True Grit

[pjdaly]

I have been angry for 49 years. It's a long time to be angry. Is it any wonder I look as though I'm 103 instead of a mere 93?

Why? Because I have always believed that 49 years ago we had a team with enough talent to stay clear of the bottom four. Of course that never happened. Then I got angry at having to witness the self-pitying and somewhat Freudian bleating that it was anybody else's fault but our own . . . Hereford, other clubs that hated us, the authorities . . . and on and on it went. But at that time we combined insanity off the pitch ("good idea, let's wreck our ground and our pitch for a speedway track") with unprofessionalism and indiscipline on the field. Sure, we did have some good, solid pros such as the great Bobby Knox but I felt we had a few slackers and it often seemed like we took to the pitch with only 7 or 8 who were properly committed. Result? Shambolic surrenders like the 0-3 and 0-4 home-shockers against Brentford and Darlington as the season's climax arrived. I felt badly betrayed not by the likes of Hereford or "other" clubs but by my own club.

So then we come to last night against Exeter. What strikes me so hard about that is that it took me back those 49 years and the contrast was as sharp as a knife. You have to give credit where it is due. Every player gave the blood, sweat and tears last night and it was hugely gratifying to witness. It's true that there was precious little of the Evatt-era Barrowcelona in evidence but I can't help thinking that it does the soul good when you see your players giving it absolutely everything. We should never complain about scoring but when Brough did exactly that just before half-time it was also a dangerous moment because we had poked the nest of the league's top-scoring team and we had to know we could face a tsunami in the second half. To the great credit of Kelly it seemed obvious that he had them steeled and primed at half-time in readiness for the expected retaliation. And bar that last minute when they finally scored (which the players can be forgiven for!) the team did the job to absolute perfection. I can tell you I had a lump in my throat because of the sheer professional honesty I had witnessed - - - so different to 49 years earlier.

49 years ago we sometimes took to the pitch with a going-through-the-motions mentality, all picnic 'n porcelain. Last night Kelly made sure we were armed with picks and shovels. Last night it was as if we had a whole team of Mick Hollis's on the pitch (Mick Hollis was one of the good guys of '72, someone who was actually less talented than some of his team-mates but who ran his socks off for the cause in every match without exception). If I can borrow from the Western analogy that was doing the rounds prior to last night's match, let me say that if 49 years ago was far too Darby and Joan, far too relaxed, routine, settled and contented, then last night was more Darby and Wayne. True grit. And the good thing is that I do believe that Kelly's attitude as a manager is so impressive that he will let them have the necessary breather today but will then say and do the right things to stoke the fires for the next match. No slacking this time. Not like '72. Better hadn't be. I don't want another 49 angry years.

[Jim]

Once again, I was impressed by the attitude, obviously imbued by Kelly, conveyed by Davis and Hird in their interviews. As they both said, it is not over, we must keep going, we want to get as many points as possible. I don't think we will see this team take their foot off the gas. I would love for us to finish above Harrogate for one

[Wintergreen]

Stirring stuff PJ.
Going right on the fridge is that.

[holkerboy]

Stirring stuff PJ.
Going right on the fridge is that.

You must have a bloody big fridge!

Fair do’s though-a good read.

[blue nige]

What has made these results/performances even more sensational is the fact that a lot of these players are not even "ours" , but they get it!such a shame we can't thank them because they deserve the accolades for that performance last night, what a difference from that game against Morecambe after that let's be honest the majority of us thought we'd had it !
Now we've just got to get it over the line Saturday will be tough after hard games so we might have to cut the lads a bit of slack and leave it till next Tuesday to hopefully celebrate!

[Arvo]

Stirring stuff PJ.
Going right on the fridge is that.

You must have a bloody big fridge!

Fair do’s though-a good read.

7 point type and a good strong pair of reading glasses should do it.

[Jim]

What has made these results/performances even more sensational is the fact that a lot of these players are not even "ours" ,

Only Eardley, Davies and Thomas, I think? But I do agree that they are all as committed to the cause as the signed players.

[Big E]

Well said Paul, well said... This turnaround is as impressive for other reasons as last years championship. Mr Kelly has shown not just what a great footballing man he is, but a brilliant man manager (along with Sam Hird and the other senior players) he is.

[Jonty]

Great opening post. These players are running through brick walls for Rob Kelly and although I do believe we always gave it all under DD and MJ (so never any question over commitment) we just couldn't find the way to get the results.

[andyg]

Think it's called good man management and coaching. I think, and I'm not apologising this for this, Evatt has the same qualities. We probably made the mistake that we thought Dunn & Jolley had those qualities plus the fact, like Evatt, they were young. It's just a learning curve for Barrow.

[Normo59]

The opening post echoes my feelings precisely. Vehemently expressed.

[Hadrian]

pjdaly - I do hope you are writing a book.

[Cokey]

Great post PJ.

Not old enough to remember 49 years ago, but the point about players giving their all strikes a note deep down. That’s the most important thing to me, seeing 11 Barrow players leaving it all out there on the field. They did that last night and we massively deserved to come away winners.

Long may this fighting spirit continue!

[Methuselah]

This is why we should have a picture wall.in he bar and the fanzone with some of our best players over the years pictured with a little description of what a contribution they have made to the future of the club.I honestly think that Quigley is very like Colin Cowperthwaite and should be remembered for the impationed speech he made at the end of the Morecambe game,because I think.that was our turning point.

[blumooncrab]

Quigley is definitely becoming a god . When he scored last night , I had visions of the great Cowps. Feed the beast and he will score . He’s a brilliant player . Infuriating some times but totally committed. Love him to bits