Locals impress?

[thedon1969]

Did anyone who attended the game feel any of the
Coals did well ?

[thedon1969]

Sorry bad spelling Locals

[bluebird90]

Dave Swarbrick is somebody that we should be looking at, caused quite a few problems. Danny Cummings is another who impressed when on the ball. Other than that I would say I was fairly disapointed by the standard on show, although it should be remembered that they are inthesame position as us in that it is their first pre season game and the majority will not have played together.

[BERSATUBOY]

Aye and they tried to play and not kik 7 bells out of us as has happened in the past

[burnzio]

The Centre Half (No. 2) had a pretty solid game.

[barrowaberdeen]

I thought they did a great job, without the ball much, in the heat. Fair play to them all.

Both centre backs were decentish, but for me I can't see them making the step fitness wise.

I thought Danny Cummings worked very hard on scraps.

Chris Wraight had a couple of runs and one brilliant cross when allowed out left half way through the second half- always had a great left foot.

I suppose these two, and it's just my opinion, could possibly get a go, but this is where when we don't have a reserve team we fall down. More realistic is that they should be trying to keep improving at Kendal, or maybe Holker which I guess is the next highest here. I don't see how, if any of these younger lads are serious about improving, Vickerstown or Crooklands are the best place- not that they aren't very good amateur sides.

A lot of the problem in Furness is that when lads get bumped from a league club's academy, they come home, have few opportunities, then drift off to play with their mates. Nowt wrong with that, but it's the reason we have few local players at even Barrow's level.

[DocsStepover]

I personally think that there are too many local sides playing in the West Lancs Leagues. Currently at that level or above are (off the top of my head)

Holker OB - NW Counties

West Lancs Prem
Vickerstown
Crooklands

West Lancs Div 1
Hawcoat Park
Dalton
Furness Rovers
Millom

West Lancs Div 2
Furness Cavs
Walney
Barrow Wanderers
Askam
Ulverston

This leads to a dilution of talent and also good players not trying to better themselves at a higher level. I think sides that do well in the Furness Prem (which isn't anywhere near as good as it used to be) just look to go into the West Lancs rather than risk losing players.

I believe that if there were fewer sides playing at that level then lads would progress from Furness Prem to West Lancs to NW Counties. Will never happen.

Also the lack of a properly ran, integrated reserve team to give locals something to aim at hinders the opportunities for good young lads to progress into the 1st team.

There is no way that anyone can say that there isn't or hasn't been lads who given the right structure and opportunities wouldn't have been able to hold their own in the 1st team.

I prepare to be shot down!

[Adam29]

Some must as Swabba (dave swarbrick) is playing against workington tomorrow

[barrowaberdeen]

I know it's a debate we have once in a while and everyone groans, but we have it because it's important.

Local players to have done reasonably outside Barrow in last 25 years, at a higher level.

1980's Gary Stevens?
1990 onwards- Neil Doc
2008 onwards- Jason Walker

err that's it.

I know folk will rightly come in with other names, but even allowing for decent locals in the 90 side etc, that record is nothing short of appalling.

The best thing that could happen from this club's point of view is Holker OB cherrypicking the best of local talent and pushing onp a couple of leagues, aided by us, perhaps with some loan deals of youths signed or something? Years ago, Aberdeen used to do this in the Highand League, toughening younger lads up for a season or two.

But why should amateur clubs do that for us?

[DocsStepover]

There are plenty of lads, especially now, who get taken into club acadamies etc but if/when they get released where is the mechanism to get them into Barrow AFC?

The football team has no identity with the community in which it is based. The players don't live or train in the town, and I know there aren't the facilities and finances dictate that they can't afford to put them up in digs in the area. This, I think, leads to a lack of aspiration for local lads to play for the town. It is a closed shop.

The club historically not working with local sides, poorly ran/financed, tokenistic reserve sides has led to an apathy of from local players towards the side. They know they aren't going to get a chance so the desire drains away.

I'll get off my soap box now and wish you good night.

[Andy]

I also think that a fair point is the fact that at this level football can't offer a career to a young lad and at 18 a fair few disappear to Uni for 3/4 years, by which time they haven't played as much and are getting in to other things like work etc and so are happy at the good Saturday league level. If we were in a position to offer more, one or two might not pass by.

[bluebird90]

Holker were offered the chance of promotion last season but for whatever reason turned it down. IMO Vickerstown are probably the better footballing side in the area currently and some of their players play for both clubs throughout the season and make the 'step up' with ease.

The structure of leagues does not always tell the full story of the standard of football. Many clubs find themselves in a league due to facilities (or lack of) and former glory which does not reflect the current footballing standard of the current team. For example Vickerstown are unlikely to ever make the step into the North West Counties due to their facilities, however both them and Dalton United in recent years have probably had better teams than Holker.

No offence is meant to Holker, they are a well run club and play in a higher league on the back of deserved success.

With regards to the furness prem, Im not so sure that the standard is that poor, many teams have moved up to west lancs (vickerstown, cavs, crooklands) and done well, walney were the most recent and have stood their ground despite not finishing as furness prem champions. I am sure wanderers will also fit in and do well.

[Andy]

Holker were offered the chance of promotion last season but for whatever reason turned it down. IMO Vickerstown are probably the better footballing side in the area currently and some of their players play for both clubs throughout the season and make the 'step up' with ease.

To be fair though that is only one League to move up. To move from Holker to Barrow is 5(?) I think. That is a hell of a step.

[The Poacher]

I know it's a debate we have once in a while and everyone groans, but we have it because it's important.

Local players to have done reasonably outside Barrow in last 25 years, at a higher level.

1980's Gary Stevens?
1990 onwards- Neil Doc
2008 onwards- Jason Walker

err that's it.

I know folk will rightly come in with other names, but even allowing for decent locals in the 90 side etc, that record is nothing short of appalling.

The best thing that could happen from this club's point of view is Holker OB cherrypicking the best of local talent and pushing onp a couple of leagues, aided by us, perhaps with some loan deals of youths signed or something? Years ago, Aberdeen used to do this in the Highand League, toughening younger lads up for a season or two.

But why should amateur clubs do that for us?

Played in same team as Gary,another player in that side was gary Westwood,goalkeeper who played for Ipswich town.

[Down The Park]

Top notch 'keeper was Gary Westwood (also played for Reading?) not to mention a cracking 'no nonsense' centre half when called upon.