Brian Arrowsmith

[McMark]

https://www.barrowafc.com/a-hometown-hero/

[ant]

Very sad news indeed. True legend. Gave his all for his club and town. Thoughts are with his family. Thanks
for the many memories Brian. Always a Bluebird...

[pjdaly]

For the benefit of anybody reading this thread who is Barrow through and through but simply too young to have any recollection of Brian's contributions to Barrow as a player or, later, as a player-manager, allow me to draw something of a parallel to explain why he means so much to Barrow fans of a certain age . . .

Think Paul Jones (Jonah) our captain who lifted the Trophy for us at Wembley almost ten years ago. Brian and Paul were in many ways from the same mould. They played in the centre of defence and gave 100% every time they stepped onto the pitch. Both were fearless and unafraid to take any number of knocks and bruises. It is true that neither would be regarded as Barrow's greatest footballer in the pure sense of the word; neither possessed the silky skills of a Jimmy Mulholland, a Kenny Lowe, or a John Rooney. They were old-fashioned stoppers. There's nothing wrong with that of course, every team needs these players in defence. I mean, England had one when they won the World Cup in 1966 in the shape of "The Giraffe", namely Jack Charlton. But those reading this who are too young to remember Brian, but who do remember Jonah from just a few short years ago, will perhaps gather a picture of what I am getting at, and the type of player we had . . . not the loveliest of footballers but with unmatched levels of bravery, loyalty and dedication to the cause.

So think Paul Jones and you are part way there to thinking Brian Arrowsmith. They will I am sure always remain amongst the most respected and admired of all players to ever pull on a Barrow shirt. But of course Brian is number one above all others, indeed, respectfully, above Paul Jones, because of the number of years he gave to us and because of the starriest of times he captained us through and the levels he performed at with the club. And it does add to the story that he was Barrow born and bred, yet captained a team containing many former top-notch players from the height of the English game. I made a rough (very rough!) calculation that between 1901 and the present time of 2020 there might have been perhaps around 1500 footballers to play for Barrow AFC first team. Of that estimated 1500, Brian is all-time number one, bar none, in terms of importance and significance. Not number one in the singular terms of having been the greatest player, but number one in terms of his abilities on the pitch thrown into a mix with his local boy status, longevity, commitment, loyalty, achievements, leadership and all-time iconic status.

[Baxterj732]

For the benefit of anybody reading this thread who is Barrow through and through but simply too young to have any recollection of Brian's contributions to Barrow as a player or, later, as a player-manager, allow me to draw something of a parallel to explain why he means so much to Barrow fans of a certain age . . .

Think Paul Jones (Jonah) our captain who lifted the Trophy for us at Wembley almost ten years ago. Brian and Paul were in many ways from the same mould. They played in the centre of defence and gave 100% every time they stepped onto the pitch. Both were fearless and unafraid to take any number of knocks and bruises. It is true that neither would be regarded as Barrow's greatest footballer in the pure sense of the word; neither possessed the silky skills of a Jimmy Mulholland, a Kenny Lowe, or a John Rooney. They were old-fashioned stoppers. There's nothing wrong with that of course, every team needs these players in defence. I mean, England had one when they won the World Cup in 1966 in the shape of "The Giraffe", namely Jack Charlton. But those reading this who are too young to remember Brian, but who do remember Jonah from just a few short years ago, will perhaps gather a picture of what I am getting at, and the type of player we had . . . not the loveliest of footballers but with unmatched levels of bravery, loyalty and dedication to the cause.

So think Paul Jones and you are part way there to thinking Brian Arrowsmith. They will I am sure always remain amongst the most respected and admired of all players to ever pull on a Barrow shirt. But of course Brian is number one above all others, indeed, respectfully, above Paul Jones, because of the number of years he gave to us and because of the starriest of times he captained us through and the levels he performed at with the club. And it does add to the story that he was Barrow born and bred, yet captained a team containing many former top-notch players from the height of the English game. I made a rough (very rough!) calculation that between 1901 and the present time of 2020 there might have been perhaps around 1500 footballers to play for Barrow AFC first team. Of that estimated 1500, Brian is all-time number one, bar none, in terms of importance and significance. Not number one in the singular terms of having been the greatest player, but number one in terms of his abilities on the pitch thrown into a mix with his local boy status, longevity, commitment, loyalty, achievements, leadership and all-time iconic status.

This! And I'm glad the club will be able to celebrate his life when we can finally get back to Holker Street R. I. P. Brian

[arraz1]

A big thank you to all who knew him and posted on this forum.
Although we are grieving its is so heartwarming to read these messages and we take great comfort in the knowledge that he was so well respected by so many Bluebird fans and people of the town and all over the world ,the messages have never stopped.
We hope to have a celebration of his life at a later date when all this has passed.Until then STAY SAFE

The Arrowsmith Family

[Wintergreen]

Arraz1 - it’s nice to know that your family has taken some small degree of comfort from the thoughts and tributes on this thread. Like many others on here I have been thinking about Brian a lot these last few days. If the club had one individual at the very core of its heart and soul it was Brian Arrowsmith, who linked past glories to the present day.

I was lucky enough to see Brian play on many occasions for Barrow and I can’t help but re-visit my personal memory of him which featured in the ‘Brian Arrowsmith Stand’ thread (below). The thread about the stand re-naming featured the immortal words from one poster “Bloody hell everybody agreeing on something.” as wholehearted endorsements of the re-naming in Brian’s honour poured in.

"I worked at Glaxo in the mid 80s and BA was working there as a sub-contractor doing suspended ceilings. Two contractor companies got a football game organised and I found myself on the same side as Brian and we won with ease; for a team that had never played together he totally organised and orchestrated from start to finish and never put a foot wrong himself – he must have been about 50. It was funny to see fit young guys bouncing off him like they did in the FL days. Still unassuming despite his legendary status with older sporting community."

[Middleton Nick]

WG.FYI that topic does not exist when you click on it.

[Wintergreen]

Not sure why - I have removed it.

Ref Brian Arrowsmith Stand topic.

[BillyWhizz]

Arraz1 - it’s nice to know that your family has taken some small degree of comfort from the thoughts and tributes on this thread. Like many others on here I have been thinking about Brian a lot these last few days. If the club had one individual at the very core of its heart and soul it was Brian Arrowsmith, who linked past glories to the present day.

I was lucky enough to see Brian play on many occasions for Barrow and I can’t help but re-visit my personal memory of him which featured in the ‘Brian Arrowsmith Stand’ thread (below). The thread about the stand re-naming featured the immortal words from one poster “Bloody hell everybody agreeing on something.” as wholehearted endorsements of the re-naming in Brian’s honour poured in.

"I worked at Glaxo in the mid 80s and BA was working there as a sub-contractor doing suspended ceilings. Two contractor companies got a football game organised and I found myself on the same side as Brian and we won with ease; for a team that had never played together he totally organised and orchestrated from start to finish and never put a foot wrong himself – he must have been about 50. It was funny to see fit young guys bouncing off him like they did in the FL days. Still unassuming despite his legendary status with older sporting community."

Yes; he kept himself fit.

I first saw him play against Leicester City in the FA Cup 1968. After that game I developed a passion for Barrow AFC and me and my chums would regularly visit Holker Street to watch our heroes play in both Div 3 and Div 4 of the Football League.

In recent years I occasionally saw him in the gym at the local leisure centre. Knowing I was a Barrow AFC fan he would spin yarns to me about past players he'd played with; players I'd watched as a boy. Jimmy Mallon, Mick Hartland and Jimmy Mulholland spring to mind; as well as a player, whose name I forget, who apparently used to wear a cape on players nights out!

Brian was a Gentleman and a Barrow AFC legend. Thanks for the memories...

RIP Brian.

[xerxes]

Brian featured again in this article.

[andyg]

Brian featured again in this article.

Excellent article. Friends down south asked me about Brian today. Just made me feel proud of Brian and the club.

[SKIPPER]

Just been an excellent piece on him on the BBC News as he died on the day the deaths total reached 10,000.

[Adam29]

I hope there will be a lasting tribute for him in the town somewhere.
I know the main stand is named after him but I think he deserves a lot more - ray Wilkie has a street named after him for his achievements which is merited but Brian was one of our own

[Wintergreen]

I agree. The rugby have a statue of Willie Horne, the town has a statue of Emlyn Hughes and I think the soccer now has an opportunity to follow suit with a statue of Brian. Perhaps the Trust could bring this up with the BoDs, we seem to be good at fund-raising.

[Suffolk Blue]

I agree. The rugby have a statue of Willie Horne, the town has a statue of Emlyn Hughes and I think the soccer now has an opportunity to follow suit with a statue of Brian. Perhaps the Trust could bring this up with the BoDs, we seem to be good at fund-raising.

There is a stretch of Walney Road that runs from the corner of Wilkie Road all the way down to Hindpool Road and then down to the Rugby Ground. It connects both grounds and both sports. I've often thought that it wouldn't take much to rename the various ends of these roads with the names of the towns sporting legends.