Holker Street Newsletter 20 - 1st December 1997

This weekend saw Barrow start their FA Trophy campaign, and for once we find ourselves in the next Round. Are these the first tentative steps to Wembley? I do hope so, although I wonder if British Airways still do day returns from New Zealand to Heathrow? The draw for the First Round of the FA Trophy is made on Monday (UK time), so I’ll send you details of that in the mid week Newsletter, if you can’t wait and want to know who we play, email me and I’ll put you out of your misery.

Other items in the Newsletter are some ideas on new stock for the Soccer Shop, a start on Barrow AFC’s non-League history (in table form), everything you wanted to know about Barrow AFC but were too afraid to ask (or a simple fact sheet), match reports, some more requests, tables, etc.

The next game is at home against Leigh RMI in the League on December 6.


MATCH REPORTS - FA TROPHY BARROW v HINCKLEY UNITED
Barrow's dismal Cup form finally ended with a great win over Hinckley at a wet Holker Street. Paul Robertson gave Barrow a dream start after eight minutes, curling a great shot from the wing. The visitors equalised on 26 minutes after a slip by Johnstone, then a three goal burst by Barrow sealed it before the break, Coates in the thirty-fifth minute, O'Keeffe with a header on 42, and Morton on 44. The second half was described as 'tame' (surprise!) by Ron Duxbury of Radio Cumbria, but I suppose we shouldn't complain.

Thanks to Jim Whitton for this.


BARROW 4 - 1 HINCKLEY UNITED
Barrow cruised into the First Round proper of their beloved FA Trophy for the first time since being relegated back to the NPL. Three goals in a ten minute spell just before the interval wrapped up a game which their attacking display deserved. The only pity was that they could not add further goals in the second half. A spirited crowd of 1011 saw Paul Robertson curl in a superb 18 yarder on nine minutes, only for sloppy defending by Eddie Johnstone to allow Symmonds to equalise against the run of play after 26 minutes. Mark Coates turned sweetly to hit a 15 yard shot past the keeper on 35 minutes from Morton's nod-down of a Higgins free kick. Six minutes later Lee O’Keeffe headed firmly in a McCauley cross and Neil Morton lobbed in (unless Coates got a faint head on it) from a Bauress free kick. We await Monday's First Round draw!

Thanks to Russell Dodd and the web site.


FA TROPHY THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND
Accrington Stanley 0-5 Runcorn, Aylesbury 0-3 Dulwich, BARROW 4-1 Hinckley, Bashley 4-1 Cirencester, Basingstoke 4-0 Romford, Belper 1-5 Boston, Berkhamsted 2-1 Salisbury, Billericay 2-1 Aldershot, Bradford Park Avenue P-P Leigh, Bromley 1-4 Purfleet, Bromsgrove 1-2 Worksop, Chesham 2-1 Sutton, Corby 2-2 Margate, Dorchester 3-0 Worthing, Gainsborough Trinity 1-0 Bamber Bridge, Great Harwood Town P-P Witton Albion, Halesowen 1-2 Burton, Harrogate 0-3 Blyth Spartans, Harrow 1-3 Bath, Hastings 3-2 Heybridge Swifts, Hitchin 0-2 Boreham Wood, King's Lynn 1-4 Chelmsford, Marine 1-1 Grantham, Matlock 1-1 Winsford, Merthyr 2-2 Cambridge City, Nuneaton 0-2 Altrincham, Sittingbourne 1-1 Abingdon, Solihull P-P Emley, St Albans 5-2 Bishop's Stortford, Tamworth 0-1 Lancaster City, Wisbech 2-2 Raunds Town, Yeading 2-1 St Leonards.


UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 29 NOVEMBER 1997
Bishop Auckland 3 Radcliffe Borough 0, Chorley 2 Alfreton Town 0, Frickley Athletic 2 Hyde United 1, Guiseley 1 Spennymoor United 1.

P W D L F:A Pts
BARROW......................21 14 4 3 34:12 46
Bishop Auckland.............20 9 7 4 39:28 34
Boston United...............19 8 8 3 25:18 32
Altrincham..................20 9 3 8 34:20 30
Runcorn.....................19 9 3 7 35:27 30
Guiseley....................20 7 9 4 30:26 30
Emley.......................18 8 4 6 31:26 28
Colwyn Bay..................18 8 3 7 26:28 27
Winsford United.............14 8 2 4 18:10 26
Spennymoor United...........17 7 5 5 23:23 26
Lancaster City..............21 7 5 9 33:38 26
Hyde United.................18 6 7 5 31:25 25
Gainsborough Trinity........16 7 3 6 21:17 24
Accrington Stanley..........22 5 9 8 26:30 24
Frickley Athletic...........19 6 5 8 20:27 23
Chorley.....................21 6 3 12 25:43 21
Leigh RMI...................13 5 5 3 19:12 20
Marine......................15 5 5 5 20:20 20
Bamber Bridge...............19 5 4 10 24:36 19
Blyth Spartans..............18 4 6 8 19:26 18
Radcliffe Borough...........19 4 4 11 22:39 16
Alfreton Town...............17 2 2 13 11:35 8

As far as I know,there are no mid-week games in the UniBond Premier League.


AFC ROCKED BY NEW CASH BLOW, SHELL SHOCKED CLUB FACE FA TROPHY BILL
Evening Mail, 26 November

Cash-hit BAFC have received another hammer blow after being told they will have to meet the cost of Hinckley United’s coach and hotel bill this weekend. Barrow were hoping to raise desperately need cash from the gate receipts of Saturday’s FA Trophy to shore up their finances, but those plans are up in smoke after they were told they had to meet Hinckley's costs. As well as splitting the gate receipts three ways between Barrow, Hinckley and the FA, the Bluebird’s board will now have also have to pay United’s hotel costs and coach expenses which could near UKP1000 in total. AFC Director Phil Cowing said last week that the club were in a "critical state" following the resignation of Stephen Vaughan, who is no longer with the club and is not now funding them.

Barrow desperately need cash to keep the 96 year old club afloat and they have been speaking to local business people in a bid to get some backing. Former director Brian Vause said: "The club is now in a very serious condition. This extra expense has brought the matter to a head. It is absolutely imperative a new Board is constituted and immediate funds made available to save the club and safeguard its future. "They are also to hold a meeting at the Sports and Leisure Club on Thursday night, 7.30 pm, where Manager Owen Brown will be on hand to answer questions from the fans. Last night on the field Barrow were knocked out of the President’s Cup going down 5-2 to Marine at Holker Street. A crowd of just over 400 saw this patched up side crash to their worst defeat of the season on a cold and wet night at Holker Street. Barrow were without several first team regulars, but Brown said the defeat was down to him. He said after the match "it’s all my fault."


MARINE GO NAP AS BARROW CRASH OUT
Bad defeat for AFC, Evening Mail, 26 November

A patched up BAFC side crashed out of the President’s Cup last night and also suffered their heaviest defeat of the season in a typical low key Cup match. AFC were without injured defenders Humphreys, Robertson and Johnston and Owen Brown also had to make do without goalkeeper Farrelly. He threw trialist keeper Darren Rodden in goals and unfortunately he had a pretty torrid time compared to the usual confident, consistent performances Farrelly has turned in week in, week out. Marginson made his return to the side after a long lay-off and McCauley was forced to pick up one of the centre back roles alongside Higgins and Jones.

The reshaped defence only lasted eight minutes before Marine cut them up to score their first of the night. It came after a good run into the area by Tony Rodwell. He got to the byline and pulled it back for John Morgan to side foot into the back of the net. Marine continued to pressure and five minutes later McCauley headed one off the line for AFC. However the Mariners' pressure paid off again in the eighteenth minute when Rodwell capitalised on Marginson giving the ball away near his own area. The Marine number four took the ball to the edge of the box and then curled it into the opposite top corner with a great strike. Going down 2-0 made Barrow finally apply some pressure. Marginson came close with a good drive from 20 yards and then Lee fired the ball into the side netting. Seven minutes before half-time Barrow managed to pull one back. It came from a Bauress corner on the right that was headed home close to the line by Higgins. The score remained at 2-1, 20 minutes into the second half before Marine got their third. This time Andy Cavanagh who beat Roden with a low drive from the edge of the box. Worse was to come in the 32nd minute for Barrow when Marine’s Bainbridge lifted one over Roden who was stood off his line. That made it 4-1, but only a minute later, Neil Morton managed to make it 4-2. He side footed the ball home after O'Keeffe squared it to him after running into the box. Morton tried to get Barrow going, but he only really got a couple of half chances. Then to complete Barrow miserable night keeper Roden messed up a clearance and only managed to pass it to Marine’s Morgen who gladly put it into the empty net to make it 5-2.

Attendance 414.

UKP40,000 IS THE SUM REQUIRED BY AFC TO KEEP THE SEASON’S PROMOTION DREAM ALIVE
Evening Mail, 27 November

BAFC desperately need to raise UKP40,000 to survive its title chasing season. Director Phil Cowing said the money was needed to bolster receipts they receive from attendances so they can meet the players’ wage bill and help towards the club’s debts until the end of the season, and Cowing pleaded with the fans to play their part by flooding through the turnstiles. If Barrow AFC can double the average crowd of 925 at their next three consecutive home League games in December it will bring in an additional UKP11,000 to the club.

Cowing is the only AFC director who lives in Barrow and he has been trying to hold the club together in the wake of Stephen Vaughan quitting as chairman and backer two weeks ago. Barrow have two other directors, Ged Rule and team manager Owen Brown. Rule is said to be working in Birmingham and cannot be contacted. Cowing said last night if the club had UKP40,000 they could clear business rates arrears and pay some money to other creditors. He added "It would also give us a base to continue to the end of the season to ensure the wages would be paid to all the players. The aim at the start of the season was promotion and if we could raise this money it would be enough to see us through to the end of the season with the current squad."

Cowing painted a grim picture for the club if the money cannot be raised from the supporters and local businesses. He said the current Barrow side, who are now at the half way stage of the season and well on target for promotion, may have to be disbanded to cut the wages bill. That would be a cruel blow to every Barrow fan considering they are so close to realising the dream of playing Conference football next season. Cowing said "because we are having to pay Stephen rent for the ground of UKP400 pounds a week and the players’ wages as well, if we don't get the money the only thing I can see happening is that some of the players will have to be released. Now that is obviously going to damage our chances of winning promotion, and if supporters want the club to be promoted, it won't happen unless we get more through the turnstiles or someone comes in with the money to get us through to the end of the season. We need the money immediately. Cowing vowed to fight on with the battle to save the 96 year old club from ruin, he added "I'll fight for Barrow Football Club as long as I have got a breath in my body".


WE NEED TO FIND WAGES FOR PLAYERS
BAFC director Phil Cowing said last night the club hasn't enough money at the moment to pay the players’ wages this weekend, he said the wages would normally come out of the gate money at Holker Street on Saturday, but this weekend’s game is in the FA Trophy which means the cash will have to be split three ways between Barrow, Hinckley and the FA. Also Hinckley’s travel expenses will also have to be paid from the money collected from the turnstiles. Barrow also have to pay for an overnight stop for Hinckley, up to the value of UKP400.


FANS TURN OUT FOR AFC
Evening Mail, 28 November

Concerned Barrow AFC Supporters packed the club’s Sports and Leisure Club last night, where the cash plight of Holker Street was confirmed. Director Phil Cowing chaired the meeting with fellow Director and Team Manager, Owen Brown. A rallying call from a supporter for each person to donate an extra UKP1 to collectors for the Raise the Roof Fund was greeted with a warm response. It is believed there will be a collection at tomorrow's game against Hinckley. Fans were told at the "Meet The Manager" event that ex-Chairman, Stephen Vaughan owned the ground, which Cowing said was valued at UKP425,000. They were also told that Vaughan was willing to sell his shares as long as all the other shareholders would raise the capital for the club. The club need to raise the cash quickly to address pressing debts, and fans were asked if they would help by paying the money direct into Barrow's account at the Royal Bank of Scotland, account number 10022125.


BARROW AFC FACT SHEET FOR 1997 -1998
This appeared in the Hyde v Barrow programme from earlier in the season, if you notice any errors or omissions, can you let me know? It was originally written by Phil Yelland, the club’s Press Officer, who I believe isn’t on email, unless you know better.


Club Founded 1901.
Chairman Vacant.
Directors O. (Owen) Brown, P. (Phil) Cowing, J. (John) Dickinson, G. (Ged) Rule and B. (Brian) Vause.
Press Officer Phil Yelland.
Trainer Owen Brown.
Assistant Manager Franny Ventre.
Reserve Team Manager Bill Bull.
Press Officer: Phil Yelland.
Groundsman: Jim Mutton.
Secretary: Pat Brewer.

Attendance Record
As a League club: 16,874 v Swansea City, January 1954.
As a non-League club: 6002 v Enfield, April 1988.
Current Capacity: 5000. New stand officially opened July 1996.
Record Appearances: Colin Cowperthwaite 704 (December 1977 - December 1992).
Record Goals corer: Colin Cowperthwaite 282.
Record Victory: 12-0 v Cleator, FA Cup (1QR), 1920.
Record Defeat: 1-10 v Hartlepools, Division Four, 1959.

Roll of Honour (as a Non-League Club) - 1972 to Date.
FA Trophy Winners: 1989-1990.
NPL Champions: 1983-1984 and 1989-1990.
NPL Shield Winners: 1984-1985.
NPL Shield Runners Up: 1989-1980.
NPL Cup Runners Up: 1987-1988.
ATS Trophy (Lancs Cup): Winners 1980-1981.
ATS Trophy (Lancs Cup): Runners Up 1981- 1982 and 1984-1985.
Bob Lord Trophy: Runners Up 1990-1991.
FA Cup: Third Round Proper Once, 1990-1991 (lost 1-0 at Bolton).

Roll of Honour (as a League Club) 1921-1972.
Promotion: To Division Three, 1966-1967, finished third.
Highest Placing: Eighth in Division Three, 1967-1968.
FA Cup: Third Round Proper Eight Times.
League Cup: Third Round Twice.
Lancashire Cup: Winners 1948-49 (Reserve Team)

Lancashire Combination: Division One Champions 1920-21.
Division One Runners Up 1913-14.
Division Two Runners Up 1904-05 and 1910-11.

Record Transfer Dealings.
Received as a League Club: UKP20,000 from Portsmouth for George Smith, 1967
Received as a N/L Club: UKP40,000 from Barnet for Kenny Lowe, 1991.
Paid as a League Club: UKP7500 to Rochdale for David Storf, 1966.
Paid as a N/L Club: UKP11,000 to Altrincham for Neil Morton, 1995.

Reading Kenny Lowe’s name here reminds me of a piece I saw in a Birmingham City fanzine a couple of years ago, he followed the Barnet manager Barry Fry to Birmingham, when Kenny was awarded the title Ugliest Player Ever to Play for Birmingham City Award, apparently his nick name was Skeletor.


UNIBOND PRESIDENT'S CUP: FIRST ROUND
Altrincham 0 Leigh RMI 1, BARROW 2 MARINE 5, Blyth Spartans 3 Bishop Auckland 2, Boston 1 Bradford Park Avenue 0, Farsley Celtic 0 Guiseley 1, Radcliffe 0 Runcorn 0

When was the last time we conceded five goals in a home game that wasn’t a friendly?


FA CUP SECOND ROUND
(Revised draw, games featuring non-League clubs only)

Scunthorpe United v Ilkeston Town; Lincoln City v Emley; Rotherham United v King's Lynn; Hednesford Town v Darlington or Solihull Borough; Peterborough United v Dagenham and Redbridge; Cheltenham Town v Boreham Wood; Cambridge United v Stevenage Borough; Cardiff City v Hendon; Colchester United v Hereford United; Northampton Town v Basingstoke Town; Wisbech Town v Bristol Rovers.

To be played on December 5, 6 and 7


MORE MEMORIES

Regarding Barrow’s FA Cup win at Chester in 1963, Jim Whitton writes to say he was at the game. He went to that game much to the amusement of his so called friends as Barrow were judged to have no chance. Anyway, from what he recalls after a torrid fifteen minutes Barrow scored with their first attack, then held on until Dixie Hale (he thinks) scored near the end. The visiting Barrow supporters invaded the pitch and cheered the players to the dressing room. As it was so unexpected, Jim rates it as one of his best memories of away days with Barrow.

Jim has confirmed that Johnny Haynes did play for Fulham against Barrow during the Div III days, he even has the programme. He also has a Barrow v Oxford programme from that era which shows Ron Atkinson at left back for the visitors. Jim also remembers Jackie Milburn playing in a testimonial at Barrow in the 1950s.

Still with past glories, Jim points out that the Barrow first team played Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Lancashire Cup in 1970 and won 2-1. The Manchester United team that night was: Rimmer, Brennan, Woods, Murphy, Goodeve, Stiles, Ryan, Fitzpatrick, Gowling, Law, Givens.


A DIFFERENT REPLICA SHIRT
David Ingham has raised an interesting idea of having a nostalgia Barrow shirt made up, like those made by TOFFS in the UK. David has said that perhaps the shirt from the 1966/67 promotion year would be a popular choice. Is it an idea worth following up? Would it be cost-effective to do so? Would you buy one? Can you think of a better choice for such a project? He also asks if it would be possible to have a new version of the Barrow scarf for sale, (the one in the club shop is the same one I bought when I was last in Barrow in 1991, ed.). David also asks why the current season’s replica shirt can’t be available at the start of the season, instead of two or three months into the campaign.


IDEAS TO HELP OUT

Jim Whitton has been in touch with ideas to help the club:

Jim wonders if anything happening in Barrow to start to raise the money other than appeal to people to turn out at Holker Street en masse? In the 1960s he remembers the club having a "Fighting Fund" which helped to avert a financial crisis. Jim believes the club really needs a fighting fund co-ordinator based in Barrow who can start to organise fund raising. Here are some ideas:

1) If 400 supporters could pledge UKP5 per week from now to the end of the season that would almost cover the UKP40,000. Jim would be the first to do so, provided he knew that there were 399 others. Could both the National and the Official Supporters’ Clubs kick this off by pledging 'x' number of UKP5 from their members?

(I believe the National Supporters’ Club have started the ball rolling with this one, Ed.)

2) When Bishop Auckland were in financial trouble through paying compensation to Macclesfield they called in a favour from Manchester United to play a friendly match and also auction some football memorabilia. Does the club have any favours to call in from any big clubs? What about the Liverpool connection?

3) Back to the donation theme. As Jim is self employed, he could donate UKP5 per week in return for a small 'advert' in the programme - thus reclaiming VAT and getting it as a business expense. What about businesses in Barrow 'donating' in this way? What about a big SOS (Save our Soccer) campaign where shops put a "SOS - We're Backing Barrow" sign in their windows to show that they are donating UKP5 per week. The supporters of AFC would then pledge to patronise those businesses.

Jim admits we need some brave soul to start up the campaign and get it rolling. Jim admits it can’t be him as he’s busy working six days a week from now till at least end of January.

I believe there would be considerable merit in this idea, co-ordinating the appeal would be of immense benefit. If you have any ideas, or would like to volunteer, can you contact the club direct, and should you like to discuss the matter with Jim Whitton, he’ll be in London on the nights of 2, 3, 9 and 10 December. He’s staying at the Hogarth Hotel at Earl’s Court, as he’ll be away from home, and his email, ring him on 01609 883088.


BARROW’S NON-LEAGUE HISTORY
Over the next few Newsletters I plan to include a League table from Barrow’s past, this time it is from the 1976-77 season, and over the next few months we’ll go right through to the 1996-97 season, and then we’ll start from the first season Barrow were in the Football League. I can’t find the NPL tables from 1972-73 up until 1976 on the web anywhere, does anyone have a set they could scan for me?

The tables I’ll feature are taken from the excellent web site at and thanks are due to letting me use them.

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE 1976-77

Pl W D L F A Pts
1 Boston United. . . 44 27 11 6 82 35 65
2 Northwich Victoria . 44 27 11 6 85 43 65
3 Matlock Town . . . 44 26 11 7 108 57 63
4 Bangor City . . . 44 22 11 11 87 52 55
5 Scarborough . . . 44 21 12 11 77 66 54
6 Goole Town. . . . 44 23 6 15 64 50 52
7 Lancaster City . . 44 21 9 14 71 58 51
8 Gateshead United. . 44 18 12 14 80 64 48 Folded
9 Mossley. . . . . 44 17 14 13 74 59 48
10 Altrincham. . . . 44 19 9 16 60 53 47
11 Stafford Rangers. . 44 16 14 14 60 55 46
12 Runcorn. . . . . 44 15 14 15 58 50 44
13 Worksop Town . . . 44 16 12 16 50 58 44
14 Wigan Athletic . . 44 14 15 15 62 54 43
15 Morecambe . . . . 44 13 11 20 59 75 37
16 Gainsborough Trinity 44 13 10 21 58 74 36
17 Great Harwood . . 44 11 14 19 63 84 36
18 Buxton . . . . . 44 11 13 20 48 63 35
19 Macclesfield Town . 44 8 15 21 41 68 31
20 Frickley Athletic . 44 11 8 25 53 93 30
21 BARROW . . . . . 44 11 6 27 56 87 28
22 South Liverpool . . 44 10 8 26 51 104 28
23 Netherfield . . . 44 9 8 27 47 92 26
[2 points for a win and 1 for a draw]

New entrants for 1977-78:
Gateshead, a new club formed to replace Gateshead United
Workington, relegated from the Football League (Division Four)

Source: The Football Association Year Book 1977-78
Copyright (C) Russell Gerrard and the RSSSF


AN ILLUMINATING QUESTION.
A while ago I asked about the Barrow floodlights, and where did we get them from, Nigel Bamford has the following to offer:

He believes the original floodlights were purchased from Dunfermline Athletic. If that isn't the case, he’s sure is was Dunfermline who came to play us in a match to celebrate the official switching on of those lights. Clearly, they were better used to playing in that form of light as they beat Barrow 7-0, at the time Dunfermline were a leading First Division (in the days before the Scottish Premier League) side and may well have been top. The only other thing he recalls about that inglorious evening is that it chucked it down for the entire 90 minutes!!

Does anyone remember when this happened?