Holker Street Newsletter 799 - 29th April 2001

I remember seeing a cartoon many years ago of a couple of blokes marooned on a desert island, sunning themselves under a palm tree, when one turns to the other and says “QPR lost again, I see”, to which his castaway friend replies “How do you know that?”. “Because it’s Saturday”, comes the reply. I feel the same, as I awoke this morning on the other side of the world, looking out across my garden, the sun was shining reassuringly as the morning dew glistened, and I knew Barrow had won again, it’s becoming repetitive isn’t it? No, it isn’t, it’s wonderful, the run Barrow are on, granted it took a stumble mid-week when they lost to Accrington Stanley, is still there, and we have now gone twelve games unbeaten at home, and if you go back to the home game against Marine in the League, Barrow are unbeaten in at home in the League since Saturday 27 January, eleven games ago, an exceptional achievement, and one we can feel justifiably proud of. If only it could have come earlier in the season, but it hasn’t and well, there you go.

Saturday 27 January Barrow v Marine W 1-0 840
Tuesday 30 January Barrow v Workington (ULC) L 0-2 274
Tuesday 6 February Barrow v Gretna (ULC) W 3-2 201
Saturday 17 February Barrow v Blyth Spartans W 2-0 954
Tuesday 27 February Barrow v Stalybridge Celtic D 0-0 864
Saturday 3 March Barrow v Emley (ULC QF) W 4-2 752
Saturday 10 March Barrow v Leek Town W 3-0 996
Tuesday 13 March Barrow v Colwyn Bay W 3-2 779
Saturday 17 March Barrow v Hucknall Town W 5-0 968
Saturday 31 March Barrow v Frickley Athletic W 2-0 1048
Thursday 12 April Barrow v Gateshead W 3-1 1001
Saturday 14 April Barrow v Spennymoor United W 5-0 1001
Saturday 21 April Barrow v Gainsborough Trinity W 3-2 1024
Saturday 28 April Barrow v Worksop Town W 2-1 1216

The last Newsletter carried a piece from the UniBond press release which said that of the 903 supporters at the Final of the Chairman’s Cup between Barrow and Harrogate, 200 were from Barrow, mmm, shome mishtake, shurely. From what others have said, I think there were considerably more than that supporting Barrow at the game. It also mentioned that this was the first time Barrow had played at their ground, I know Barrow played Harrogate at Holker Street in an FA Cup Second Round game on 25 September 1993 when we won 6-1 in front of 998, only to go out in the next Round away to Gretna, but I thought we had played the North Yorkshire club in a friendly, was that game played at Harrogate? Can anyone confirm? My email is .

The Newsletter before that said that the Worksop game was Barrow’s last game of the season, err, no it wasn’t it was the last home game.

Thanks to Peter Caldwell, the Alty web site, Old Barrovian, Martin Leslie, Ron Duxbury, Scott Leslie, Jim Whitton, Geoff Northin, Stephen Mulrine, Richard Ingham, Private Eye, Phil Yelland, Darren Gardner and Terry Kendall for their help with today’s edition.

AN EPIC IN THE MAKING
This comes via Richard Ingham, Phil Yelland and Darren Gardner.

Next season, 2001-2002, Barrow AFC will reach the landmark of being 100 years old. To mark this occasion, Phil Yelland, Tony McWilliams and Darren Gardner have joined forces to produce a book called Barrow AFC - The First 100 Years. Containing approximately 190 pages, it promises to be a sumptuous tome, and one fit to grace any Barrow supporter’s bookshelves. Planning for the book is at an advanced stage, and financial backing has come from a number of sources, including local bookmakers Chas Kendall, the Barrow AFC Official Supporters' Club, the Survival Fund, Raise the Roof, and the National Supporters' Club.

The opportunity also exists for supporters to help, the editors have started a subscribers’ list, and are asking those interested in the book to order a copy in advance, and by paying UKP5 at the time of the order, you can have your name printed in the subscribers' list when the book is published in August or September 2001, and the UKP5 already paid will be knocked off the price for your copy. The book will retail at UKP14 for the paperback edition and UKP24 for the hardback edition, of which only a limited edition will be printed.

The book marks Barrow AFC reaching its centenary, a considerable achievement for any club, but perhaps more so for Barrow, and will serve as a fitting testament to the club’s first 100 years and the next 100. If the sales target of 800 books is met, the editors anticipate donating over UKP6000 to Barrow AFC, so it is a worthy project all round. If you would like more information on Barrow AFC - The First 100 Years, or would like to subscribe, contact Darren Gardner, his email is .

AND DON’T FORGET THIS ONE

Whilst we eagerly await the publication of Barrow AFC - The First 100 Years, there is another book about Barrow AFC available now which will supplement the tome due out this year, late last year The Definitive Barrow AFC, was published by Michael Gardner and Tony Brown, it is very different to what is being published later this year, as it give the match details of every Barrow AFC game from the very first days. The book is available from the Barrow club shop at 60, Buccleuch Street, Barrow, LA14 1QG, priced at UKP9.99, and if you'd like to buy a copy, it might be worth emailing the club see how much the postage will be. Their email is .

I would heartily recommend Barrow supporters to purchase both books, I already have the Barrow AFC - The First 100 Years, and will be sending my money for the other book shortly.


BARROW BOYS HIT THE TOWN LATE ON
Barrow 2 Worksop Town 1
By Russell Dodd, The Non-League Paper, Sunday 29 April

Barrow claimed a late winner to leapfrog Worksop into fifth place in the League after a game of fine attacking football from both sides. Worksop were rocked in the opening minutes to lose forward Gary Townsend who was hit in the face by the ball. The visitors, though, had the first chance after ten minutes when a stray Anthony Hall pass set substitute Ryan Hindley free but he lobbed straight at Simon Bishop. After Steve Housham and Nick Peverell went close for Barrow, Town took the lead when Andy Gray worked a one-two with Steve Johnson to place the ball past Bishop from 12 yards. Peverell put a Neil Doherty cross over but the Cumbrians levelled on the half hour as Housham headed a Doherty cross powerfully past Jamie Holmshaw from eight yards. Grant Holt and Hall were off target for the home side just before the break while the Nottinghamshire side were denied a quarter of an hour into the second half when Bishop tipped a Adam Muller shot onto the bar. It was end-to-end from then on, with Gareth Jones and Housham denied while Gray was off-target and a brilliant Bishop save denied Krystof Kotylo. Graham Anthony notched the winner two minutes from time picking his spot from 15 yards following a superb Lee Ellison break.

UNIBOND LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 28 APRIL
Accrington Stanley 3 Blyth Spartans 3, Altrincham 2 Hyde United 0, Bamber Bridge 3 Runcorn 1, Barrow 2 Worksop Town 1, Burscough 3 Droylsden 1, Colwyn Bay 4 Leek Town 1, Emley 2 Stalybridge Celtic 3, Gainsborough Trinity 0 Bishop Auckland 0, Gateshead 1 Lancaster City 0, Spennymoor United 2 Marine 2, Whitby Town 2 Hucknall Town 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Stalybridge Celtic........42 30 9 3 95-30 99
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Emley.....................43 30 8 5 84-41 98
Bishop Auckland...........43 26 7 10 87-50 85
Lancaster City............42 24 8 10 83-58 80
Barrow....................42 21 9 12 81-58 72
Worksop Town..............41 19 12 10 99-56 69
Altrincham................43 19 10 14 77-57 67
Gainsborough Trinity......43 17 13 13 57-54 64
Hucknall Town.............42 16 12 14 54-59 60
Accrington Stanley........42 16 10 16 68-67 58
Bamber Bridge.............42 17 7 18 62-63 58
Gateshead.................42 15 12 15 65-58 57
Runcorn...................42 15 10 17 55-66 55
Blyth Spartans............42 15 7 20 60-63 52
Whitby Town...............44 13 11 20 60-76 50
Hyde United...............41 13 9 19 70-77 48
Burscough.................41 13 9 19 56-65 48
Marine....................42 12 11 19 59-75 47
Droylsden.................41 13 5 23 48-75 44
Colwyn Bay................42 11 9 22 65-101 42
Leek Town.................42 11 7 24 41-68 40
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Frickley Athletic.........42 8 15 19 46-77 39
Spennymoor United.........42 3 4 35 30-108 12
Spennymoor United: 1 point deducted

UNIBOND FIRST DIVISION
Saturday 21 April: Bradford Park Avenue 4 Witton Albion 1, Congleton Town 1 North Ferriby United 4, Gretna 0 Eastwood Town 1, Guiseley 1 Vauxhall Motors 1, Matlock Town 0 Chorley 3, Ossett Town 0 Ashton United 3, Radcliffe Borough 1 Belper Town 2, Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 Kendal Town 1, Trafford 4 Harrogate Town 1, Winsford United 1 Bradford Park Avenue 2, Witton Albion 2 Lincoln United 1, Workington 2 Farsley Celtic 2.

28 April: Ashton United 0 Eastwood Town 2, Belper Town 3 Kendal Town 2, Bradford Park Avenue 2 Gretna 2, Chorley 1 Harrogate Town 0, Congleton Town 2 Trafford 6, Lincoln United 1 Winsford United 1, Ossett Town 2 Workington 1, Stocksbridge Park Steels 4 Guiseley 2, Vauxhall Motors 1 Radcliffe Borough 1, Witton Albion 0 Farsley Celtic 0.

P W D L F A GD Pts PP
Bradford PA 40 27 4 9 81 39 42 85 91 (Champions)
Vauxhall Motors 40 22 10 8 91 48 43 76 82
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Ashton United 40 21 9 10 86 48 38 72 78
Stocksbridge PS 42 19 13 10 80 60 20 70 70
Trafford 40 19 8 13 65 60 5 64 70
Ossett Town 42 16 12 14 66 58 8 60 60
Belper Town 40 16 11 13 67 61 6 59 65
Chorley 40 15 13 12 70 66 4 58 64
Radcliffe Borough 39 17 6 16 69 67 2 57 66
Witton Albion 40 14 15 11 49 49 0 57 63
Matlock Town 40 14 10 16 69 70 -1 52 58
Harrogate Town 39 14 8 17 54 65 -11 50 59
Lincoln United 41 13 11 17 60 75 -15 50 53
North Ferriby United 40 13 10 17 61 69 -8 49 55
Workington 40 12 12 16 50 58 -8 48 54
Farsley Celtic 41 12 11 18 52 69 -17 47 50
Eastwood Town 40 13 8 19 39 57 -18 47 53
Kendal Town 40 12 11 17 58 66 -8 46 52
Winsford United 40 13 10 17 58 66 -8 46 52
Guiseley 40 11 13 16 36 49 -13 46 52
Gretna 40 10 12 18 69 82 -13 42 48
Congleton Town 40 8 5 27 43 91 -48 29 35


SOME THOUGHTS ON THE WORKSOP GAME FROM JIM WHITTON
Who instead of relying on his trusty tranny, was at the game, and as he points out, that is now two Barrow victories on the trot he has seen.

At Christmas, with Barrow in mid table and things looking ragged, Kenny and Lee promised us 70 points and a top six finish. Today the team delivered, with two games to spare. It was an entertaining game, with Barrow living a bit dangerously at times and the shots on target count for both sides must have been high. Credit to both teams for playing the game in a very good spirit and an excellent referee who sensed the mood and let the game flow.

There were chances at both ends early on but the visitors took the lead in the 22nd minute when an intricate passing move ended with Gray firing into the corner of the net. Barrow equalised on the half hour when a great crossfield ball from Anthony set Doherty away. He beat his man and crossed from the byline for Housham to head in. Barrow nearly went ahead soon after but a great reaction save by the keeper kept out a close range header from a Bullimore corner.

Barrow dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half and were desperately unlucky not to score on several occasions. However, they were also a bit sloppy at times and there was always the probability of a goal on the break from the visitors. In fact, for 15 minutes or so Worksop dominated the game. One bad mistake let Muller in with a clear run but Bishop brilliantly tipped his fierce shot onto the bar and over. He then had to make another great save to tip a shot round the post. At the other end, Peverell got clear but his shot from the edge of the box was taken by the keeper at full stretch. Jones, who had come on earlier for McKechnie, also went close. Peverell was replaced by Ellison with 15 minutes to go and went off to warm applause. (Pity he didn't score, but he will probably get a hat trick at Frickley with hardly anybody watching.) Soon after, the earlier sunshine was replaced by a cloud burst of torrential rain. There were chances at both ends and it always seemed likely that someone would grab a winner. Fortunately, it was Barrow. Ellison fed Anthony and he seemed to delay for ages before firing into the corner of the net just as the chance appeared to have gone. There was still time for a couple of corners from Worksop before the ref blew his whistle and the team took time in the downpour to applaud the fans before going off to a standing ovation.


THE BARROW AFC PRIZE GIVING AWARDS EVENING
From Ron Duxbury

Barrow keeper Simon Bishop scooped the top two awards at the annual AFC Presentation Evening. The Barrow custodian was named as the club’s Player of the Year by quite a considerable margin from the 300 or so votes received from spectators, officials, and sponsors, and he also picked up the much-coveted Players’ Player of the Year award from his colleagues. The Programme Star Man award went to Lee Warren, and Mark Hume picked up most votes from the Official Supporters’ Club. The National Supporters’ Club voted Nicky Peverell as their first choice. Dale Burns was named as the Under-18s Player of the Year, Jordan Satterthwaite as the most improved player, and Lee Miller won the Players’ Player of the Year award.

First team manager Kenny Lowe picked up a special Club award in recognition of the team’s achievements this season, together with a ‘cockup of the season’ award for filling the club’s diesel-engined car with petrol on the morning of the Worksop home game! Russ Rowley and John McKay were presented with the AFC Clubman award on behalf of the Survival Fund in recognition of the effort put into raising thousands of pounds in their 27 months existence.

AFC Chairman Brian Keen presented the awards. The event, which was compered by Ron Duxbury, was organised by Caroline Shepherd.

Ralph’s note: I had hoped to have the Newsletter’s player of the year award presented as well, but it wasn’t possible, there will still be a presentation, but as to when I’m unsure, if you haven’t voted on who you think should receive the awards, there is time, email me on , and if you would like to make a donation towards the costs of having the trophy engraved, that would be especially welcome. This can be done by sending a couple of pounds to Peter Caldwell at 158 Hartington Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 5TW, United Kingdom. Over to you.


DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN WALES?

Martin and Scott Leslie have been in touch to say that the Welsh TV channel, S4C will broadcast highlights of Barrow’s last game of the season away to Colwyn Bay on their football programme Gol, on Sunday 6 May, it starts at about 1pm on Sunday and runs for 45 minutes, and the programme will feature highlights of a number of games featuring Welsh clubs. When I lived in Barrow many, many years ago, you used to be able to get S4C, whether you still can, I’m unsure, I used to watch Superted in Welsh! It was a good idea at the time!


NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE, 28 APRIL
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Northwich Victoria 0, Forest Green Rovers 2 Southport 0, Hayes 1 Boston United 1, Hereford United 2 Morecambe 2, Leigh RMI 2 Kingstonian 1, Nuneaton Borough 1 Kettering Town 1, Rushden & Diamonds 2 Dover Athletic 1, Scarborough 0 Hednesford Town 0, Stevenage Borough 0 Doncaster Rovers 0, Telford United 1 Yeovil Town 2, Woking 1 Chester City 0.

P W D L F-A Pts
Rushden & Diamonds........41 24 11 6 76-35 83
Yeovil Town...............40 24 8 8 71-46 80
Dagenham & Redbridge......40 21 8 11 67-52 71
Southport.................40 19 9 12 55-44 66
Leigh RMI.................41 18 11 12 61-56 65
Stevenage Borough.........40 15 18 7 70-57 63
Chester City..............40 15 14 11 45-39 59
Telford United............40 17 8 15 47-50 59
Doncaster Rovers..........41 15 13 13 46-41 58
Scarborough...............40 13 16 11 53-51 55
Hereford United...........40 13 15 12 54-39 54
Woking....................41 13 15 13 52-55 54
Boston United.............41 12 17 12 69-60 53
Nuneaton Borough..........40 13 13 14 58-58 52
Dover Athletic............41 13 11 17 53-56 50
Morecambe.................39 11 12 16 61-59 45
Northwich Victoria........41 11 12 18 47-65 45
Forest Green Rovers.......40 10 14 16 42-54 44
Hayes.....................41 11 10 20 41-70 43
Kettering Town............41 10 10 21 44-62 40
Kingstonian...............41 8 10 23 47-72 34
Hednesford Town...........41 5 13 23 45-83 28

DR MARTENS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 28 APRIL
Bath City 0 Welling United 2, Cambridge City 2 Weymouth 2, Dorchester Town 1 Burton Albion 3, Fisher Athletic 0 Halesowen Town 0, Havant & Waterlooville 0 Moor Green 0, Ilkeston Town 3 Folkestone Invicta 0, Margate 3 Worcester City 0, Merthyr Tydfil 0 Crawley Town 2, Newport County 1 King's Lynn 3, Stafford Rangers 4 Salisbury City 2, Tamworth 0 Clevedon Town 2.

P W D L F-A Pts
Margate...................40 28 6 6 75-25 90
Burton Albion.............40 24 12 4 72-34 84
King's Lynn...............41 18 11 12 67-57 65
Weymouth..................40 17 12 11 69-48 63
Worcester City............40 18 8 14 52-50 62
Welling United............41 16 13 12 58-55 61
Stafford Rangers..........41 17 9 15 67-59 60
Havant & Waterlooville....40 17 8 15 64-54 59
Moor Green................41 17 8 16 47-52 59
Newport County............40 16 9 15 68-60 57
Crawley Town..............39 16 9 14 57-50 57
Tamworth..................41 16 8 17 56-55 56
Ilkeston Town.............41 15 11 15 48-59 56
Bath City.................41 15 13 13 67-66 55
Salisbury City............40 16 7 17 62-68 55
Cambridge City............40 13 11 16 55-56 50
Folkestone Invicta........41 14 6 21 49-71 48
Merthyr Tydfil............41 11 13 17 49-61 46
Clevedon Town.............40 10 7 23 58-71 37
Fisher Athletic...........41 11 6 24 50-85 36
Dorchester Town...........40 9 8 23 38-68 35
Halesowen Town............41 7 13 21 45-69 34
Bath City: 3 points deducted
Fisher Athletic: 3 points deducted

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, 27-29 APRIL
27 April: Enfield 3 Canvey Island 0
28 April: Aldershot Town 1 Basingstoke Town 0, Billericay Town 1 Farnborough Town 2, Croydon 2 Canvey Island 1, Gravesend & Northfleet 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1, Hampton & Richmond 2 Heybridge Swifts 1, Hendon 3 Enfield 0, Hitchin Town 3 Harrow Borough 6, Purfleet 1 Chesham United 2, St Albans City 1 Grays Athletic 2, Slough Town 3 Carshalton Athletic 1, Sutton United 2 Maidenhead United 0.
29 April: Basingstoke Town 0 Canvey Island 0, Hendon P Aldershot Town P.

P W D L F-A Pts
Farnborough Town..........40 31 5 4 84-24 98
Canvey Island.............37 24 6 7 65-34 78
Basingstoke Town..........40 21 12 7 67-38 75
Aldershot Town............38 20 10 8 66-36 70
Gravesend & Northfleet....40 21 5 14 61-41 68
Chesham United............40 20 6 14 71-52 66
Hampton & Richmond........40 18 10 12 70-57 64
Heybridge Swifts..........40 16 13 11 69-58 61
Billericay Town...........39 16 13 10 57-51 61
Hitchin Town..............40 18 3 19 70-67 57
Sutton United.............40 14 10 16 72-68 52
Purfleet..................40 13 13 14 53-49 52
Hendon....................37 15 6 16 58-55 51
St Albans City............39 15 4 20 50-62 49
Croydon...................39 12 10 17 52-66 46
Grays Athletic............39 13 7 19 40-64 46
Enfield...................41 12 8 21 46-72 44
Maidenhead United.........40 13 2 25 44-63 41
Harrow Borough............39 10 10 19 59-87 40
Slough Town...............41 10 9 22 40-60 39
Carshalton Athletic.......39 9 6 24 34-78 33
Dulwich Hamlet............40 4 10 26 32-78 22


LOOK BACK AT THE 1975-76 NPL SEASON
From Terry Kendall

January 17 1976, Barrow 1 Gateshead United 0
Barrow: Jones, Stevens (Fairer 15), Gisbourne, Large, Yeats, Arrowsmith, Gill, Balm, McDonald, Halligan, B. Sharpe.
Gateshead: Clarke, Brown, Common, McCrudden, Albeson, Johnson, McLeod, Rosethorn, Embleton, Mutrie, Maddison. Sub: Nevins.
Goal: Ian Gill 80.
Ref: R. Adamson (Garstang). Half-time: 0-0. Att: 478.