Holker Street Newsletter 288 - 14th February 1999

MATCH REPORT FROM JIM WHITTON
Another disappointment for the loyal home fans. Barrow started with only four players in the squad of fourteen who were with the club at the beginning of this eventful season. The team was: Parks, Fensome, Sandwith, Higgins, Jones, Challender, Kennedy, Southworth, Haywood, Lewis, O'Keeffe (subs: Dawson, Haddow, Doherty).

The first incident of note was a booking for O'Keeffe after only four minutes following a scuffle in which Flynn was also booked. Hayes had the best of the early play, and a Flynn free kick after twelve minutes was saved by Parks. However, Barrow then got on top and looked lively without creating a clear cut chance, though Sandwith was unlucky not to get anything from the ref after being bundled over on the edge of the box. The game then went dead, but Barrow were shocked on the stroke of half time when a Flynn corner was fired home by Norman from the edge of the box. It sounded like a repeat of the Kingstonian goal a fortnight ago.

In a fairly scrappy second half Barrow perhaps had the edge but didn't threaten much. Lewis headed over from a Southworth cross, then a Southworth shot was scrambled clear. Challender was then booked. Dawson replaced Southworth on 63 minutes, and Haddow came on for Kennedy with fifteen minutes to go. However, we rarely looked like grabbing a point. The third 0-1 defeat in a row for the Bluebirds - in fact ten blank sheets in fourteen starts. Every time we score we win, let's have a goal against Yeovil next week! Still, we're not in as much trouble (on the field at least) as Farnborough, they went down 0-4 to Hereford. Also, Doncaster had another gate of 4400 due to their special offer for school kids. Why don't we try it? Soon!


NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 13 FEBRUARY 1999
BARROW - Hayes...................................0:1
Doncaster Rovers - Yeovil Town...................0:2
Dover Athletic - Hednesford Town..................0:0
Farnborough Town - Hereford United.................0:4
Kettering Town - Telford United....................2:1
Kidderminster Harriers - Rushden & Diamonds...........0:0
Morecambe - Cheltenham Town....................0:2
Northwich Victoria - Southport...................1:2
Stevenage Borough - Kingstonian..............3:3
Woking - Leek Town............................1:0

P W D L F:A Pts
Kettering Town..............30 17 6 7 44:22 57
Cheltenham Town.............27 16 8 3 49:20 56
Yeovil Town.................26 12 9 5 42:32 45
Dover Athletic..............29 12 9 8 40:32 45
Hayes.......................27 14 3 10 38:36 45
Rushden & Diamonds..........25 12 8 5 43:22 44
Stevenage Borough...........26 11 10 5 34:26 43
Hednesford Town.............27 10 12 5 33:27 42
Kingstonian.................26 10 11 5 37:35 41
Northwich Victoria..........28 11 7 10 32:31 40
Hereford United.............28 10 6 12 33:32 36
Morecambe...................30 10 6 14 46:59 36
Kidderminster Harriers......27 9 6 12 35:30 33
Woking......................25 9 5 11 27:29 32
Forest Green Rovers.........24 8 7 9 34:31 31
Leek Town...................27 8 5 14 37:40 29
Doncaster Rovers............28 7 8 13 32:40 29
Telford United..............28 6 10 12 30:47 28
Southport...................25 6 9 10 31:40 27
Barrow......................29 7 6 16 27:45 27
Welling United..............28 5 9 14 25:43 24
Farnborough Town............28 6 6 16 30:60 24

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 13 FEBRUARY 1999

Accrington Stanley - Worksop Town......................1:3
Altrincham - Winsford United...........................1:1
Bamber Bridge - Guiseley...............................4:1
Bishop Auckland - Marine...............................0:2
Emley - Gateshead......................................1:2
Frickley Athletic - Lancaster City.....................3:2
Gainsborough Trinity - Leigh RMI.......................2:0
Hyde United - Chorley..................................3:4
Runcorn - Stalybridge Celtic...........................1:0
Spennymoor United - Blyth Spartans.....................2:1
Whitby Town - Colwyn Bay...............................4:3

P W D L F:A Pts
Altrincham..................27 15 7 5 48:22 52
Bamber Bridge...............30 14 10 6 49:35 52
Worksop Town................28 15 6 7 40:30 51
Gateshead...................30 14 7 9 53:42 49
Winsford United.............30 12 11 7 45:34 47
Guiseley....................24 14 2 8 42:29 44
Hyde United.................28 11 8 9 40:30 41
Gainsborough Trinity........29 12 5 12 43:41 41
Whitby Town.................26 10 10 6 54:45 40
Emley.......................25 10 8 7 32:28 38
Marine......................32 8 14 10 48:52 38
Blyth Spartans..............31 11 5 15 42:49 38
Leigh RMI...................26 8 11 7 42:38 35
Frickley Athletic...........26 8 11 7 36:39 35
Lancaster City..............28 9 8 11 39:45 35
Bishop Auckland.............32 8 10 14 40:53 34
Stalybridge Celtic..........28 8 9 11 46:46 33
Runcorn.....................25 7 11 7 27:32 32
Spennymoor United...........31 8 7 16 41:58 31
Colwyn Bay..................25 7 6 12 35:45 27
Chorley.....................30 5 11 14 35:53 26
Accrington Stanley..........29 5 5 19 26:57 20


FROM THE MATCHFACTS AND SOCCERNET SITES
Barrow (0) 0 - Hayes (1) 1

Barrow, with four new faces in the team, struggled to find any cohesion. Gary Lewis looked lively but Barrow were unable to mount a serious threat although Chris Sparks cleared off the line when Brian Southworth tried to stab home. Hayes almost matched Barrow's mediocrity, only Lee Charles battling well, but it was a reflection of events that the only goal came from a defender when Perry Norman scored

0-1 Hayes 45 mins Norman.
Flynn's left-wing corner went straight to Perry Norman on the edge of the box and his right-footed shot went through a crowd of players and to the left of keeper Parks.

Barrow, having gone into liquidation, will find out at a meeting on Thursday whether they will be allowed to stay in the Conference under a set of new trustees. It could be academic as far as next season is concerned as they struggle to get out of the relegation zone. New manager Shane Westley has now reigned over three 1-0 defeats. He had four new faces on his team sheet but time to get cohesion is not on his side. The only threat of a goal came when a stab by Brian Southworth was blocked on the line by Chris Sparks. Hayes only just did enough to win. A Lee Flynn free-kick forced home keeper Tony Parks to make the best save of the game. The visitors carved openings for Nathan Bunce, Martin Randall and Jason Goodliffe, their finishing didn't match the good approach play. The game was a grim battle with 39 free kicks and the tally should have been greater but for a lenient referee. It was settled on the stroke of half-time when a Flynn corner on the left went direct to Norman on the edge of the penalty box and he drove it home through the crowded goalmouth.

Barrow: Parks, Fensome, Sandwith, Challender, Jones, Southworth, Higgins, Kennedy, Hayward, O'Keefe, Lewis. Sub Doherty (unused)
Hayes: Meara, Norman, Flynn, Goodliffe, Bunce, Sparks, Watts, Charles, Taylor, Randall, Wilkinson. Subs: Delisser, Ballard (both unused)
Scorers: Hayes: Norman (45)
Substitutions: Barrow: Dawson, for Southworth (62), Haddow, for Kennedy (76). Hayes: Boothe, for Taylor (46)
Bookings: Barrow: O'Keefe (2), Challender (62). Hayes: Flynn (2)
Sent Off: Barrow: None. Hayes: None
Referee: M. D. Haxby (New Brighton)
Attendance: 1518


A QUIET MAN SPEAKS, AND WE SHOULD LISTEN
I’ve been told that should the unthinkable happen, and Barrow are told they can’t continue in the Conference, any new club would join the Northern League, not the North-West Trains League, for one simple reason. They would allow us to join straight into Division One, which is one League higher than we would be if we were to go into the North-West Trains League.


TWO LEAVE "CRISIS CLUB" BARROW
NLOTN, Thursday 11 February 1999

Troubled Barrow have sold Carl McCauley to fellow Nationwide Conference Club Telford United, whilst Neil Morton has moved across the bay to rivals Morecambe. 27-year old McCauley will join former team mate Andy Mutch at the Bucks Head and goes straight into the Lilywhites squad for Saturday's trip to table toppers Kettering. The highly rated midfielder, selected for the recent FA XI, will have to wait before he can line-up alongside his former team-mate, Telford are still awaiting clearance for their assistant manager's playing permit to arrive from fellow relegation strugglers Southport.

Telford manager Alan Lewer told NLOTN this morning: "We are pleased to land Carl, we are looking to build on our squad, and when someone of his ability comes on the market we have to move in." Lewer added: "I have been chasing him along with other managers since he left Barrow, but we had to contact the club's officials, which took time because of the sad position they are in".

Barrow are the latest in long line of clubs forced into receivership. NLOTN constantly get tales of woe and pleas for help from you the readers and pyramid football fans. Where possible we will continue to relay your fears and help to assist your club, but alas we have to be realistic, and like you we can only do so much. It is our belief that in the very near future a major re-organisation at The Football Association will take place. If the plans for the shake-up in its structure go through, we may well see clubs in the pyramid and lower Divisions of The Football League and you the paying fans, benefit.

It may be to late for many like Barrow, who will continue playing on a week-to-week basis. The club's financial plight will not be eased with any fee being received for Carl McCauley's transfer to Telford, nor Neil Morton's to Morecambe, as both players were out of contract, following the club's liquidation. Meanwhile the Bluebirds' "rescue consortium" have registered Barrow AFC (1999) as a limited company, according to a statement made in the Holker Street Newsletter, sent out on a near daily basis. Shane Westley has the reigns of the playing side of the club. His feelings over the departure of players before and after the club's winding up order? "I'm disappointed of course, but I've become accustomed to it now, haven't I ?", he told the Newsletter's scribe.

Barrow were relegated from the Football League in 1972 to be replaced by Hereford United. The Bull's subsequent 25 year reign in the big time, ended with relegation back to the pyramid two years ago. Ironically if efforts to save Barrow fail and the unwished for end of operations occurs, the Conference may be forced to expunge the club's playing record for this season. That would alter slightly the current positions at the top and bottom of the table. It would also have a financial impact on Hereford United and other fellow Nationwide Conference clubs in terms of gate receipts: almost half of the teams have played away at Holker Street, but have yet to stage the return home fixture.

The Conference hold their regular liaison meeting shortly, and it is expected they will be brought up to date on the Barrow crisis then. The Barrow Survival Fund, we are told, has its account at the Furness Building Society, and the newsletter has stated its credit balance stands at UKP2200. NLOTN understands that Barrow AFC Limited in receivership, has total liabilities of UKP500,000. Donations to the supporters’ fund can be made to: "Furness BS a/c number 119535709". Barrow's six-man rescue consortium are scheduled to attend a clear the air meeting with Bluebirds fans in the town later today (Thursday), at which solicitor Alan Dunn, is expected to reveal the full extent of the consortium's efforts to keep the club in The Nationwide Conference. As was stated by NLOTN recently, no League rules were broken by Barrow leading up to the court hearing last month, but it would take an unlikely revision to allow Barrow AFC (1999) Ltd to join football's pyramid at its very pinnacle.


FROM THE HAYES CHAT ROOM

Thursday is decision day for Barrow as the Conference chairmen vote on whether to expel them from the League. There as so far nine teams who have taken maximum points from Barrow so you would naturally expect them to vote in favour of a reprieve. Namely ourselves, Kingstonian and Rushden with six points out of six, Cheltenham, Hednesford, Hereford, Northwich, Stevenage and Yeovil with three out of three. Doncaster and Kettering have taken four out of six, and taking their respective League positions into account, would also be expected to vote for a reprieve. Dover, Southport, and Welling have taken just one from six, so would be expected to vote against Barrow. Leek and Morecambe have taken three from six, so expect them to go with the flow. Telford have taken one from three, but after last season, they would vote to save themselves again and throw Barrow out. Woking and Forest Green lost their only matches with Barrow so they would benefit if Barrow were expelled. Farnborough and Kidderminster have yet to play Barrow, so would probably vote for a reprieve, cynically thinking there are six easy points available. My prediction is that Barrow will be reprieved by thirteen votes to eight.


CONFERENCE NEWS

Taylor era over
It is the end of an era at Farnborough Town who have parted company with manager Alan Taylor after a 12-year association with the Hampshire side. Installed as manager for the rest of the season is John Harding, former assistant to Paul Fairclough at Stevenage Borough. In a club statement, Farnborough announced they and Mr Taylor had mutually agreed to part company after Saturday’s 5-1 home defeat by Hayes. Chairman Tony Alper said: "On behalf of the club, I would like to thank Alan Taylor for all his loyalty, hard work and professionalism."

Cotterill stays put
Steve Cotterill has underlined his commitment to Cheltenham Town by warding off another approach from a Nationwide League club for his services. Second Division Wycombe Wanderers wanted Mr Cotterill to work with newly appointed manager Lawrie Sanchez, but the Robins boss has decided to stay at Whaddon Road in the hope that he can help the Gloucestershire club achieve promotion at the end of the season. Cotterill, who has also been linked with the vacancies at Oxford, Swindon, and Hull, is a former Wimbledon teammate of Sanchez and the pair are close friends. He said: "I would love to complete what I’ve started with Cheltenham and I owe it to the chairman, directors, supporters and players to stay."

Leadership challenge
The Nationwide Conference leadership could change hands for only the second time in almost five months on Saturday as pacesetters Kettering Town face their strongest challenge since assuming pole position on December 5. Just one point separates the Poppies from former leaders Cheltenham Town as both clubs enter the weekend programme looking to get back on the winning course. Kettering entertain Telford United (18th) on Saturday in a bid to extend their term at the top to ten weeks. Cheltenham visit Morecambe (11th) hoping to regain pole position in the Nationwide Conference, a spot they last held for an eleven week spell between 22 September to 5 December.

Trio keep on running
Five weeks into the new year and only three clubs in the Nationwide Conference continue to claim an unbeaten start to 1999. Kingstonian and Forest Green Rovers extended their undefeated new year sequence at the weekend, both making progress into the last sixteen of the FA Trophy. The pair join Doncaster Rovers on the Conference’s unbeaten roll-call. Of the trio, Forest Green Rovers have produced the most impressive start with Frank Gregan’s side claiming the only 100% record in 1999.

Step up to the Mike
Adie Mike’s goalscoring exploits for Leek Town have made him a hot transfer target and he finds himself on the wanted list of no less than four clubs. Interest in the 25-year-old former Manchester City and Stockport County player, who has scored thirteen times this season, has been registered by two unnamed Conference sides, and First Division Crewe Alexandra and Second Division Exeter City have also made enquires.

As seen Sky?
Is there a place for Nationwide Conference coverage on Sky Sports? That’s the question one fan from Telford asked the channel's monthly publication Sky TV Guide, and the answer has certainly opened the way for speculation! Under the title of 'Equal Opportunities?', Mark Pritchard’s letter posed the question as to why Conference football was not so strongly represented on its programmes. In response. Sky TV Guide stated: "Your question prompted some lively debate among the crew at Soccer AM. At present, the guests invited onto the show reflect the bulk of Sky’s live coverage - that is, the Premiership and Nationwide League clubs, but you never know what is going to happen in the future. Watch this space."

Odds on Robins
The battle for the Nationwide Conference title will be contested by three clubs according to the latest odds issued by leading bookmakers Ladbrokes, and leading the way are last season’s runners-up Cheltenham Town who are quoted as clear 8-11 favourites to win the Nationwide race. Current leaders Kettering Town and neighbours Rushden & Diamonds are joint second tips at 5-2 for the Conference promotion spot with Ladbrokes.

The educated club
There is a player at every club who holds a special place in the affections of the supporters, but few can match the claims of Kiesuke Takano of Morecambe who has his own Appreciation Society. Students at Lancaster University have formed themselves into a group to declare their support for the young Japanese utility player and take placards to the Shrimps’ games which sing his praises. The students’ affinity with the Christie Park undergraduate follows a recent drive by the Conference club to attract more from the University to games with the offer of free tickets. Links between the club and the University go back some way. Morecambe have used their training facilities, while reserve goalkeeper, Cieron Hickey is chairman of the Students’ Union Football Society.

Hayes take live
Hayes recorded the second largest away victory in the Nationwide Conference on Saturday when they returned, from basement side Farnborough Town 5-1 victors. The win falls one goal short of the campaign best away-day win - Morecambe’s 6-1 success at Farnborough on 12 December. The Missioners’ weekend win came courtesy of a hat-trick from in-form striker Lee Charles, who has now hit seven goals in five games, together with strikes from Hodson and Bunce.

McAuley set on sixth
A Goal for Leek Town striker Hugh McAuley at Woking this weekend would set a campaign best in the Nationwide Conference. The second top marksman in The Mall on Sunday Goalscorer of the Year race, McAuley travels to Surrey hoping to find the net for the sixth successive Conference match, the best individual scoring series of the season so far.

Vics in ground boost
The world’s oldest football ground, Northwich Victoria’s Drill Field Stadium, has been given the green light for further improvements by the Vale Royal local authority. The club have received planning permission to build a new stand behind the Town End goal with preliminary studies underway for the prospective 500 capacity all-seated facility. Northwich Victoria, whose tenure at the Drill field dates back over 125 years, completed phase one of the stadium redevelopment last season with the construction of their Danebank Stand. The new facility, which will include a police control room and an area for people with disabilities, is expected to cost in the region of UKP 100,000

Talk of new start
The Nationwide Conference will be discussing the dates for the millennium season when the member clubs meet for their annual mid-season meeting at Hednesford Town on 18 February. Next season’s fixture programme will be affected by the loss of a number of key dates. The Millennium celebrations have ruled out the traditional New Year’s Day programme, the FA Cup Third Round has been brought forward to December and the recently revised FA Trophy structure continues to add a further round for Conference clubs. The 1999-2000 dates have already been set in the FA Premiership and the Nationwide League with both launching their programme on August 7 and concluding the campaign on May 14.

French connection
Rushden & Diamonds were the talk of France last month as their FA Cup exploits against Premiership outfit Leeds United hit the continental headlines. Leading national sports newspaper L’Equipe featured the Diamonds Cup campaign in detail, reporting the historic tie under the fairytale banner of 'Cendrillon en Doc’ Martens (Cinderella in Doc Martens), and in one restaurant on the French/Swiss border, a special 'Rushden & Diamonds' celebratory menu was served up for the guests.

Charles a prince at Hayes
Lee Charles, the in-form striker at Hayes, is hoping his two-goal performance as a late call-up for the FA XI last week will increase his chances of appearing for England in the semi-professional international. That’s against Italy and will be held at his own club’s ground on 2 March. It was the start of a good week for the former Queen’s Park Rangers front man who struck a hat-trick as the Missioners won 5-1 at Farnborough on Saturday. Captaining the FA side in the 4-0 win over the British Universities was Hayes’ Chris Sparks, and wearing the armband for the students was Nick Roddis, another member of the Church Road team. For the students it was their final selection game before the World Games in Palma de Mallorca.

Take your bets
It's an unusual community project but Stevenage Borough are literally playing their part in helping to raise money for Lister Hospital’s Magic Eye Appeal. Borough’s performance on the pitch is the key to the campaign as local newspaper, the Stevenage Comet, links up with bookmakers Jennings in an innovative fundraising scheme. Jennings provide the press with a free bet on Borough’s results every week, with all the winning proceeds going to the appeal. Saturday’s goalless draw at Cheltenham Town failed to reap a return, because the paper opted for a 14-1 tip on a 2-2 draw instead, but the previous weekend's 1-0 win at Hereford United earned £70 for the charity with the single goal success quoted by the bookies as a 7-1 shot. Stevenage commercial manager, Clive Abrey said: "It’s a great idea and brings everyone together for a good cause."