Who Are... Barrow AFC?
Barrow have had a chequered history since leaving the Football League and helping to form the inaugral Alliance Premier League in 1979. The club has found itself more often than not stuck in the Northern Premier League for the most of the 1990s, which came off the back of an FA Trophy win against Leek at Wembley. Only financial difficulties stopped the Cumbrian clubs extending their stay in the Conference beyond 1999. And now the chance has presented itself for the club to re-establish itself at the top end of the non-league spectrum; a chance they'll be hoping to take.

The 2007/8 season saw the Bluebirds admittedly finish in fifth place in the Blue Square North. Securing the last playoff berth was a scrap to the last - Harrogate Town were only two points adrift, while Nuneaton Borough at five points behind weren't out of the frame until late on. But it was an opportunity that Barrow went onto take with aplomb - they comfortably despatched second placed AFC Telford United in the semi-finals before defeating another ex-Blue Square Premier side Stalybridge Celtic in the final.

Hopes aren't exactly high however for the 2008/9 campaign. Bookies rank them low when it comes to starting prices, and it will be a struggle when taking on the strong competition that has infiltrated the Blue Square Premier in recent seasons. Many, if not all, of the promoted teams will struggle as they did in 2007/8 season - Droylsden and Farsley Celtic made instant returns to the Blue Square North, and Barrow may find it very difficult to avoid befalling the same fate. A relegation battle is very much on the cards, and it seems hard to see the points that may keep their heads above water come May 2009.

BoroGuide Prediction: 24th