Holker Street Newsletter 253 - 6th January 1999

Barrow were beaten 2-0 away to Southport in the Lancashire Trophy this evening, and are now out of all the Cup competitions. Thanks to Sid Blain and Peter Caldwell for passing the score on.

Over the break I gave some thought to how Barrow could help themselves get out of the financial mess they have found themselves in and short of one of us winning the lottery, things look pretty hopeless, but then I thought about approaching it from another angle. The companies in the Furness area are perhaps somewhat reticent to financially support the club, so why not approach some of the bigger employers in the region and ask them if they would be willing to lend the club some staff, in the form of a community secondment? There are areas where the club could do with some assistance: public relations, marketing (to help Dave Murgatroyd), accounting and business development. Such a programme would work to both the club’s benefit and the companies involved, with nice warm and fuzzies all round. The club could ask for staff to help out on a part-time basis, full-time would be wonderful, but somewhat unrealistic, and the companies could feature it in their in-house magazines, giving useful publicity to both parties. Could it work? Can I ask the club staff members, and board members to consider it and broach the subject with Dave Murgatroyd and report back?

Other ideas I have had include having Neil Morton visit selected schools with the UniBond Championship Trophy running football clinics and or talking about the club trying to encourage the children to visit Holker Street, there are a number of promotions that could be run here, free entry if accompanied by an adult, you know the deal. Perhaps Neil, as he is the club’s only professional, could assist with the Barrow AFC programme, carrying out some of the editing and production work, allowing other board members time to work on other areas?


AFC BID FOR CUP GLORY
Bluebirds go on Lancashire Trophy trail at Haig Avenue
By Phil Pearson, Evening Mail, Tuesday 5 January 1999

Barrow AFC hope to keep their last chance of winning some silverware alive tonight when they visit Southport in the Second Round of the Lancashire ATS Trophy. AFC boss Owen Brown will be without midfielder Lee O’Keeffe and defender Andy Fensome, who are both suspended and also the injured Mike Marsh, but he said his side will be near to the one that will face Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday. After bad exits from the FA Cup and Trophy, Brown is desperate to have some success in the final Cup competition of the season.

He said: "We’re taking the ATS seriously and looking forward to it. We’ve had three good performances in the League and it’s a chance to get everyone back into it again after Christmas and blow the cobwebs out before Saturday. The side will be as near as damn it to the one that will play Rushden. I want to go and get a result there. We’ve done really badly in the Cups this season so it would be nice to go and win one. The League is obviously our priority, but we desperately want to win something as well." AFC striker Neil Morton is likely to start the game against the club who came close to signing him last month. Midfielder Karl Marginson will probably be on the bench again despite impressing in his appearances as a substitute in recent weeks. Brown said Marginson, who is still recovering from a knee injury, is not ready to play a full 90 minutes at the moment. He added: "Karl’s fitness levels are not up to a full game. He’s only trained for two or three weeks and we don’t want to risk him, because if his knee goes again he’ll be out for the season. We’ve got to be careful."

Travelling Barrow AFC supporters have been advised to check that the game is on before setting for Southport for tonight’s Trophy tie. The match was still on when the Mail went to press, but it could yet be called off if the weather deteriorates again following heavy rain this morning.

Barrow: Parks, McCauley, Johnston, Higgins, Seagraves, Jones, Sandwith, Bauress, Foster, Smith, Mutch, Morton, Coathup, Coates, Marginson.

Acting AFC chairman Phil Cowing last night specified that the outstanding wages which have now been paid to the Barrow players date from the period from December onwards. Cowing said in Mailsport last night that the players’ wages are now up to date, but this is only from the time after former chairman Stephen Vaughan left the club at the start of last month. Cowing pointed out that the squad is still owed one month’s wages from before this time.


ATS LANCASHIRE TROPHY PREVIEW
From the Southport website

Southport take on Conference rivals Barrow in the ATS Lancashire Trophy at Haig Avenue, hoping to avenge the Boxing Day thrashing at the hands of the Cumbrians. Just days after their enthralling FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient, the current holders (for the past two seasons) start their defence of the competition having received a bye in the previous Round. Southport should be with the services of Lee Elam and Lee Trundle who missed Saturday’s match and it is hoped Billy Stewart will have recovered sufficiently enough to reclaim his goalkeeping jersey from 'Port's excellent reserve, John Bagnall. The match could be the ideal opportunity to give club captain Brian Butler a run out after he narrowly missed out on his place in Saturday's squad having not fully recovered from a long term shin injury. This match is not one Paul Futcher will want his men to draw as the fixtures have already started to backlog as a result of the outstanding FA Cup run.


FREEPORT RENEW RIVALRY WITH SHRIMPS
Lancashire Evening Post, 5 January 1999

Morecambe travel to Fleetwood Freeport tonight for the first meeting between the two clubs since the Highbury outfit lost their place in the UniBond League. The Lancashire ATS Trophy Second Round tie is dependent though on a pitch inspection this afternoon. Holders Southport renew their acquaintance with Barrow, having met the Cumbrians twice last month. Paul Futcher’s side will be looking to avenge their 4-0 defeat on Boxing Day when they were blitzed by four second half goals from the Bluebirds.

Lancaster City, who drew 2-2 with Blyth Spartans on Saturday with goals from Jay Flannery and Peter Thomson, meet Marine at Giant Axe tonight. Burscough twice led the lead slip against Trafford in the UniBond First Division. The Linnets who led through Michael Yates and Ged Nolan were pegged back to a 2-2 draw at Victoria Park. John Davidson’s side, who reached last season’s Liverpool Senior Cup Final, are at home to a Chorley side looking to bounce back from Saturday’s home defeat to Bamber Bridge. Bridge, unbeaten in their last fourteen League games, are at home to Radcliffe Borough who are still smarting from a 4-2 home defeat to Great Harwood Town on Saturday. One of Boro’s scorers in that game was Tony Carroll, a former player at Irongate. Accrington Stanley meet Skelmersdale United at the Crown Ground, the first game in charge for new manager Wayne Harrison.

Harrison, who was sacked by Bamber Bridge at the end of last season despite helping them avoid relegation, has taken over from Billy Rodaway. He has since been working at the Blackpool School of Excellence. The former Pool defender was also assistant manager at Lancaster City before his spell at Irongate. Stanley are currently bottom of the UniBond Premier League.


MAJOR NEW FUNDRAISER FOR BARROW AFC

Joe Benson and Eddie Kennedy, who run Barrow AFC’s reserve team, have been in contact with details of a potentially excellent fund raiser for the club. Barrow AFC have become agents of Telco Global Communications. Joe and Eddie Kennedy will be in charge of the promoting of the scheme. Telco are an international communications company who are in competition with the likes of British Telecom (BT) and the scheme works like this:

Every customer Barrow AFC sign up earns the club £10 plus 3%+ of that customer’s telephone call bill every month. The customer joins for nothing, pays no fees whatsoever, uses Telco for all their national, regional and international calls and saves between 33% and 66%. Joe adds some international calls have savings up to 86%, for example to ring New Zealand would cost 18p a minute compared to 42p on BT (now who do you know who lives in NZ?), a saving of 58%. Only your calls go through Telco, your line rental stays with your regular supplier. Telco works on all cable suppliers as well as BT and Orange or One-2-One mobiles. All other mobiles will be de-regulated and available to Telco next year. Orange and 1-2-1 calls are 5p peak and 2.9p off peak. Short local calls are also greatly reduced due to 6 second billing. All you ever pay for are your calls.

Telco is planning on going world-wide as other countries de-regulate their phone industries and is already available in Germany with others following very soon. The club will also sign people up as agents for free and they can make their own full time business out of this very quickly. As the business is networked down to five levels there is a potential for large sums of capital to be raised for the club. Anyone wishing to join can send their name and address to Joe Benson at 75 Teasdale Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 3SF, Or you can telephone Joe on 0800 783 23 43. You can also email Joe on . At the moment the deal is only available to UK customers.

This is a good opportunity to help the club, I’m with a similar company here in New Zealand and I do save a fortune on my international calls compared to (New Zealand) Telecom, and I’ve never had any problems with them. Therefore, why not consider Joe’s request, it could be a nice little earner for the club.


WINDING UP

John Postlethwaite has been in contact with details of the winding up order for Barrow AFC as it appeared in The London Gazette, no.55351, Tuesday 29 December 1998, page 14063.

In the Barrow-in-Furness County Court. no.6 of 1998. In the matter of BARROW ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED and in the matter of the Insolvency Act 1986

A Petition to wind up the above named Company of Holker Street Football Ground, Wilkie Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 5UW, presented on 11th December 1998 by Sterling Fabrications, 1 Meetings Industrial Estate, Park Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, claiming to be a Creditor of the Company, will be heard at the Barrow-in-Furness County Court, The Courthouse, Burlington Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Monday 25th January 1999, at 10 am (or as soon thereafter as the Petition can be heard). Any person intending to appear on the hearing of the Petition (whether to support or oppose it) must give notice of intention to do so to the Petitioner or its Solicitors in accordance with Rule 4.16 by 1600 hours on Friday 22nd January 1999. The Petitioner’s solicitors are Kendall & Fisher, 1-3 Lawson Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 2LP (ref. JM/STE671).


MATCH SPONSORS

The recent home game against Forest Green Rovers was sponsored by a group of Barrow supporters, Con Doyle, David Ingham, Paul Hagan, Gavin Buckingham, Richard Stewart, Ben Crisp, John Little and Richard Ingham, and of interest is two of these, the Ingham brothers, are regular contributors to this Newsletter. Well done, lads.

This is a list of this season’s match sponsors and match ball sponsors from a recent home programme, kindly sent in by Peter Caldwell, if you are interested in sponsoring the club in this way, contact Dave Murgatroyd on (01229-820346).

Date Match Sponsor Match Ball

15/8/98 Stevenage Borough
Rossendale Interiors Betty Murray
Tony Price The Late John Murray
25/8/98 Doncaster Rovers
Premier Tiles David Cooksey & Friends
Dave Staunton
29/8/98 Telford United
M W Flooring, Terry Murphy Steve Forbes (Barrow AFC supporter)
01229 836882 Fax 863887
8/9/98 Morecambe
Furness Building Society David Martin, Ormsgill, (life long Barrow supporter)
LCR Morecambe
12/9/98 Hereford United
Furness Enterprise Ian & Stuart Worthington (BAFC supporters)
Sturt Kloslinski
26/9/98 Kettering Town
VSEL Neil Honeyman
David Nicholson
6/10/98 Leek Town
VSEL Victoria Park Hotel
David Nicholson
7/11/98 Dover Athletic
Theatre Bar Premier Tiles Barrow (David Stainton)
Jack Wright
28/11/98 Hednesford
Accurite Industries Joyce & Bill Abblitt (Barrow AFC supporters)
Mark & Mick Brownlee
5/12/98 Leek Town
Chas Kendall (Turf Accountant) Barrow Gas Terminal Sports Club
Stuart Dodd Peter Caldwell
15/12/98 Southport
Chas Kendall (Turf Accountant) Harold Marsden and family
Stuart Dodd
19/12/98 Forest Green Rover
Con, David, Paul, Gavin, Furness Park Laundry (Jane and Allan Park)
Richard, Ben, John, Richard
28/12/98 Northwich Victoria
Chris Speake (Builder) Elegant Windows
Dave Grove
9/1/99 Rushden & Diamonds
Theatre Bar Barrow AFC Ground Stewards
30/1/99 Kingstonian
Salvana’s Luton Vehicle Contracts (Gary Keene)
20/2/99 Yeovil Town
Cash-A-Cheque, Cavendish Street
6/3/99 Cheltenham Town
The Royal Bank of Scotland, Barrow-in-Furness
27/3/99 Kidderminster
The Royal Bank of Scotland
3/4/99 Farnborough Town
Hotel Imperial (Rick Lucas, Tony Hoskin, Mark Curwen)


FOOTBALL UNLIMITED

Came across an interesting site run by The Guardian , you have to register, but it has a raft of information on the Conference, including this.

Matches played 237
Goals scored 625
Goals per match 2.63
Home wins 98 (41.3%)
Away wins 67 (28.2%)
Draws 72 (30.3%)
Score draws 53 (22.3%)
No score draws 19 (8.01%)
Most wins Cheltenham Town: 13 (22 matches), Kettering Town: 13 (24 matches)
Most defeats Farnborough Town: 12 (21 matches), Doncaster Rovers: 12 (22 matches), Barrow: 12 (24 matches)
Most draws Hednesford Town: 9 (21 matches), Southport: 9 (21 matches), Stevenage Borough: 9 (22 matches), Telford United: 9 (22 matches), Welling United: 9 (23 matches)
Fewest wins Welling United: 3 (23 matches)
Fewest defeats Cheltenham Town: 2 (22 matches)
Fewest draws Hayes: 2 (19 matches)
Most goals Cheltenham Town: 41 (22 matches), Morecambe: 41 (23 matches)
Fewest goals Welling United: 21 (23 matches)
Most goals conceded Farnborough Town: 46 (21 matches)
Fewest goals conceded Rushden & Diamonds: 16 (20 matches)
Best goal difference Cheltenham Town: 24 (22 matches)
Worst goal difference Farnborough Town: 22 (21 matches)


REVIEW OF UNIBOND PREMIER LEAGUE
Issue No 21, week ending 2 January 1999
From the Altrincham web site

The two clubs who were prepared to gamble on a New Year's Day fixture were rewarded when both Stalybridge Celtic and Bradford Park Avenue weren't far short of trebling their average gates. At Stalybridge, the referee Mr Andrew Page delayed the kick off to enable the highest crowd of the UniBond season, 1640, to pack into Bower Fold for the quick return fixture with Hyde United whilst Bradford more than doubled their previous highest attendance of the campaign with 453 present for the visit of Farsley Celtic who celebrated with their first away League win of the season.

By the time the dust had settled on the holiday fixtures Altrincham, thanks to a solitary Paul Ellender strike against Guiseley, entered 1999 in pole position from Bamber Bridge who extended their unbeaten run to fourteen also thanks to the only goal of the game from a Dave Leaver spot kick at next to bottom Chorley. In third are Gateshead who won at Frickley Athletic for whom it was a first defeat in six outings. Accrington Stanley stay bottom after losing at home to Winsford United which makes just four points for Stanley from the last 42 on offer but happier times for Winsford who were winning for the first time in eight League games. However, it was Vernon's National Lottery "Easy Play' punters who were the winners when Bishop Auckland, Emley, Gainsborough Trinity, Lancaster City and Leigh all came up with home draws. In the First Division Droylsden steamed on with a 4-1 win over Belper Town who have now won just once in twenty outings since picking up September's "Club of the Month" award. Leaders Lincoln United had to come from two down at lowly Alfreton Town to salvage a point and their lead is now cut to seven points from Droylsden who have six games in hand. Hucknall Town presses on in third after overcoming a half time deficit at home to struggling Congleton Town. One of the tiredest teams in the League must be Burscough who were playing their thirty-sixth fixture (like Runcorn in the Premier Division) of the campaign but they got their first point in three games when holding Trafford to a draw despite teenager Michael Yates missing a penalty. Other highlights included bottom side Great Harwood Town hitting four past fifth place Radcliffe Borough, Witton Albion scoring five for the second time in six days and Michael Pemberton's hat-trick for Harrogate Town out-gunning Darren Emmett's brace for Netherfield Kendal.

Garton quits for Hyde

Hyde United player-coach Billy Garton has left the club citing other commitments which he feels doesn't enable him to devote sufficient time to his football duties. Garton, a former Manchester United defender who played over fifty first team games for the Old Trafford club in the eighties, was one of manager Mike McKenzie's first signings when he took over at Ewan Fields in 1994 but has seen his playing role much reduced.


BARROW AFC - THE HOLKER STREET GREATS (CONTINUED)

KEITH EDDY
As a youngster, Keith played his football in the local Leagues for Walney Rovers and Holker Old Boys as well as captaining Barrow Boys and North Lancashire Boys. Shortly after leaving school, Keith had trials for Bolton Wanderers. His ability was also recognised by Ron Staniforth the Barrow manager, which resulted in Keith signing for Barrow in July 1962. It wasn’t long before he made his first team debut at the age of 17 in a League Cup fixture against Workington Reds in which Barrow won 3-2. After spending four years at Holker Street in which he played well over 100 first team games, Keith was signed by Ken Furphy, manager of Watford for a fee in the region of UKP2000. While at Watford, Keith’s career took a boost, as well as captaining the club to the Third Division championship in the 1968-69 season and enjoying several FA Cup games, he also captained several English FA tours.

In 1972 Keith was signed by Sheffield United for a fee of UKP50,000 and while playing at Bramall Lane he continued to play regular first team football. After playing four seasons of First Division football with the Blades, Keith was wanted by the top American club, New York Cosmos, who he duly signed for. Shortly after signing for Cosmos, Keith was made club captain and was playing in the same side as the great Brazilian, Pele and the legendary West German, Franz Beckenbauer. After playing three seasons for Cosmos, Keith moved to Canada, where he took over the manager’s post at Toronto Blizzards and during his stay at the club he signed several big English names including the former Liverpool full back, Alex Lindsay and former Leeds United hot shot Peter Lorimer. After over 20 years of being involved in professional football in England, America and Canada, Keith decided to call it a day and in the mid 1980s settled down in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

FRED ELSE
Born in Golborne, Lancashire, Fred signed for Barrow just before the 1966-67 season, but before joining the Holker Streeters, Fred had an enjoyable stay for many years in the First Division. In 1959, while at the age of twenty, Fred signed amateur forms for the PNE and during Fred’s first season at Deepdale he progressed via ‘A’ team, reserve team to play in the first team, who were playing First Division football. Fred recalls his debut match for PNE coming against Manchester City, and remembers his opposite number being the famous German keeper, Bert Troutman.

After playing over 250 times for PNE, Fred was transferred to Blackburn Rovers for a fee in the region of UKP21,000 and while playing for the Ewood Park club, Fred remembers playing alongside such names as Ronnie Clayton, Brian Douglas, Keith Newton and Micky McGraph, all of whom were internationals. During Fred’s career, which witnessed him play over 500 first class games, he says he has many fond memories to look back on including playing in several top FA Cup matches, but undoubtedly his highlight came in the summer of 1961 when he went on an English FA tour of the Far East and recalls playing in such countries as Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and America, After having an enjoyable stay with Blackburn and getting the title of the best uncapped keeper in England, Fred joined Barrow in 1966 while the club was under the management of Don McEvoy and during his first season at Holker Street, he helped them gain promotion to Division Three and at the end of the season was awarded the Barrow AFC player of the year award. Fred spent four happy seasons at Holker Street before contracting a serious leg infection, and as a result decided to call it a day. He is now remembered as one of Barrow’s best post war keepers.

BILLY GILMOUR
Born up the coast in Maryport, Billy began his football career in Penrith, who were playing North West Counties League football, before moving on to Gretna, then Workington. His goalscoring exploits from the midfield attracted the attention of several clubs but fortunately for Barrow he signed up for the Holker Street club. Billy made his Barrow AFC debut in October 1987 in the club’s away 2-0 victory over Caernarfon Town and for just over a season proved to be an automatic choice in the Barrow midfield but there were times when he showed his versatility by playing in both defence and attack.

Halfway through the 1988-89 season a combination of injuries and loss of form meant Billy was struggling to make the first team, which resulted in a move to the north east to Newcastle Blue Star. Billy’s stay in the North East proved to be brief as he quickly moved back to Holker Street, where he finished the season off. During his Barrow AFC career, 1987-92, as well as being part of the 1988-89 HFS Loans winning squad and the 1990 FA Trophy winning squad, Billy played in many important and memorable matches for the club. These included FA Cup encounters with both Rotherham and Bolton Wanderers, and not forgetting the 1-0 League victory over Altrincham ending their 28 match unbeaten run. Also from the same season the 4-2 victory over eventual GM Vauxhall Conference champions, Barnet. Following a mystery illness in the latter part of the 1990-91 season, Billy never seemed to regain full fitness and besides playing a handful of reserve team games, his selection for the first team was limited. Shortly before the 1992-93 season got underway. Billy signed for neighbours Lancaster City, but his stay at the Giant Axe proved to be brief as during September, after a five year absence, he returned to Borough Park and has since been made player-coach.

BILLY GORDON
Billy Gordon, a native of Carlisle, started his playing career with his home town club and for two seasons he played regular first team football for the Brunton Park club. In October 1949, Billy moved to Holker Street in an exchange deal that saw Carlisle sign fullback Alex McIntosh, with Barrow getting Billy plus fullback William Buchanan and UKP1250 into the bargain. It was certainly a shrewd move for Gordon’s dogged determination and willingness to learn and the physical attributes he had, then enabled him to rise to prominence as one of the outstanding centre forwards in the Third Division North. Billy was always a prolific goalscorer during his football career, and during his first spell at Barrow (1949-57) he got his name into the club’s record books as he scored 168 goals, a record which lasted 28 years. At the end of the 1955-56 season, Billy was rewarded by the club for his service as he had a benefit match against Newcastle United in which 7098 spectators turned up. Billy known by his playing colleagues as 'Hooky' because he had the knack of scoring goals with his favourite hook shot, was transferred to Workington in March 1958 along with Joe Armstrong in exchange for the South African Ted Purdon. This deal was regarded by the Holker Street faithful as the club’s worst post war deal. After Billy left, many of the supporters said that Barrow were lacking the Gordon thrust up front. Following a season at Workington, then a brief spell at Lancaster, Billy returned to Holker Street but never returned to the first team. However he did help to encourage both reserve and ‘A’ team players in their game.

KENNY LOWE
Hailing from the north east, Kenny Lowe joined Barrow from Morecambe in October 1987. Before coming to Holker Street, Kenny had played for a number of clubs including Billingham Town, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Spearwood Dalmatic (Australia) and Morecambe. Kenny quickly settled in at Holker Street proving to be a key figure in the midfield with his delectable artistry and superb ball control. After only being at Holker Street a couple of months, Kenny was attracting the attention of several other clubs including Tommy Docherty’s Altrincham, Telford and the Belgian First Division side Cherleroi were also rumoured to be interested in him. However, in January the same season, Fourth Division Scarborough gave UKP2500 for his services. Despite making an impressive start with Scarborough he didn't settle to the pressure of League football and quickly returned to Holker Street on a free transfer. During Kenny’s second spell at Holker Street, he played in some memorable games including Cup encounters against Rotherham United, Colne Dynamoes, Bolton Wanderers and most noticeably the FA Trophy Final encounter with Leek Town in which he gave a brilliant display. Kenny also proved to be a valuable member of the club’s 1988-89 season HFS Championship winning squad. It was also during that season that Kenny became the first ever Barrow player to be selected for the England non-League squad, but a bad leg injury in a Lancashire Cup match ended any hopes of a place in the starting line up. In January 1991, Kenny was transferred to Barnet for £50,000, a fee which equalled the record of a non-League player joining another non-League club. It was also during this season that Kenny was selected as a midfielder in the GM Vauxhall Conference team of the year as selected by the club managers. During his spell at Barnet he has consistently performed in their first team and in the 1982-83 season his performances were recognised with the PFA Division Three Team of the Year award.