Barrow

Us and Barrow didn’t exactly part on the best of terms when we came up to the Football League in 2009 – but it’s old history now. The reason for the “aggro” was our heated FA Trophy Final at Wembley; a game that records simply state we lost 2-1 after extra time at Wembley. It was also the first time we’d lost at the ‘new’ home of English football. But an inexplicable red card for David Bridges and a heinous elbow on Charlie Griffin by Robin Hulbert ensured that both of us ended the game with 10 men. Well, we finished with nine because of the aforementioned ‘challenge’.

Long story short – it stopped us doing a Conference/FA Trophy double. And it was a little frustrating at the very least as we’d kept clean sheets in both our 2009-10 Blue Square Premier meetings. Ho hum.

Our record against the Cumbrian team, otherwise, is still pretty decent as we write this. Barrow survived their first two seasons back in the Football League; their first – the 2020-1 campaign – opening up with us paying a visit, much like it was in 1998 when they were promoted to the Conference. In both those two seasons, however, relegation was lurking; the Bluebirds hanging around far too near the bottom two for their own good. Will it be a story of third time lucky? And, by which, we mean will they enjoy success on the pitch. Not will they be heading back to non-league football.

If you’re reading this in 2023, do phone us the answer.

Barrow: The Facts