Holker Street Newsletter 2069 - 1st January 2009

First things first, there’s no more room at the inn, as Barrow have sold all 7000 of their tickets for the Middlesbrough game on Saturday.

The Mail reports that Lee Woodyatt, who broke his leg in the pre-season friendly at Kendal Town, is hoping he might make the substitutes’ bench for the Middlesbrough game, adding that he hopes to be back in action by the end of January. Whilst seven substitutes are allowed for FA Cup games, and Barrow’s squad stretched due to injuries, he may have a chance, it all depends upon the results of his x-ray on Friday. If he receives the green light, he adds: “I can begin some contact work and tackling. After that I’ll hopefully get into playing for the reserves and it will be up to the club as to whether they want to send me out on loan to get some games.”

The Barrow squad trained at Blackburn from noon on New Year's Eve, and the club have taken a few calls this week from the national newspapers this week who are interested in attending and carrying out interviews. There should be a SKY TV camera crew plus reporters from the Daily Mirror, The Sun and The Daily Star, so look out for articles in the next couple of days. Barrow will travel to the north east on Friday, stay overnight near Durham, and will train on Saturday using Darlington’s facilities.

There’s good news to report on about on loan keeper, Alan Martin, the official Leeds United website has reported that “Alan Martin will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Barrow, and will be eligible for their Third Round tie against Middlesbrough. Martin has already enjoyed a successful stint with the Blue Square Premier League side and Saturday's FA Cup trip to face Boro will be the club's highlight of the season.” Sticking with loan players, the Boro game will be Luke Joyce’s last as his loan period expires shortly afterwards and he’ll be heading back to Carlisle United.

Matt Henney, who missed the last two League games, Wrexham and Forest Green Rovers, with a lower back injury, is hoping he will be declared fit for the Boro game, he suffered the injury whilst picking his kit bag up. He is quoted in the Mail as: “I’d been to the gym, had a sauna, and as I went to pick up my kit bag my lower back spasmed. I wasn’t able to bend over most of last week, it was only on Saturday I was able to put my own socks on. I’ve had back trouble before and have always been optimistic about returning to action quickly, but I’m not sure with this one. I wouldn’t even say I’ve got a 50/50 chance of making it at the moment, more like 20/80. I’d be absolutely devastated if I couldn’t play. Sometimes, at the standard we play, you can get away with carrying an injury through a game, but I’d look stupid if I tried to play against Middlesbrough and wasn’t 100 per cent. If I’m struggling then I’ll have to be honest, bite the bullet, and sit it out.”

The Evening Mail has an interesting article with Brian Keen who when asked about the FA Cup run netting Barrow towards GBP500,000 and what the club are planning to do with it, replies: “Anyone who knows anything about the people running the club now know they will be careful with the money and won’t do anything daft,” adding there was already a shopping list of major things and another of small things the club would like to see done: “It means some of the smaller projects can be started immediately – like tarmacing the car parking area and internal work on the bar. Little things like that can be brought forward. But we are looking at some major jobs – like the floodlights. Tenders are out and we will be deciding soon who we want to do the job. We have applied for grants but we want to get work started before the end of this season so they will be right for when next season gets under way.” He closes by saying “Don’t give me any praise for what has happened in the last nine years. I just happen to be the man who was chairman. The other directors have all worked really hard to get us where we are today. All I have done is kept my eye on them!”

The FA have confirmed Droylsden’s appeal against their removal from this season's FA Cup has been unsuccessful, on Monday, an FA Cup Protest Sub-Committee ruled that in playing defender Sean Newton against Chesterfield in The FA Cup Second Round on Tuesday 23 December while the player was under suspension, Droylsden had breached FA Cup Rules and should be removed from this season's competition. Therefore Chesterfield will play Ipswich Town in the Third Round.

If you can’t make it to the Boro game, but would like a programme, have a look at http://tinyurl.com/9yrnco

Finally, I’ve had it confirmed the official attendance for the Brentford game was 3120, and not 3532.

TRAVELLER’S TALES
From John Little

Having read the tales of Barrow fans travelling to the game at Middlesbrough, I thought I'd share my tale. I go to many of the Barrow games and before Christmas had only missed one game since August, but this season booked a New Year break from 26 December to 6 January in Thailand. After Barrow beat Brentford and were drawn away to play Premier League opposition in Middlesbrough I knew I just had to get to see this game. After various delicate discussions with travel agents and airlines I managed to get my flights changed so that I arrive back in the UK on the day of the match, flying back from Bangkok via Dubai to Newcastle where my flight lands at 11.40am. Clearly I'm hoping there are no delays of more than an hour and a half on the return journey and the latest protesters in Thailand don't take over Bangkok airport as happened a few weeks ago. When I flew out of Newcastle I left my car there so hopefully I should be able to get in my car and head down the A1 for Barrow's biggest FA Cup game in 40 years. Will be gutted if I miss it, but I also hope we can re-capture some League form once the Cup run has ended.


OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
From Colin McDonald in the good old US of A

We are all looking forward to the big game next weekend and yet I am sure in the back of our minds is the possibility of relegation back to our old Division. It is surely a concern to the Barrow coaching staff. I remember the great celebrations when the previous seasons promotion was achieved and at that time I thought to myself "what should we expect next year" Realistically, I thought that we would simply test the water, so to speak, regarding the strength of our new home, maintain a mid point in the League and the make necessary player adjustments for the following season. That goal I am confident will be achieved but a few player changes must be made and made soon. On the other side of the coin, our participation in all the Cup tournaments to date is tremendous and will continue to bring the much needed cash to the club. So, fellow supporters, do not despair, when all the dust settles, this season overall will exceed our expectations.


MIDDLESBROUGH’S RECENT RESULTS
Sunday 9 November Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 2 36,672
Sunday 16 November Everton 1 Middlesbrough 1 31,063
Saturday 22 November Middlesbrough 1 Bolton Wanderers 3 24,487
Saturday 29 November Middlesbrough 0 Newcastle United 0 32,160
Saturday 6 December Hull City 2 Middlesbrough 1 24,912
Saturday 13 December Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 1 27,320
Saturday 20 December Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 0 23,722
Friday 26 December Middlesbrough 0 Everton 1 30,253
Monday 29 December Manchester United 1 Middlesbrough 0 75,294


BARROW FOCUSED ON BORO
From www.thefa.com

Barrow have put their festive plans on hold this year as they look to overcome Premier League side Middlesbrough on Saturday. The Cumbrian side beat Brentford 2-1 in the last Round of The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON to book a lucrative match against Gareth Southgate's men this weekend. Skipper Paul Jones says his teammates are determined to leave the Riverside with a result. "We are quietly confident we can get something there," Jones said. "There will be no drinking or partying before then. This year there is an extra important reason to stay at the top of our game. But if we win at Middlesbrough I am pretty sure there will be a drink or two to celebrate."

The fixture is what The FA Cup is all about, pitting the part-timers versus the professionals but Jones is not overawed by his side's trip to the north-east and believes the game offers Barrow's players the chance to attract interest from bigger clubs. It's also a big day for the Barrow fans, who will turn up to Teesside in their droves with over 7000 away fans expected, which would be a record away support at the Riverside. This is a shop window for a lot of the lads. We have some real quality players who have been let go from clubs for whatever reason so this is their chance to prove they are good enough. We will go to Middlesbrough and give a good account of ourselves, I can guarantee that. Anything else would be a huge bonus but we think we can certainly get a result. The match is definitely starting to play on our minds. We have some League games before then that we need to concentrate on but there is no doubt the lads are already starting to think about that match."

BARROW RADIATING PESSIMISM OVER FA CUP
By Tom Dart, from The Times

Discovering that one of Barrow’s best players is often compared to Homer Simpson would make anyone think twice about backing them to shock Middlesbrough in their Third-Round tie on Saturday. The connection between Matt Henney and the rotund cartoon patriarch is not a physical resemblance or a love of doughnuts, though, but in their jobs: both work in the safety departments at nuclear power stations. “I get Homer Simpson references all the time,” Henney said. “People think you sit in the control room with your feet up eating biscuits. Some jobs might be like that, but not mine.” The 32-year-old midfield player works at Sellafield, the massive nuclear processing site on the west coast of Cumbria. And you can definitely trust him to read a Geiger counter and not get plutonium rods trapped in his trousers. I teach people how to use safety equipment - PVC suits, respirators. “There are certain ways to get dressed up. I work in classrooms and labs. I’ve been doing it for about three years and I enjoy it. Some areas are dangerous, but the majority are safe. Everything’s under control, you can’t do anything without reading a safety manual. We don’t have any incidents.”

Henney is probably more at risk from sitting in his car too long. He lives in Egremont, close to Sellafield and on the edge of the Lake District, but not convenient for his part-time career. Take November’s 390-mile journey to Eastbourne Borough in the first round. “I left home at 10am on Friday and got back at 2am on Sunday. And it was a 0-0 draw. I walked off the pitch feeling devastated,” he said. Barrow will return to Eastbourne in the Blue Square Premier in April, soon after travelling to Torquay and Weymouth. Then there’s the matter of two evening training sessions a week, which are often held in Blackburn, a 2½-hour drive away after his 7.30am-4pm shift. “Barrow’s in the middle of nowhere as well. It takes me an hour to get there,” Henney said.

Exit the M6 near Kendal and you face another 35 miles chugging westwards along the sinuous A590 until you reach Barrow-in-Furness, an industrial port with nuclear connections - it is where the submarines carrying Trident missiles were built. “The travelling does take its toll sometimes, but it’s worth it,” Henney said. “I’m happy where I’m at.”

Henney scored in the 4-0 Replay win over Eastbourne, as well as grabbing the winner in the 2-1 victory over Brentford in the Second Round, which set up Saturday’s match away to the Barclays Premier League side. However, he is doubtful because of a niggling back injury that he suspects was exacerbated by endless road trips - a particular worry because he has arranged for more than 50 friends and family to go to the Riverside Stadium. “It’s not our Cup Final, it’s our World Cup Final,” David Bayliss, the Barrow joint player-manager, said. He took charge at Holker Street at the end of 2007 with Darren Sheridan, who appeared in the top flight with Barnsley. They led the team to promotion to the Blue Square Premier. Average attendances have doubled to 1685 this season and an estimated 7000 will make the three-hour journey to Middlesbrough.

Gareth Southgate’s team are without a win in eight matches, but Barrow are also in meltdown: they are only two points above the relegation zone and have not won in the League since November 1. “We expected the lads to be buzzing and running the extra yard, but they’ve really struggled. The Cup run has worked against us,” Bayliss said. “It’s been frustrating. It’s a good distraction, but we’ve had lads not going in for tackles and it’s not been professional enough, to be honest.” Still, there are compensations, such as a sortie to Old Trafford on Monday to scout Saturday’s opponents - a wonderful novelty, even if it may not prove profoundly useful. “They sat back and strung five across the midfield. I can’t see them doing that against us,” Bayliss said.

On the road from the back of nowhere: Barrow’s isolation and the number of southern clubs in the Blue Square Premier means that their supporters and players face round trips totalling more than 12,700 miles this season.

Barrow’s nearest League opponents, Altrincham, are 109 miles away. Half the teams they face are at a distance of more than 250 miles - seven of those being more than 300 miles away.

At least the traffic in Cumbria is usually manageable. William Gallas, the Arsenal defender, complained in 2006 that the 40-mile journey from his home in Surrey to the club’s training ground in Hertfordshire took 90 minutes in the mornings because of the traffic on the M25.

BARROW DREAM SET TO GO UP IN SMOKE!
By Boro Mad, www.middlesbrough-mad.co.uk

Middlesbrough go into Saturday's FA Cup tie with Barrow looking to end a dismal run of no wins in eight fixtures: but the Cumbrian side have not won since the start of November in the League. Barrow manager Dave Bayliss has gone to town on the players with some amazing threats, but he flew off the handle last week saying (after defeat to Forest Green) "most of those lads will not be here within the next two weeks." Not quite the build up you would expect to the biggest game in Barrow's recent history. The Conference part timers have reached Saturday's Third Round clash at the Riverside by beating League Two side Brentford.

Dave Bayliss: "We can't wait to get to January now. We're looking to bring players in. I feel disgusted, sick to the stomach, about that showing (at Forest Green). That showing is nothing, and most of those lads will not be here within the next two weeks." The fact the BBC decided not to show the game must go in Middlesbrough's favour. There is enough media attention on Gareth Southgate without jury by TV, and let's hope the real Boro turn up on Saturday.

DAVE BAYLISS WARNS HIS SIDE AHEAD OF FA CUP CLASH WITH MIDDLESBROUGH
From The Daily Mirror

Dave Bayliss has told his Barrow team they are playing for their futures - and not just FA Cup glory at Middlesbrough. The Conference part timers have reached Saturday's Third Round clash at the Riverside by beating League Two side Brentford. But the Cumbrian side have not won since the start of November in the League to leave them facing the drop. And co-manager Bayliss has warned his players they risk being dumped during the transfer window. After last weekend's defeat to Forest Green, he said: "We can't wait to get to January now. We're looking to bring players in. I feel disgusted, sick to the stomach, about that showing (at Forest Green). That showing is nothing, and most of those lads will not be here within the next two weeks."


THIS WEEK’S FIXTURES
Thursday 1 January: Altrincham v Northwich Victoria, Crawley Town v Woking, Grays Athletic v Ebbsfleet United, Lewes v Eastbourne Borough, Oxford United v Salisbury City, Rushden & Diamonds v Stevenage Borough, York City v Burton Albion.
Saturday 3 January: Eastbourne Borough v Oxford United, Ebbsfleet United v Wrexham, Salisbury City v Rushden & Diamonds, Stevenage Borough v Lewes.

FA CUP THIRD ROUND
Winning sides receive GBP75,000.

Friday 2 January: Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic.
Saturday 3 January: Portsmouth v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Preston North End v Liverpool, Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United v Barnsley, Middlesbrough v Barrow, Hull City v Newcastle United, Hartlepool v Stoke City, Chelsea v Southend United, Manchester City v Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City v Reading, Ipswich Town v Chesterfield , Charlton Athletic v Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion v Peterborough United, Torquay United v Blackpool, Leyton Orient v Sheffield United, Millwall v Crewe Alexandra, Histon v Swansea City, Forest Green Rovers v Derby County, QPR v Burnley, Leicester City v Crystal Palace, Cheltenham Town v Doncaster Rovers, Arsenal v Plymouth Argyle, Kettering Town v Eastwood Town, Macclesfield Town v Everton, Watford v Scunthorpe United, Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City v Kidderminster Harriers.
Sunday 4 January: Gillingham v Aston Villa, Southampton v Manchester United.
Monday 5 January: Blyth Spartans v Blackburn Rovers.

LANCASHIRE COUNTY FA CHALLENGE TROPHY SECOND ROUND
Tuesday 6 January: Kendal Town v Marine.


FROM THE BARROW v ALTRINCHAM PROGRAMME (PART TWO)
Ex Bluebirds In The News.

Last weekend was probably the most significant in the career of our former defender and skipper Mark Hume as he helped UniBond Premier Division side Eastwood Town to defeat previously unbeaten League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup at Coronation Park.

One piece of managerial news is that former Bluebird Peter Smith has stood down as the joint boss of Clitheroe in the UniBond First Division North, leaving Neil Reynolds in charge. He however remains on the coaching staff.

On the scoring front, our recently departed loanee Richard Brodie was on the mark for tonight's opponents York City as they salvaged a point at Salisbury City.

In Blue Square North, Farrell Kilbane who began the season with Fleetwood Town is now with Hyde United. He scored his first goal for the Tigers against Gateshead at the International Stadium but they lost 6-3.

In the UniBond Premier Division, two former Bluebirds found the net. Kyle Wilson netted two more goals for FC United of Manchester as they defeated League leaders Hednesford Town at Gigg Lane whilst our former midfielder James Olsen netted the consolation goal for struggling Witton Albion in their 3-1 defeat at Ilkeston Town.

In the UniBond First Division North, three former Barrow players scored. Jonathon Smith was on target for Clitheroe as they ended a poor recent run with a 4-3 win at Shawbridge over Harrogate Railway Athletic. Meanwhile veteran striker Andy Hayward scored the second goals as Garforth Town won 2-0 at Radcliffe Borough. At the Giant Axe out former midfielder Mike Stringfellow also found the net but his effort ended in his own net as Lancaster City beat Ossett Albion 3-2.

One former Bluebird who was not so lucky is former skipper Stuart Howson who suffered a broken leg playing for Bamber Bridge at Wakefield. Because he will only receive two weeks full pay from his job whilst injured, the Irongate side have, I believe organised a benefit game on 16 December when Chorley, another of Stuart's former club's will visit Irongate. Sadly this clashes with our scheduled United Co-operative Trophy tie with Burscough.

Next In Town: Our next home game is this coming Saturday when we enter the FA Trophy at the First Round stage. Just ten days ago we were the underdogs for the visit of Brentford of League Two, now we will be warm favourites to defeat Skelmersdale United from the UniBond First Division North. It would be unwise for us to under-estimate them as they are having an excellent season with only two League defeats so far and if they were to win their games in hand they would be in the mix at the top of their Division. They are a comparatively young side and in George Donnelly they seem to have a striker who may well be capable of scoring goals beyond his current level. A week ago they defeated Bamber Bridge 10-0 in the UniBond League Cup

In our early non-League days, "Skem" were in the Northern Premier League and were always difficult opponents, having come through form the old amateur ranks. More on our history with them on Saturday but please come if you can and cheer the team on. Perhaps Wembley might call us in 2009. Back to tonight. Let's hope for a good game and for us a pre-Christmas treat of three points.