Barrow A.F.C.
Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club Barrow Association Football Club is a professional football club based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. The club competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
Having initially played in the Lancashire Combination, Barrow joined the Football League in 1921. They remained in the bottom level of the competition until 1967, when they achieved promotion to the Third Division by finishing third in the Fourth Division. The club's highest league placing was in 1967–68, when they finished eighth in the Third Division. They declined quickly, however, and at the end of the 1971–72 season Barrow were voted out of the Football League in the re-election process. They then spent 48 seasons in the top two levels of non-League football, with five relegations from—and promotions to—the Alliance Premier League (later the Football Conference and the National League), of which they were a founding member in 1979. Barrow won the FA Trophy (non-League football's most prestigious cup competition) in 1990 and 2010. They returned to the Football League as National League champions in 2020. Barrow's promotion return to the Football League made them the first, and to date only, club to have been automatically promoted to the Football League having previously lost their league place via the re-election process, although a number of clubs had previously lost and regained their league status via re-election.
The club colours are blue and white and their nickname is The Bluebirds. Since 1909, Barrow have played their home games at Holker Street near the town centre, Template:Convert from Barrow-in-Furness railway station. The record attendance at Holker Street is 16,874, for a FA Cup third round fixture against Swansea Town in 1954.
Template:AnchorHistory
Template:AnchorEarly history
Barrow were founded on 16 July 1901 at the old Drill Hall (later the Palais) in the Strand, and played initially at the Strawberry Ground before moving to Ainslie Street<ref name="Beautiful">Barrow Template:Webarchive The Beautiful History. Retrieved 02–05–11.</ref> and Little Park in Roose.<ref name="Yelland, C1">Yelland, Phil. Chapter 1: In The Beginning Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC. Retrieved 02–05–11.</ref> The club was elected to Division Two of the Lancashire CombinationTemplate:Citation needed in 1903, and in 1908 it was promoted to the first division.<ref name="Yelland, C1" /> Barrow moved to Holker Street the following year, where they still play. The club remained in the Lancashire Combination until (and after) the First World War, winning the league championship in 1920–21. The victory preceded the formation of the Football League Third Division North in the 1921–22 season, and Barrow became one of the league's founding members.<ref name="Beautiful" />
Football League years
In their early years as a league club, Barrow were notable for their lack of success.<ref name="Beautiful" /><ref>Yelland, Phil. Chapter 2: Into the League Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC. Retrieved 02–05–11.</ref> Their highest finish before the Second World War was fifth in the 1931–32 season. In the 1933–34 season, Barrow finished eighth. The club remained in the lowest tier of the Football League when football resumed after the war, and were founding members of Football League Division Four in 1958–59.<ref>Yelland, Phil Chapter 3: Post War Struggles and Cup Ties Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC. Retrieved 02–05–11.</ref> The 1950s saw greater success in FA Cup competition, however; the club's record crowd of 16,874 watched Barrow draw 2–2 with Swansea Town in the 1953–54 FA Cup.Template:Citation needed A few years later, it was followed by a third-round tie in the 1958–59 competition against Football League champions Wolverhampton Wanderers at Holker Street. The Wolves, captained by Billy Wright, won 4–2.
The late 1960s finally saw Barrow win promotion, after a third-place finish managed by Don McEvoy in the 1966–67 Fourth Division.<ref name="Yelland, C4">Yelland, Phil Chapter 4: To Division Three And Back To Non League Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC. Retrieved 02–05–11.</ref> McEvoy's successor, Colin Appleton, led Barrow to their highest final league position (eighth place) in the Football League Third Division the following season. The club topped the Third Division league table for one day during the 1968–69 season, the highest position they have ever held. During this period, defender Brian Arrowsmith made the most Football League appearances for Barrow.<ref name="Yelland, C4" /> Barrow remained in the third flight of English football for three seasons, before returning to the basement in 1970. Financial difficulties and poor performances saw Barrow twice up for re-election in 1971 and 1972. On the second occasion, at the end of the 1971–72 season, they were voted out of the Football League and replaced by Hereford United.<ref name="Yelland, C4" /> The initial vote produced saw a tie between Barrow and Hereford for the last place in the league, with each receiving 26 votes. However a second vote saw Hereford win with 29 votes to Barrow's 20.<ref name="DeniedFCp22">Template:Cite book</ref> Three factors were highlighted: Barrow's geographic isolation, Hereford United's FA Cup victory against Newcastle United, and the decision of the Barrow board to introduce a speedway track around the Holker Street pitch to offset financial difficulties.<ref>Gone But Not Forgotten (Part 4) Template:Webarchive Twohundredpercent.net. 07–08–07. Retrieved 03–05–11.</ref> Barrow joined the Northern Premier League for the start of the 1972–73 season,<ref name="wscwillis">Willis.S (2007) 'Division Four 1971–72' Template:Webarchive, When Saturday Comes no.244, June 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> and the club spent 51 years in the Football League, 44 playing seasons due to the wartime closedown.<ref name="Yelland, C4" />
Template:AnchorReturn to non-League competition
To gain access to the Northern Premier League, the club had to promise to remove the speedway track from Holker Street<ref>Holker Street Newsletter 1674 Template:Webarchive 2 March 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2011.</ref> (although it remained until 1974). Barrow struggled in the league, with limited financial resources.<ref>Yelland, Phil Chapter 5: Fighting For Survival Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC.</ref> The club were invited to join the new Alliance Premier League in 1979, the first national division in non-League football. Barrow won the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy in 1981 (their first success as a non-League club since winning the Lancashire Combination in 1921), but were relegated two years later.<ref>Yelland, Phil Chapter 6: Making Progress Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC</ref> They won the Northern Premier League title the following season under manager Vic Halom, but were relegated again by 1986. The club hired Ray Wilkie as a manager just before relegation, and Wilkie led Barrow to their most successful period to date in non-League football.<ref name="Yelland C7">Yelland, Phil Chapter 7: The Wilkie Years Template:Webarchive A Brief History of Barrow AFC</ref>
After a number of near-misses, the club did promote to the renamed Football Conference in 1988–89 after their Northern Premier League championship.<ref name="Yelland C7" /> Driven by Colin Cowperthwaite, holder of club records for appearances and goals,<ref name="nwem06may10" /> Barrow had two respectable finishes in the Conference: 10th in 1989–90 and 14th the following season. In addition to league success, Wilkie had a number of successful cup runs. Barrow reached the 1988 FA Trophy semi-final, losing to Enfield after two replays: the first at Aggborough, Kidderminster and the second at Marston Road, Stafford. The first leg, at Holker Street, attracted 6,002 supporters (a club non-League record). Enfield won the first leg 2–1, and Barrow won the second 1–0. Enfield went on to win the trophy against Telford United in a replay at the Hawthorns in West Bromwich after a goalless draw in the final at Wembley. Barrow reached the first round of the FA Cup the following season, losing 3–1 to Rotherham United.
They won the 1990 FA Trophy, their first major trophy as a non-League club, defeating Leek Town in the final at Wembley. Kenny Gordon, not ordinarily a goal-scorer, scored the first and third goals in his final game for his hometown club before emigrating to Australia.<ref>Barrow AFC's 1990 FA Trophy Heroes Reunited at Wembley</ref> Other notable members of the squad included Kenny Lowe, who was sold to Barnet for £40,000 (a club record at the time) after the final.<ref>Turnbull, Simon The real Barrow boys Template:Webarchive The Independent. 12–11–00. Retrieved 08–05–11.</ref> The following season (benefiting from direct entry to the first round), Barrow made the third round of the FA Cup for the first time as a non-League club before losing 1–0 away to Third Division high-fliers Bolton Wanderers.Template:Citation needed
Wilkie was forced to step down during the 1991–92 season due to health problems. Barrow were returned through relegation to the Northern Premier League and Cowperthwaite retired after fifteen seasons with the club, 704 appearances and 282 goals.<ref name="nwem06may10">The highlight of my career Template:Webarchive, North West Evening Mail, 6 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> Wilkie died in December 1992 at age 56,<ref>Obituary: Ray Wilkie Template:Webarchive The Independent. 03–12–92. Retrieved 08–05–11.</ref> and the road outside the Holker Street ground was later named Wilkie Road in his honour.Template:Citation needed
Template:Anchor1990s turmoil
After Wilkie's departure and Barrow's relegation, the club had three mediocre seasons in the Northern Premier League. In February 1995, Barrow were purchased by boxing promoter and businessman Stephen Vaughan.<ref name="conn">Conn.D (2009) 'Chester City owner told by FA to surrender his majority shares' Template:Webarchive, The Guardian, 18 November 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> Vaughan invested in the club, building an all-seater grandstand and signing Conference-standard players.<ref name="connindy">Conn, David (2002) 'Barrow's hate figure moves in at Chester' Template:Webarchive, The Independent, 2 November 2001. Retrieved 18 July 2020</ref> The Bluebirds were promoted to the Conference in 1997–98 under manager Owen Brown.<ref name="conn" /><ref name="connindy" />
Vaughan (who had connections with Liverpool drug-dealer Curtis Warren)<ref name="conn" /> was investigated for money laundering,<ref name="conn" /><ref name="connindy" /><ref name="connindy2">Conn.D (2001) David Conn: Barrow's case exposes hole in ownership rule, The Independent, 23 November 2001. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref><ref name="horrie">Horrie.C (2002) Footie goes back to drawing board Template:Webarchive, The Observer, 28 April 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> although no charges were brought.<ref name="connindy2" /><ref name="sweeney">Sweeney.J (2000) 'Cocky' Template:Webarchive, The Observer, 14 May 2000. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> He left the club at the end of 1998, withdrawing the financial support which had kept it afloat.<ref name="conn" /> It was learned that the Holker Street ground (Barrow's main asset) had been sold for £410,000 to Northern Improvements, a company in which Vaughan had a financial interest.<ref name="connindy" /><ref name="wscrobson">Robson.K (1999) 'Unfair dismissal' Template:Webarchive, When Saturday Comes, vol.149, July 1999. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> In January 1999, the club were the subject of a compulsory winding-up order and a liquidator was appointed to run it while efforts were made to establish the ground's legal owner.<ref name="conn" /><ref name="connindy" /><ref name="wscrobson" /> A members' company was formed to provide financial support for the club, with the long-term intention of taking it over.
Although Barrow avoided relegation in the summer of 1999, they were expelled from the Football Conference for improper administration.<ref name="wscrobson" /> With support from the Football Association after a long dispute, the club were admitted to the Northern Premier League for the 1999–2000 season almost a month after the season had begun.<ref name="connindy" /> Barrow survived in the league under manager Kenny Lowe, despite an almost-entirely-new squad. The team improved over the next few years, remaining in administration. They narrowly missed promotion to the Conference twice, finishing second and third in 2003–04 and 2004–05. The legal disputes over the ownership of Holker Street were resolved in August 2002, and the members' company bought the stadium from the liquidator. In 2003, the Football Association allowed Barrow's "football membership" to be transferred to the new company.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
The club defeated local rivals Workington in a two-legged April 2004 final in the UniBond Presidents (League) Cup. The game finished 6–6 on aggregate, with Barrow winning on away goals. After their failure to gain promotion to the Conference in 2004–05, Barrow became founding members of another division: the Conference North, which replaced the Northern Premier League one level below the Conference National.
National League years
The club had poor form over the following two seasons, narrowly escaping relegation at the end of 2006–07. Manager Lee Turnbull, who succeeded Lowe when Lowe had work commitments, was sacked in 2005 and replaced by Phil Wilson. Defender James Cotterill was jailed for an assault committed on the pitch. In a first round FA Cup game, Cotterill punched Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg. The incident was missed by the referee but was caught by the Match of the Day cameras, and Cotterill was the only English player in recent history to be jailed for an offence on the pitch.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After two years as manager, Wilson was dismissed on 12 November 2007. Although the sacking came two days after a good 1–1 draw in the FA Cup first round against AFC Bournemouth, the club's continued poor form was the cause. Barrow's team affairs were shifted to players Paul Jones, David Bayliss and Darren Sheridan. Following a decent run of results, Bayliss and Sheridan were appointed player-managers, and Jones became club captain. Bayliss and Sheridan led Barrow from 20th place in the league in December to fifth, ensuring a place in the playoffs for promotion to the Conference National. They won the semi-final against AFC Telford United 4–0 on aggregate before defeating Stalybridge Celtic in the playoff final at Pirelli Stadium in Burton upon Trent.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Barrow topped the Conference National table during the first few weeks of the following season before the club began to struggle, finding themselves just above the relegation zone by January 2009. They defeated Brentford 2–1 with goals from David Brown and Matt Henney in round two of the FA Cup, their first victory over Football League opposition since their 1972 elimination from the league. Barrow drew an away match against Middlesbrough (a Premier League team) in the third round, losing 2–1.<ref name="guardian04jan09">'Barrow boys are brought back to earth' Template:Webarchive, The Guardian, 4 January 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> More than 7,000 Barrow fans travelled to Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, the highest away attendance in Riverside's 14-year history to date.<ref name="guardian04jan09" /> The cup run earned Barrow about £250,000, allowing investment in playing resources.<ref name="guardian01jan10">Nothing sheepish about Barrow's approach to Sunderland despite Shaun' Template:Webarchive, The Guardian, 1 January 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> The club retained their place in the Conference, finishing twentieth.
Following alterations to the squad during the summer, Barrow began its second season in the Conference National in August 2009. The club had a good run after a poor start, losing once in 16 games and reaching the FA Cup third round. They were defeated 3–0 by Premier League side Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 2 January 2010, watched by 7,500 travelling supporters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nwem04jan10">Brave Barrow AFC give their all in Sunderland defeat Template:Webarchive, North West Evening Mail, 4 January 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> On 13 March 2010, a Gregg Blundell goal gave Barrow a 1–0 win at Salisbury City in the first Leg of the FA Trophy semi-final. One week later, a Jason Walker double secured a 2–1 victory in the second Leg to send the Bluebirds to Wembley. After securing their position in the Conference National in the last home match of the season, Barrow won the 2010 FA Trophy Final against Stevenage Borough 2–1 at Wembley Stadium with an extra-time goal by Walker; this made Barrow the only club to win the FA Trophy at the old and new Wembley Stadiums.
The 2010–11 season was less successful, although the club finished in 18th place and remained in the Conference National with a 2–0 victory against Hayes & Yeading on the last day of the season.<ref name="bbc30apr11">Barrow 2–0 Hayes & Yeading, BBC sport, 30 April 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> Barrow failed to retain the FA Trophy, however, losing 2–3 to Conference North side Guiseley.<ref name="nwem13dec10">It's a knockout – Trophy holders Barrow crash out Template:Webarchive, North West Evening Mail, 13 December 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2011.</ref> The side was more successful the following season, finishing 13th. Darren Sheridan left the club by mutual consent in February 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Dave Bayliss remained as manager.
The following season, Barrow were relegated from the Conference National after losing 2–1 at Cambridge United on 13 April 2013. Bayliss left the club by mutual consent on 5 November 2013, and Barrow reappointed former caretaker manager Darren Edmondson on 10 December of that year. That season, the club failed to win promotion to the Conference Premier and finished 11th in the Conference North.
On 1 May 2014, it was announced that club members voted to allow Dallas businessman Paul Casson to complete a takeover.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barrow were 2014–15 Conference North champions, with a 2–3 win away at Lowestoft Town on the final day of the season. Casson aimed for promotion in the club's first season return in the top flight of non-League football.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2015, Barrow parted company with manager Darren Edmondson after a poor run left them mid-table and a 1–0 loss to AFC Fylde knocked them out of the 2015–16 FA Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The club appointed former Mansfield and Torquay boss Paul Cox manager the following day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 20 September 2017, Barrow appointed Micky Moore as first-team manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moore was sacked after the club's FA Cup defeat in the fourth qualifying round away at Shaw Lane on 15 October of that year. Former Forest Green Rovers boss Ady Pennock was appointed manager on 27 October, accompanied by assistant manager Jamie Day and player-coach Grant Holt. Barrow narrowly avoided relegation, finishing in 20th place, and Pennock and the club parted company on 18 May 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Former Blackpool and Chesterfield defender Ian Evatt became the club's manager on 15 June.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 24 October 2018, Casson announced he was stepping down as chairman and selling the club; director Paul Hornby led a management buyout of the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2018–19 season was much more successful under Evatt, finishing in 10th place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following 2019–20 season was even more successful. The Bluebirds were top of the league for most of the season before the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The final league table was decided on a points per game basis, meaning Barrow returned to the EFL as champions for the first time since 1972.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Return to the Football League (2020–)
During preseason, manager Ian Evatt departed for newly relegated Bolton Wanderers and was replaced by David Dunn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Barrow's first Football League game in 48 years resulted in a 1–1 draw with Stevenage at Holker Street.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Bluebirds finally won at their ninth attempt in the league, with a 4–2 win at Mansfield Town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After 22 matches, the last nine without a win, and with the team 21st in the table, Dunn was sacked on 13 December 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following Dunn's dismissal, assistant manager Rob Kelly was appointed as caretaker manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael Jolley was named as the new manager on 23 December 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, on 21 February 2021, after seven games in charge, Barrow parted with Jolley.<ref name="Club Statement: Michael Jolley">Template:Cite web</ref> Following the departure of Jolley, assistant boss Kelly was once again named as Barrow's caretaker manager, this time until the end of the season.<ref name="Club Statement: Michael Jolley"/> Kelly saw an upturn of form and on 27 April 2021, with two matches remaining, Barrow secured their Football League status for the following season with a 2–0 win at Forest Green Rovers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of the season, Kelly chose not to remain as manager on a permanent basis and left the club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 28 May 2021, Mark Cooper was appointed as manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 24 August 2021, Barrow hosted Premier League side Aston Villa in an EFL Cup second round tie, losing 6–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2021–22, Barrow finished in 22nd place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2022, Pete Wild was appointed as the new manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Wild, Barrow's league performance improved, finishing ninth in the 2022–23 season.<ref name="FCHD"/>
At the end of the 2023–24 season, Wild departed the club after Barrow had finished one point outside of the play-off positions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 31 May 2024, Stephen Clemence was announced as Wild's successor on a two-year deal,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but, with the club 17th in League Two, was sacked eight months later in January 2025<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and replaced by Andy Whing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Colours and badge
A kit with blue shirts and white shorts was in use by 1912,<ref name=":0" /> although Barrow's original colours were black-and-white stripes. From 1939 to 1959, a blue shirt with a white "V" was the design.<ref name="Beautiful" /> Barrow's kit has varied from predominantly-blue to predominantly-white, with occasional stripes or hoops.<ref name="Beautiful" /> For the 2001–02 season, Barrow played in black-and-white stripes to celebrate the club's centennial.<ref>Holker Street Newsletter 775 Template:Webarchive 12–03–01. Retrieved 10–05–11.</ref> Although Barrow's away colours have varied, the team wore a yellow kit with blue trim for the 2010 FA Trophy final. Barrow's second kit from 2011 to 2013 was sky blue; for the 2013–14 season, however, they opted for a yellow away kit and a blue-and-white-hooped home kit. After a year, the club reverted to a white home kit with blue sleeves for the 2014–15 season. The kits were manufactured by Puma, who had a four-year deal due to expire at the end of the 2015–16 season. The deal was reduced by a year, since the club announced on 30 December 2014 that its kit would be manufactured by PlayerLayer for 2015–16.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, it was announced that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador would be the club's new Front of Shirt sponsor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The club badge has a bee and arrow (B-arrow) as on the Barrow-in-Furness coat of arms.<ref name="Beautiful" /> It features an Astute-class submarine (representing the town's shipbuilding industry), a Tudor rose, and a football.
Stadium
Holker Street (known as the SO Legal Stadium for sponsorship purposes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) has been Barrow's home ground since 1910.<ref name="Yelland, C1" /> It had previously hosted Hindpool Athletic Football Club, and had been a rubbish dump.<ref name="Lon History">Pioneering Days at Holker Street Template:Webarchive 07–09–09. Retrieved 10–05–11.</ref> The first game at the stadium was a 5–2 win for Barrow against Eccles Borough. The ground was gradually developed, so by the resumption of football after World War Two it had four fully-covered, terraced stands.<ref name="BBC London">Template:Cite web</ref> Its record attendance was in 1954, when 16,784 fans watched an FA Cup third-round tie against Swansea Town. Floodlights were installed in 1963,<ref name="Yelland, C4" /> and the ground hosted speedway meetings during the 1970s which necessitated the demolition of the "Steelworks End" (previously damaged by fire), the re-positioning of the pitch and the removal of the front rows of terracing.<ref name="Lon History" /> After the speedway track was removed, the pitch was returned to its original orientation and a new leisure centre with squash courts were built.<ref name="Lon History" />
Under Stephen Vaughan's ownership, an all-seater main stand (named the Brian Arrowsmith Stand in 2017) with a capacity of about 1,000 was built on the Wilkie Road side;<ref name="connindy" /> the only significant change since then was the removal of an unsafe roof over the Holker Street-end terraces. Described as having "a traditional, old fashioned feel",<ref name="Lon History"/> the ground has three sides of terracing. The Brian Arrowsmith Stand is raised above the centre of the pitch, with flat standing on either side.<ref name="BBC London"/> The Popular Side, opposite the Brian Arrowsmith Stand, consists of an area of covered terracing.<ref name="Conf grounds">Barrow AFC Template:Webarchive conferencegrounds.co.uk. Retrieved 10–05–11.</ref><ref>Barrow 0–2 U's: The Sirens and the Prams Template:Webarchive Cambridge United. Retrieved 09–10–09.</ref> In the summer of 2020, a roof was added to the Holker Street End of the ground after the club had won through promotion return to the Football League.<ref name="Sport Furness">Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2022, SO Legal Ltd secured the sponsorship naming rights for Holker Street,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which saw the stadium known as the SO Legal Stadium<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> until the end of the 2023–24 season.
Training ground
Although the team plays its home games in Barrow, during the week the team shares the training ground of F.C. United of Manchester, Broadhurst Park, in Moston, Manchester (since summer 2023), having previously trained in Salford, Rochdale and Lancaster; amongst other places.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Players
Current squad
Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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Out on loan
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Template:AnchorManagement
Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Sporting Director | Template:Flagicon Iain Wood |
| Head Coach | Template:Flagicon Andy Whing |
| Assistant Head Coach | Template:Flagicon Craig Pead |
| Head of Football Operations | Template:Flagicon Joseph Harvey |
| 1st Team / Set-Piece Coach | |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Template:Flagicon Luke Daniels |
| Head Physiotherapist | Template:Flagicon Joe Kennedy |
| Physio | Template:Flagicon Richard Eaves |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Template:Flagicon Chace Homer |
| Performance Analyst | Template:Flagicon Robbie Barrow |
Managerial history
Template:Updated. Only League matches are counted.
| Name | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Win % | ||||
| Jacob Fletcher | Template:Flagicon | July 1901 | April 1904 | 78 | 33 | 15 | 30 | 146 | 135 | 42.31% |
| E. Freeland | Template:Flagicon | April 1904 | ???? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| W. Smith | Template:Flagicon | ???? | ???? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Alec Craig | Template:Flagicon | ???? | May 1907 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Roger Charnley | Template:Flagicon | May 1907 | ???? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Jacob Fletcher | Template:Flagicon | ???? | September 1909 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Jas P. Phillips | Template:Flagicon | September 1909 | July 1913 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| John Parker | Template:Flagicon | July 1913 | July 1920 | 114 | 55 | 16 | 43 | 232 | 197 | 48.25% |
| William Dickinson | Template:Flagicon | July 1920 | May 1922 | 72 | 37 | 11 | 24 | 121 | 82 | 51.39% |
| Jimmy Atkinson | Template:Flagicon | August 1922 | March 1923 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 44 | 43 | 36.67% |
| J.E. Moralee | Template:Flagicon | April 1923 | January 1926 | 112 | 29 | 18 | 65 | 121 | 217 | 25.89% |
| Robert Greenhalgh | Template:Flagicon | January 1926 | February 1926 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0% |
| William Dickinson | Template:Flagicon | February 1926 | October 1927 | 67 | 12 | 12 | 43 | 61 | 182 | 17.91% |
| John S. Maconnachie | Template:Flagicon | October 1927 | December 1928 | 52 | 12 | 15 | 25 | 70 | 116 | 23.08% |
| Andy Walker | Template:Flagicon | January 1929 | June 1930 | 62 | 16 | 7 | 39 | 74 | 142 | 25.81% |
| Thomas Miller | Template:Flagicon | June 1930 | November 1930 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 39 | 18.75% |
| John Commins | Template:Flagicon | November 1930 | May 1932 | 65 | 36 | 5 | 24 | 137 | 96 | 55.38% |
| Tommy Lowes | Template:Flagicon | May 1932 | April 1937 | 204 | 73 | 47 | 84 | 351 | 378 | 35.78% |
| James Y. Bissett | Template:Flagicon | April 1937 | December 1937 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 14 | 36 | 21.05% |
| Fred Pentland | Template:Flagicon | January 1938 | June 1940 | 84 | 29 | 23 | 32 | 146 | 149 | 34.52% |
| John Commins | Template:Flagicon | August 1945 | March 1947 | 54 | 17 | 10 | 27 | 71 | 104 | 31.48% |
| Andy Beattie | Template:Flagicon | March 1947 | April 1949 | 95 | 36 | 26 | 33 | 106 | 95 | 37.89% |
| Jack Hacking | Template:Flagicon | May 1949 | May 1955 | 272 | 96 | 57 | 119 | 363 | 421 | 35.29% |
| Joe Harvey | Template:Flagicon | July 1955 | June 1957 | 92 | 33 | 18 | 41 | 137 | 145 | 35.87% |
| Norman Dodgin | Template:Flagicon | July 1957 | May 1958 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 66 | 74 | 28.26% |
| Willie Brown | Template:Flagicon | July 1958 | August 1959 | 46 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 51 | 104 | 19.57% |
| Bill Rogers | Template:Flagicon | August 1959 | October 1959 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 37 | 20% |
| Ron Staniforth | Template:Flagicon | October 1959 | July 1964 | 213 | 67 | 61 | 85 | 312 | 360 | 31.46% |
| Don McEvoy | Template:Flagicon | July 1964 | July 1967 | 138 | 52 | 32 | 54 | 207 | 235 | 37.68% |
| Colin Appleton | Template:Flagicon | August 1967 | January 1969 | 70 | 32 | 13 | 25 | 103 | 90 | 45.71% |
| Fred Else | Template:Flagicon | January 1969 | February 1969 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 0% |
| Norman Bodell | Template:Flagicon | March 1969 | February 1970 | 46 | 9 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 82 | 19.57% |
| Don McEvoy | Template:Flagicon | February 1970 | November 1971 | 78 | 15 | 18 | 45 | 88 | 142 | 19.23% |
| Bill Rogers | Template:Flagicon | November 1971 | November 1971 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0% |
| Jack Crompton | Template:Flagicon | December 1971 | June 1972 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 40 | 35.71% |
| Peter Kane | Template:Flagicon | July 1972 | June 1974 | 92 | 25 | 13 | 54 | 98 | 195 | 27.17% |
| Brian Arrowsmith | Template:Flagicon | July 1974 | November 1975 | 67 | 12 | 18 | 37 | 61 | 115 | 17.91% |
| Ron Yeats | Template:Flagicon | December 1975 | February 1977 | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 61 | 90 | 32.61% |
| Alan Coglan and Billy McAdams | Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon | February 1977 | July 1977 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 38 | 23.81% |
| David Hughes | Template:Flagicon | July 1977 | July 1977 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Brian McManus | Template:Flagicon | July 1977 | November 1979 | 103 | 31 | 23 | 49 | 115 | 161 | 30.10% |
| Micky Taylor | Template:Flagicon | November 1979 | May 1983 | 147 | 52 | 35 | 60 | 192 | 206 | 35.37% |
| Vic Halom | Template:Flagicon | July 1983 | May 1984 | 42 | 29 | 10 | 3 | 92 | 38 | 69.05% |
| Peter McDonnell | Template:Flagicon | July 1984 | November 1984 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 21 | 29.41% |
| Joe Wojciechowicz | Template:Flagicon | November 1984 | December 1984 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0% |
| Brian Kidd | Template:Flagicon | December 1984 | April 1985 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 26.32% |
| John Cooke | Template:Flagicon | April 1985 | April 1985 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 33.33% |
| Bob Murphy | Template:Flagicon | April 1985 | May 1985 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0% |
| Maurice Whittle | Template:Flagicon | May 1985 | October 1985 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 29 | 0% |
| David Johnson | Template:Flagicon | October 1985 | March 1986 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 28 | 31.25% |
| Glenn Skivington and Neil McDonald | Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon | March 1986 | March 1986 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 0% |
| Ray Wilkie | Template:Flagicon | March 1986 | November 1991 | 236 | 93 | 62 | 81 | 325 | 311 | 39.41% |
| Neil McDonald | Template:Flagicon | November 1991 | December 1991 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 25% |
| John King | Template:Flagicon | December 1991 | May 1992 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 36 | 22.73% |
| Graham Heathcote | Template:Flagicon | May 1992 | December 1992 | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 40 | 31 | 43.48% |
| Richard Dinnis | Template:Flagicon | December 1992 | October 1993 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 45 | 40 | 40% |
| Mick Cloudsdale | Template:Flagicon | October 1993 | June 1994 | 31 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 45 | 35 | 45.16% |
| Tony Hesketh | Template:Flagicon | June 1994 | March 1996 | 74 | 32 | 16 | 26 | 121 | 101 | 43.24% |
| Neil McDonald and Franny Ventre | Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon | March 1996 | March 1996 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0% |
| Mike Walsh | Template:Flagicon | March 1996 | October 1996 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 55% |
| Owen Brown | Template:Flagicon | October 1996 | January 1999 | 100 | 49 | 22 | 29 | 127 | 95 | 49% |
| Shane Westley | Template:Flagicon | January 1999 | July 1999 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 22 | 25% |
| Greg Challender | Template:Flagicon | July 1999 | August 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Kenny Lowe | Template:Flagicon | August 1999 | May 2003 | 176 | 78 | 46 | 52 | 307 | 233 | 44.32% |
| Lee Turnbull | Template:Flagicon | May 2003 | November 2005 | 102 | 41 | 28 | 33 | 164 | 146 | 40.20% |
| Darren Edmondson | Template:Flagicon | November 2005 | December 2005 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 33.33% |
| Phil Wilson | Template:Flagicon | December 2005 | November 2007 | 78 | 20 | 24 | 34 | 85 | 100 | 25.64% |
| Darren Sheridan and David Bayliss | Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon | November 2007 | February 2012 | 168 | 59 | 50 | 59 | 215 | 220 | 35.11% |
| Template:Flagicon | February 2012 | November 2013 | 91 | 15 | 16 | 30 | 59 | 110 | 16.48%<ref>Stats as of end of 2012–13 season</ref> | |
| Template:Flagicon | November 2013 | December 2013 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0% | |
| Darren Edmondson | Template:Flagicon | December 2013 | November 2015 | 96 | 46 | 21 | 29 | 47.92% | ||
| Paul Cox | Template:Flagicon | November 2015 | August 2017 | 86 | 37 | 30 | 19 | 43.02% | ||
| Micky Moore | Template:Flagicon | August 2017 | October 2017 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 9.09% |
| Neill Hornby | Template:Flagicon | October 2017 | October 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0% |
| Ady Pennock | Template:Flagicon | October 2017 | May 2018 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 35.29% | ||
| Ian Evatt | Template:Flagicon | June 2018 | July 2020 | 83 | 38 | 20 | 25 | 120 | 90 | 45.78% |
| David Dunn | Template:Flagicon | July 2020 | December 2020 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 28 | 9.09% |
| Rob Kelly | Template:Flagicon | December 2020 | December 2020 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 66.67% |
| Michael Jolley | Template:Flagicon | December 2020 | February 2021 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 14.28% |
| Rob Kelly | Template:Flagicon | February 2021 | May 2021 | 19 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 20 | 42.11% |
| Mark Cooper | Template:Flagicon | May 2021 | March 2022 | 37 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 33 | 43 | 21.62% |
| Phil Brown | Template:Flagicon | March 2022 | May 2022 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 22.22% |
| Pete Wild | Template:Flagicon | May 2022 | May 2024 | 78 | 33 | 14 | 31 | 98 | 94 | 42.31% |
| Stephen Clemence | Template:Flagicon | May 2024 | January 2025 | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 28 | 28% |
| Andy Whing | Template:Flagicon | January 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
League history
| From | To | League | Level | Total Seasons<ref name="FCHD">Template:Cite web</ref> |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901–02 | 1902–03 | Lancashire League | N/A | 2 |
| 1903–04 | 1904–05 | Lancashire Combination Division Two | N/A | 2 |
| 1905–06 | 1907–08 | Lancashire Combination Division One | N/A | 3 |
| 1908–09 | 1910–11 | Lancashire Combination Division Two | N/A | 5 |
| 1911–12 | 1920–21 | Lancashire Combination Division One | N/A | 6 |
| 1921–22 | 1957–58 | Football League Division Three North | 3 | 31 |
| 1958–59 | 1966–67 | Football League Division Four | 4 Template:Decrease | 9 |
| 1967–68 | 1969–70 | Football League Division Three | 3 Template:Increase | 3 |
| 1970–71 | 1971–72 | Football League Division Four | 4 Template:Decrease | 2 |
| 1972–73 | 1978–79 | Northern Premier League | 5 Template:Decrease | 7 |
| 1979–80 | 1982–83 | Alliance Premier League | 5 Template:Steady | 4 |
| 1983–84 | 1983–84 | Northern Premier League | 6 Template:Decrease | 1 |
| 1984–85 | 1985–86 | Alliance Premier League | 5 Template:Increase | 2 |
| 1986–87 | 1988–89 | Northern Premier League | 6 Template:Decrease | 3 |
| 1989–90 | 1991–92 | Football Conference | 5 Template:Increase | 3 |
| 1992–93 | 1997–98 | Northern Premier League | 6 Template:Decrease | 6 |
| 1998–99 | 1998–99 | Football Conference | 5 Template:Increase | 1 |
| 1999–00 | 2003–04 | Northern Premier League | 6 Template:Decrease | 5 |
| 2004–05 | 2007–08 | Conference North | 6 Template:Steady | 4 |
| 2008–09 | 2012–13 | Conference National | 5 Template:Increase | 5 |
| 2013–14 | 2014–15 | Conference North | 6 Template:Decrease | 2 |
| 2015–16 | 2019–20 | National League | 5 Template:Increase | 5 |
| 2020–21 | Present | EFL League Two | 4 Template:Increase | 4 |
Records
- Record attendance: 16,874 vs. Swansea Town, 9 January 1954<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Best league performance: 8th in Third Division, 1967–68<ref name="FCHD"/>
- Best FA Cup performance: Third round, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1990–91, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2021–22<ref name="FCHD"/>
- Best League Cup performance: Third round, 1962–63, 1967–68, 2024–25<ref name="FCHD"/>
- Best League Trophy performance: Round of 32 (Northern Section), 2022–23<ref name="FCHD" />
- Best FA Trophy performance: Winners, 1989–90, 2009–10<ref name="FCHD" />
Honours
Source:<ref name="FCHD"/>
League
- Fourth Division (level 4)
- Promoted: 1966–67
- National League (level 5)
- Champions: 2019–20
- Conference North (level 6)
- Northern Premier League
- Lancashire Combination Division One
- Champions: 1920–21
- Runners-up: 1913–14,
- Lancashire Combination Division Two
- Runners-up: 1904–05, 1910–11
Cup
- FA Trophy
- Lancashire Senior Cup
- Winners: 1954–55, 2023–24
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
- Runners-up: 1987–88
- Northern Premier League President's Cup
- Peter Swales Shield
- Winners: 1984–85
- Lancashire Junior Cup
- Winners: 1980–81
References
External links
Template:Barrow A.F.C. Template:Navbox Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Barrow A.F.C.
- Football clubs in England
- Football clubs in Cumbria
- 1901 establishments in England
- Association football clubs established in 1901
- Furness
- Barrow-in-Furness
- Lancashire League (football)
- Lancashire Combination
- English Football League clubs
- Northern Premier League clubs
- National League (English football) clubs