John Woods

[John_Bucks]

Never met him but enjoyed his posts and his passion for all things bluebirds. Be a big loss on here and on the terraces.

RIP John

[Wintergreen]

Shocking news. I did not know John at all, only through his posts on this forum which were insightful, knowledgeable and often amusing. Condolences to all family and friends. I am sure we will all miss his presence, even if it was just through what he had to say on here. Very sad to hear this.

This for me too.

Been around a long, long time on here; a very wry and informative presence online.

Cheers John you will be badly missed and the Forum has lost a big hitter today.

Sincere condolences to John's family.

[Suffolk Blue]

John was always on the away terraces whenever and wherever I turned up. Quiet, unassuming but with a sharp wit and a twinkle in his eye.

As Steelwork End, he had BAFC memories that pre-dated my own and was someone with whom I felt an historic bond with about a long since forgotten time. His contributions on the forum were firmly held but moderately expressed and always with a sense of humour.

This is dreadfully sad news at a dreadfully depressing time. RIP Steelworks. You will be sorely missed.

[Hadrian]

Very sad.

May he rest in peace.

[Si_Nichols]

Absolutely devastated by the news today. His sister messaged me from South Africa earlier in the day, John had only returned from there earlier in the month.

John was a great man and the best friend you could wish for. He was an integral part of the southern exiles crew, travelling up and down the country on a regular basis. He was an incredibly funny guy with a dry sense of humour, as full of banter as he was generosity.

I am sitting here this evening raising a glass to him and reminiscing of some amazing memories from the last dozen or so years. His love of Barrow AFC was clear for all to see, as was the sharp end of his tongue if any official dare give us a dodgy decision.

Cheers John. A true gent and a true friend who I was lucky enough to have enrich my life.

RIP

[Holkerbird]

This is something I posted on facebook 4 days ago and John was the first person to click like.
How very poignant it seems now.

The last few years have taught me that when it is our time to leave this world no one can stop it. We have one life to live. The material things we invest in are left behind only to be discarded. Memories are important to me. I'm going to start a "reunion of friends and family".

R.I.P. John a true gentle man.

[BAFC_Official]

When I was about 16 I flew back from the Bahamas on my own for the first time since moving away, for a game at Newport County. I had been in contact with John via this forum and I met him in London to get the train to Wales. I learnt more about the clubs history on that 3 hour train journey than I had in the previous sixteen years.

As Si said, he was a big part of the Southern Exiles group and it was an honour to spend plenty of Saturdays travelling to away matches with him.

RIP John

[BillyBlue]

Really shocked at this news, John was a really decent bloke. I got to know him in the early 90's when I was working in London. Sad loss to everyone.

[Bingo]

How very sad, nice man, I always used to see him on my away travels, he always said hello

[geobarrovian]

Very sad news indeed, never met him but Steelworks End seemed to be a mainstay on here and seemed like a knowledgeable and likeable sort of bloke, RIP.

[HenneysKnee]

Another one who didn’t know him personally but found him a huge part of this forum, one of those who’s posts you would always read. RIP

[russell_anderson]

Very sad news indeed, never met him but Steelworks End seemed to be a mainstay on here and seemed like a knowledgeable and likeable sort of bloke, RIP.

I agree. Somebody with a good sense of humour.

[Jim]

A sad loss, and sudden, as he was communicating on here just a few days ago. I met John a couple of times on away trips, the last, I think, was sharing a train with him from Newark to Lincoln for a memorable away win. We shared PMs as we were about the same age and had similar memories. He had a balanced, sensible view of life, a good man.

[GTBLUE]

Just this minute looked on the forum. What a shock I got.
I' ve known John for about 50 years. I'm absolutely devastated. I lived in Vernon Street growing up and met John while playing subbeteo in a friends garage in the same street. An under 18 team was formed which was called Park Albion which I played for and John was involved with. We had the same team almost for years. All of us would travel to watch Man City and Liverpool by car in the 70's (before the breathaliser) how we survived I will never know ! We would also go to the away games together. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of Barrow AFC. When Barrow played Dover in 1998 in the Trophy 5 of us atayed the weekend at his house in Twickenham. Some weekend that was !!!!
I could go on for pages about John and our friendship, but I am in tears posting this.

John, you were a true friend, a gentleman and a GREAT Barrow AFC fan.
After all you went through watching your beloved team, you won't(possibly) see them achieve their greatest achievment.
We HAVE to go up now !!

May you rest in peace my friend.
We have lost a truly great person.

Graham.

[xerxes]

Very sad to hear this. Met him many times over the years, mainly at away matches. Enjoyed his contributions to this forum. RIP.