goal in his sights only to fire a shot across Bishop which went wide of the far post. The home side finished the half with a flourish and Boswell was again tested by Arnold. Just before the whistle referee Oliver handed a yellow card to Jason Maxwell after the striker had bundled over Barrow's Scott Maxfield.

A minute after the restart Avenue had a third chance to equalise. Wright made ground down the left before crossing into the box and although Andy Quinn got in a well-directed near post header Bishop pulled off a magnificent one-handed save to palm the ball to safety. Avenue then enjoyed a brief spell on the attack with James Stansfield winning two corners. However, Barrow soon got back on top and another Campbell goal on 55 minutes effectively sealed the points. The bustling striker did well to control a deep cross from the right and after turning Jones inside the area fired a shot inside Boswell's right hand post from eight yards.

Campbell was having a good game and after 58 minutes he almost grabbed his hat-trick but Boswell made a fine save. Minutes later Campbell burst through again only to put a shot over the bar with Boswell yards off his line. Any hopes Avenue had of saving the game disappeared in the 66th minute when Barrow made it 3-0. There was little Boswell could do to stop Graham Anthony's wind-assisted 25-yard pile-driver after a cross from Arnold had set up the chance. Avenue should have reduced the arrears on 70 minutes when another Wright cross picked out Hayward just inside the home area, but Bishop wasn't to be beaten and blocked the shot with a trailing leg. Again credit to the keeper but Hayward will have been disappointed with his finishing.

A 73rd minute change saw Steve Oleksewycz replace Maxwell who had had a poor game. The Avenue leading scorer tried to get the attack going but Barrow were well in control. With nine minutes remaining Bullimore came on for Jones and received a warm reception from the home supporters. Barrow completed the scoring in the 82nd minute with another quality strike which was again assisted by the strong wind. This time Curtis let fly from fully 30 yards and the ball rocketed into the top corner of Boswell's net giving the keeper no chance whatsoever. To their credit Avenue never gave up and Bullimore almost claimed a late consolation when he fired a shot just wide of the angle.

Barrow: Bishop, Shaw (Knight 66), Maxfield, Hill, Salmon, Anthony (Gaughan 86), Oliver, Arnold (Rankine 76), Campbell, Warren, Curtis.
Bradford (PA): Boswell, Jones (Bullimore 81), Serrant, Quinn, Stansfield, Crossley, Walsh, Grayston, Hayward, Maxwell (Oleksewycz), Wright. Sub: Helliwell not used.
Referee: M. Oliver (Ashington)
Attendance: 1043


BARROW GOALSCORERS THIS SEASON (70 in total)
12 Campbell & Knight, 6 Curtis, Oliver & Rankine, 5 Gaughan & Hume, 4 Anthony, 3 Arnold & Salmon, 2 Brough & Own Goals, 1 Gill, Hill, Kewley & Maxfield.


BLOODS KEEP UP THE PRESSURE
From www.nonleaguedaily.com

Game-less Hucknall Town still head the UniBond League Premier Division table by a point with Droylsden again winning, but third-placed Harrogate Town were shocked at home by Lancaster City. Leroy Chambers gave Droylsden the lead at Burscough on the quarter-hour mark but Karl Bell equalised just four minutes later. Gareth Morris restored the Bloods' lead on 22 minutes and Danny Byrne scored the third less than a minute later to secure victory. Meanwhile, at Wetherby Road, a Peter Thomson goal after 16 minutes proved to be enough to earn Lancaster City the points at title-chasing Harrogate Town in front of a crowd of 579. Barrow are seven points adrift of Hucknall but they enjoyed a comprehensive victory in front of 1043 at Holker Street against struggling Bradford Park Avenue. Neil Campbell bagged a brace for the home side, giving them the lead after 13 minutes and then doubling their advantage 10 minutes into the second half. Graham Anthony made it 3-0 on 66 minutes and Wayne Curtis added the fourth eight minutes from time. Alfreton Town's chances of taking the championship are now slim after going down to a 2-0 home defeat by Runcorn FC Halton. Player boss Chris Lightfoot opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Carl Rendell added number two right at the death. Wakefield & Emley made it al all-round bad day for the relegation battlers, losing 3-1 at home to Stalybridge Celtic. Steve Kenworthy put the Yorkshire side in front in the 20th minute but Kenny Mayers equalised four minutes before the break. Mayers then put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot on 64 minutes and Anthony Heald added a third four minutes from time. Worksop Town also probably have too much to do but they stayed in touch with a single goal victory at home to Blyth Spartans. New loanee Chris Beardsley scored the only goal of the game at Sandy Lane after 67 minutes. Whitby Town may possess games in hand on most of those around them in the relegation zone, but they will need to pick up some points quickly and their 5-0 humiliation at home by Southport won't have done team spirit any good! It was a good day for 'Port's recent signing from Runcorn FC Halton, Kevin Leadbetter as he hit a hat-trick at the Turnbull Ground, netting the first three goals in the 3rd, 12th and 43rd minutes. Lee Ashcroft made it 4-0 7 minutes into the second half and Steve Pickford round things off with the fifth with 10 minutes remaining. Elsewhere, Altrincham recorded a 2-0 success at Ashton United, with Andy Scott on 29 minutes and Rod Thornley on 78 minutes the men on target, while Vauxhall Motors put more daylight between them and the relegation spots with a 2-0 win at Frickley Athletic. Terry Fearns and Robbie Lawton scored for Motors in the final 19 minutes. Jon Mitten gave Radcliffe Borough the lead a minute before the break at Stainton Park against Spennymoor United. Christian Hanson grabbed the equaliser for Tony Lee's side with just two minutes remaining. Eddie Hussin shot Marine in front with just seven minutes gone on the clock at home to Gainsborough Trinity. Neil Black doubled the Mariners' advantage on 16 minutes and after Gareth Grant had pulled one back for the visitors 11 minutes into the second half, Tommy Taylor made the game safe for Marine with the third on 69 minutes.


LEEK TOWN CHAIRMAN STANDS DOWN
From the official UniBond League site at www.unibondleague.com

Paul Burstone resigned as both chairman and director at Leek Town Football Club at a board meeting last night (Thursday). Commenting on his departure Paul said, "My resignation was given at Thursday night's board meeting after serious consideration. It has been my intention to stand down at some point this season and I made this clear at the club's AGM in October last year. Business commitments have greatly reduced my time available to the club. It is timely that with the introduction of new board members and the investment they are willing to make, I can leave the board in the knowledge there is a sound and exciting future. I intend to keep in touch with the club and enjoy match days without the usual headaches and responsibility involved. I wish everyone at the club well and look forward to the success I am sure will follow", he added. Financial director Marvin Clarke has taken the chair until a new appointment is made.


ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 9 February
1924 D3N Durham City (A) W 2-1
1929 D3N Ashington (H) W 3-0
1935 D3N Mansfield Town (A) L 2-3
1952 D3N Stockport County (H) L 1-3
1957 D3N Bradford Park Avenue (H) W 1-0
2002 NPL Altrincham (H) D 2-2 (att 1212)